Mexico Production, Sales See Gains in November

November light-vehicle output in Mexico rose 12.0% from year-ago to 241,953 units, with domestic builds inching up 2.7% and export production jumping 14.6%.

Detroit Three output climbed 14.8% to 120,155 units. Chrysler Mexico surged 69.5%, while Ford Mexico grew 5.5%. But General Motors Mexico slipped 0.5% to 45,258.

Most Asian auto makers saw increases in production in the month. Volume-leader Nissan Mexico led the pack, up 19.2% to 57,592 units, followed by Honda Mexico with a 4.1% uptick to 5,006. Toyota Mexico, which assembles the Tacoma small pickup, suffered a 14.2% drop.

Volkswagen Mexico, the lone European producer, saw output slip 1.6% to 43,763 units.

Mexico’s new-car sales in November jumped 11.0% from year-ago to 53,300 units, while light trucks fell 3.2% to 29,621. Total light-vehicle deliveries rose 5.5% to 82,921.

Detroit auto makers sold 16,500 new cars in the month, for a combined 12.1% gain on like-2010. GM saw the biggest jump, up 19.2% to 11,309. Chrysler posted a moderate 6.3% increase to 2,436, while Ford was down 6.3% to 2,755.

Asian car deliveries grew 16.9% to 20,441 vehicles, led by Subaru Mexico, up 126.9% on a modest 26 units. Nissan led in total volume with 13,545, up 16.4% from year-ago.

Mazda Mexico sales climbed 22.7%, while Suzuki Mexico’s surged 60.6%. However, Honda deliveries plunged 23.4% to 1,337.

Among individual nameplates, standouts included the Dodge Charger, up 256.5%; Honda Civic, up 138.8%; Toyota Corolla, up 92.6%; and Volkswagen Beetle, up 220.2%.

In the light-truck sector, the Detroit Three all posted sales losses. Ford was down 10.4%, followed by GM, down 6.6% and Chrysler, down 3.6%.

The Asian makers didn’t fare much better, with a combined 3.2% decline in light-truck deliveries. Mazda and Isuzu saw 6.2% and 115.8% gains, respectively, on low volumes. Honda deliveries fell 38.2%, while Nissan earned a slight 1.6% increase.

European brands on a percentage basis dominated the light-truck category with a combined 20.6% gain to 3,027 units, led by Jaguar Land Rover Mexico’s 70.2% surge. BMW Mexico and Audi Mexico also enjoyed a strong November, up 50.5% and 45.5%, respectively.

Light-truck models with impressive showings included the Jeep Compass, up 279.6%; Ford Explorer, up 112.0%’ and Honda Pilot, up 89.9%.

Through November, Mexico production was up 15.1% to 2,490,026 units. Sales of light vehicles rose 10.5%, compared with year-ago, to 788,638.