Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., April 5 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 313,118 units, up from the 287,105 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 4,479,134 vehicles, up 3.7 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 226,613 vehicles this week, up 5.6 percent from the 214,512 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 3,285,113 units, up 6.9 percent from the 3,073,426 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 52,404, a 16.5 percent increase from the 44,996 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 725,669 units, down 2.3 percent compared to the 742,737 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 33.5 percent; Ford Motor Co., 27.2 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 12.5 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.6 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.0 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.5 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.5 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.4 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.5 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.8 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.8 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.2 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      98,105    91,912      94,550   1,405,815  1,373,111     2.4
    Trucks   128,508   122,600     142,607   1,879,298  1,700,315    10.5
    TOTAL    226,613   214,512     237,157   3,285,113  3,073,426     6.9
    Canada
    Cars      27,030    21,294      30,420     359,767    365,782    -1.6
    Trucks    25,374    23,702      29,424     365,902    376,955    -2.9
    TOTAL     52,404    44,996      59,844     725,669    742,737    -2.3
    Mexico
    Cars      19,506    15,650      22,219     257,792    284,177    -9.3
    Trucks    14,595    11,947      17,228     210,560    217,159    -3.0
    TOTAL     34,101    27,597      39,447     468,352    501,336    -6.6
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars     144,641   128,856     147,189   2,023,374  2,023,070     0.0
    Trucks   168,477   158,249     189,259   2,455,760  2,294,429     7.0
    GRAND    313,118   287,105     336,448   4,479,134  4,317,499     3.7
    TOTAL

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

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