Car production in Kyushu reached a record 1.415 million units in fiscal 2012. Increased sales of minicars and fuel-efficient vehicles on the back of eco-car subsidies coupled with the launch of new models by the major carmakers yielded an 8.1% increase in units produced year-on-year. Production at three of the four plants in Kyushu reached record levels in 2012, making for the fourth consecutive year of increased output. Big sellers included Daihatsu’s Mira ES and Nissan’s Note, but Toyota had to ramp down production of its new Lexus for the Chinese market amid tensions between Japan and China. A detailed breakdown of 2012 output is as follows—Nissan Motor: 561,100 (+8%), Daihatsu: 451,000 (+8.4%), Toyota: 297,000 (-1.8%), Nissan Shatai: 106,000 (+49.2). Source: Nishinippon Shimbun, Apr. 8
