Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., March 28 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 289,488 units, down from the 355,215 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 4,170,781 vehicles, up 4.8 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 214,493 vehicles this week, down 18.3 percent from the 262,686 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 3,055,831 units, up 7.7 percent from the 2,836,269 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 47,596, a 16.4 percent decrease from the 56,963 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 680,785 units, down 0.3 percent compared to the 682,893 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 34.1 percent; Ford Motor Co., 26.1 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.4 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.6 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.0 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.7 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.9 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.2 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., 1.3 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      88,930    110,144    115,155   1,304,622   1,278,561     2.0
    Trucks   125,563    152,542    147,207   1,751,209   1,557,708    12.4
    TOTAL    214,493    262,686    262,362   3,055,831   2,836,269     7.7
    Canada
    Cars      23,878     26,421     29,827     335,321     335,362     0.0
    Trucks    23,718     30,542     29,648     345,464     347,531    -0.6
    TOTAL     47,596     56,963     59,475     680,785     682,893    -0.3
    Mexico
    Cars      13,798     19,178     22,154     235,200     261,958   -10.2
    Trucks    13,601     16,388     16,832     198,965     199,931    -0.5
    TOTAL     27,399     35,566     38,986     434,165     461,889    -6.0
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars     126,606    155,743    167,136   1,875,143   1,875,881     0.0
    Trucks   162,882    199,472    193,687   2,295,638   2,105,170     9.0
    GRAND    289,488    355,215    360,823   4,170,781   3,981,051     4.8
    TOTAL

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

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