Japan's industrial production rose sharply in July as factory activity continued to recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The industry ministry says production rose 8 percent in July from the previous month. It marks the second consecutive month of increase. Automakers and parts makers boosted their output for overseas markets. They had been forced to cut production as COVID-19 stifled global demand.

Major Japanese automakers are returning domestic factories to normal production levels. The companies say global demand for automobiles is on the mend .

Eight Japanese carmakers were forced to adjust output due to the pandemic.

The Japanese government will financially help companies relocate or diversify their production bases from China and elsewhere. It is hoping to reduce the risk of concentrating output in certain parts of the world.

Earlier this year, shipments to Japan of face masks and other products stalled amid the global spread of the coronavirus. This was partly because the country had been largely relying on production facilities in China for such goods.

TOKYO — Toyota plans to slash production in North America by nearly a third through October due to the coronavirus crisis and expects it will take some time for output to return to normal, a person familiar with the matter said.

Toyota will build about 800,000 vehicles, including its RAV4 SUV crossovers and Camry sedans, at plants in the United States, Canada and Mexico from April through to the end of October, the person told Reuters.

Global output by eight Japanese auto makers was down more than 20 percent in March as they shut down plants amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Japanese manufacturers produced more than 1,863,000 vehicles last month, down 26 percent from a year earlier.

TOKYO — Nissan plans to slash the number of cars it produces at home in May by 78% from last year, as the impact of the coronavirus shakes the troubled automaker which has already been struggling with falling sales.

As global automakers reel from plunging sales amid lockdowns imposed in many countries to curb the spread of the virus, the hit is particularly severe for Nissan, whose profitability has been deteriorating as it grapples with the turmoil that followed the ousting of former Chairman Carlos Ghosn.