North American Light-Vehicle Output Up 2.3% in April

Automakers in North America assembled 1,525,231 light vehicles in April, a 2.3% boost over year-ago.

Canada production soared 16.3% over like-2015 with 206,289 LVs built. Fueling much of the growth was FCA’s Windsor, ON, plant, which was closed last spring for retooling, but where nearly 25,000 minivans left the line this April.

Year-to-date, output in Canada reached 831,709, a 16.3% increase over same-period 2015.

Production in the U.S saw a 1.8% uptick over year-ago, with a total of 1,050,642 builds, the biggest April tally since 2002. In the first four months of 2016, U.S. production rose 3.7% to 4,055,598 units.

WardsAuto estimates assembly of Tesla’s new Model X CUV in Fremont, CA, increased 200% over prior-month’s total to nearly 3,000 units in its eighth month of production.

Mexico witnessed another slow month with 268,300 assemblies, falling 4.8% below year-ago. Car assembly at FCA’s Toluca plant remained offline.

Several manufacturers hit record-high April totals. Honda production outpaced last year by 4.4% with 169,843 units and Nissan posted a 13.5% gain with 158,590 LVs. Subaru plants assembled 31,233 units, a 20.9% jump above last year.

General Motors posted its biggest April volume since 2005 with 334,221 units, a 12.9% improvement over year-ago.

Car production in the region continued to shrink (-5.4%), while light-truck assembly reached a best-ever April result of 939,115 units.

Year-to-date, manufacturers in North America have built 5,958,537 LVs, up 3.6% over same-period 2015. 

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