South Korea’s automobile production rises in February

South Korea’s automobile output increased from a year earlier in February due to a rise in both domestic sales and exports, the government said Wednesday.Combined output by the country’s five automakers reached 359,148 vehicles last month, up 6.3 percent from the same month last year, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.The ministry attributed the growth partly to an increase in the number of working days from a year earlier, and also to a rise in sales here and abroad.In February, domestic sales by the five local automakers rose 8.4 percent on-year to 107,905 units while their combined exports grew 5.8 percent to 248,721 cars.Domestic sales of all automobiles, including imported vehicles, surged 10.6 percent on-year as sales of imported cars spiked 31.2 percent to 13,852 units.“In addition, domestic sales posted a double-digit increase for the first time in six months since September 2013,” the ministry said in a press release.“The rise is believed to signal a recovery in the home market, especially as the local automakers are set to introduce new mid-sized passenger cars and recreational vehicles.”