1st Quarter Results 1/5
Toyota Motor Corporation
03 August 2004
For immediate release
August 3, 2004
Toyota Announces First Quarter Operating Results
Net Revenues, Operating Income and Net Income All Increase
(All consolidated financial information has been prepared in accordance with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States)
Tokyo - TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) today announced operating results
for the first quarter ended June 30, 2004.
On a consolidated basis, net revenues for the first quarter totaled 4.51
trillion yen, an increase of 10.2 percent compared to the same period last
fiscal year. Operating income increased 31.6 percent to 448.6 billion yen,
while income before income taxes, minority interest and equity earnings of
affiliated companies were 470.4 billion yen. Net income climbed 28.8 percent to
286.6 billion yen compared to 222.5 billion yen in the first quarter of last
fiscal year.
Positive contributions to operating income of 210.0 billion yen, from
operational efforts and cost reduction efforts, offset the negative effects of
102.1 billion yen from unfavorable foreign exchanges rate and increased
expenses.
Commenting on the results, TMC Executive Vice President Ryuji Araki said, 'Our
ongoing efforts to introduce products that meet the needs of our customers, as
well as the strengthening of our production and sales organization, led to
increased profits in all regions. We believe that we have been able to make a
favorable head start going into the second quarter and beyond.'
In Japan, despite sluggish market conditions, the market share of Toyota brand
vehicles (excluding minivehicles) rose to 46.1 percent, which is the highest
ever for quarterly results. This was due largely to the introduction of new
models such as Prius and SIENTA. Crown is also performing well. As for Prius,
due to its continuous popularity in Japan and overseas, TMC expects to increase
production capacity from ten thousand vehicles per month to fifteen thousand
vehicles per month starting in the first half of next year.
Sales in North America reached 572 thousand vehicles, an increase of sixty three
thousand vehicles due to a strong popularity of Sienna.
In Europe, locally-built models such as the newly launched Corolla Verso
contributed to a sales increase of thirteen thousand vehicles to 247 thousand
vehicles.
Sales in other regions including Asia, Africa, and Latin America reached 434
thousand vehicles, an increase of 126 thousand vehicles. In Asia specifically,
sales increased by eighty thousand vehicles, or 65.1%, mainly due to favorable
sales of models such as Vios. We expect further increase in production with the
upcoming launch of IMV project.
TMC estimates that consolidated vehicle sales for the fiscal year ending March
31, 2005 will be 7.2 million vehicles, an increase of 180 thousand vehicles from
the forecast announced in May 2004.
Araki concluded by commenting on the consolidated profit outlook for the fiscal
year ending March 31, 2005. 'We recognize the uncertainties we're facing in
both the foreign exchange and interest rate environment. In responding to these
challenges, Toyota will continue its efforts and work hard to maintain the
profit levels of the fiscal year ended March 2004.'
(Please see attached information for details on financial results. Further
information is also available on the Internet at http://www.toyota.co/.jp)
Cautionary Statement with Respect to Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements that reflect Toyota's plans and
expectations. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future
performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
that may cause Toyota's actual results, performance, achievements or financial
position to be materially different from any future results, performance,
achievements or financial position expressed or implied by these forward-looking
statements. These factors include: (i) changes in economic conditions
affecting, and the competitive environment in, the automotive markets in Japan,
North America, Europe and other markets in which Toyota operates; (ii)
fluctuations in currency exchange rates, particularly with respect to the value
of the Japanese yen, the U.S. dollar, the euro, the Australian dollar and the
British pound; (iii) Toyota's ability to realize production efficiencies and to
implement capital expenditures at the levels and times planned by management;
(iv) changes in the laws, regulations and government policies affecting Toyota's
automotive operations, particularly laws, regulations and policies relating to
environmental protection, vehicle emissions, vehicle fuel economy and vehicle
safety, as well as changes in laws, regulations and government policies
affecting Toyota's other operations, including the outcome of future litigation
and other legal proceedings; (v) political instability in the markets in which
Toyota operates; (vi) Toyota's ability to timely develop and achieve market
acceptance of new products; and (vii) fuel shortages or interruptions in
transportation systems, labor strikes, work stoppages or other interruptions to,
or difficulties in, the employment of labor in the major markets where Toyota
purchases materials, components and supplies for the production of its products
or where its products are produced, distributed or sold. A discussion of these
and other factors which may affect Toyota's actual results, performance,
achievements or financial position is contained in Toyota's annual report on
Form 20-F, which is on file with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange