Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Oct. 25 - Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 356,525 units, up from the 340,440 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 14,038,165 vehicles, up 6.5 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 269,625 vehicles this week, up 5.6 percent from the 255,257 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 10,298,117 units, up 8.3 percent from the 9,508,758 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 53,783, a 13.4 percent increase from the 47,429 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,223,424 units, up 3.8 percent compared to the 2,142,387 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 33.8 percent; Ford Motor Co., 28.8 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.9 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.3 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.0 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.0 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.5 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 0.9 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.6 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.1 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 0.9 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     108,451     94,129     91,135   4,252,212   4,114,606      3.3
    Trucks   161,174    161,128    137,978   6,045,905   5,394,152     12.1
    TOTAL    269,625    255,257    229,113  10,298,117   9,508,758      8.3
    Canada
    Cars      26,418     25,566     29,056    1,142,176  1,092,275      4.6
    Trucks    27,365     21,863     27,651    1,081,248  1,050,112      3.0
    TOTAL     53,783     47,429     56,707    2,223,424  2,142,387      3.8
    Mexico
    Cars      17,272     19,775     16,881      816,583    821,696     -0.6
    Trucks    15,845     17,979     17,982      700,041    710,007     -1.4
    TOTAL     33,117     37,754     34,863    1,516,624  1,531,703     -1.0
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars     152,141    139,470    137,072    6,210,971  6,028,577      3.0
    Trucks   204,384    200,970    183,611    7,827,194  7,154,271      9.4
    GRAND    356,525    340,440    320,683   14,038,165 13,182,848      6.5
    TOTAL

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

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