North American Light-Vehicle Production Slips 1.5% in May
Increased light-truck output in the region was not enough to outweigh the 9.1% drop in car production.
June 17, 2016
North America light-vehicle production fell 1.5% from same-month 2015 in May to 1,457,172 units. Increased light-truck output (+4.1%) in the region was not enough to compensate for the 9.1% drop in car production.
Mexico witnessed the biggest loss, falling 3.6% to 276,266 light vehicles. FCA car production there was down 76.5% and Nissan light-truck output fell 29.5%.
Year-to-date, Mexico’s total slipped 4.6% below same-period 2015 to 1,347,496 units.
Production also slowed in the U.S., tumbling 3.1% to 982,254 LVs. However, compared with the same period in 2015, production was up 2.6% this year to 5,049,186 units, a 67.4% share of the region’s tally.
Output in Canada climbed 11.2% over year-ago to 198,652 units, recording a fifth straight month of double-digit growth. Light-truck production in the country rose 34.9% to 131,406, with each manufacturer seeing improvement.
Through May, production in Canada was up 14.6% to 1,024,679 LVs.
Outcomes were varied among automakers in the region. Hyundai production soared 27.0%, while Mazda (-11.3%) and Volkswagen (-15.7%) witnessed steep declines.
Honda increased production 6.4% for a record May result of 169,526 units. Light-truck assembly was the catalyst for growth; the first U.S.-built Ridgeline pickups added to the total, along with a 116% increase in HR-V production.
Opening its second assembly plant in North America, Kia began production of updated Fortes at its ultra-high-tech plant in Monterrey, Mexico.
Despite a slow month, LV production in North America was up 2.6% for the first five months of 2016 with 7,421,361 builds.
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