Ward's Reports Weekly Estimated N.A. Vehicle Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Oct. 18 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 351,470 units, up from the 343,791 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 13,692,350 vehicles, up 6.5 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 265,530 vehicles this week, up 4.4 percent from the 254,218 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 10,037,645 units, up 8.2 percent from the 9,279,645 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 48,641, a 6.0 percent decrease from the 51,729 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,170,853 units, up 4.1 percent compared to the 2,085,680 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 34.7 percent; Ford Motor Co., 29.7 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.5 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.5 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.1 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.2 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.9 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 0.9 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.3 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.0 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    103,803     98,753      97,543    4,153,435   4,023,471    3.2
    Trucks  161,727    155,465     129,485    5,884,210   5,256,174   11.9
    TOTAL   265,530    254,218     227,028   10,037,645   9,279,645    8.2
    Canada
    Cars     26,424     27,281      24,273    1,116,616   1,063,219    5.0
    Trucks   22,217     24,448      27,179    1,054,237   1,022,461    3.1
    TOTAL    48,641     51,729      51,452    2,170,853   2,085,680    4.1
    Mexico
    Cars     19,902     19,887      20,414      799,438     804,815   -0.7
    Trucks   17,397     17,957      18,759      684,414     692,025   -1.1
    TOTAL    37,299     37,844      39,173    1,483,852   1,496,840   -0.9
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars    150,129    145,921     142,230    6,069,489   5,891,505    3.0
    Trucks  201,341    197,870     175,423    7,622,861   6,970,660    9.4
    GRAND   351,470    343,791     317,653   13,692,350  12,862,165    6.5
    TOTAL

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