Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Dec. 27 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 14,276 units during this holiday week, down from the 304,178 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 15,809,950 vehicles, down 10.8 percent from like-2000's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 1,196 vehicles this week, down 99.5 percent from the 228,369 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2001 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 11,389,423 units, down 11.1 percent from the 12,805,664 vehicles built in like-2000.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 210, a 99.5 percent decrease from the 39,890 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2001 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,570,725 units, down 13.7 percent compared to the 2,979,607 vehicles produced in like-2000.

Of the cars and trucks produced in the U.S. this year, General Motors Corp. accounted for 32.7 percent; Ford Motor Co., 28.3 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.2 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.1 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.4 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 2.8 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.1 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.6 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.7 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.6 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.1 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               0    93,300          0  4,883,129  5,551,930    -12.0
    Trucks         1,196   135,069      4,138  6,506,294  7,253,734    -10.3
    TOTAL          1,196   228,369      4,138 11,389,423 12,805,664    -11.1
    Canada
    Cars               0    19,840      6,548  1,298,163  1,558,693    -16.7
    Trucks           210    20,050      1,966  1,272,562  1,420,914    -10.4
    TOTAL            210    39,890      8,514  2,570,725  2,979,607    -13.7
    Mexico
    Cars           8,304    19,298     14,384    995,897  1,145,925    -13.1
    Trucks         4,566    16,621      3,482    853,905    789,088      8.2
    TOTAL         12,870    35,919     17,866  1,849,802  1,935,013     -4.4
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars           8,304   132,438     20,932  7,177,189  8,256,548    -13.1
    Trucks         5,972   171,740      9,586  8,632,761  9,463,736     -8.8
    GRAND         14,276   304,178     30,518 15,809,950 17,720,284    -10.8
    TOTAL

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

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