Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., April 12 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 372,042 units, up from the 317,470 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 4,855,528 vehicles, up 5.4 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 272,146 vehicles this week, up 18.6 percent from the 229,542 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 3,560,188 units, up 8.4 percent from the 3,285,234 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 61,314, a 16.2 percent increase from the 52,771 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 787,350 units, down 0.3 percent compared to the 790,084 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 34.9 percent; Ford Motor Co., 28.4 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.6 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.5 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.0 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.2 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.0 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, 0.6 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.0 percent; and other manufacturers, 1.3 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      116,443    101,697    93,953   1,525,850   1,467,064     4.0
    Trucks    155,703    127,845   117,855   2,034,338   1,818,170    11.9
    TOTAL     272,146    229,542   211,808   3,560,188   3,285,234     8.4
    Canada
    Cars       30,949     27,213    24,356     390,899     390,138     0.2
    Trucks     30,365     25,558    22,991     396,451     399,946    -0.9
    TOTAL      61,314     52,771    47,347     787,350     790,084    -0.3
    Mexico
    Cars       21,061     19,519    19,223     278,866     303,400    -8.1
    Trucks     17,521     15,638    11,983     229,124     229,142     0.0
    TOTAL      38,582     35,157    31,206     507,990     532,542    -4.6
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars      168,453    148,429   137,532   2,195,615   2,160,602     1.6
    Trucks    203,589    169,041   152,829   2,659,913   2,447,258     8.7
    GRAND     372,042    317,470   290,361   4,855,528   4,607,860     5.4
    TOTAL

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

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