Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Dec. 21 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 304,178 units, down from the 356,974 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 15,795,674 vehicles, down 10.7 percent from like-2000's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 228,369 vehicles this week, down 13.3 percent from the 263,384 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2001 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 11,388,227 units, down 11.0 percent from the 12,801,526 vehicles built in like-2000.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 39,890, a 30.0 percent decrease from the 56,991 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2001 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,570,515 units, down 13.5 percent compared to the 2,971,093 vehicles produced in like-2000.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 35.2 percent; Ford Motor Co., 31.5 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 8.9 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.8 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.8 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.6 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 1.7 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.3 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.9 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.0 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.8 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.1 percent; and other manufacturers, 1.4 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      93,300    108,104    85,840   4,883,129    5,551,930    -12.0
    Trucks   135,069    155,280   127,901   6,505,098    7,249,596    -10.3
    TOTAL    228,369    263,384   213,741  11,388,227   12,801,526    -11.0
    Canada
    Cars      19,840     26,726    25,492   1,298,163    1,552,145    -16.4
    Trucks    20,050     30,265    20,458   1,272,352    1,418,948    -10.3
    TOTAL     39,890     56,991    45,950   2,570,515    2,971,093    -13.5
    Mexico
    Cars      19,298     20,975    22,004     987,593    1,131,541    -12.7
    Trucks    16,621     15,624    16,832     849,339      785,606      8.1
    TOTAL     35,919     36,599    38,836   1,836,932    1,917,147     -4.2
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars     132,438    155,805   133,336   7,168,885    8,235,616    -13.0
    Trucks   171,740    201,169   165,191   8,626,789    9,454,150     -8.8
    GRAND    304,178    356,974   298,527  15,795,674   17,689,766    -10.7
    TOTAL

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