Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Oct. 4 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 359,136 units, down from the 363,732 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 13,007,826 vehicles, up 6.5 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 264,876 vehicles this week, down 3.0 percent from the 272,947 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 9,527,945 units, up 8.2 percent from the 8,807,499 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 55,222, a 0.3 percent decrease from the 55,409 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,069,939 units, up 4.2 percent compared to the 1,986,369 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., 27.2 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 15.0 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.4 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.1 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.5 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.9 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.0 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., 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    102,990    107,981     98,571    3,957,570    3,820,479     3.6
    Trucks  161,886    164,966    136,734    5,570,375    4,987,020    11.7
    TOTAL   264,876    272,947    235,305    9,527,945    8,807,499     8.2
    Canada
    Cars     29,177     26,471     26,617    1,061,328    1,014,136     4.7
    Trucks   26,045     28,938     13,960    1,008,611      972,233     3.7
    TOTAL    55,222     55,409     40,577    2,069,939    1,986,369     4.2
    Mexico
    Cars     21,138     17,213     19,889      761,171      764,251    -0.4
    Trucks   17,900     18,163     18,560      648,771      655,037    -1.0
    TOTAL    39,038     35,376     38,449    1,409,942    1,419,288    -0.7
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars    153,305    151,665    145,077    5,780,069    5,598,866     3.2
    Trucks  205,831    212,067    169,254    7,227,757    6,614,290     9.3
    GRAND   359,136    363,732    314,331   13,007,826   12,213,156     6.5
    TOTAL

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