Japan automakers' output falls 4.5% in January due to chip shortage Sorry, but your browser needs Javascript to use this site. If you're not sure how to activate it, please refer to this site: https://www.enable-javascript.com/ Nissan Motor's Iwaki factory | REUTERS Kyodo Feb 25, 2021 Total global output by eight major Japanese automakers fell 4.5% from a year earlier to 2.12 million vehicles in January, due largely to a semiconductor shortage worldwide, the manufacturers' data showed Thursday. Among them, only Toyota Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. saw their production in the month climb from the previous year. Toyota said its global production in January rose 4.0% from a year earlier to 741,704 units due to a recovery in global demand as the impact of the coronavirus pandemic wanes.