More Trucks, Fewer Cars in Q3 Output

Following cuts last month, the latest production schedule revisions bring little change in overall Q3 North American output volume, but tilts toward more light trucks and fewer cars.

Related document: North America Production Schedule Q3

The slate now calls for completion of 3,443,300 vehicles in July-September, down just 5,900 units from a month ago, and that includes an estimated 10,200-vehicle underbuild in July, half of which is to be made up in August and September.

However, the plan now includes an additional 44,500 trucks (mostly light-duty) and 50,400 fewer cars earlier planned for the quarter, largely due to adjustments at General Motors.

GM in July built 19,400 more light trucks than planned at the outset, but 24,200 fewer cars. Likewise, 4,800 fewer cars and 2,300 more trucks are logged for completion in August, while plants are set to build 11,900 fewer cars and 3,700 more trucks in September.

Toyota also plans to build 11,800 more light trucks in Q3 than earlier planned, as it accelerates its post-tsunami production recovery in North America.

Chrysler is set to build an additional 8,700 units in the quarter, including 3,000 more cars and 5,700 more trucks. To be sure, output of small cars such as Chevy’s hot-selling Cruze and Ford’s capacity-constrained Fiesta and Focus, along with the inventory-short Japanese makes, will continue full-bore for the remainder of the quarter.

With sales up and prognosticators forecasting a continued tightening of used light-truck supply through the end of 2012, auto makers likely are anticipating demand for new models will continue in the near future.

Overall, the Detroit Three account for 57.4% of the 10,101,900 vehicles to be assembled in the first nine months of the year, up from prior-year’s 55.5%.

Transplants’ share dips to 40.4% from 42.9%, and dedicated medium- and heavy-duty truck makers, 2.2% as against 1.6%

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