Domestic vehicle production by Japan’s top two...

Domestic vehicle production by Japan’s top two auto makers, Toyota Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co., continued to decrease in September amid signs of slowing exports and domestic sales.

Toyota said its production was down 1.5% from a year ago to 334,373 units, the third consecutive year-to-year fall. Production of passenger cars increased 3% to 265,100 units, but trucks and buses fell 3.9% to 69,273 units.

Toyota said domestic sales decreased 1.6% to 192,823 units. It was the first year-to-year drop in 18 months.

Exports decreased 4.9% to 134,001 units, the first fall in four months, the company said.

Nissan said its production decreased 2.1% to 203,025 units. Passenger cars, which accounted for 170,614 units, were down 3%, while commercial vehicles were up 3.2% to 32,411 units.

The Tokyo-based company said its domestic sales increased 1.3% to 127,225 units. Sales of passenger cars, however, declined 1.8% to 96,959 units. Commercial vehicle sales soared 12.5% to 30,266 units, it said.

Exports plunged 12.2% to 88,254 units, the 13th consecutive year-to-year fall, the company said.