Toyota Motor Corp. led a 56 percent decline in February vehicle production by Japanese automakers because of slumping demand in the U.S. and Europe, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said Monday.

It was the biggest drop since 1967.

Domestic production at the 12 automakers fell to 481,396 vehicles from a year earlier, the association said. Exports dropped 64 percent to 212,107 vehicles as the carmakers reduced shipments to North America by 66 percent.