Automobile production in Mexico fell 34.3 percent in August compared to the same month of last year, though both auto production figures and auto exports improved in August over July, announced the Mexican Association of the Automobile Industry (Amia) Tuesday.
While down from a year ago, Mexico's vehicle output rose by 23.5 percent in August from July, while exports, totaling 111,263 vehicles, rose 22.4 percent in August from July from July.
Explaining the improvement in August's vehicle production and exports compared to July's, Amia's president Eduardo Solis said that some of the exports completed in August due to orders generated by the US' “cash for clunkers” program. Most Mexican car production is exported to the US.
Mr. Solis added, “The Mexican consumer continues being very cautions with its durable goods purchases.”
The Amia maintains its forecast that by the end of 2009, the automobile industry in Mexico will see a 30 percent drop in production compared to the previous year.