Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Aug. 16 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 348,646 units, up from the 334,292 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 10,553,984 vehicles, up 5.3 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 251,892 vehicles this week, up 3.2 percent from the 244,005 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 7,728,574 units, up 7.2 percent from the 7,209,602 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 57,933, an 8.3 percent increase from the 53,502 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,683,121 units, up 2.5 percent compared to the 1,642,152 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 34.4 percent; Ford Motor Co., 29.2 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 11.7 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.4 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.4 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.2 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.1 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.3 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    103,858   96,276    100,153    3,268,471   3,147,397     3.8
    Trucks  148,034  147,729    142,573    4,460,103   4,062,205     9.8
    TOTAL   251,892  244,005    242,726    7,728,574   7,209,602     7.2
    Canada
    Cars     31,145   28,787     29,064      867,609     834,771     3.9
    Trucks   26,788   24,715     24,937      815,512     807,381     1.0
    TOTAL    57,933   53,502     54,001    1,683,121   1,642,152     2.5
    Mexico
    Cars     20,808   19,300     17,070      623,803     644,552    -3.2
    Trucks   18,013   17,485     16,245      518,486     527,997    -1.8
    TOTAL    38,821   36,785     33,315    1,142,289   1,172,549    -2.6
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars    155,811  144,363    146,287    4,759,883   4,626,720     2.9
    Trucks  192,835  189,929    183,755    5,794,101   5,397,583     7.3
    GRAND   348,646  334,292    330,042   10,553,984  10,024,303     5.3
    TOTAL

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