Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., March 8 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 357,410 units, up from the 356,612 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 3,167,260 vehicles, up 7.5 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 262,862 vehicles this week, up 1.7 percent from the 258,521 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 2,316,461 units, up 11.5 percent from the 2,077,472 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 59,220, a 2.5 percent decrease from the 60,715 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 517,086 units, up 0.3 percent compared to the 515,462 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 34.6 percent; Ford Motor Co., 27.6 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.5 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.8 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.2 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.6 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.2 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, 1.2 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      110,438    112,567    110,407    990,969   949,351    4.4
    Trucks    152,424    145,954    133,665  1,325,492 1,128,121   17.5
    TOTAL     262,862    258,521    244,072  2,316,461 2,077,472   11.5
    Canada
    Cars       29,865     30,582     25,221    256,900   256,114    0.3
    Trucks     29,355     30,133     28,829    260,186   259,348    0.3
    TOTAL      59,220     60,715     54,050    517,086   515,462    0.3
    Mexico
    Cars       19,293     20,372     22,424    182,002   198,250   -8.2
    Trucks     16,035     17,004     16,608    151,711   154,297   -1.7
    TOTAL      35,328     37,376     39,032    333,713   352,547   -5.3
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars      159,596    163,521    158,052  1,429,871 1,403,715    1.9
    Trucks    197,814    193,091    179,102  1,737,389 1,541,766   12.7
    GRAND     357,410    356,612    337,154  3,167,260 2,945,481    7.5
    TOTAL

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

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