Ward's Reports Estimated North America Vehicle Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Feb. 21 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 334,966 units, down from the 348,655 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 2,458,606 vehicles, up 0.2 percent from like-2002's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 243,056 vehicles this week, down 4.7 percent from the 255,088 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2003 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 1,813,009 units, up 1.0 percent from the 1,795,078 vehicles built in like-2002.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 50,972, an 11.0 percent decrease from the 57,260 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2003 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 383,348 units, down 3.5 percent compared to the 397,151 vehicles produced in like-2002.

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., 27.5 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.0 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.1 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 4.7 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.3 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.6 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, 0.7 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.3 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    2003       2002  2003 vs. 2002
    U.S.
    Cars     87,589      96,308     115,763    696,961     767,964     -9.2
    Trucks  155,467     158,780     144,546  1,116,048   1,027,114      8.7
    TOTAL   243,056     255,088     260,309  1,813,009   1,795,078      1.0
    Canada
    Cars     30,457      30,472      30,740    208,055     196,453      5.9
    Trucks   20,515      26,788      29,688    175,293     200,698    -12.7
    TOTAL    50,972      57,260      60,428    383,348     397,151     -3.5
    Mexico
    Cars     21,521      18,422      20,598    144,467     142,337      1.5
    Trucks   19,417      17,885      17,123    117,782     118,682     -0.8
    TOTAL    40,938      36,307      37,721    262,249     261,019      0.5
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars    139,567     145,202     167,101  1,049,483   1,106,754     -5.2
    Trucks  195,399     203,453     191,357  1,409,123   1,346,494      4.7
    GRAND   334,966     348,655     358,458  2,458,606   2,453,248      0.2
    TOTAL

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