Wards Announces Weekly Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Oct. 19 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 319,339 units, down from the 331,514 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 12,865,384 vehicles, down 12.6 percent from like-2000's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 228,517 vehicles this week, down 6.8 percent from the 245,276 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2001 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 9,281,450 units, down 13.3 percent from the 10,699,197 vehicles built in like-2000.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 52,417, a 9.5 percent increase from the 47,859 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2001 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,086,645 units, down 15.0 percent compared to the 2,455,475 vehicles produced in like-2000.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 30.6 percent; Ford Motor Co., 30.3 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 12.9 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.0 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.7 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.5 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.4 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.5 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.9 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.8 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.9 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.0 percent; and other manufacturers, 1.5 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     100,544   105,449   118,568   4,026,472    4,643,114     -13.3
    Trucks   127,973   139,827   155,001   5,254,978    6,056,083     -13.2
    TOTAL    228,517   245,276   273,569   9,281,450   10,699,197     -13.3
    Canada
    Cars      24,445    24,810    33,138   1,063,391    1,281,062     -17.0
    Trucks    27,972    23,049    29,900   1,023,254    1,174,413     -12.9
    TOTAL     52,417    47,859    63,038   2,086,645    2,455,475     -15.0
    Mexico
    Cars      19,619    19,961    23,939     803,638      927,726     -13.4
    Trucks    18,786    18,418    19,439     693,651      636,430       9.0
    TOTAL     38,405    38,379    43,378   1,497,289    1,564,156      -4.3
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars     144,608   150,220   175,645   5,893,501    6,851,902     -14.0
    Trucks   174,731   181,294   204,340   6,971,883    7,866,926     -11.4
    GRAND    319,339   331,514   379,985  12,865,384   14,718,828     -12.6
    TOTAL

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

SOURCE: Ward's Automotive Reports