Ward's Weekly Auto Production Estimated 319,204 Units

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. -Dow Jones reported that Ward's Automotive Reports put North American vehicle production at 319,204 cars and trucks, up from 267,922 vehicles last week.

Including this week's estimates, calendar-year North American output totals 9,557,770 vehicles, up 5.3% from the pace set in 2001.

In a press release Friday, Ward's said U.S. automakers should manufacture 250, 704 vehicles this week, up 22.2% from 205,093 cars and trucks built last week.

To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals 6,995,598 vehicles, up 7.5% from the 6,508,231 cars and trucks built during the same period in 2001.

Canadian production for the week rose 44.8% to 43,024 vehicles from 29,709 last week.

Calendar 2002 production stands at 1,530,411 cars and trucks, a 2.6% increased from the 1,491,460 vehicles produced during the same period in 2001.

Of the vehicles built this week, General Motors Corp. (GM) will build 33.8%, Ford Motor Co . 31.2%, and Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler 8.6%.