Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 19 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 309,972 units, up from the 129,135 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 9,297,236 vehicles, up 5.9 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 239,933 vehicles this week, up substantially from the 71,117 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 6,779,982 units, up 7.8 percent from the 6,288,025 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 32,925, a 33.0 percent increase from the 24,754 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,489,787 units, up 3.0 percent compared to the 1,447,051 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 35.9 percent; Ford Motor Co., 32.0 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 11.5 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.7 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 0.0 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.3 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.8 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.0 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.8 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.8 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.1 percent; and other manufacturers, 1.4 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       96,200    43,206    72,721   2,868,451  2,769,047     3.6
    Trucks    143,733    27,911   113,604   3,911,531  3,518,978    11.2
    TOTAL     239,933    71,117   186,325   6,779,982  6,288,025     7.8
    Canada
    Cars       20,945    12,886    23,105     756,601    727,588     4.0
    Trucks     11,980    11,868    10,957     733,186    719,463     1.9
    TOTAL      32,925    24,754    34,062   1,489,787  1,447,051     3.0
    Mexico
    Cars       19,101    17,458    21,836     558,266    576,087    -3.1
    Trucks     18,013    15,806    16,645     469,201    466,165     0.7
    TOTAL      37,114    33,264    38,481   1,027,467  1,042,252    -1.4
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars      136,246    73,550   117,662   4,183,318  4,072,722     2.7
    Trucks    173,726    55,585   141,206   5,113,918  4,704,606     8.7
    GRAND     309,972   129,135   258,868   9,297,236  8,777,328     5.9
    TOTAL

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

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