Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Feb. 15 Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 333,586 units, down from the 337,166 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 2,097,147 vehicles, up 5.2 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 248,477 vehicles this week, up 1.4 percent from the 245,065 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 1,538,296 units, up 10.0 percent from the 1,398,420 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 49,000, an 18.3 percent decrease from the 60,004 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 337,391 units, down 5.5 percent compared to the 357,044 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 32.8 percent; Ford Motor Co., 28.3 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.9 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.1 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.4 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.5 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.2 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.2 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, 1.5 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    111,159    104,791    108,198    653,784    658,527      -0.7
    Trucks  137,318    140,274    122,095    884,512    739,893      19.5
    TOTAL   248,477    245,065    230,293  1,538,296  1,398,420      10.0
    Canada
    Cars     26,310     30,374     31,129    166,376    181,748      -8.5
    Trucks   22,690     29,630     26,841    171,015    175,296      -2.4
    TOTAL    49,000     60,004     57,970    337,391    357,044      -5.5
    Mexico
    Cars     18,764     15,394     22,002    117,740    132,230     -11.0
    Trucks   17,345     16,703     15,348    103,720    105,002      -1.2
    TOTAL    36,109     32,097     37,350    221,460    237,232      -6.6
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars    156,233    150,559    161,329    937,900    972,505      -3.6
    Trucks  177,353    186,607    164,284  1,159,247  1,020,191      13.6
    GRAND   333,586    337,166    325,613  2,097,147  1,992,696       5.2
    TOTAL

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