Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., June 20 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 355,164 units, up from the 349,237 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 8,178,300 vehicles, down 2.8 percent from like-2002's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 262,665 vehicles this week, up 3.8 percent from the 253,075 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2003 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 6,013,544 units, down 2.5 percent from the 6,166,577 vehicles built in like-2002.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 59,759, a 2.0 percent decrease from the 60,958 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2003 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,325,837 units, down 2.6 percent compared to the 1,361,147 vehicles produced in like-2002.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 30.6 percent; Ford Motor Co., 26.3 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 17.1 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.5 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.0 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.6 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.0 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, 1.6 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     99,886     96,217    107,373   2,273,026  2,609,229   -12.9
  Trucks  162,779    156,858    153,002   3,740,518  3,557,348     5.1
  TOTAL   262,665    253,075    260,375   6,013,544  6,166,577    -2.5
  Canada
  Cars     31,821     32,034     27,741     704,962    687,318     2.6
  Trucks   27,938     28,924     28,476     620,875    673,829    -7.9
  TOTAL    59,759     60,958     56,217   1,325,837  1,361,147    -2.6
  Mexico
  Cars     16,711     18,235     22,085     438,079    483,896    -9.5
  Trucks   16,029     16,969     17,780     400,840    400,170     0.2
  TOTAL    32,740     35,204     39,865     838,919    884,066    -5.1
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    148,418    146,486    157,199   3,416,067  3,780,443    -9.6
  Trucks  206,746    202,751    199,258   4,762,233  4,631,347     2.8
  GRAND   355,164    349,237    356,457   8,178,300  8,411,790    -2.8
  TOTAL

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

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