Mexico Sales, Production Heat Up in June

June light-vehicle output in Mexico jumped 14.9% from year-ago to 245,977 units, due largely to a 22.0% spike in domestic-market production.

Output for export climbed 13.2% for the month as Detroit Three production swelled 7.3%, with Chrysler Mexico and Ford Mexico posting gains of 41.7% and 8.7%, respectively. General Motors Mexico output slumped 9.8%.

Alfa Romeo began offering Giulietta subcompact in Mexico in June.

Related document: Ward’s Mexico Production by Vehicle Line

Most Japanese auto makers saw build rates fall in the month. Honda Mexico fared the worst, as its output plummeted 47.5% vs. year-ago to 2,608. Toyota Mexico builds were off 0.9%, while volume-leader Nissan Mexico bucked the trend with a 34.5% production surge.

Mexico’s new-car deliveries soared 21.2% to 44,418 units, while light-truck demand rose a modest 3.0% to 23,777.

Related document: Ward’s Mexico Car and Light Truck Sales by Line and Brand

The Detroit Three enjoyed a combined 24.4% year-over-year passenger-car sales boost in June to 14,124 units. All three posted gains, with GM up 20.4% to 9,587; Ford jumping 49.9% to 2,383; and Chrysler climbing 19.9% to 2,154.

Asian auto makers posted poor results with the exception of Nissan, which saw car deliveries jump 18.0% to 11,358 units. Honda and Toyota recorded declines of 0.7% and 25.6%, respectively.

Several car nameplates saw gains in June, including the Ford Focus (up 113.0%), Toyota Avanaza (141.1%), Fiat 500 (240.9%) and Volkswagen Jetta (194.8%).

New to Mexico’s passenger-car segment in June was Fiat Mexico’s Alfa Romeo brand. Three models debuted, including the Alfa Romeo 159, which saw three deliveries in its inaugural month, followed by the Mito with two units sold and the Giulietta with one.

Chrysler was the only one Detroit auot maker in the light-truck sector to post an increase, up 18.3% to 4,333. GM and Ford deliveries in June were off 3.1% and 3.8%, respectively.

Asian makers outperformed their U.S.-based counterparts last month. Nissan’s light-truck sales grew 2.4% to 4,780 units, while Mazda Mexico posted a 47.6% gain to 998.

European light-truck sales rose 6.2% to 2,653, paced by BMW Mexico’s 84.8% jump to 303 units.

Models with impressive showings in June included the Jeep Compass, up 268.0%, Ford Transit, up 129.1% and Nissan Frontier, up 524.6%.

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