Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Nov. 1 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 346,951 units, down from the 351,431 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 14,380,162 vehicles, up 6.4 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 265,618 vehicles this week, up 0.2 percent from the 264,976 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 10,559,406 units, up 8.3 percent from the 9,750,547 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 47,096, a 9.6 percent decrease from the 52,101 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,268,658 units, up 3.5 percent compared to the 2,190,932 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 34.3 percent; Ford Motor Co., 29.3 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 11.6 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.4 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.2 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.4 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.0 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.0 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.6 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.6 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.1 percent; and other manufacturers, 1.8 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      110,232    102,992     94,922    4,357,195  4,209,528      3.5
    Trucks    155,386    161,984    146,867    6,202,211  5,541,019     11.9
    TOTAL     265,618    264,976    241,789   10,559,406  9,750,547      8.3
    Canada
    Cars       26,418     25,783     20,109    1,167,959   1,112,384     5.0
    Trucks     20,678     26,318     28,436    1,100,699   1,078,548     2.1
    TOTAL      47,096     52,101     48,545    2,268,658   2,190,932     3.5
    Mexico
    Cars       17,171     17,109     20,892      833,591     842,588    -1.1
    Trucks     17,066     17,245     16,419      718,507     726,426    -1.1
    TOTAL      34,237     34,354     37,311    1,552,098   1,569,014    -1.1
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars      153,821    145,884    135,923    6,358,745   6,164,500     3.2
    Trucks    193,130    205,547    191,722    8,021,417   7,345,993     9.2
    GRAND     346,951    351,431    327,645   14,380,162  13,510,493     6.4
    TOTAL

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

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