MichiganRadio

Automakers Increase Production ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) - General Motors is expected to announce this week that it is boosting production of vehicles. Most of the other car companies operating in the U.S. have already done the same.

The production increases are partly a response to the success of the cash for clunkers program, which created a shortage of some fuel-efficient cars and trucks.

Consumer confidence also may be picking up a little.

Ford in particular is betting demand will increase in the second half of this year. The automaker plans to increase production of cars and trucks by 18 percent this quarter, and 33 percent by the last quarter of the year, compared to the same time periods last year.

Toyota and Honda are adding extra shifts to some U.S. plants, and Chrysler increased overtime at Jeep plants in Toledo and a pickup truck plant in Warren.

July was the best sales month of the year for U.S. automakers, but they are still on track to sell far fewer vehicles than last year.
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