Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 31 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 317,854 units, down from the 356,846 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 7,349,242 vehicles, up 5.5 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 221,628 vehicles this week, down 16.9 percent from the 266,639 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 5,394,655 units, up 7.7 percent from the 5,007,275 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 60,080, a 17.3 percent increase from the 51,209 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,190,509 units, up 1.9 percent compared to the 1,168,717 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 34.2 percent; Ford Motor Co., 28.1 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.7 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.2 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 4.8 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.1 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.3 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.0 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.5 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, 1.7 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     91,334    110,091     90,182   2,285,303   2,212,558     3.3
    Trucks  130,294    156,548    121,365   3,109,352   2,794,717    11.3
    TOTAL   221,628    266,639    211,547   5,394,655   5,007,275     7.7
    Canada
    Cars     31,145     26,650     31,159     596,621     578,474     3.1
    Trucks   28,935     24,559     28,844     593,888     590,243     0.6
    TOTAL    60,080     51,209     60,003   1,190,509   1,168,717     1.9
    Mexico
    Cars     19,357     21,819     20,254     417,579     439,840    -5.1
    Trucks   16,789     17,179     17,470     346,499     347,813    -0.4
    TOTAL    36,146     38,998     37,724     764,078     787,653    -3.0
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars    141,836    158,560    141,595   3,299,503    3,230,872    2.1
    Trucks  176,018    198,286    167,679   4,049,739    3,732,773    8.5
    GRAND   317,854    356,846    309,274   7,349,242    6,963,645    5.5
    TOTAL

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

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