Ward's Weeekly Production Reports

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., April 20 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 306,789 units, up from the 288,519 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports. Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 4,910,001 vehicles, down 17.4 percent from like-2000's pace. In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 222,575 vehicles this week, up 5.7 percent from the 210,476 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2001 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 3,504,443 units, down 19.5 percent from the 4,351,795 vehicles built in like-2000. This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 47,962, a 2.4 percent increase from the 46,841 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2001 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 836,754 units, down 19.8 percent compared to the 1,043,177 vehicles produced in like-2000. Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 30.0 percent; Ford Motor Co., 29.8 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.9 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.1 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.8 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.1 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.2 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 2.0 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.8 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.7 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.8 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 0.9 percent; and other manufacturers, 1.9 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 98,645 94,592 101,511 1,567,164 1,860,594 -15.8 Trucks 123,930 115,884 125,383 1,937,279 2,491,201 -22.2 TOTAL 222,575 210,476 226,894 3,504,443 4,351,795 -19.5 Canada Cars 23,675 24,746 26,498 414,548 541,975 -23.5 Trucks 24,287 22,095 25,910 422,206 501,202 -15.8 TOTAL 47,962 46,841 52,408 836,754 1,043,177 -19.8 Mexico Cars 21,229 19,314 19,275 324,876 344,156 -5.6 Trucks 15,023 11,888 10,397 243,928 205,760 18.5 TOTAL 36,252 31,202 29,672 568,804 549,916 3.4 U.S.\Canada\Mexico Cars 143,549 138,652 147,284 2,306,588 2,746,725 -16.0 Trucks 163,240 149,867 161,690 2,603,413 3,198,163 -18.6 GRAND 306,789 288,519 308,974 4,910,001 5,944,888 -17.4 TOTAL

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