Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Nov. 21 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 249,126 units, down from the 314,186 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 14,424,435 vehicles, down 11.7 percent from like-2000's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 154,568 vehicles this week, down 28.6 percent from the 216,547 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2001 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 10,376,427 units, down 12.3 percent from the 11,828,425 vehicles built in like-2000.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 58,041, a 0.3 percent increase from the 57,879 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2001 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,361,594 units, down 14.1 percent compared to the 2,749,071 vehicles produced in like-2000.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 33.7 percent; Ford Motor Co., 29.1 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.8 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.5 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.1 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.2 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.8 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.1 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.1 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.7 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.0 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.2 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     64,793    91,126      64,479   4,465,729   5,127,407    -12.9
    Trucks   89,775   125,421      82,569   5,910,698   6,701,018    -11.8
    TOTAL   154,568   216,547     147,048  10,376,427  11,828,425    -12.3
    Canada
    Cars     29,545    28,692      31,445   1,195,549   1,433,515    -16.6
    Trucks   28,496    29,187      28,817   1,166,045   1,315,556    -11.4
    TOTAL    58,041    57,879      60,262   2,361,594   2,749,071    -14.1
    Mexico
    Cars     18,147    21,679      20,458     904,107   1,044,607    -13.5
    Trucks   18,370    18,081      15,429     782,307     722,648      8.3
    TOTAL    36,517    39,760      35,887   1,686,414   1,767,255     -4.6
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars    112,485   141,497    116,382    6,565,385   7,605,529    -13.7
    Trucks  136,641   172,689    126,815    7,859,050   8,739,222    -10.1
    GRAND   249,126   314,186    243,197   14,424,435  16,344,751    -11.7
    TOTAL

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