Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., March 22 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 353,960 units, up from the 353,048 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 3,879,271 vehicles, up 7.2 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 263,254 vehicles this week, up 1.7 percent from the 258,952 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 2,841,906 units, up 10.4 percent from the 2,573,907 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 55,054, a 3.5 percent decrease from the 57,066 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 631,280 units, up 1.3 percent compared to the 623,418 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 32.1 percent; Ford Motor Co., 28.7 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.5 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.7 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.8 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.3 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.0 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.2 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.6 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.9 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.0 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    107,834    108,387    104,611   1,213,382  1,163,406     4.3
    Trucks  155,420    150,565    140,260   1,628,524  1,410,501    15.5
    TOTAL   263,254    258,952    244,871   2,841,906  2,573,907    10.4
    Canada
    Cars     24,745    26,216      24,745     309,767    305,535     1.4
    Trucks   30,309    30,850      29,658     321,513    317,883     1.1
    TOTAL    55,054    57,066      54,403     631,280    623,418     1.3
    Mexico
    Cars     19,202    19,854      19,679     220,649    239,804    -8.0
    Trucks   16,450    17,176      13,212     185,436    183,099     1.3
    TOTAL    35,652    37,030      32,891     406,085    422,903    -4.0
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars    151,781    154,457    149,035   1,743,798  1,708,745     2.1
    Trucks  202,179    198,591    183,130   2,135,473  1,911,483    11.7
    GRAND   353,960    353,048    332,165   3,879,271  3,620,228     7.2
    TOTAL

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