Toyota earnings up on healthy global sales

J apan’s top automaker Toyota said Thursday its net profit edged one per cent higher in July-September as vehicle sales grew around the world.

Toyota Motor Corp’s profit for the second fiscal quarter totalled ¥592 billion (U$$5.4 billion), up from ¥585 billion last year.

Toyota, which makes the Prius hybrid, Corolla subcompact and Lexus luxury models, stuck to its net profit forecast for the fiscal year through March 2020, at ¥2.15 trillion (U$$20 billion).

That would be an improvement over the ¥1.88 trillion earned in the year ended in March.

Vehicle sales for the latest quarter grew both in Japan and overseas, including in the United States, the rest of Asia and Europe.

Quarterly sales rose four per cent to ¥7.6 trillion (U$$70 billion), compared to the previous year.

Toyota said it expects to sell 10.7 million vehicles globally for the fiscal year through March 2020, up from 10.6 million vehicles the previous fiscal year.

Like most Japanese exporters, Toyota has been hurt by a strengthening yen. But the results show Toyota is holding up despite such negatives.

For the fiscal first half, cost cuts and marketing efforts offset the impact of an unfavourable exchange rate, it said.

Toyota also said it will buy back up to ¥200 billion (U$$1.8 billion) worth, or 34 million shares, of the company’s common stock.

Toyota officials have stressed the company is focused on becoming a “mobility company” for a future when consumers may opt for new ways of car ownership like car-sharing, or choose futuristic electric vehicles instead of automobiles common today that run on gasolene.

“We are in a phase of transforming ourselves to a mobility company and proactively undertaking investments for the future and creating friends,” said Toyota’s operating officer, Kenta Kon.

Although Kon did not go into details, the “friends” Toyota has been courting lately in partnerships include those historically not associated with the traditional auto industry, such as robotics and internet companies.

On Thursday, Toyota and Chinese automaker BYD Co said they have agreed to set up a joint company to research, develop and design electric vehicles as well as platforms for such vehicles together. The new research company will be set up in China in 2020, with each company holding a 50 per cent share, they said.

Toyota’s stock price gained 1.1 per cent to ¥7,736 (U$$71) in Tokyo trading.

Honda Motor Company reports its earnings today, Friday, and scandal-battered Nissan Motor reports next week.

AP