Japan's Toyota Motor made a record
profit of 2.31trn yen ($21bn, £14.6bn), its third in a row, but warned
profits would fall sharply next time.
Toyota is forecasting a 35% drop in net profit to $1.5tn yen.
Toyota,
the world's biggest selling motor company, has done well out of a weak
yen, which has made its goods cheaper in other countries.
Last year, one US dollar would buy 120 yen, but over next year is expected to buy just 105 yen.
Toyota is also expecting demand in key markets such as the US and China, to weaken this year.
The company's executive vice president Takahiko Ijichi
said of this year's record results: "The positive factors such as cost
reduction efforts and favourable foreign exchange rates more than offset
the negative factors such as decreased vehicle sales and increased
expenses, particularly labour costs and R&D expenses."
The company's forecast for the financial year from April to March
2017 does not factor in the effects of two powerful earthquakes in
Kumamoto, south-west of Japan. Toyota halted its production line for one
week last month, due to the earthquakes.
The Kumamoto region is a manufacturing hub for many big Japanese corporations. Honda and Sony also have plants there, and they too had to suspend their operations.
Also
in the financial report, Toyota said its net revenue jumped 4.3% to
28tn yen. Vehicle sales rose in the North American market, offsetting
declines elsewhere.
Sales had fallen across many markets, including Europe, Asia, Africa and at home in Japan.
Global leader
The company is best known for its Prius hybrid, Camry and Corolla sedan models and the Lexus luxury brand.
Industry data published in January showed Toyota has retained its crown as the world's top-selling carmaker for the fourth straight year.
The company sold 10.15 million cars overall in 2015.
In 2014, Toyota claimed the top spot with 10.23 million cars sold.
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