Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Feb. 22 Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 357,005 units, up from the 329,835 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 2,450,770 vehicles, up 6.7 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 260,682 vehicles this week, up 6.6 percent from the 244,496 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 1,794,997 units, up 11.7 percent from the 1,607,689 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 59,979, a 24.1 percent increase from the 48,329 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 396,699 units, down 4.4 percent compared to the 414,880 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 34.5 percent; Ford Motor Co., 27.5 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.3 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.8 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.2 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.3 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.8 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.2 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.6 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.7 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.1 percent; and other manufacturers, 1.3 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     114,296   109,707     89,882     766,628    748,409      2.4
    Trucks   146,386   134,789    119,387   1,028,369    859,280     19.7
    TOTAL    260,682   244,496    209,269   1,794,997  1,607,689     11.7
    Canada
    Cars      29,864    25,644     31,326     195,574    213,074     -8.2
    Trucks    30,115    22,685     26,510     201,125    201,806     -0.3
    TOTAL     59,979    48,329     57,836     396,699    414,880     -4.4
    Mexico
    Cars      19,293    19,611     22,173     138,840    154,403    -10.1
    Trucks    17,051    17,399     15,665     120,234    120,667     -0.4
    TOTAL     36,344    37,010     37,838     259,074    275,070     -5.8
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars     163,453   154,962    143,381   1,101,042  1,115,886     -1.3
    Trucks   193,552   174,873    161,562   1,349,728  1,181,753     14.2
    GRAND    357,005   329,835    304,943   2,450,770  2,297,639      6.7
    TOTAL

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