N. America Makers Plan Fourth-Best Q2 Output

North American vehicle output is scheduled at 4,362,600 units in April-June, 0.3% ahead of prior-year’s 4,348,700 completions and just 9.5% less than the record 4,823,816 cars and trucks built in second-quarter 2000.

At an average daily rate of 70,365 units on each of 62 work days, planned second-quarter production ranks fourth-best behind the 79,079 units built on each of 61 days in like-2000.

In 2013, Q2 output ranked fifth-best, averaging 69,027 units on each of 63 days.

With consumers continuing to purchases light trucks at a faster pace than cars, auto makers are responding with a 1.7% increase in truck output to 2,488,500 units in the second quarter compared with a year ago, while trimming car assemblies by 1.5% to 1,874,100.

That the industry’s initial crack at second-quarter output planning is not even more robust reflects some caution on the part of the producers regarding the traditional inventory buildup in support of the spring and summer selling seasons.

With a raft of winter storms taking a hefty whack at first-quarter production, January-March output now is expected to wrap up at some 4,092,800 units. That equals a whopping 158,000 fewer vehicles than had been scheduled. Although the bulk of that loss, 110,500 units, occurred in January, the estimated February tally also was 34,500 units shy of plan, due largely to inclement weather. March now is slated for 13,000 fewer assemblies.    

Although Ford has yet to officially release its second-quarter slate, WardsAuto forecasts the company will build some 820,200 cars and trucks in period, 0.4% more than the 816,700 completions racked up in like 2013.

Ford car output is seen climbing 1.6%, while truck production is forecast for a decline of less than 1,000 units.

Meanwhile, General Motors plans a 5.7% year-over-year boost in April-June production, reaching 890,000 units compared with prior-year’s 842,000 completions.

Truck output will climb by 31,900 units, or 6.1%, compared with a projected increase of 5.0%, or 16,100 units, for cars.

Fiat Chrysler, having suffered only a 3,000-unit first-quarter shortfall, is setting its sights on the production of 647,800 vehicles in the second quarter, or 9,400 units less than it built in like-2013. 

That decline is due mostly to a 21.1% falloff in U.S. output of aging midsize models and a 17% decline in scheduled output of the Fiat 500 built in Mexico. Fiat Chrysler’s car shortfall is partially offset by an overall 2.6% hike on truck assemblies. Increased production of CUVs is more than offsetting a 14.3% decline in April-June minivan output.

Among the transplants, Nissan plans to follow up an estimated 10.6% first-quarter increase over year-ago with a 10.5% hike in April-June. As with other auto makers, Nissan’s emphasis remains focused on trucks, where a 31.6% jump in January-March production is being followed by a 24.3% rise in scheduled April-June output.

Industry output in first-half 2014 is slated to reach 8,455,400 units, some 0.2% ahead of like-2013’s 8,434,700 completions.

Fiat Chrysler, Ford and GM together account for 4,536,600 vehicles, 1.3% more than the 4,477,200 units turned out in January-June a year ago.

Transplants are set to build to 99% of their prior-year output in the first half, reaching 3,756,800 vs. the 3,794,200 cars and trucks built in like-2013.

Dedicated medium- and heavy-duty truck makers are poised to assemble 162,000 vehicles in January-June, or 99.2% of the 163,300 built a year earlier.

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