Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Nov. 16 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 318,493 units, down from the 347,610 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 14,178,218 vehicles, down 11.9 percent from like-2000's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 216,052 vehicles this week, down 15.2 percent from the 254,765 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2001 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 10,221,364 units, down 12.5 percent from the 11,681,377 vehicles built in like-2000.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 59,793, an 11.1 percent increase from the 53,843 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2001 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,305,467 units, down 14.3 percent compared to the 2,688,809 vehicles produced in like-2000.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 29.7 percent; Ford Motor Co., 28.3 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.9 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.5 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.1 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 4.1 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.4 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.5 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.6 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.7 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.8 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.7 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    91,496    100,282      97,420   4,401,306   5,062,928    -13.1
    Trucks 124,556    154,483     128,868   5,820,058   6,618,449    -12.1
    TOTAL  216,052    254,765     226,288  10,221,364  11,681,377    -12.5
    Canada
    Cars    30,857     24,928      34,540   1,168,169   1,402,070    -16.7
    Trucks  28,936     28,915      31,204   1,137,298   1,286,739    -11.6
    TOTAL   59,793     53,843      65,744   2,305,467   2,688,809    -14.3
    Mexico
    Cars    23,219     21,149      23,962     886,522   1,024,149    -13.4
    Trucks  19,429     17,853      18,537     764,865     707,219      8.2
    TOTAL   42,648     39,002      42,499   1,651,387   1,731,368     -4.6
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars   145,572    146,359     155,922   6,455,997   7,489,147    -13.8
    Trucks 172,921    201,251     178,609   7,722,221   8,612,407    -10.3
    GRAND  318,493    347,610     334,531  14,178,218  16,101,554    -11.9
    TOTAL

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