Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., April 11 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 330,815 units, down from the 349,920 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 4,871,597 vehicles, up 0.3 percent from like-2002's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 238,007 vehicles this week, down 6.7 percent from the 255,128 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2003 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 3,585,290 units, up 0.6 percent from the 3,562,227 vehicles built in like-2002.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 54,201, a 5.6 percent decrease from the 57,416 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2003 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 766,241 units, down 2.5 percent compared to the 786,234 vehicles produced in like-2002.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 31.6 percent; Ford Motor Co., 28.3 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 11.7 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 7.4 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.8 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.9 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.3 percent; Subaru Automotive Inc., 1.1 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.9 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.8 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.4 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.1 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     88,873     92,090    116,988    1,352,199  1,526,440    -11.4
  Trucks  149,134    163,038    156,312    2,233,091  2,035,787      9.7
  TOTAL   238,007    255,128    273,300    3,585,290  3,562,227      0.6
  Canada
  Cars     31,421     30,931     30,513      410,896    390,462      5.2
  Trucks   22,780     26,485     30,126      355,345    395,772    -10.2
  TOTAL    54,201     57,416     60,639      766,241    786,234     -2.5
  Mexico
  Cars     20,873     19,513     19,711      277,799    277,518      0.1
  Trucks   17,734     17,863     17,134      242,267    228,771      5.9
  TOTAL    38,607     37,376     36,845      520,066    506,289      2.7
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    141,167    142,534    167,212    2,040,894  2,194,420     -7.0
  Trucks  189,648    207,386    203,572    2,830,703  2,660,330      6.4
  GRAND   330,815    349,920    370,784    4,871,597  4,854,750      0.3
  TOTAL

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