Production capacity at Japanese carmakers is recovering faster than they initially forecast after the March 11 quake and tsunami, but winning back their overseas market shares lost in the aftermath of the disaster remains a challenge, analysts say.
With the carmakers announcing belated earnings forecasts for the current business year with expected falls in profits, how fast they can increase overseas production is another key to improving their earnings amid the yen's strength, the analysts said.
Nissan Motor Co. said Thursday its group operating profit for the business year to next March is expected to fall 14.4 percent to ¥460 billion, as profits will be eroded by the stronger yen against the dollar and higher raw materials costs.