Japanese automakers led by Toyota posted an increase in domestic vehicle production for the first time in 12 months as they recovered output after the March earthquake and tsunami. Local output in August rose 1.8 percent to 704,096 vehicles according to Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association. Exports gained 7.6 percent to 363,772 units, the Tokyo-based group said.
Japanese carmakers including Toyota have been hiring temporary workers to boost production from October, as they aim to make up for lost output after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami caused shortages of parts and electricity. Toyota resumed full production at all of its North American plants this month and said it will expand U.S. output of small engines. Toyota’s global output increased 10.6 percent to 626,817 vehicles in August, the first increase after the government ended subsidies for fuel-efficient cars last September, the company said Sept. 28. Domestic output gained 12 percent to 252,374, while overseas production rose 9.8 percent to 374,443, it said. Toyota began recruiting temporary workers from July and plans to add as many as 4,000 in Japan.
