Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 17 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 352,685 units, down from the 361,569 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 6,665,481 vehicles, up 5.4 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 271,416 vehicles this week, up 2.4 percent from the 264,946 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 4,901,851 units, up 7.7 percent from the 4,549,779 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 44,474, a 27.4 percent decrease from the 61,299 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,075,923 units, up 1.8 percent compared to the 1,057,415 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 35.2 percent; Ford Motor Co., 28.7 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.1 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.6 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.0 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.4 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.7 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.1 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.6 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.7 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 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     112,468   108,837     109,356   2,083,784   2,018,678     3.2
    Trucks   158,948   156,109     146,341   2,818,067   2,531,101    11.3
    TOTAL    271,416   264,946     255,697   4,901,851   4,549,779     7.7
    Canada
    Cars      20,967    30,854      27,535     535,440     521,605     2.7
    Trucks    23,507    30,445      25,341     540,483     535,810     0.9
    TOTAL     44,474    61,299      52,876   1,075,923   1,057,415     1.8
    Mexico
    Cars      20,341    20,338      19,348     378,369     400,371    -5.5
    Trucks    16,454    14,986      17,817     309,338     313,760    -1.4
    TOTAL     36,795    35,324      37,165     687,707     714,131    -3.7
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars     153,776   160,029     156,239   2,997,593   2,940,654     1.9
    Trucks   198,909   201,540     189,499   3,667,888   3,380,671     8.5
    GRAND    352,685   361,569     345,738   6,665,481   6,321,325     5.4
    TOTAL

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

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