Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., April 19 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 362,687 units, down from the 369,850 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 5,215,991 vehicles, up 6.1 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 270,701 vehicles this week, down 0.6 percent from the 272,470 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 3,831,258 units, up 9.2 percent from the 3,507,113 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 56,898, a 6.2 percent decrease from the 60,638 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 843,572 units, up 0.6 percent compared to the 838,359 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 32.4 percent; Ford Motor Co., 30.8 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.7 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.6 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.1 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.3 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.7 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, 0.6 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.0 percent; and other manufacturers, 1.2 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    113,326    116,989     99,685   1,639,767   1,566,749     4.7
    Trucks  157,375    155,481    122,194   2,191,491   1,940,364    12.9
    TOTAL   270,701    272,470    221,879   3,831,258   3,507,113     9.2
    Canada
    Cars     26,149     30,512     24,690     416,611     414,828     0.4
    Trucks   30,749     30,126     23,585     426,961     423,531     0.8
    TOTAL    56,898     60,638     48,275     843,572     838,359     0.6
    Mexico
    Cars     17,493     19,625     22,108     294,843     325,508    -9.4
    Trucks   17,595     17,117     17,093     246,318     246,235     0.0
    TOTAL    35,088     36,742     39,201     541,161     571,743    -5.3
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars    156,968    167,126    146,483   2,351,221   2,307,085     1.9
    Trucks  205,719    202,724    162,872   2,864,770   2,610,130     9.8
    GRAND   362,687    369,850    309,355   5,215,991   4,917,215     6.1
    TOTAL

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

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