Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Dec. 14 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 357,357 units, down from the 370,174 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 15,491,815 vehicles, down 10.9 percent from like-2000's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 261,532 vehicles this week, down 4.1 percent from the 272,589 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2001 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 11,157,583 units, down 11.4 percent from the 12,587,785 vehicles built in like-2000.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 56,092, a 3.5 percent decrease from the 58,139 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2001 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,529,726 units, down 13.5 percent compared to the 2,925,143 vehicles produced in like-2000.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 33.3 percent; Ford Motor Co., 30.2 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.6 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.9 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.1 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.4 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.9 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.2 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.6 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.0 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.6 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     110,011   113,976   106,129   4,791,736   5,466,090    -12.3
    Trucks   151,521   158,613   140,459   6,365,847   7,121,695    -10.6
    TOTAL    261,532   272,589   246,588  11,157,583  12,587,785    -11.4
    Canada
    Cars      27,017    29,044    31,556   1,278,614   1,526,653    -16.2
    Trucks    29,075    29,095    25,468   1,251,112   1,398,490    -10.5
    TOTAL     56,092    58,139    57,024   2,529,726   2,925,143    -13.5
    Mexico
    Cars      21,863    21,838    20,472     969,183   1,109,537    -12.6
    Trucks    17,870    17,608    14,026     835,323     768,774      8.7
    TOTAL     39,733    39,446    34,498   1,804,506   1,878,311     -3.9
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars     158,891   164,858   158,157   7,039,533   8,102,280    -13.1
    Trucks   198,466   205,316   179,953   8,452,282   9,288,959     -9.0
    GRAND    357,357   370,174   338,110  15,491,815  17,391,239    -10.9
    TOTAL

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

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