Asian Carmakers Could Set N. America Output Records

North American light vehicle production this year won't come close to the record 17.2 million units built in 2000. But LMC Automotive tells Automotive News that eight automakers five of them Asian are poised to set their own company output records in the region this year.

LMC projects a record year for Toyota (+42% to 1.78 million vehicles), Honda (48% to 1.63 million units), Nissan (12% to 1.30 million units), Volkswagen (34% to 735,000 units), Hyundai-Kia (18% to 721,000 units), BMW (4% 287,000 units), Daimler (16% to 189,000) and Subaru (10% to 177,000 units).

LMC predicts North American production of 14.9 million vehicles this year, including a 2% increase in the fourth quarter to 3.5 million units. The research firm expects full-year capacity utilization in the region to rise about 10 points to 85%.