Modest Gain Seen in Q1 Output
As 2015 approaches, automakers have slated a modest 2.5% first-quarter production increase in North American plants.
In their first crack at production plans for January-March 2015, automakers have slated 4,392,300 cars and trucks for completion, a figure limited by the ongoing rollout of all-new products such as Ford’s F-150 pickup.
Also, Fiat Chrysler reportedly plans to close its Windsor, ON, Canada, van plant for three months beginning in mid-February for model changeover, while Ford’s Oakville, ON, Canada, facility is expected to operate at less than half its normal pace in January.
Thus, the industry will launch the new year with a modest 2.5% gain over the 4,285,900 vehicles built in like-2014, as truck production barely outpaces that of the prior year at 2,522,400 vs. 2,521,100 units. Chrysler truck production is set to run 9.7% below year-ago and Ford is estimated to have 8.4% less truck assemblies in the pipeline. GM is set to increase truck output 11.7% as it ramps up production of its all-new Colorado and Canyon midsize pickups.
Car production, on the other hand, is slated for a 6.0% gain to 1,869,900 units from 1,764,800 the prior year. Eight of 12 car builders have slated increases ranging from 6.2% at Volkswagen to 180.8% at fledgling Mazda that was just beginning operation a year ago. At the same time, Mercedes, which had not yet commenced car production in the U.S. at the start of 2014, plans to build 12,500 units in January-March.
Meanwhile, with the industry’s latest fourth-quarter revisions in place, it appears 2014 output will come to a close with 17,392,700 completions, a solid third-place finish that is 5.4% ahead of the 16,603,500 units built in 2013.
Although car output is set to trail that of the prior year by 0.6%, truck production is geared for a robust 9.9% year-over-year gain.
The Detroit Three are set to close the books on 9,136,900 vehicle assemblies in 2014, 2.7% ahead of the 8,895,100 units turned out in 2013, equaling a 52.5% production share against prior year’s 53.9%.
Transplants are scheduled finish 7,870,100 vehicles by year’s end, 8.2% ahead of the 7,275,000 cars and trucks built in 2013. That would give them a 45.2% share of 2014 North American production, up from 44.1% the year before.
Dedicated medium- and heavy-duty truck makers have 385,700 units booked for completion by Dec. 31, a 25.7% increase from 333,400 in 2013. They account for 2.3% of 2014 output compared with 2.0% a year earlier.
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