Ward's Reports Estimated Weekly North American Automotive Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Dec. 20, 2002; Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 322,920 units, down from the 364,195 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 16,692,856 vehicles, up 5.7 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 239,781 vehicles this week, down 15.0 percent from the 281,948 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 12,246,332 units, up 7.5 percent from the 11,391,756 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 48,290, an 11.5 percent decrease from the 54,579 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,649,986 units, up 3.1 percent compared to the 2,570,781 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 37.6 percent; Ford Motor Co., 23.7 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 12.2 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 7.3 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.6 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.3 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.3 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.1 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.8 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.9 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.1 percent; and other manufacturers, 1.4 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       91,712    110,635     98,632   5,019,582  4,888,461     2.7
    Trucks    148,069    171,313    133,266   7,226,750  6,503,295    11.1
    TOTAL     239,781    281,948    231,898  12,246,332 11,391,756     7.5
    Canada
    Cars       26,201     30,993     19,827   1,372,660  1,298,150     5.7
    Trucks     22,089     23,586     20,329   1,277,326  1,272,631     0.4
    TOTAL      48,290     54,579     40,156   2,649,986  2,570,781     3.1
    Mexico
    Cars       18,072     17,670     19,609     971,457    987,904    -1.7
    Trucks     16,777      9,998     16,042     825,081    847,543    -2.7
    TOTAL      34,849     27,668     35,651   1,796,538  1,835,447    -2.1
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars      135,985    159,298    138,068   7,363,699  7,174,515     2.6
    Trucks    186,935    204,897    169,637   9,329,157  8,623,469     8.2
    GRAND     322,920    364,195    307,705  16,692,856 15,797,984     5.7
    TOTAL

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

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