The international auto manufacturers association OICA finally got around to publishing its 2010 production statistics by country. Officially still provisional, but don’t expect material change. Publication of the all important by manufacturer part will probably take well into summer, but you, esteemed TTAC reader, are well ahead of the game.

Before we delve into the numbers, some kudos:

J.D. Power had announced last February that the world had quietly left carmageddon behind itself in 2010 and set a new record: 72 million light-vehicles were sold worldwide in 2010, a number never seen before, J.D. Power said. The echo at the time was utter disbelief, the story did not get a single comment on TTAC, and very little traction in the world’s media. Oh, well, good news don’t sell.

The 2010 OICA list bears J.D. Power’s observation out. OICA lists a total production of all motor vehicles, including commercial, of 77.6 million. A solid 25.8 percent jump from 2009. In the world according to OICA, a motorvehicle is anything with an engine that has four wheels or more and does not run on rails (or flies, but they don’t say that.)

The “light vehicle” count is an American invention. It encompasses cars, pick-ups, vans, SUVs etc, everything except heavy trucks and busses. 72 million light vehicles from J.D. Power and 77.6 million total units from OICA leave room for 5.2 million heavy trucks and busses, sounds about right. My usual remark at this point: In absence of a true light vehicle count, ALWAYS use the total vehicle count. NEVER use the car or passenger vehicle count. 72 or 77.6 million don’t make a big difference. 58 million “cars” made world-wide and more than 70 million light vehicles do make a difference – unless you are a total moron.

Speaking of which, I fully expect the Associated Press to announce today that the United States has produced fewer cars than places like India, Brazil or South Korea. It sure did, check the table: 2.7 million “cars” were made in the U.S. in 2010. In addition to 5 million “commercial” vehicles. But AP continues to ignore those when writing about China, so I expect that they give the U.S. equal treatment. Fair is fair. Why am I not holding my breath?

Of all the lists, this is the list I like the most. I don’t (well …) really care how many cars a country buys. The true measure of the strength of a national industry is how many cars it makes and sells, be it at home or in Timbuktu.

China rules this list with 18.3 million units made. Nearly twice as many as the runner-up, Japan, did produce.  Third on the podium, the U.S.A. Nearly all countries on this list recorded gains, some breathtaking. Only five, not really consequential markets, show losses.

OICA 2010 Provisional Production Statistics