Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 25 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 304,134 units, up 44.4 percent from the 210,583 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 9,271,088 vehicles, down 3.0 percent from like-2002's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 226,217 vehicles this week, up 42.6 percent from the 158,632 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2003 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 6,788,036 units, down 3.1 percent from the 7,006,831 vehicles built in like-2002.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 44,668, a 90.2 percent increase from the 23,479 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2003 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,495,224 units, down 2.1 percent compared to the 1,526,542 vehicles produced in like-2002.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 33.8 percent; Ford Motor Co., 30.6 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 8.9 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 7.5 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.0 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 4.8 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.4 percent; Subaru Automotive Inc., 1.2 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.8 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.9 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.6 percent; and other manufacturers, 1.8 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    91,075    53,395    106,928  2,569,661  2,966,709    -13.4
  Trucks 135,142   105,237    141,881  4,218,375  4,040,122      4.4
  TOTAL  226,217   158,632    248,809  6,788,036  7,006,831     -3.1
  Canada
  Cars    31,819    11,497     26,054    799,025    782,248      2.1
  Trucks  12,849    11,982     13,468    696,199    744,294     -6.5
  TOTAL   44,668    23,479     39,522  1,495,224  1,526,542     -2.1
  Mexico
  Cars    17,113    15,142     10,963    515,359    564,668     -8.7
  Trucks  16,136    13,330     13,896    472,469    464,657      1.7
  TOTAL   33,249    28,472     24,859    987,828  1,029,325     -4.0
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars   140,007    80,034    143,945  3,884,045  4,313,625    -10.0
  Trucks 164,127   130,549    169,245  5,387,043  5,249,073      2.6
  GRAND  304,134   210,583    313,190  9,271,088  9,562,698     -3.0
  TOTAL

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

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