N. American Auto Output to Dip 1% in First Quarter

Carmakers are expected to build 3.90 million cars and light trucks in North America from January through March compared with 3.96 million units in the same period of 2012, Automotive News reports.

LMC Automotive tells the newspaper one reason for the decline is the number of plants that will be idled for model changeovers in early 2013. The research group also notes that year-earlier output was boosted by Japanese automakers replenishing inventory after natural disasters in Asia.

Among the region's major carmakers, LMC predicts first-quarter production increases as Ford (+11% to 737,000 vehicles), Toyota (+1% to 476,000 units), Nissan (+14% to 399,000 units), Volkswagen (+25% to 211,000 units) and Hyundai-Kia (+7% to 184,000 units).

LMC expects North American output to lag the first quarter of 2012 at General Motors (-12% to 762,000 vehicles), Chrysler (-9% to 542,000 units) and Honda (-9% to 420,000 units). BMW and Daimler's Mercedes-Benz Cars are likely to cut production 22% to 64,000 vehicles and 7% to 47,000 units, respectively.

LMC forecasts that the region's full-year light-vehicle output will grow to 15.8 million vehicles in 2013 from an estimated 15.3 million units this year. The firm predicts that eight automakers will set new production records in the region in 2012: BMW, Daimler, Honda, Hyundai-Kia, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota and VW.