NorthAm 2022 auto build estimate falls further

Automotive production in North America for 2022 could be lower than previously expected.

North American auto production this year is expected to be 14.35mn vehicles, according to new estimates from AutoForecast Solutions, down by 80,000 vehicles from the prior estimate.

The firm's original production estimate for 2022 was 15.27mn vehicles, indicating an overall loss of 920,000 vehicles so far this year.

AutoForecast estimates production of 851,000 vehicles in North American have been lost and are unrecoverable so far in 2022, with the production of another 500,000 vehicles considered at risk.

Shortages of semiconductors and other parts are primarily responsible lost auto production that began last year with the loss of 2.29mn vehicles.

Many regional automakers will be taking down production for more than a week at the end of the month between the Christmas and New Year's holidays, further hampering their ability to make up this year's lost production.

By Rye Druzin