Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 11 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 135,981 units, up 20.4 percent from the 112,986 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 8,753,809 vehicles, down 2.4 percent from like-2002's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 90,118 vehicles this week, up 60.6 percent from the 56,122 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2003 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 6,398,425 units, down 2.2 percent from the 6,540,239 vehicles built in like-2002.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 19,827, a 30.1 percent decrease from the 28,362 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2003 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,427,029 units, down 2.1 percent compared to the 1,457,311 vehicles produced in like-2002.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 7.9 percent; Ford Motor Co., 0.0 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 26.3 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 19.1 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 16.9 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 10.8 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 8.6 percent; Subaru Automotive Inc., 0.0 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.0 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.0 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 1.9 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 3.9 percent; and other manufacturers, 4.6 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      41,703    17,668    43,063    2,424,412    2,772,086    -12.5
  Trucks    48,415    38,454    28,210    3,974,013    3,768,153      5.5
  TOTAL     90,118    56,122    71,273    6,398,425    6,540,239     -2.2
  Canada
  Cars       8,560    14,456    13,703      755,475      736,473      2.6
  Trucks    11,267    13,906    11,869      671,554      720,838     -6.8
  TOTAL     19,827    28,362    25,572    1,427,029    1,457,311     -2.1
  Mexico
  Cars      14,071    14,071    17,054      483,006      535,518     -9.8
  Trucks    11,965    14,431    12,551      445,349      436,154      2.1
  TOTAL     26,036    28,502    29,605      928,355      971,672     -4.5
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars      64,334    46,195    73,820    3,662,893    4,044,077     -9.4
  Trucks    71,647    66,791    52,630    5,090,916    4,925,145      3.4
  GRAND    135,981   112,986   126,450    8,753,809    8,969,222     -2.4
  TOTAL

  Note: All figures include medium- and heavy-duty truck production.
  ON THE WEB: www.wardsauto.com