Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Jan. 25 Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 299,856 units, down from the 328,874 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 1,092,468 vehicles, up 3.3 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 214,776 vehicles this week, down 11.3 percent from the 242,184 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 799,159 units, up 8.0 percent from the 740,231 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 48,580, a 7.4 percent decrease from the 52,483 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 172,036 units, down 9.7 percent compared to the 190,435 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 31.5 percent; Ford Motor Co., 29.0 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.7 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 7.0 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.1 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.2 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.4 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.3 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 2.0 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.1 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    2002       2001   2002 vs. 2001
    U.S.
    Cars     90,933     99,954      85,433    338,469    356,343     -5.0
    Trucks  123,843    142,230     105,140    460,690    383,888     20.0
    TOTAL   214,776    242,184     190,573    799,159    740,231      8.0
    Canada
    Cars     24,265     23,583      21,016     77,611     95,002    -18.3
    Trucks   24,315     28,900      23,697     94,425     95,433     -1.1
    TOTAL    48,580     52,483      44,713    172,036    190,435     -9.7
    Mexico
    Cars     19,563     20,324      19,852     68,806     67,089      2.6
    Trucks   16,937     13,883      15,780     52,467     59,940    -12.5
    TOTAL    36,500     34,207      35,632    121,273    127,029     -4.5
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars    134,761    143,861     126,301    484,886    518,434     -6.5
    Trucks  165,095    185,013     144,617    607,582    539,261     12.7
    GRAND   299,856    328,874     270,918  1,092,468  1,057,695      3.3
    TOTAL

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