Ward's Reports Estimated Production

US Production Down 13% From 2000

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Aug. 24 Vehicle production this week in
the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 309,701 units,
down from the 330,470 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's
Automotive Reports.
    Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now
totals 10,336,058 vehicles, down 13.0 percent from like-2000's pace.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 231,960 vehicles this
week, down 4.3 percent from the 242,351 cars and trucks built last week.  To
date, calendar 2001 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 7,440,215 units,
down 13.9 percent from the 8,644,546 vehicles built in like-2000.
    This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 49,140, an 8.8
percent decrease from the 53,871 units assembled last week.  Estimated
calendar-2001 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,690,902 units, down
15.7 percent compared to the 2,004,790 vehicles produced in like-2000.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S.,
General Motors Corp. accounted for 35.1 percent; Ford Motor Co., 25.5 percent;
Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.2 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.9
percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.2 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 2.7
percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.6 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive
Inc., 1.8 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.7 percent;
AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.8 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of
DaimlerChrysler, 0.5 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.3 percent; and
other manufacturers, 1.7 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      100,409   100,272    112,349   3,247,925   3,723,084    -12.8
    Trucks    131,551   142,079    144,161   4,192,290   4,921,462    -14.8
    TOTAL     231,960   242,351    256,510   7,440,215   8,644,546    -13.9
    Canada
    Cars       24,299    29,064     33,840     859,070   1,049,556    -18.1
    Trucks     24,841    24,807     28,982     831,832     955,234    -12.9
    TOTAL      49,140    53,871     62,822   1,690,902   2,004,790    -15.7
    Mexico
    Cars       12,331    17,781     16,251     658,944     743,305    -11.3
    Trucks     16,270    16,467     17,324     545,997     490,967     11.2
    TOTAL      28,601    34,248     33,575   1,204,941   1,234,272     -2.4
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars      137,039   147,117    162,440   4,765,939   5,515,945    -13.6
    Trucks    172,662   183,353    190,467   5,570,119   6,367,663    -12.5
    GRAND     309,701   330,470    352,907  10,336,058  11,883,608    -13.0
    TOTAL

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

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