Toyota Motor Corporation, the world’s largest auto manufacturer, is looking at a record full year profit. How much? $17.5 billion. This represented a 3.3 percent increase. Total sales for 2014 is estimated as 10.22 million vehicles.
However, Honda claimed 19 percent profit, but Nissan trumped them all with a 25 percent half year increase in profit. Some of the increase in profits has come from the lower Japanese Yen in the money market, making exported cars relatively cheaper.
The marketplace in China remains a problem for the Japanese automakers, as the anti-Japan sentiment is still strong, while the total Chinese market has slowed (as has the Thai market).
It will be an interesting time ahead for the local vehicle and parts manufacturers.
