Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Aug. 9 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 344,006 units, up from the 328,504 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 10,213,212 vehicles, up 5.4 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 251,579 vehicles this week, up 1.9 percent from the 246,902 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 7,482,416 units, up 7.4 percent from the 6,966,876 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 55,596, a 23.2 percent increase from the 45,144 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,627,282 units, up 2.5 percent compared to the 1,588,151 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 34.1 percent; Ford Motor Co., 27.2 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.3 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.4 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.4 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.6 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.6 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.1 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.7 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.7 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.6 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 0.8 percent; and other manufacturers, 1.5 percent.

                       NORTH AMERICA FACTORY PRODUCTION
           This Week  Last Week  Same Week   To Date    To Date  Pct. Change
           Estimated   Revised   Last Year     2002      2001   2002 vs. 2001
    U.S.
    Cars     99,363    101,628     92,510   3,167,700  3,047,244     4.0
    Trucks  152,216    145,274    135,743   4,314,716  3,919,632    10.1
    TOTAL   251,579    246,902    228,253   7,482,416  6,966,876     7.4
    Canada
    Cars     30,200     25,429     23,601     837,877    805,707     4.0
    Trucks   25,396     19,715     18,732     789,405    782,444     0.9
    TOTAL    55,596     45,144     42,333   1,627,282  1,588,151     2.5
    Mexico
    Cars     18,818     19,027     16,707     602,513    627,482    -4.0
    Trucks   18,013     17,431     14,600     501,001    511,752    -2.1
    TOTAL    36,831     36,458     31,307   1,103,514  1,139,234    -3.1
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars    148,381    146,084    132,818   4,608,090  4,480,433     2.8
    Trucks  195,625    182,420    169,075   5,605,122  5,213,828     7.5
    GRAND   344,006    328,504    301,893  10,213,212  9,694,261     5.4
    TOTAL

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

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