Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 23 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 358,129 units, down from the 363,836 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 7,030,641 vehicles, up 5.7 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 270,754 vehicles this week, down 2.2 percent from the 276,966 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 5,177,142 units, up 8.0 percent from the 4,795,728 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 50,532, a 4.4 percent increase from the 48,411 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,129,752 units, up 1.9 percent compared to the 1,108,714 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 33.8 percent; Ford Motor Co., 29.3 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.0 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.6 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.0 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.1 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., 0.7 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 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           111,791  113,270  103,698  2,195,669   2,122,376    3.5
    Trucks         158,963  163,696  142,251  2,981,473   2,673,352   11.5
    TOTAL          270,754  276,966  245,949  5,177,142   4,795,728    8.0
    Canada
    Cars            26,046   24,353   25,710    564,872     547,315    3.2
    Trucks          24,486   24,058   25,589    564,880     561,399    0.6
    TOTAL           50,532   48,411   51,299  1,129,752   1,108,714    1.9
    Mexico
    Cars            18,697   21,175   19,215    393,070     419,586   -6.3
    Trucks          18,146   17,284   17,800    330,677     330,343    0.1
    TOTAL           36,843   38,459   37,015    723,747     749,929   -3.5
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars           156,534  158,798  148,623  3,153,611   3,089,277    2.1
    Trucks         201,595  205,038  185,640  3,877,030   3,565,094    8.7
    GRAND          358,129  363,836  334,263  7,030,641   6,654,371    5.7
    TOTAL

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

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