Auto Production Down Almost 11%

Despite brisk sales that will make 2001 among the best years in history, North American production of cars and trucks to date is down almost 11% from 2000.

Including estimates for this week’s production, 15,809,950 vehicles have been built in the United States, Canada and Mexico, 10.8% less than the 17,720,284 a year ago, according to Ward’s Automotive Reports.

Production of passenger cars is down 13.1%, and truck production is off 8.8% from 2000.

Auto makers have said they are reducing production in anticipation of lighter demand in the first quarter of 2002.