Ward's Reports Estimated Auto and Truck Weekly Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Sept. 6 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 297,902 units, down from the 324,710 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 11,580,528 vehicles, up 5.9 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 213,378 vehicles this week, down 9.7 percent from the 236,319 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 8,471,722 units, up 7.5 percent from the 7,881,840 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 47,347, a 5.2 percent decrease from the 49,967 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,850,037 units, up 3.4 percent compared to the 1,788,425 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., 30.0 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 11.9 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.3 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.1 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.4 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.6 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.1 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., 0.9 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   2002      2001   2002 vs. 2001
    U.S.
    Cars       86,408     92,488     85,490  3,552,917  3,426,306     3.7
    Trucks    126,970    143,831    115,591  4,918,805  4,455,534    10.4
    TOTAL     213,378    236,319    201,081  8,471,722  7,881,840     7.5
    Canada
    Cars       24,511     26,822     24,277    953,429    908,818     4.9
    Trucks     22,836     23,145     23,360    896,608    879,607     1.9
    TOTAL      47,347     49,967     47,637  1,850,037  1,788,425     3.4
    Mexico
    Cars       21,065     20,639     19,263    685,057    686,406    -0.2
    Trucks     16,112     17,785     18,409    573,712    580,348    -1.1
    TOTAL      37,177     38,424     37,672  1,258,769  1,266,754    -0.6
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars      131,984    139,949    129,030  5,191,403  5,021,530     3.4
    Trucks    165,918    184,761    157,360  6,389,125  5,915,489     8.0
    GRAND     297,902    324,710    286,390 11,580,528 10,937,019     5.9
    TOTAL

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

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