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Automakers in North America built 1,630,407 light vehicles in June, a 5.5% improvement over same-month 2015.
Canada witnessed the biggest increase, rising 9.8% above year-ago with 218,633 units. The surge in light-truck production (+24.1%) more than offset the 11.1% drop in car assemblies.
Through the first half of the year 1,238,468 LVs were built in Canada, outpacing same-period 2015 by 13.3%.
Production in the U.S. increased 5.7% over year-ago, with 1,095,967 units. Car production was up 2.5% for the month, but the 6-month total was still 5.5% behind same-period 2015. Light-truck production improved 7.5% to reach its highest June total ever, with 716,649 units.
Year-to-date, U.S. LV production was up 2.4% with 6,100,786 builds.
Mexico recorded its best-ever June total of 315,807, despite a 2.5% decrease in car production. The growth was in light-truck assembly, which rose 9.2% to 134,551 units. Honda light-truck output increased 43.4% and Nissan improved 17.3%.
Still, for the first six months of the year Mexico production slipped 3.6% to 1,660,663 units.
June was a strong month for many automakers in the region; Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai and Kia recorded best-ever June totals. Toyota built 188,663 LVs to reach its highest single-month total since beginning production in North America in 1989.
FCA car output tumbled 35.9%, while light-truck builds grew 8.2%. General Motors and Honda witnessed growth in both vehicle types to increase assemblies 11.6% and 11.3%, respectively.
Overall, through June North American LV production was 2.6% ahead of same-period 2015 with 8,999,917 units. Luxury-car was the only car segment to beat 2015, growing 15.1% to 277,843 units. Each segment in light trucks witnessed growth in the first half of 2016: CUVs were up 2.7%, SUVs grew 4.0%, vans soared 27.3% and pickups increased 17.3%.
