Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., March 9 Vehicle production this week in
the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 327,778 units, up
from the 309,389 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's
Automotive Reports.
    Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now
totals 2,934,806 vehicles, down 19.7 percent from like-2000's pace.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 238,064 vehicles this
week, up 5.7 percent from the 225,227 cars and trucks built last week.  To
date, calendar 2001 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 2,070,980 units,
down 22.3 percent from the 2,665,491 vehicles built in like-2000.
    This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 51,486, an 11.3
percent increase from the 46,256 units assembled last week.  Estimated
calendar-2001 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 512,622 units, down
21.7 percent compared to the 654,865 vehicles produced in like-2000.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S.,
General Motors Corp. accounted for 31.5 percent; Ford Motor Co., 29.5 percent;
Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.8 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.8
percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.4 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 2.4
percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.1 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive
Inc., 1.8 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. America Inc., 1.7 percent;
AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.8 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of
DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.0 percent; and
other manufacturers, 1.5 percent.

                       NORTH AMERICA FACTORY PRODUCTION
             This Week  Last Week  Same Week   To Date  To Date   Pct. Change
             Estimated   Revised    Last Year   2001      2000       2001
                                                                   vs. 2000
    U.S.
    Cars      109,399    90,039     122,796    947,847  1,131,115    -16.2
    Trucks    128,665   135,188     163,803  1,123,133  1,534,376    -26.8
    TOTAL     238,064   225,227     286,599  2,070,980  2,665,491    -22.3
    Canada
    Cars       25,195    19,119      35,506    257,388    340,731    -24.5
    Trucks     26,291    27,137      33,088    255,234    314,134    -18.7
    TOTAL      51,486    46,256      68,594    512,622    654,865    -21.7
    Mexico
    Cars       22,147    21,841      21,775    198,391    213,004     -6.9
    Trucks     16,081    16,065      13,969    152,813    121,547     25.7
    TOTAL      38,228    37,906      35,744    351,204    334,551      5.0
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars      156,741   130,999     180,077  1,403,626  1,684,850    -16.7
    Trucks    171,037   178,390     210,860  1,531,180  1,970,057    -22.3
    GRAND     327,778   309,389     390,937  2,934,806  3,654,907    -19.7
    TOTAL

    Note: All figures include medium- and heavy-duty truck production.