Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Nov. 9 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 344,333 units, up from the 326,943 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 13,855,341 vehicles, down 12.1 percent from like-2000's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 252,611 vehicles this week, up 5.1 percent from the 240,390 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2001 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 10,001,759 units, down 12.7 percent from the 11,455,089 vehicles built in like-2000.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 53,317, an 8.5 percent increase from the 49,154 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2001 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,244,858 units, down 14.4 percent compared to the 2,623,065 vehicles produced in like-2000.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 34.1 percent; Ford Motor Co., 28.1 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.4 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.4 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.1 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.2 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.9 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.5 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.7 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.7 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 0.9 percent; and other manufacturers, 1.3 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     104,939      97,192   104,218    4,316,737   4,965,508   -13.1
    Trucks   147,672     143,198   144,174    5,685,022   6,489,581   -12.4
    TOTAL              252,611     240,390   248,392   10,001,759  11,455,089
-12.7
    Canada
    Cars      24,445      20,109    28,688    1,136,829   1,367,530   -16.9
    Trucks    28,872      29,045    23,726    1,108,029   1,255,535   -11.7
    TOTAL               53,317      49,154    52,414    2,244,858   2,623,065
-14.4
    Mexico
    Cars      19,619      19,866    24,761      861,181   1,000,187   -13.9
    Trucks    18,786      17,533    17,795      747,543     688,682     8.5
    TOTAL               38,405      37,399    42,556    1,608,724   1,688,869
-4.7
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars     149,003     137,167   157,667    6,314,747   7,333,225   -13.9
    Trucks   195,330     189,776   185,695    7,540,594   8,433,798   -10.6
    GRAND    344,333     326,943   343,362   13,855,341  15,767,023   -12.1
    TOTAL

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

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