North America Production Flat in February

In February, North America light-vehicle production came in even with year-ago at 1,451,693 units. A 15.5% decrease in car output was balanced by 8.5% growth in light-truck builds, which accounted for 70.1% of the region’s total.

Automakers in the U.S. slowed production 1.1% to 945,778 light vehicles.

Results varied among manufacturers: Toyota was down 4.15% to 103,577 units, while Honda boosted production 5.0% to 109,978 and Ford was up 4.2% to 210,507. Kia (-11.8%), Nissan (-13.5%) and Subaru (-11.2%) all saw double-digit declines.

With a sluggish start to the year, the U.S. was 2.1% behind 2-months 2017 at 1,834,440 builds through February.

In Canada, production dipped 5.6% to 176,137 for the month. Both car (-3.8%) and light-truck (-6.4%) output fell behind year-ago.

FCA’s Canada total soared an estimated 21.2% to 54,094 units, helped by a 67.6% surge in Chrysler Pacifica assemblies.

Honda production of the CR-V and Civic increased 1.2% to 35,171 units, and Ford was up 5.8% to 22,169.

Year-to-date, automakers in Canada built 9.0% fewer LVs than year-ago at 344,109.

In contrast, Mexico production ramped up 6.8% to 329,778. Light trucks soared 49.8% to 204,885 units, accounting for 20% of the region’s light-truck total.

Big gains came from Toyota, which climbed 25.1% to 10,925 units; Ford, up 33.9% to 26,665; and Kia, improving 79.3% to 22,300.

Growing through the first two months, Mexico’s total outpaced same-period 2017 by 7.2% with 633,202 LVs.

Looking at the whole region, results were mixed. Ford saw a 6.7% increase to 266,324 units and Kia was up 42,242, while Nissan’s total shrank 18.5% to 128,486 and Hyundai tumbled 30.3% to 21,500.

CUV by far was the biggest segment group in the region, with 512,844 units built in February by 14 manufacturers, and up 14.3% year-to-date. SUVs also saw a 14.4% increase to 132,032, while luxury cars dwindled 16.5% to 36,745.

Overall, automakers in North America built 2,811,751 units through February, slipping 1.1% from 2-month 2017.

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