October North American light-vehicle production soared to the highest ever for the month and the fifth-best on record for any month, based on data from WardsAuto.
The total keeps automakers on track for the 14-year high fourth-quarter output forecasted by WardsAuto/AutomotiveCompass of 4.02 million units.
Manufacturers built 1,577,683 LVs in October, 7.7% above year-ago, and topping the month’s previous high of 1,566,051 in 1998.
The total was primarily boosted by light trucks, which totaled 890,171 units, up 13.8% from like-2012. Pickups were the biggest gainers, though CUVs and SUVs were not far behind.
Light-truck sales in the U.S., the primary market for domestically made vehicles, were up 11.2% through the first 10 months from prior year. In the same period, car deliveries increased a lesser 5.4%.
Car production last month increased only 0.7% to 687,512 units. Luxury model and large cars saw the highest growth, corresponding to significant sales gains of those segments as the economy improves and fuel prices stay low.
The Detroit Three automakers built 858,293 LVs, a 10.3% improvement over last year. Chrysler had the greatest month-over-month growth, 21.2%. WardsAuto estimates General Motors builds were up 8.0%.
Ford recorded the smallest monthly gain of the three, up 4.1%, but the automaker had the highest year-to-date growth, 12.0%. Ford is the only Detroit-based automaker to post gains every month this year.
Two other automakers without a year-on-year drop for any month in 2013 are Hyundai and Mitsubishi.
Total U.S. light-vehicle output was 1,069,225 in October, up 11.0%. The 10-month total of 9,161,766 was 7.2% above like-2012.
Mexican plants assembled 282,162 units, a 1.1% increase from year-ago. The year-to date total was 2,499,125, a 3.2% improvement on prior-year.
Output from Canadian plants totaled 226,296 units, up 1.7%. Since January, 1,981,953 LVs were built, a 4.6% decline.
North American 10-month LV production totaled 13,642,844 units, 4.6% above year-ago.
