Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., March 15 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 349,549 units, down from the 358,478 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 3,517,410 vehicles, up 7.0 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 260,336 vehicles this week, down 0.3 percent from the 261,203 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 2,575,138 units, up 10.6 percent from the 2,329,036 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 53,885, an 11.2 percent decrease from the 60,654 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 572,405 units, up 0.6 percent compared to the 569,015 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 33.6 percent; Ford Motor Co., 28.8 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.6 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., 2.9 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.1 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.6 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.8 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     107,202     113,483    109,444   1,101,216  1,058,795     4.0
    Trucks   153,134     147,720    142,120   1,473,922  1,270,241    16.0
    TOTAL    260,336     261,203    251,564   2,575,138  2,329,036    10.6
    Canada
    Cars      24,265      31,131     24,676     282,431    280,790     0.6
    Trucks    29,620      29,523     28,877     289,974    288,225     0.6
    TOTAL     53,885      60,654     53,553     572,405    569,015     0.6
    Mexico
    Cars      19,293      20,494     21,875     202,496    220,125    -8.0
    Trucks    16,035      16,127     15,590     167,371    169,887    -1.5
    TOTAL     35,328      36,621     37,465     369,867    390,012    -5.2
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars     150,760     165,108    155,995   1,586,143  1,559,710     1.7
    Trucks   198,789     193,370    186,587   1,931,267  1,728,353    11.7
    GRAND    349,549     358,478    342,582   3,517,410  3,288,063     7.0
    TOTAL

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

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