Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Aug. 2 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 326,688 units, up from the 304,023 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 9,869,272 vehicles, up 5.1 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 249,122 vehicles this week, up 4.0 percent from the 239,599 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 7,233,615 units, up 7.3 percent from the 6,738,623 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 41,965, a 6.2 percent increase from the 39,522 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,568,874 units, up 1.5 percent compared to the 1,545,818 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 34.1 percent; Ford Motor Co., 28.7 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 12.5 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.5 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.4 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.2 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.1 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.1 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.7 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.8 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 0.8 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        99,314    106,928    92,946   3,066,047   2,954,734     3.8
    Trucks     149,808    132,671   137,446   4,167,568   3,783,889    10.1
    TOTAL      249,122    239,599   230,392   7,233,615   6,738,623     7.3
    Canada
    Cars        20,567     26,054    28,776     802,814     782,106     2.6
    Trucks      21,398     13,468    25,582     766,060     763,712     0.3
    TOTAL       41,965     39,522    54,358   1,568,874   1,545,818     1.5
    Mexico
    Cars        17,588     10,963    16,886     583,105     610,775    -4.5
    Trucks      18,013     13,939    14,521     483,678     497,152    -2.7
    TOTAL       35,601     24,902    31,407   1,066,783   1,107,927    -3.7
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars       137,469    143,945   138,608   4,451,966   4,347,615     2.4
    Trucks     189,219    160,078   177,549   5,417,306   5,044,753     7.4
    GRAND      326,688    304,023   316,157   9,869,272   9,392,368     5.1
    TOTAL

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