Automakers Add Q4 Production

After reviewing their latest sales and inventory figures, automakers boosted already robust fourth-quarter North American production plans by 2.2%, putting October-December car and truck output on track to hit 4,124,000 units – fourth-best for the period.

The industry’s best Q4 performance was 1999, when 4,429,811 vehicles were built, including record-output in the U.S. (3,273,327 units) and Canada (775,288).

In a sign of the country’s increased role in North American production, Mexican plants are scheduled to build 793,100 vehicles in October-December, a new benchmark more than double the 381,196 units assembled in 1999 and 5.5% ahead of the record 751,808 turned out just a year ago.

Rebounding demand has prompted automakers to boost Q4 truck output by 2.8%, or 64,200 units, while car production is up just 1.3%, or 22,500 units.

Pacing the industry, several makers boosted their Q4 output plans, led by a 33.2% increase at Chrysler, where a 22,900-unit hike in light-truck output was tempered by a 700-unit cut in car assemblies.

Much of Chrysler’s gain comes via a 13,400-unit October truck overbuild, with November and December output plans increased by 4,500 and 5,000 units, respectively.

Ford’s fourth-quarter slate also boasts an additional 6,400 trucks, most coming this month.

That is more than offset by 16,100 few cars, the bulk of which is distributed between October and November, for a net reduction of 9,700 vehicles.

General Motors added 20,100 car and 15,200 truck assemblies in the quarter, a net gain of 35,300 vehicles. The bulk of GM’s increase – 19,500 cars and 11,400 trucks – is set for December.

Likewise, Nissan’s car assemblies are up 11,600 units, spread across all three months, while an estimated 5,300-unit October overbuild accounts for the bulk of its 8,300 additional truck assemblies in the fourth quarter.

Toyota is boosting car output by 5,200 units and trucks by 5,000. The majority of the car increase is set for this month, while most the additional truck assemblies are scheduled for December.

Industry output for the year now stands at 16,491,900 vehicles, up from 16,324,600 a month ago, 4.4% ahead of the 15,797,800 units built in 2012.

Compared with 2012, truck production is up 5.4%, to 9,319,800, while car output rises 3.1%, to 7,172,100 units. 

The Detroit Three are expected to 2013 at 104.9% of the prior-year’s completions.

Transplants should run at 104.5% of 2012 levels.

Dedicated medium- and heavy-duty truck makers are set to build 91.6% of 2012’s volume.

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