Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., April 26 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 367,276 units, up from the 359,991 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 5,580,571 vehicles, up 5.8 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 273,245 vehicles this week, up 4.4 percent from the 261,812 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 4,095,614 units, up 8.7 percent from the 3,766,785 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 62,097, a 2.0 percent increase from the 60,893 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 909,664 units, up 1.4 percent compared to the 897,008 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 33.7 percent; Ford Motor Co., 29.5 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.6 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.5 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.7 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.0 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.8 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, 1.1 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      114,989    107,603    111,164  1,749,033  1,677,913     4.2
    Trucks    158,256    154,209    148,508  2,346,581  2,088,872    12.3
    TOTAL     273,245    261,812    259,672  4,095,614  3,766,785     8.7
    Canada
    Cars       31,348     30,121     28,904    451,931    443,732     1.8
    Trucks     30,749     30,772     29,745    457,733    453,276     1.0
    TOTAL      62,097     60,893     58,649    909,664    897,008     1.4
    Mexico
    Cars       15,220     20,288     22,442    312,858    347,950   -10.1
    Trucks     16,714     16,998     17,644    262,435    263,879    -0.5
    TOTAL      31,934     37,286     40,086    575,293    611,829    -6.0
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars      161,557    158,012    162,510  2,513,822  2,469,595     1.8
    Trucks    205,719    201,979    195,897  3,066,749  2,806,027     9.3
    GRAND     367,276    359,991    358,407  5,580,571  5,275,622     5.8
    TOTAL

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