Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Nov. 2 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 323,403 units, up from the 320,841 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 13,508,100 vehicles, down 12.4 percent from like-2000's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 232,246 vehicles this week, up 1.3 percent from the 229,271 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2001 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 9,741,636 units, down 13.1 percent from the 11,206,697 vehicles built in like-2000.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 53,917, a 4.9 percent decrease from the 56,707 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2001 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,196,304 units, down 14.6 percent compared to the 2,570,651 vehicles produced in like-2000.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 33.2 percent; Ford Motor Co., 27.0 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.8 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.9 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.4 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.9 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, 1.6 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       89,368     91,135     99,647    4,203,974    4,861,290    -13.5
    Trucks    142,878    138,136    138,125    5,537,662    6,345,407    -12.7
    TOTAL     232,246    229,271    237,772    9,741,636   11,206,697    -13.1
    Canada
    Cars       25,045     29,056     24,057    1,117,320    1,338,842    -16.5
    Trucks     28,872     27,651     26,264    1,078,984    1,231,809    -12.4
    TOTAL      53,917     56,707     50,321    2,196,304    2,570,651    -14.6
    Mexico
    Cars       19,171     16,881     23,878      840,867      975,426    -13.8
    Trucks     18,069     17,982     16,581      729,293      670,887      8.7
    TOTAL      37,240     34,863     40,459    1,570,160    1,646,313     -4.6
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars      133,584    137,072    147,582    6,162,161    7,175,558    -14.1
    Trucks    189,819    183,769    180,970    7,345,939    8,248,103    -10.9
    GRAND     323,403    320,841    328,552   13,508,100   15,423,661    -12.4
    TOTAL

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