Ward's Reports Weekly Estimated North American Vehicle Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Jan. 10, 2003; Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 347,806 units, up from the 123,348 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 471,154 vehicles, up 2.0 percent from like-2002's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 260,579 vehicles this week, up substantially from the 92,628 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2003 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 353,207 units, up 3.2 percent from the 342,199 vehicles built in like-2002.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 47,024, a substantial increase from the 14,148 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2003 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 61,172 units, down 11.0 percent compared to the 68,743 vehicles produced in like-2002.

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., 29.8 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 11.9 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.7 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 4.3 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.0 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.5 percent; Subaru Automotive Inc., 1.0 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.6 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.7 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.6 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   2003     2002    2003 vs. 2002
    U.S.
    Cars      106,278    38,361      98,373    144,639  148,116     -2.3
    Trucks    154,301    54,267     127,392    208,568  194,083      7.5
    TOTAL     260,579    92,628     225,765    353,207  342,199      3.2
    Canada
    Cars       26,337     8,239      21,386     34,576   30,339     14.0
    Trucks     20,687     5,909      25,729     26,596   38,404    -30.7
    TOTAL      47,024    14,148      47,115     61,172   68,743    -11.0
    Mexico
    Cars       20,808    12,242      18,874     33,050   28,177     17.3
    Trucks     19,395     4,330      12,526     23,725   22,635      4.8
    TOTAL      40,203    16,572      31,400     56,775   50,812     11.7
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars      153,423    58,842     138,633    212,265  206,632      2.7
    Trucks    194,383    64,506     165,647    258,889  255,122      1.5
    GRAND     347,806   123,348     304,280    471,154  461,754      2.0
    TOTAL

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