Ward's Reports Estimated Weekly Auto Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Oct. 26 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 324,016 units, up from the 317,811 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 13,187,872 vehicles, down 12.6 percent from like-2000's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 231,478 vehicles this week, up 1.9 percent from the 227,186 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2001 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 9,511,597 units, down 13.3 percent from the 10,968,925 vehicles built in like-2000.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 56,373, a 9.6 percent increase from the 51,452 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2001 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,142,053 units, down 15.0 percent compared to the 2,520,330 vehicles produced in like-2000.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 33.1 percent; Ford Motor Co., 28.1 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.9 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.9 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.6 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.5 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.0 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.5 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.8 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.0 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.9 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.0 percent; and other manufacturers, 1.7 percent.

                       NORTH AMERICA FACTORY PRODUCTION

            This Week   Last Week  Same Week    To Date     To Date    Pct.
            Estimated    Revised   Last Year      2001        2000    Change
                                                                     2001 vs.
                                                                       2000
    U.S.
    Cars       93,658     97,543    118,529    4,117,129    4,761,643  -13.5
    Trucks    137,820    129,643    151,199    5,394,468    6,207,282  -13.1
    TOTAL     231,478    227,186    269,728    9,511,597   10,968,925  -13.3
    Canada
    Cars       28,401     24,273     33,723    1,091,620    1,314,785  -17.0
    Trucks     27,972     27,179     31,132    1,050,433    1,205,545  -12.9
    TOTAL      56,373     51,452     64,855    2,142,053    2,520,330  -15.0
    Mexico
    Cars       17,379     20,218     23,822      821,616      951,548  -13.7
    Trucks     18,786     18,955     17,876      712,606      654,306    8.9
    TOTAL      36,165     39,173     41,698    1,534,222    1,605,854   -4.5
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars      139,438    142,034    176,074    6,030,365    7,027,976  -14.2
    Trucks    184,578    175,777    200,207    7,157,507    8,067,133  -11.3
    GRAND     324,016    317,811    376,281   13,187,872   15,095,109  -12.6
    TOTAL

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

    ON THE WEB: www.wardsauto.com