Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 9, 2003 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 346,962 units, down from the 352,560 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 6,144,369 vehicles, down 2.6 percent from like-2002's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 252,532 vehicles this week, down 1.7 percent from the 256,979 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2003 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 4,521,532 units, down 2.3 percent from the 4,629,064 vehicles built in like-2002.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 54,936, an 8.5 percent decrease from the 60,049 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2003 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 982,621 units, down 4.4 percent compared to the 1,027,859 vehicles produced in like-2002.

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., 25.5 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.4 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 7.0 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.6 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.7 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.1 percent; Subaru 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., 1.4 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      94,824     99,650   108,948   1,706,271  1,970,606    -13.4
  Trucks   157,708    157,329   155,671   2,815,261  2,658,458      5.9
  TOTAL    252,532    256,979   264,619   4,521,532  4,629,064     -2.3
  Canada
  Cars      26,364     32,120    30,854     522,768    514,473      1.6
  Trucks    28,572     27,929    28,205     459,853    513,386    -10.4
  TOTAL     54,936     60,049    59,059     982,621  1,027,859     -4.4
  Mexico
  Cars      20,616     18,995    20,791     335,824    353,267     -4.9
  Trucks    18,878     16,537    16,092     304,392    295,546      3.0
  TOTAL     39,494     35,532    36,883     640,216    648,813     -1.3
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars     141,804    150,765   160,593   2,564,863  2,838,346     -9.6
  Trucks   205,158    201,795   199,968   3,579,506  3,467,390      3.2
  GRAND    346,962    352,560   360,561   6,144,369  6,305,736     -2.6
  TOTAL

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