Japan's top three automakers posted record profits while the No. 4 and No. 5 automakers had to settle for reduced losses and a return to profitability, according to their midterm earnings reports.
The nation's top automaker, Toyota Motor Corp., posted a record consolidated net profit of 291.11 billion yen for the first half through Sept. 30, vaulting 82.4 percent over the same period the previous year.
The second-largest automaker, Honda Motor Co., set record group sales and net profits of 3.505 trillion yen, up 14.8 percent, and 173.74 billion yen, up 12.5 percent, respectively.