Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Feb. 14 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 347,843 units, up from the 336,367 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 2,125,103 vehicles, up 1.4 percent from like-2002's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 252,739 vehicles this week, up 1.7 percent from the 248,488 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2003 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 1,567,355 units, up 2.1 percent from the 1,534,769 vehicles built in like-2002.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 57,286, a 0.1 percent decrease from the 57,340 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2003 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 332,402 units, down 1.3 percent compared to the 336,723 vehicles produced in like-2002.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 31.8 percent; Ford Motor Co., 29.8 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.6 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.9 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 4.9 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.1 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.1 percent; Subaru Automotive Inc., 1.1 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of 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., 1.1 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    2003       2002   2003 vs. 2002
  U.S.
  Cars      96,502    86,930    109,705     609,678    652,201     -6.5
  Trucks   156,237   161,558    134,979     957,677    882,568      8.5
  TOTAL    252,739   248,488    244,684   1,567,355  1,534,769      2.1
  Canada
  Cars      31,177    30,742     25,645     178,303    165,713      7.6
  Trucks    26,109    26,598     22,685     154,099    171,010     -9.9
  TOTAL     57,286    57,340     48,330     332,402    336,723     -1.3
  Mexico
  Cars      18,401    19,519     20,349     125,291    121,739      2.9
  Trucks    19,417    11,020     16,847     100,055    101,559     -1.5
  TOTAL     37,818    30,539     37,196     225,346    223,298      0.9
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars     146,080   137,191    155,699     913,272    939,653     -2.8
  Trucks   201,763   199,176    174,511   1,211,831  1,155,137      4.9
  GRAND    347,843   336,367    330,210   2,125,103  2,094,790      1.4
  TOTAL

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