North American automakers produced 1,379,675 light vehicles in November, 4.0% higher than same-month last year.
The total included 595,141 cars and 784,534 light trucks. The light-truck tally was the highest of any November in WardsAuto’s records, 8.6% higher than its previous record last year.
The top three Japanese automakers each posted record November production. Honda beat last year’s total by 2.4% with 145,605 LVs produced. Toyota’s output totaled 145,969, up 2.8%. Nissan surpassed last November by 12.3%, building 130,203 units.
Through the first 11 months of this year, Honda produced just 27,381 more units than Toyota. WardsAuto/AutomotiveCompass forecasts Toyota will build more vehicles than Honda in December, but it won’t be enough to pull ahead for full-year 2013.
The Detroit Three built 767,316 LVs last month, with gains over 2012 by each automaker. Chrysler had the greatest growth, 13.8%, up to 235,910 units. Ford’s 240,115 builds was a 2.2% increase. WardsAuto estimates General Motors’ production totaled 291,291, up 3.0%.
Monthly production in the U.S. showed a fourth consecutive year-over-year gain, up 7.6% to 901,677 units. Year-to-date, LV builds totaled 10,056,018, a 7.2% increase from like-2012.
In Canada, output declined 0.1% from year-ago, to 222,534 units. Year-to-date output 2,207,288 of units is 4.2% below like-2012.
Mexican plants made 252,663 LVs last month, down 3.8%. January-November production totaled 2,751,788, 2.6% above same-period 2012.
North American light-vehicle production through November was 15,015,094 units, up 4.5% from year-ago.
