Japan: Post War Car Production: 1950-2010

Japanese car manufacturing was nil in 1946, and amounted to a mere 100 cars in '47. The production took time to grow but accelerated as the years passed:


1950 1,600
1955 20,200
1960 165,000
1965 695,000
1970 3,180,000
1975 4,570,000
1980 7,040,000
1985 7,645,000
1990 9,950,000
1995 7,610,000
2000 8,365,000
2005 9,015,000
2010 8,310,000


It is an amazing success story, built around an undervalued Yen and commitment to keeping production at home. Recent events are conspiring against that strategy. Car manufacturing will be steadily moved offshore to make it more profitable.

In summary: Expect a reduction of Japanese car making from now on, unless the Yen weakens.