Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Aug. 30 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 335,721 units, down from the 358,965 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 11,292,825 vehicles, up 6.0 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 244,339 vehicles this week, down 6.0 percent from the 259,931 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 8,264,626 units, up 7.6 percent from the 7,680,759 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 51,402, an 18.3 percent decrease from the 62,936 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,805,051 units, up 3.7 percent compared to the 1,740,788 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 29.6 percent; Ford Motor Co., 30.1 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.9 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.4 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.4 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 4.1 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.1 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.2 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.7 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.3 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.0 percent; and other manufacturers, 1.5 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    97,051  105,228     88,473    3,470,953   3,340,816      3.9
    Trucks 147,288  154,703    137,938    4,793,673   4,339,943     10.5
    TOTAL  244,339  259,931    226,411    8,264,626   7,680,759      7.6
    Canada
    Cars    27,552   32,882     25,075      929,648     884,541      5.1
    Trucks  23,850   30,054     22,707      875,403     856,247      2.2
    TOTAL   51,402   62,936     47,782    1,805,051   1,740,788      3.7
    Mexico
    Cars    21,877   18,348     11,299      666,201     667,143     -0.1
    Trucks  18,103   17,750     16,825      556,947     561,939     -0.9
    TOTAL   39,980   36,098     28,124    1,223,148   1,229,082     -0.5
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars   146,480  156,458    124,847    5,066,802   4,892,500      3.6
    Trucks 189,241  202,507    177,470    6,226,023   5,758,129      8.1
    GRAND  335,721  358,965    302,317   11,292,825  10,650,629      6.0
    TOTAL

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