Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Dec. 6, 2002; Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 370,898 units, up from the 234,288 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 16,008,875 vehicles, up 5.8 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 275,725 vehicles this week, up 79.2 percent from the 153,843 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 11,729,217 units, up 7.6 percent from the 10,896,474 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 58,934, a 39.2 percent increase from the 42,328 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,546,773 units, up 3.0 percent compared to the 2,473,634 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 33.3 percent; Ford Motor Co., 27.2 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 15.0 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.3 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.4 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 2.9 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.5 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 0.8 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.5 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.8 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.1 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    108,804    62,231    113,976    4,821,264    4,681,725     3.0
    Trucks  166,921    91,612    158,824    6,907,953    6,214,749    11.2
    TOTAL   275,725   153,843    272,800   11,729,217   10,896,474     7.6
    Canada
    Cars     31,705    20,109     29,044    1,315,399    1,251,597     5.1
    Trucks   27,229    22,219     29,095    1,231,374    1,222,037     0.8
    TOTAL    58,934    42,328     58,139    2,546,773    2,473,634     3.0
    Mexico
    Cars     18,903    20,342     21,838      934,507      947,320    -1.4
    Trucks   17,336    17,775     17,448      798,378      815,877    -2.1
    TOTAL    36,239    38,117     39,286    1,732,885    1,763,197    -1.7
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars    159,412   102,682    164,858    7,071,170    6,880,642     2.8
    Trucks  211,486   131,606    205,367    8,937,705    8,252,663     8.3
    GRAND   370,898   234,288    370,225   16,008,875   15,133,305     5.8
    TOTAL

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