Editor's note: This story is part of the WardsAuto digital archive, which may include content that was first published in print, or in different web layouts.
Mexico vehicle production in August jumped 12.8% to 262,779 units, buoyed by a 13.8% rise in builds for exports and a 9.2% upswing for the domestic market.
Detroit auto makers’ output climbed 14.4%, compared with year-ago, to 116,394 units, with Chrysler Mexico and General Motors Mexico output surging 39.2% and 22.1%, respectively.
Ford Mexico’s builds slid 27.2% as the auto maker geared up for production of the new ’13 Fusion sedan at its Hermosillo assembly plant.
Among Asian auto makers, Nissan Mexico saw a 0.1% uptick to 60,780 units, while Honda Mexico output soared 53.6% to 5,522. Toyota Mexico builds fell 5.2% to 4,872.
Volkswagen, the lone European auto maker producing in significant volume in Mexico, posted a 25.0% increase to 62,331 units.
Light-vehicle sales last month rose 6.0% to 83,205 units. Light-trucks grew 15.7% to 30,254, while passenger cars inched up 1.1% to 52,951.
Detroit Three car deliveries jumped 18.4% to 17,973 units. GM led both on volume and a percentage basis with a 27.5% surge to 12,185. Chrysler was up 8.7%, but Ford slipped 1.3%.
Car sales by Asian auto makers dropped 10.7% to 19,084 units. Volume leader Nissan reported a 16.4% decline to 12,912, while Toyota and Honda soared 39.0% and 25.2%, respectively.
Standouts among individual car nameplates in August included the Chevrolet Cruze, up 115.6%; Toyota Camry, up 213.7%; Peugeot Partner, up 220.2%; and Nissan Altima, up 89.4%.
In the light-truck segment, Detroit Three sales were off a combined 2.1% to 13,480 units. GM and Chrysler were up 22.1% and 11.0%, respectively, while Ford was down 23.7%.
Asian auto makers saw truck deliveries climb 32.5% to 13,374 units. Nissan posted a 23.7% gain to 6,604. Honda and Toyota jumped 138.5% and 43.1%, respectively.
Individual light-truck nameplates with a strong showing in August included the Jeep Compass, up 67.8%; Ford Edge, up 240.4%; Chevrolet Colorado, up 152.2%; and Toyota RAV4, up 169.5%.
