Weak European Output Will Hold Global Gain to 2%

Light-vehicle production worldwide will grow to a record 83.4 million units this year from 81.7 units in 2012, LMC Automotive Ltd. predicts.

China and southeastern Asia will post the largest gains in 2013: 10% to 20 million vehicles and 12% to 4.3 million units, respectively. The Oxford, England-based research firm expects India's output to rise a relatively muted 4% to 4.2 million vehicles.

South American production will climb 6% year over year to 4.6 million vehicles, thanks to an expected 8% increase in Brazil, according to LMC. It adds that North American output will advance 3% to 15.9 million vehicles this year, approaching the 16 million-unit level last achieved in 2007.

Production is projected to climb 5% to 7 million vehicles in central and eastern Europe in 2013. About half the gain will come from Russia. But western Europe will be the primary drag on global output with a 9% drop to 11.6 million units, the forecasting firm says.