Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., March 21 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 355,942 units, up from the 344,158 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 3,845,050 vehicles, down 0.9 percent from like-2002's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 261,064 vehicles this week, up 3.4 percent from the 252,461 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2003 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 2,835,780 units, down 0.3 percent from the 2,843,988 vehicles built in like-2002.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 58,666, an 8.2 percent increase from the 54,212 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2003 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 597,495 units, down 4.9 percent compared to the 628,269 vehicles produced in like-2002.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 33.4 percent; Ford Motor Co., 28.0 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.7 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.8 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.2 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 2.7 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.0 percent; Subaru Automotive Inc., 1.0 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.8 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.7 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.3 percent; and other manufacturers, 1.7 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     100,391     92,167    110,144   1,075,624   1,215,798    -11.5
  Trucks   160,673    160,294    153,191   1,760,156   1,628,190      8.1
  TOTAL    261,064    252,461    263,335   2,835,780   2,843,988     -0.3
  Canada
  Cars      30,970     26,623     26,421     317,254     311,443      1.9
  Trucks    27,696     27,589     30,542     280,241     316,826    -11.5
  TOTAL     58,666     54,212     56,963     597,495     628,269     -4.9
  Mexico
  Cars      19,655     20,345     19,480     222,940     222,636      0.1
  Trucks    16,557     17,140     16,058     188,835     184,028      2.6
  TOTAL     36,212     37,485     35,538     411,775     406,664      1.3
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars     151,016    139,135    156,045   1,615,818   1,749,877     -7.7
  Trucks   204,926    205,023    199,791   2,229,232   2,129,044      4.7
  GRAND    355,942    344,158    355,836   3,845,050   3,878,921     -0.9
  TOTAL

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