Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production -

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Dec. 13, 2002; Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 361,667 units, down from the 369,543 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 16,369,058 vehicles, up 5.7 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 271,029 vehicles this week, down 0.6 percent from the 272,544 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 11,996,936 units, up 7.5 percent from the 11,159,858 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 53,767, a 9.5 percent decrease from the 59,398 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,601,004 units, up 2.8 percent compared to the 2,530,625 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 33.7 percent; Ford Motor Co., 27.7 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 15.0 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.4 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 4.8 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.0 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.6 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.0 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.6 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.8 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.2 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    106,262    104,953    108,104    4,923,676    4,789,829     2.8
    Trucks  164,767    167,591    155,280    7,073,260    6,370,029    11.0
    TOTAL   271,029    272,544    263,384   11,996,936   11,159,858     7.5
    Canada
    Cars     31,178     31,772     26,726    1,346,644    1,278,323     5.3
    Trucks   22,589     27,626     30,265    1,254,360    1,252,302     0.2
    TOTAL    53,767     59,398     56,991    2,601,004    2,530,625     2.8
    Mexico
    Cars     19,261     19,859     20,975      954,724      968,295    -1.4
    Trucks   17,610     17,742     15,624      816,394      831,501    -1.8
    TOTAL    36,871     37,601     36,599    1,771,118    1,799,796    -1.6
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars    156,701    156,584    155,805    7,225,044    7,036,447     2.7
    Trucks  204,966    212,959    201,169    9,144,014    8,453,832     8.2
    GRAND   361,667    369,543    356,974   16,369,058   15,490,279     5.7
    TOTAL

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