Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Jan. 18 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 334,985 units, up from the 306,396 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 798,723 vehicles, up 1.5 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 243,973 vehicles this week, up 8.1 percent from the 225,765 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 586,172 units, up 6.6 percent from the 549,658 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 54,512, a 10.4 percent increase from the 49,355 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 125,485 units, down 13.9 percent compared to the 145,722 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 31.1 percent; Ford Motor Co., 30.5 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.8 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.2 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.4 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.5 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.3 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.2 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.7 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.0 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.1 percent; and other manufacturers, 1.5 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      102,374     97,905     93,854    249,956    270,910    -7.7
    Trucks    141,599    127,860    101,189    336,216    278,748    20.6
    TOTAL     243,973    225,765    195,043    586,172    549,658     6.6
    Canada
    Cars       24,937     20,882     31,076     54,700     73,986   -26.1
    Trucks     29,575     28,473     25,624     70,785     71,736    -1.3
    TOTAL      54,512     49,355     56,700    125,485    145,722   -13.9
    Mexico
    Cars       19,563     19,357     18,960     48,482     47,237     2.6
    Trucks     16,937     11,919     16,180     38,584     44,160   -12.6
    TOTAL      36,500     31,276     35,140     87,066     91,397    -4.7
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars      146,874    138,144    143,890    353,138    392,133    -9.9
    Trucks    188,111    168,252    142,993    445,585    394,644    12.9
    GRAND     334,985    306,396    286,883    798,723    786,777     1.5
    TOTAL

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

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