Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Jan. 17, 2003; Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 345,711 units, up from the 336,038 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 804,970 vehicles, up 2.1 percent from like-2002's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 255,301 vehicles this week, up 1.2 percent from the 252,380 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2003 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 600,186 units, up 2.7 percent from the 584,384 vehicles built in like-2002.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 52,607, an 11.6 percent increase from the 47,133 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2003 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 113,888 units, down 4.3 percent compared to the 118,986 vehicles produced in like-2002.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 33.5 percent; Ford Motor Co., 29.6 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 12.8 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.8 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 4.5 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.1 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.0 percent; Subaru Automotive Inc., 1.1 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.7 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.8 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.6 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.1 percent; and other manufacturers, 1.4 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      105,450    101,817    100,502    245,355    248,618    -1.3
    Trucks    149,851    150,563    141,683    354,831    335,766     5.7
    TOTAL     255,301    252,380    242,185    600,186    584,384     2.7
    Canada
    Cars       25,439     25,827     24,438     59,505     54,777     8.6
    Trucks     27,168     21,306     25,805     54,383     64,209   -15.3
    TOTAL      52,607     47,133     50,243    113,888    118,986    -4.3
    Mexico
    Cars       18,408     19,284     19,638     49,930     47,815     4.4
    Trucks     19,395     17,241     14,693     40,966     37,328     9.7
    TOTAL      37,803     36,525     34,331     90,896     85,143     6.8
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars      149,297    146,928    144,578    354,790    351,210     1.0
    Trucks    196,414    189,110    182,181    450,180    437,303     2.9
    GRAND     345,711    336,038    326,759    804,970    788,513     2.1
    TOTAL

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

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