Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Jan. 11 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 316,170 units, up from the 176,108 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 492,278 vehicles, down 1.5 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 225,755 vehicles this week, up 90.4 percent from the 118,557 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 344,312 units, down 2.9 percent from the 354,615 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 53,465, an 80.3 percent increase from the 29,649 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 83,114 units, down 6.6 percent compared to the 89,002 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 26.8 percent; Ford Motor Co., 33.9 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 15.7 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.8 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.8 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 4.1 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 1.5 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.2 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.5 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.0 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.2 percent; and other manufacturers, 0.8 percent.

                       NORTH AMERICA FACTORY PRODUCTION
          This Week  Last Week  Same Week  To Date   To Date     Pct. Change
          Estimated   Revised   Last Year   2002       2001     2002 vs. 2001
    U.S.
    Cars     94,952    49,576    98,769    144,528   177,056       -18.4
    Trucks  130,803    68,981    93,769    199,784   177,559        12.5
    TOTAL   225,755   118,557   192,538    344,312   354,615        -2.9
    Canada
    Cars     24,870    11,785    24,113     36,655    42,910       -14.6
    Trucks   28,595    17,864    26,079     46,459    46,112         0.8
    TOTAL    53,465    29,649    50,192     83,114    89,022        -6.6
    Mexico
    Cars     21,814    17,592    15,805     39,406    28,277        39.4
    Trucks   15,136    10,310    15,640     25,446    27,980        -9.1
    TOTAL    36,950    27,902    31,445     64,852    56,257        15.3
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars    141,636    78,953   138,687    220,589   248,243       -11.1
    Trucks  174,534    97,155   135,488    271,689   251,651         8.0
    GRAND   316,170   176,108   274,175    492,278   499,894        -1.5
    TOTAL

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