Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 3 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 372,161 units, up from the 367,630 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 5,955,337 vehicles, up 5.8 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 276,465 vehicles this week, up 3.1 percent from the 268,044 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 4,368,928 units, up 8.4 percent from the 4,031,757 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 60,270, a 2.8 percent decrease from the 62,025 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 969,862 units, up 2.1 percent compared to the 949,651 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 34.7 percent; Ford Motor Co., 29.3 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.1 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.5 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.0 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.3 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.0 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.1 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.5 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.7 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      116,491    112,437    117,070   1,862,972  1,794,983     3.8
    Trucks    159,974    155,607    147,902   2,505,956  2,236,774    12.0
    TOTAL     276,465    268,044    264,972   4,368,928  4,031,757     8.4
    Canada
    Cars       30,345     31,669     24,595     482,597    468,327     3.0
    Trucks     29,925     30,356     28,048     487,265    481,324     1.2
    TOTAL      60,270     62,025     52,643     969,862    949,651     2.1
    Mexico
    Cars       19,648     20,469     17,853     338,007    365,803    -7.6
    Trucks     15,778     17,092     15,382     278,540    279,261    -0.3
    TOTAL      35,426     37,561     33,235     616,547    645,064    -4.4
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars      166,484    164,575    159,518   2,683,576  2,629,113     2.1
    Trucks    205,677    203,055    191,332   3,271,761  2,997,359     9.2
    GRAND     372,161    367,630    350,850   5,955,337  5,626,472     5.8
    TOTAL

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

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