Japanese auto industry on the way down? Nope, not for now at least. Japan’s big three – Toyota, Nissan and Honda – have posted record sales in 2012, and mighty Toyota is back on top as the world’s biggest automaker, retaking the position from General Motors, AFP reported.
The results cap a remarkable comeback from 2011, a disastrous year (literally) for the Japanese carmakers, who faced not only the quake-tsunami disaster in Japan, but severe flooding in Thailand, the ASEAN base for most major carmakers.
On Monday, Toyota said sales last year soared 22.6% to 9.75 million vehicles, while Nissan saw a 5.8% on-year rise to 4.94 million units with record numbers in the US market. Honda, Japan’s number-three automaker, logged sales of 3.81 million vehicles, up from 3.09 million a year earlier.
Speed bumps include Japan’s territorial row with China over an East China Sea island chain, and a strong yen. Nissan warned in November that its net profit for the fiscal year through March would be down 20% to 320 billion yen ($3.52 billion), citing heavy exposure to China. Honda forecasts a 20% cut in annual profit.
But unlike its compatriots, Toyota is less affected by the island dispute. The company increased its profit forecast to 780 billion yen for the same period, up from 760 billion yen, although it trimmed its annual sales forecast to 21.3 trillion yen and credited much of its improved earnings outlook to cost cuts.
A strong and rising currency is also affecting Korean rival Hyundai, which reported a steeper profit drop than expected. Fourth-quarter net income declined 5.5% to 1.89 trillion won ($1.8 billion), compared with 2 trillion won a year earlier. Analysts expected 1.98 trillion won. Revenue also missed estimates.
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
Well Done Toyota !
Don’t get excited. These are global figures. In Malaysia, Toyota is losing market share big time because the younger generation are particular about safety in their cars besides prestige and status. The Camry for instance, priced at an exorbitant RM180,000 but has virtually their most vital safety features taken out by UMW to save on cost.
Losing market share? They are about to overtake P1…
they make cars to what the majority people want and they always succeed, even though not appealing to some pppl that are often the minorities.
congrats toyota!
T, N & H, good luck and this is how world class players thrive and survive in this dog-eat-dog international auto market! They achieve world class without the need to be classified as Japanese “National Car”, they don’t need NAP-like policy to survive.
When will our Jaguh Kampung able to do it>
Where is all the Korean Keyboard Warriors?!?!?
Btw, Preve is still a better car.
BMW? Preve? BMW? Preve? Try putting a Proton badge to a BMW and see if it sells.
having a love hate relationship with these companies… one minute they can make awesome stuff like the toyota 86… next minute they make really moronic stuff like the camry and avanza.
The Camry is never a moronic car. It is indeed a very good car. It’s just that UMW Toyota scrapped all the nice features off the car and make it a not-so-good car.
It’s not Toyota’s fault. It’s UMW’s.
Expecting a certain Samuel L to scream in joy. But anyways this is really totally unexpected from me. I do not know much about the business world, but common sense should tell me they would be a terrible year: Territorial dispute, strong yen, uneasy politics in Japan, still recovering industrial asset in Thailand, strong competition and the loads of prophecy from neigh-sayer(which I actually naively believe some of them).
So Congratulation to Japan’s big 3.
what prophecy? the doomsday prophecy is it? anyway, kudos to T,H & N!
Is actually an exaggeration, If you go to many websites, you can see many comments like :”oh shit there goes the Japanese auto” or “Number 1 yuppie driver vehicle” and “Another day, another Toyota recall.” (This are actual comments). There are some in PaulTan as well. Actually I really did believe, with the new Ford renaissance and stiff Korean competition. Their sales would have been dented but not defeated.
Anyways, How did you get the trademark symbol on your name,LOL.
If everybody has problems with Toyota, why are Toyota’s numbers still so high? The explanation I can think of is that the real Toyota owners must be satisfied with their cars that they don’t need to come to the Internet to vent. However, it must us the non-japs owners that feel so frustrated with our cars that we need to vent our frustration. Just my two cents here.
