TOKYO, March 30, 2009 (AFP) - Automobile production in Japan dropped 56.2 percent in February from a year earlier, falling for a fifth straight month as the global recession batters the sector, an industry body said Monday.

Unit production reached 481,396 vehicles, down from 1.098 million in the same month last year, as output fell for all product segments - passenger cars, trucks and buses - said the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association.

Major Japanese automakers have predicted losses or forecast downwards their earnings, laid off thousands of workers and suspended production lines to cope with the global downturn.

Auto sales in Japan, the world's number two economy, are expected to slump to the lowest level in 32 years in the next business year starting in April, falling 8.0 percent to 4.3 million vehicles, according to industry forecasts.

Some automakers, however, are starting to position themselves for possible recovery, with industry leader Toyota announcing a decision to pick up production from May, setting a target 22 percent higher than February output.