Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production - April 17, 2003

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., April 17 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 286,642 units, down from the 327,426 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 5,154,913 vehicles, down 1.2 percent from like-2002's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 215,460 vehicles this week, down 8.2 percent from the 234,589 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2003 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 3,797,409 units, down 0.7 percent from the 3,825,155 vehicles built in like-2002.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 49,350, a 10.5 percent decrease from the 55,162 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2003 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 817,177 units, down 3.5 percent compared to the 847,128 vehicles produced in like-2002.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 31.1 percent; Ford Motor Co., 27.1 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.3 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 8.2 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.5 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.4 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.9 percent; Subaru Automotive Inc., 1.0 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.5 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.7 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.9 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.6 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   2003      2002   2003 vs. 2002
  U.S.
  Cars       84,605      82,969    107,602  1,430,900  1,634,042  -12.4
  Trucks    130,855     151,620    155,326  2,366,509  2,191,113    8.0
  TOTAL     215,460     234,589    262,928  3,797,409  3,825,155   -0.7
  Canada
  Cars       26,290      31,538     30,122    437,303    420,584    4.0
  Trucks     23,060      23,624     30,772    379,874    426,544  -10.9
  TOTAL      49,350      55,162     60,894    817,177    847,128   -3.5
  Mexico
  Cars       10,676      19,859     20,372    286,911    297,890   -3.7
  Trucks     11,156      17,816     17,017    253,416    245,788    3.1
  TOTAL      21,832      37,675     37,389    540,327    543,678   -0.6
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars      121,571     134,366    158,096  2,155,114  2,352,516   -8.4
  Trucks    165,071     193,060    203,115  2,999,799  2,863,445    4.8
  GRAND     286,642     327,426    361,211  5,154,913  5,215,961   -1.2
  TOTAL

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

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