Toyota are very dull cars, no doubt. But they are extremely reliable, compared to the others, spare parts are easy to come by and the cost-of-ownership is great. In other words, If you JUST want a car to take you from A to B, definitely a Toyota. Most PT-keyboard-gladiators are just frustrated about the specs-price and I do agree the Camry is disappointing. I won’t say the Vios because it’s an old product due to be replaced. Toyota have always been a trusty, reliable appliances, 86 aside, nothing more, nothing less.
well done Toyota.. :)
Kimchi dropped, Sushi blobbed!
Well done Toyota!!
Where’s our beloved Proton?
Well done for the big three japs car marker. I would also like to take this opportunity to extends my congratulations to Malaysian top two car maker, Proton and Perodua for making yet again the top seller in it own origin country Malaysia.
Well done Proton :p
Proton also plays a important role by producing crappy models ma. Otherwise these Japanese brand won’t gst such high sales.
well, they survived. Congratz!
Well done toyota jdm, edm, usdm
How about jepun celup??
Other prople celup also can sell so many cars. Unlike Proton, celup pun tak jadi … hahaha… you are the one bring up this subject …. kan dah kena…
Those who never own real jdm .. Praise jepun celup( neway jepun celup refer to umw, honda melaka n tan choon k).. Jgn perasan perodua tu jepun crlup… Tu keta local croni protected by gomen cam proton je…
At least they still have the Japanese overseeing the operation … not like Proton, hire berapa ketul Germans and claim they are on par with BMW. BTW those Germans has been fired right?
Those who never been n worked in japan je jakun dgn jepun.. 6 years in japan i know japanese better than u la .. U just a perodua salesman.. New generation live preve, korean n conti la.. Not like old minded our parents still with jepun celup
Toyota has two division. Toyota and Lexus.
Inside Toyota, it has another division. Car sales and Engine sales. Usually engine are sold to Lotus and other manufacturers.
Nissan is best because of it’s GTR. Toyota is best because of it’s Prius. Honda is best because of its Civic and Accord.
1. hyundai-kia has both hyundai and kia.
2. volkswagen has vw, audi, lamborghini, bentley, bugatti, porsche, scania, seat, skoda and ducatti.
3.GM has chevrolet, cadillac, buick, GMC, holden and opel/vauxhall
4. honda has honda and acura
so what are you trying to say?
Toyota actually has Hino and Daihatsu under its subsidiaries. Lexus cars are all Toyota actually… like Altezza, Soarer, Aristo, Harrier and Celsior.
Fiat has Lancia, Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Ferrari in its group. not as large as VW but not small nonetheless
hyundai n kia will be next leader of automotive industry.
Ppl in paultan used to say toyota is sucks and outdated. Even myself not fan of toyota. But the sales qty proved that toyota making people’s car.
Dont generalise toyota jdm, usdm, edm= kampungland umw unser, innova, avanza
where is our Jaguh kampung Perodua???
prrtfhh
Jaguh Kanpung Perodua? They are above Jaguh Kampung Kedua aka Proton …hahahah
No matter.. Both are jaguh kampung.. Only can sell in bolehland.. Outside nobody wanna buy perodua
Prffthhh
Are Perodua’s sales figures included as part of Toyota’s numbers?
No because Toyota does not have a stake in Perodua directly, Daihatsu (although Toyota is the parent company for Daihatsu) does.
Only perodua salesman je trying hard to relate perodua with toyota… Marketing je… If they say daihatsu.. No body wanna buy
Prfthhh
Toyota ripped off GM. Meaning, it is World No 1 again. How amazing, wasn’t it not too long ago they were struggling with Prius issue? They did not lose market confidence at all, Prius is still seen in every corner of the world.
toyota took decades to build the reputation of reliability, it’s not gonna go away overnight.
Simple why Japan cars can survive.Our grandpa will tell our dad last time before he pass his license that Toyota Honda is very good hence our dad will pass this to us.Engine wise I still say that jap is more reliable than any other but quality wise in modern time well that’s depend.Thats one of the reason in my family there’s Subaru Forester 2.0,Toyota Corolla Axio 1.5,Hyundai Elantra 1.6,VW Golf 1.4 TSI and Proton Saga 1.3 BLM and to mention a Honda CB600F Hornet bike