Japanese Automakers See Bumpy Road Ahead

Honda's profits down 86%, Mitsubishi's off 37%—and forecasts call for more of same
By Will McCahill,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 25, 2008 1:47 PM CDT
Japanese Automakers See Bumpy Road Ahead
Though Mazda said its quarterly profits were up 48%, it forecast tougher times ahead.   (AP Photo/Kyodo News, Motohiro Araki)

A strong yen is hurting Japan's automakers, the Wall Street Journal reports, with Honda and Mitsubishi announcing big declines in profits today and forecasting tough times ahead. Honda saw an 86% decline in profits for the quarter ended March 31; Mitsubishi's were down 37%. Mazda bucked the trend, with a 48% increase—but all three forecast double-digit declines this fiscal year.

Honda predicted profits for the fiscal year ending in March 2009 will be down 18%, with the stronger yen playing a main role. Mitsubishi forecast a 42% drop, and Mazda's expecting its net gain to tumble 24%. Smaller Japanese automakers announced similar forecasts yesterday; Toyota, the industry leader, releases its report May 8. (More Honda stories.)

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