Japanese carmakers resume plant operations

Six of Japan’s major automakers will resume plant operations on weekends to manufacture hybrids and other fuel-efficient cars. The resumption, media reports said, is due to improvements in demand due to recently-introduced government tax breaks. However, with auto exports still weak, industry officials said it remains uncertain whether domestic production will fully recover from a severe auto slump triggered by the global economic recession. Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co., Mitsubishi Motors Corp., Mazda Motor Corp., Daihatsu Motor Co. and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. resumed weekend operations in July. However, media reports said while the companies have eased production cuts, they have not yet totally removed the measures, with Mitsubishi Motors suspending operations at its plant in Okayama Prefecture for six days in July due to slow overseas sales, for example. (July 3, 2009)