Three of the nation's biggest automakers said Tuesday their domestic production in August fell from the same month a year ago, but two smaller automakers said production was up.
Toyota Motor Corp., the No. 1 carmaker, said its domestic output fell 9.7 percent on year to 229,547 vehicles in August, marking the third month of decline in local output.
Nissan Motor Co.'s production in Japan slipped 3.2 percent to 93,349 vehicles.
Honda Motor Co. reduced domestic production by 2.6 percent from a year earlier to 80,783 vehicles due to a decline in shipments in Japan and weaker exports.
But Honda's overseas output jumped 20.1 percent, helping to lift its global production for the month by 12.4 percent to 273,572 vehicles.
Mazda Motor Corp. said its domestic vehicle production jumped 30.3 percent on year to 65,958 vehicles, increasing for the third consecutive month thanks to launches of new models.
Mazda, an affiliate of U.S. automaker Ford Motor Co., said its monthly overseas output inched up 0.8 percent to 20,994 vehicles.
Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said its production jumped 57.8 percent on year to 45,847 vehicles, a sign the automaker is getting over a series of recall and coverup scandals. that have hit the company's output in the last few years.
571 vehicles on show
The Tokyo Motor Show is set to open Oct. 22 featuring 571 state-of-the-art cars and motorcycles, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said Tuesday.
A total of 245 automakers, organizations and governments from 14 countries and regions will participate in the 39th annual motor show under the theme "Driving Tomorrow! from Tokyo."
The event will be held at the Makuhari Messe convention center in Chiba Prefecture. It will run through Nov. 6, four days longer than usual to reduce congestion.