GOOD NEWS-Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., April 27 Vehicle production this week
in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 351,537 units,
up from the 308,348 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's
Automotive Reports.
    Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now
totals 5,262,859 vehicles, down 16.4 percent from like-2000's pace.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 256,584 vehicles this
week, up 15.9 percent from the 221,364 cars and trucks built last week.  To
date, calendar 2001 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 3,759,578 units,
down 18.3 percent from the 4,603,764 vehicles built in like-2000.
    This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 57,117, a 19.6
percent increase from the 47,769 units assembled last week.  Estimated
calendar-2001 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 893,678 units, down
18.8 percent compared to the 1,100,143 vehicles produced in like-2000.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S.,
General Motors Corp. accounted for 30.7 percent; Ford Motor Co., 31.2 percent;
Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 15.0 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.3
percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.0 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 2.3
percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.9 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive
Inc., 2.0 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.6 percent;
AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.9 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of
DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 0.8 percent; and
other manufacturers, 1.6 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       109,523    100,597    112,031  1,678,654  1,972,625    -14.9
    Trucks     147,061    120,767    139,938  2,080,924  2,631,139    -20.9
    TOTAL      256,584    221,364    251,969  3,759,578  4,603,764    -18.3
    Canada
    Cars        27,659     25,080     28,810    443,612    570,785    -22.3
    Trucks      29,458     22,689     28,156    450,066    529,358    -15.0
    TOTAL       57,117     47,769     56,966    893,678  1,100,143    -18.8
    Mexico
    Cars        21,762     22,258     22,776    347,667    366,932     -5.3
    Trucks      16,074     16,957     16,223    261,936    221,983     18.0
    TOTAL       37,836     39,215     38,999    609,603    588,915      3.5
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars       158,944    147,935    163,617  2,469,933  2,910,342    -15.1
    Trucks     192,593    160,413    184,317  2,792,926  3,382,480    -17.4
    GRAND      351,537    308,348    347,934  5,262,859  6,292,822    -16.4
    TOTAL

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

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