Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production - May 16, 2003

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 16, 2003 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 344,068 units, up from the 343,408 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 6,482,285 vehicles, down 2.8 percent from like-2002's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 264,450 vehicles this week, up 4.7 percent from the 252,499 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2003 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 4,788,288 units, down 2.4 percent from the 4,905,851 vehicles built in like-2002.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 47,034, a 16.5 percent decrease from the 56,360 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2003 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,030,542 units, down 4.2 percent compared to the 1,076,270 vehicles produced in like-2002.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 31.4 percent; Ford Motor Co., 26.5 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 15.7 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.6 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.9 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 4.0 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.9 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, 0.7 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.3 percent; and other manufacturers, 1.7 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    102,001     93,132    113,269   1,806,665  2,083,875    -13.3
  Trucks  162,449    159,367    163,518   2,981,623  2,821,976      5.7
  TOTAL   264,450    252,499    276,787   4,788,288  4,905,851     -2.4
  Canada
  Cars     24,895     27,014     24,353     548,313    538,826      1.8
  Trucks   22,139     29,346     24,058     482,229    537,444    -10.3
  TOTAL    47,034     56,360     48,411   1,030,542  1,076,270     -4.2
  Mexico
  Cars     16,711     17,822     21,675     347,544    374,942     -7.3
  Trucks   15,873     16,727     17,444     315,911    312,990      0.9
  TOTAL    32,584     34,549     39,119     663,455    687,932     -3.6
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    143,607    137,968    159,297   2,702,522  2,997,643     -9.8
  Trucks  200,461    205,440    205,020   3,779,763  3,672,410      2.9
  GRAND   344,068    343,408    364,317   6,482,285  6,670,053     -2.8
  TOTAL

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

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