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 automakers built 1,481,161 light vehicles in September, 6.4% above last year, resulting in the highest output for the month since 1999.
Several manufacturers had double-digit percent gains from last year, leading to record-high September results according to WardsAuto data. Subaru’s production soared 42.8% to 31,452 LVs. Booming production in Mexico lifted Volkswagen’s North America number 25.5% to 50,711 units.
Nissan achieved its ninth double-digit increase this year with an 18.0% gain in September. The 9-month production total was 19.8% higher than last year.
Honda’s production rose 11.3% in September, but over the first nine months of the year, output was up just 0.5%. Similarly, Kia posted a 10.4% gain for the month and a 0.7% improvement year-to-date.
Hyundai built 35,709 units last month, 10.8% above same-month 2013. However, the automaker’s 9-month total was 3.2% below the same period of 2013.
BMW, Mercedes and Tesla also had record results for September, WardsAuto estimates.
Ford was the only automaker to post a decline from last year. The 14.5% drop primarily was due to the closing of the Dearborn, MI, plant as it was retooled for the all-new aluminum-bodied '15 F-150 pickup.
Chrysler’s September output grew 14.5%, and General Motors’ production was nearly the same as last year. Together, the Detroit Three built 788,247 LVs in the month, down 0.6% from prior-year.
North American car production totaled 627,789 in September, up 5.3% from same-month 2013. Year-to-date, car builds were down 1.4%.
Light-truck production continued to grow, rising 7.3% to 853,372 for the month. Over the nine months of this year, output reached 7,421,372 units, a 10.8% gain over the same period in 2013.
Production in Mexico grew 10.9% from last year to 265,414 units, a record high for September. Year-to-date, 2,378,182 LVs have been built, a 7.4% increase.
Canadian builds rose 2.9% to 216,607 units last month. Output from January to September declined 0.6% to 1,745,908.
Monthly LV production in the U.S. was up 6.1% to 999,140 units. A total of 8,611,667 were built through the first nine months of 2014, up 6.1% from prior-year.
North American light-vehicle production through September reached 12,735,757 units, 5.3% higher than in 2013.
