Tokyo: Barring Nissan, global demand led by North America, Europe and Asia boosted the sales of Japanese carmakers Toyota Motor Corp, Honda Motors Co and Suzuki Motor Corp in 2006.

Toyota group sales rose 7.3 per cent to 9.08 million vehicles in the 12 months ended 31 March from a year earlier, while Honda built 3.7 million units, up 7.5 per cent, while and Suzuki''s production rose 9.6 per cent to 2.4 million.

Nissan''s production slumped 6.8 per cent to 3.21 million.

US sales of Toyota and Honda rose over 10 per cent in March with US consumers opting for the more fuel-efficient Japanese compact cars.

Suzuki, Japan''s fourth-largest automaker, raised its overseas production 12.4 per cent to 1.2 million units last business year. The company is expanding capacity in India, Pakistan and Hungary, its second-biggest market after Japan, to meet higher demand for swift compact cars.

Toyota had announced earlier this year that it would open its eighth North American factory in 2010 to produce sport-utility vehicles. Last week Fuji heavy industries Ltd, in which Toyota owns 5.9 per cent, started production of Toyota Camry sedans at its US plant in Indiana.