Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Feb. 1 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 335,132 units, up from the 303,496 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 1,431,240 vehicles, up 6.0 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 247,952 vehicles this week, up 14.7 percent from the 216,164 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 1,048,499 units, up 11.3 percent from the 941,737 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 52,460, a 1.6 percent increase from the 51,644 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 227,560 units, down 6.4 percent compared to the 243,043 vehicles produced in like-2001.

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., 28.1 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.8 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.1 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.3 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.5 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.7 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.1 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.7 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.3 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.6 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.1 percent; and other manufacturers, 1.4 percent.

                                    NORTH AMERICA FACTORY PRODUCTION
                                                                        Pct.
                                                                       Change
                This Week   Last Week  Same Week  To Date  To Date    2002 vs.
                Estimated    Revised   Last Year   2002     2001        2001
    U.S.
    Cars          98,749     90,858     86,238    437,143   442,581     -1.2
    Trucks       149,203    125,306    115,268    611,356   499,156     22.5
    TOTAL        247,952    216,164    201,506  1,048,499   941,737     11.3

    Canada
    Cars          24,265     23,241     25,811    100,852   120,813    -16.5
    Trucks        28,195     28,403     26,797    126,708   122,230      3.7
    TOTAL         52,460     51,644     52,608    227,560   243,043     -6.4

    Mexico
    Cars          17,783     20,685     22,326     87,711    89,415     -1.9
    Trucks        16,937     15,003     15,866     67,470    75,806    -11.0
    TOTAL         34,720     35,688     38,192    155,181   165,221     -6.1

    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars         140,797    134,784    134,375    625,706   652,809     -4.2
    Trucks       194,335    168,712    157,931    805,534   697,192     15.5
    GRAND TOTAL  335,132    303,496    292,306  1,431,240 1,350,001      6.0

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