Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production - July 18, 2003

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 18 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 251,130 units, up 81.5 percent from the 138,393 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 9,007,548 vehicles, down 2.6 percent from like-2002's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 188,152 vehicles this week, up 98.1 percent from the 95,000 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2003 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 6,591,483 units, down 2.5 percent from the 6,758,022 vehicles built in like-2002.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 29,729, a 50.3 percent increase from the 19,778 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2003 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,456,709 units, down 2.0 percent compared to the 1,487,020 vehicles produced in like-2002.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 41.5 percent; Ford Motor Co., 23.4 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 6.7 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 9.1 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 0.0 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 5.6 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 4.1 percent; Subaru Automotive Inc., 1.3 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 2.2 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.0 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.9 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.9 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.3 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      66,062    42,415     87,695   2,491,207   2,859,781    -12.9
  Trucks   122,090    52,585    130,088   4,100,276   3,898,241      5.2
  TOTAL    188,152    95,000    217,783   6,591,483   6,758,022     -2.5
  Canada
  Cars      16,880     8,697     19,721     772,492     756,194      2.2
  Trucks    12,849    11,081      9,988     684,217     730,826     -6.4
  TOTAL     29,729    19,778     29,709   1,456,709   1,487,020     -2.0
  Mexico
  Cars      17,113    14,078     18,187     500,217     553,705     -9.7
  Trucks    16,136     9,537     14,607     459,139     450,761      1.9
  TOTAL     33,249    23,615     32,794     959,356   1,004,466     -4.5
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars     100,055    65,190    125,603   3,763,916   4,169,680     -9.7
  Trucks   151,075    73,203    154,683   5,243,632   5,079,828      3.2
  GRAND    251,130   138,393    280,286   9,007,548   9,249,508     -2.6
  TOTAL

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

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