Editor's note: This story is part of the WardsAuto digital archive, which may include content that was first published in print, or in different web layouts.
North American auto makers produced 1,326,963 light vehicles in February, up 0.7% from year-ago and 2.5% above the previous month.
Car output totaled 598,121 units, up 2.3% from like-2012. Light-truck builds declined 0.7% to 728,842.
February’s result raised year-to-date production to 2,621,849, 3.4% above like-2012.
Last month’s lukewarm increase sharply contrasted with the double-digit gains of 2012, when full-year production finished 18% ahead of like-2011 as auto makers ramped up to meet an unexpected surge in demand and to refill dealer lots following weather-related catastrophes that slashed stock levels.
The Detroit Three built 697,740 LVs during the month. Ford saw a year-over-year increase of 14.0%, assembling 241,408 units. General Motors dropped 9.6% to 268,601. Chrysler output slipped 4.4% to 187,731.
U.S. production totaled 887,517 units in February, a 1.6% uptick from year-ago. The year-to-date total of 1,756,744 was 4.6% ahead of like-2012.
Monthly production in Canada decreased 5.5% to 193,054 units. Year-to-date builds of 376,176 were 9.2% below like-2012.
Mexican plants made 246,392 LVs last month, up 2.3% compared with year-ago. Output in the first two months of 2013 reached 488,929 units, beating like-2012 by 10.5%.
