By Paul Kiernan
July 12, 2010
Production rose 102% at Mexican auto plants last month, to 206,195 cars and light trucks, the Mexican Auto Industry Association, or AMIA, said Monday. Exports soared 109% to 177,575 units, led by demand from the U.S., Canada and Latin America. Mexico also shipped thousands of cars to Africa and Asia, where its exports had little or no presence last year. Domestic sales remained fairly feeble, growing 7% in June from a year ago to 59,909 vehicles.
"The dynamism of Mexican exports explains the significant increase in production, with growth (even) from levels prior to the crisis," AMIA said.
The auto industry represents Mexico's biggest single manufacturing sector. The U.S. recession led to a plunge in output in 2009, and a number of local assembly plants closed temporarily as a result of curtailed demand.
The rebound in output has led Mexico's recovery in economic activity this year. The National Statistics Institute reported Monday that May industrial production rose 8.4% from a year ago, with manufacturing up 14.2%.
