TOYOTA ANNOUNCES YEAR-END PRODUCTION RESULTS,
NEW REGISTRATION AND EXPORT FIGURES

TOKYO―Toyota Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Sales Co. today jointly announced production and sales results for December 1981, and the total performance profile for Toyota in calendar 1981.

December ProductionProduction in December was 253,873 vehicles, up 2.9 percent from December 1980. The breakdown was 182,794 passenger cars (up 5.5 percent from December) and 71,079 trucks and buses (down 3.3 percent).

While the overall export environment continued to be rugged, production was buoyed by recovery in shipments to the Middle East, one of Toyota's principal overseas markets, together with stable domestic sales, especially of passenger cars.

January-December 1981 ProductionAggregate production for calendar 1981 was 3,220,418 units, a drop of 2.2 percent from previous year levels, the first year of minus growth since 1974. The breakdown was 2,248,171 passenger cars (down 2.4 percent from calendar 1980) and 972,247 trucks and buses (down 1.8 percent).

Domestic sales were sluggish during the first half, but recovered rapidly from summer on the strength of new model introductions, to finish on a par with 1980. Exports did not fare so well, however, with shipments to Latin America and Southeast Asia suffering broad reductions from the middle of the year. Negative effects were also felt from voluntary restrictions on exports to the U.S. and Europe, the increasing strength of the yen and other factors. The end result was production slightly below that in 1980.

December Domestic RegistrationsDomestic registrations in December were 120,003 units, down 1.4 percent from December 1980. The breakdown was 93,631 passenger cars (up 0.5 percent from December 1980) and 26,372 trucks and buses (down 7.5 percent).

Passenger cars exceeded previous year levels for the fifth consecutive month, with Toyota holding the leading share in all three major passenger car classes (medium and large, small, and popular sizes) for a third consecutive month and the fifth month this year.

January-December 1981 Domestic Registrations: Domestic registrations in 1981 were 1,492,804 vehicles, down 0.1 percent from 1980. The breakdown was 1,098,088 passenger cars (up 3.2 percent from calendar 1980) and 394,716 trucks and buses (down 8.3 percent).

Excluding mini-size vehicles, the overall market finished 2.6 percent below previous year, the second consecutive year of minus results. While a recovery trend was charted in the second half, the effects of a boost in the passenger car commodity tax in May, plummeting truck sales caused by sluggish economic growth, and other developments held sales down. Nevertheless, Toyota managed to boost its market share (excluding mini-size vehicles) a full point, from 37.3 percent in 1980 to 38.3 percent. The passenger car share was 40.6 percent, topping the 40 percent mark for the first time since 1978, when it captured 40.3 percent of the market. Sparked by the Soarer, which was named Japan's "Car of the Year" for 1981-82, Toyota captured the leading share of all three major passenger car markets in 1981 (the first time since 1975), continuing its efforts to offer a product line with high quality and appeal.

December ExportsExports in December were 142,025 units, down 8.2 percent from December 1980. The breakdown was 91,351 passenger cars (down 5.9 percent from December 1980) and 50,674 trucks and buses (down 12.0 percent).

These figures were the result of a harsh export climate due in large part to the delayed economic recovery of the U.S. and Europe. Exports to most regions were below previous year, but a bright spot was the Middle East, with a strong recovery in Saudi Arabia and major business deals closed in Iraq.

January-December 1981 ExportsTotal exports in calendar 1981 were 1,716,486 units, down 3.9 percent from 1980, making this the first year since 1978 that Toyota exports have failed to reach previous year levels. The breakdown was 1,063,385 passenger cars (down 7.5 percent from calendar 1980) and 653,101 trucks and buses (up 2.7 percent).

The world export environment was extremely stormy throughout the year, with global economic recession, import restrictions in the U.S.and Europe, exchange rate fluctuations and other negative factors. Toyota made special efforts to expand exports to developing regions such as Africa, and managed to achieve its start-of-the-year target of 1.7 million units.