World Auto Output May Grow 2% in 2013

Automakers are expected to produce 82.4 million cars and light trucks globally this year compared with an estimated 80.6 million units in 2012, according to the Financial Times.

The newspaper bases its forecast on projections from five forecasting groups, which predict 2013 auto output will climb 5% in the U.S. and 10% in China.

Worldwide auto output climbed 5% in 2012. The FT says production growth will slow to 2% this year because of projected declines of 7% in Japan and 3% in Europe.

Analysts predict automakers will produce 19.6 million vehicles in China this year compared with 18.3 million units in Europe (including Russia and Turkey). That would make 2013 the first year ever that China surpasses Europe in light-vehicle output, the newspaper notes.

China's estimated 2013 production amounts to nearly 24% of the world's total, up from less than 4% in 2000.