Ward's Reports Estimated North America Vehicle Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Aug. 23 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 361,921 units, up from the 350,874 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 10,960,060 vehicles, up 5.9 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 262,405 vehicles this week, up 3.8 percent from the 252,874 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 8,022,761 units, up 7.6 percent from the 7,454,348 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 63,136, a 5.8 percent increase from the 59,656 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,753,849 units, up 3.6 percent compared to the 1,693,006 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 33.3 percent; Ford Motor Co., 27.4 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.2 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.8 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.2 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.4 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.2 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.0 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., 0.9 percent; and other manufacturers, 1.6 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      105,246   102,156    104,946  3,373,920  3,252,343     3.7
    Trucks    157,159   150,718    139,800  4,648,841  4,202,005    10.6
    TOTAL     262,405   252,874    244,746  8,022,761  7,454,348     7.6
    Canada
    Cars       33,153    32,750     24,695    902,367    859,466     5.0
    Trucks     29,983    26,906     26,159    851,482    833,540     2.2
    TOTAL      63,136    59,656     50,854  1,753,849  1,693,006     3.6
    Mexico
    Cars       18,277    20,841     11,292    644,253    655,844    -1.8
    Trucks     18,103    17,503     17,117    539,197    545,114    -1.1
    TOTAL      36,380    38,344     28,409  1,183,450  1,200,958    -1.5
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars      156,676   155,747    140,933  4,920,540  4,767,653     3.2
    Trucks    205,245   195,127    183,076  6,039,520  5,580,659     8.2
    GRAND     361,921   350,874    324,009 10,960,060 10,348,312     5.9
    TOTAL

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

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