Ford said production of its Super Duty trucks exceeded 39,000 units in August, the highest monthly total since March 2006, while F-150 output reached its strongest level in two years. The automaker is rebuilding dealer inventories after fires at aluminum supplier Novelis’s Oswego, New York, facility disrupted manufacturing in September and November last year. The disruption is expected to cost Ford $1.5 billion this year. F-150 production totaled 57,504 units in August, according to Ford’s data, while output of F-Series pickups has risen each month this year. Rob Kaffl, Ford’s head of U.S. sales, said dealers should begin seeing the increase over the next 30, 60 and 90 days. Dealers currently hold about 40 days of pickup inventory, and Ford is targeting 50 to 60 days, below the industry’s historical 75-to-90-day range. The production recovery comes as Ford posted its eighth consecutive month of year-over-year U.S. sales declines. Total August sales fell 10.3%, while F-Series sales declined 10.9% through August, including a 1.2% drop in August. Ford estimated the broader U.S. new-vehicle market contracted 6% during the month and cited model discontinuations, lower fleet-rental volume and the shift of Labor Day into September as additional factors affecting comparisons. Ford’s retail market share, excluding fleet transactions, was 11.7% in August.