Bucking recent trends, the reduction in the first-quarter 2018 production outlook will result more from cuts in trucks, as well as in total output in Mexico.
Nearly all manufacturers are slated for year-over-year shortfalls in Q1 2018, with the few exceptions being those that recently have added capacity and new products to their North American footprint.
U.S. light-vehicle sales next year likely will resume the 16.8 million-unit annual pace, or lower, 2017 was tracking before the results of the previous two months lifted the year-end trajectory to 17 million.
How much inventory automakers are loaded with in December could determine the strength of a year-end sales surge to lower dealer stocks and shore up market shares.
Despite an August push on the retail end by GM to pare excess stocks, the rest of the industry for the most part did not follow suit and dealer inventory heading into September remains an estimated 15% to 20% too high...