North American Light-Vehicle Output Finishes 2013 at 13-Year High

North American light-vehicle production ended 2013 on a solid note as output for the entire year finished at a 13-year high, based on WardsAuto data.

Automakers produced 1,049,294 light vehicles in December, including 435,862 cars and 613,432 light trucks, resulting in a 3.8% increase from the same month last year.

December output brought the full-year 2013 total to 16,074,821, up 4.5% from 2012 and nearly double 2009, when the market was deep in the recession. The yearly figure reached its highest point since 2000, when there were 89 plants in operation compared with 2013’s 69 count.

With most plants already currently near or above capacity, WardsAuto forecasts a smaller increase of 3% for 2014.

Car production for the year increased 1.8% to 7,084,136. Output of light trucks reached 8,990,685, rising 6.7% to meet growing demand of the vehicle type. North American sales of light trucks grew 9.9%, while car sales increased 4.6%.

The Detroit Three increased production 5.3% in 2013. Ford recorded the greatest growth, 9.4%, building 2,924,096 LVs. Chrysler’s output totaled 2,496,184, leading to a 5.8% gain. WardsAuto estimates General Motors built 3,284,564 units, up 1.5%.

LV production in the U.S. totaled 726,957 in December, up 6.6% from like-2012. The 12-month total grew 7.2%, reaching 10,793,923.

Mexican plants built 160,541 LVs in December, a 10.1% drop from same-month 2012. However, for all of 2013, Mexico was up 1.7% to a record 2,910,937 units.

Canada, while up 7.7% with 161,796 units for the month, was the only country to see a decline for the full year. Output totaled 2,369,961 LVs in 2013, down 3.4% from 2012.

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