Ward's: This Weeks Vehicle Production Up 30%

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Sept. 13,2002 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 361,898 units, up from the 295,622 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 11,940,043 vehicles, up 6.3 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 268,975 vehicles this week, up 28.5 percent from the 209,395 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 8,736,607 units, up 7.9 percent from the 8,093,775 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 53,584, a 13.5 percent increase from the 47,200 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,903,473 units, up 3.8 percent compared to the 1,834,461 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 34.0 percent; Ford Motor Co., 28.2 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.1 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.8 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.0 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.1 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.7 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.1 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.6 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.0 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.1 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       105,915    81,599     92,175    3,653,967  3,518,481    3.9
    Trucks     163,060   127,796    119,760    5,082,640  4,575,294   11.1
    TOTAL      268,975   209,395    211,935    8,736,607  8,093,775    7.9
    Canada
    Cars        25,159    24,559     22,264      978,636    931,082    5.1
    Trucks      28,425    22,641     23,772      924,837    903,379    2.4
    TOTAL       53,584    47,200     46,036    1,903,473  1,834,461    3.8
    Mexico
    Cars        21,065    19,918     19,149      704,975    705,555   -0.1
    Trucks      18,274    19,109     18,780      594,988    599,128   -0.7
    TOTAL       39,339    39,027     37,929    1,299,963  1,304,683   -0.4
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars       152,139   126,076    133,588    5,337,578  5,155,118    3.5
    Trucks     209,759   169,546    162,312    6,602,465  6,077,801    8.6
    GRAND      361,898   295,622    295,900   11,940,043 11,232,919    6.3
    TOTAL

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

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