North America Light-Vehicle Production Up 3.6% in November

North America light-vehicle production rose 3.6% from like-2015 to 1,493,423 units in November. Increases in both car (+3.1%) and light-truck (+3.8%) output brought the region to a best-ever November total.

Gains were seen across many segments, including small car (+10.0%), CUV (+5.2%), and pickup (5.5%). Luxury-car production saw the biggest increase, jumping 12.3% above year-ago with 53,664 builds, perhaps ramping up for holiday sales.

Automakers in the U.S. witnessed 3.4% growth from year-ago, with 957,339 builds. Slowdowns at FCA (-16.4%) and Ford (-7.4%) assembly plants were offset by big gains by GM (+25.2%) and Toyota (+19.5%).

Production of both the Ford C-Max and Buick Lacrosse more than doubled in November, helping boost U.S. car output above year-ago for the first time since August.

Year-to-date production in the U.S. inched 1.2% past same-period 2015 to 11,080,974.

Mexico production soared 8.2% above like-2015 with 320,141 LVs, continuing a 6-month stretch of gains and recording a best-ever November total. GM and Nissan, the two biggest producers in Mexico, saw 7.9% and 5.2% growth, respectively.

Through November, Mexico output was 1.2% above same-period 2015 with 3,202,922 units.

Production was sluggish in Canada, slipping 1.9% below same-month 2015 with 215,943 LVs. Light-truck production ticked up 0.9% to 141,860 units, but the car total fell 7.0%.

Despite the slow month, Canada’s 11-month tally of 2,200,671 LVs outpaced like-2015 by 5.3%.

Several automakers posted best-ever November totals, including Honda (+6.5%), Nissan (+2.5%) and Toyota (15.5%). Kia witnessed the biggest gain, rising 61.3% above year-ago with 45,897 assemblies.

Overall production in North America was up 1.7% through November at 16,484,567 cars and light trucks.

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