Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., March 1 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 337,229 units, down from the 358,074 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 2,789,068 vehicles, up 6.9 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 247,266 vehicles this week, down 4.9 percent from the 260,112 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 2,041,693 units, up 11.4 percent from the 1,833,400 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 53,619, an 11.3 percent decrease from the 60,427 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 450,766 units, down 2.3 percent compared to the 461,412 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., 27.2 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.6 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., 3.0 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.1 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.7 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, 1.6 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     103,017    115,758     90,535      871,107     838,944     3.8
    Trucks   144,249    144,354    135,176    1,170,586     994,456    17.7
    TOTAL    247,266    260,112    225,711    2,041,693   1,833,400    11.4
    Canada
    Cars      24,264     30,739     17,819      220,713     230,893    -4.4
    Trucks    29,355     29,688     28,713      230,053     230,519    -0.2
    TOTAL     53,619     60,427     46,532      450,766     461,412    -2.3
    Mexico
    Cars      19,293     19,832     21,423      158,672     175,826    -9.8
    Trucks    17,051     17,703     17,022      137,937     137,689     0.2
    TOTAL     36,344     37,535     38,445      296,609     313,515    -5.4
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars     146,574    166,329    129,777    1,250,492   1,245,663     0.4
    Trucks   190,655    191,745    180,911    1,538,576   1,362,664    12.9
    GRAND    337,229    358,074    310,688    2,789,068   2,608,327     6.9
    TOTAL

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