In their first crack at production planning for the new year, the region’s auto makers are slating 4,039,900 car and truck builds for Q1, down from prior-year’s 4,066,167 completions.
Canadian dealers sold 125,300 new LVs in November, second-best for the month behind 2001’s 129,814 and on track to making 2012 the second-best year ever.
Strong sales of smaller, more fuel-efficient cars helped boost Canadian light-vehicle sales to the second-best October level in history at 135,001 vs. 1985’s 138,460.
Following an estimated 9,400-unit October overbuild, auto makers plan to add 24,200 units to their November slate and 14,600 in December, raising Q4 output 1.3%.
Strong September sales held the month-end inventory rise to just 44,160 units, barely enough to move the days’ supply count to 59 from August’s weak 58.
Thanks to stronger sales of Japanese makes, Canada light-vehicle deliveries in September rose 6.5% from the prior year to 142,858 from 134,188, despite a 7.9% decline by industry leader Ford.