Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., March 14 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 340,254 units, up from the 337,027 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 3,484,592 vehicles, down 1.1 percent from like-2002's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 247,698 vehicles this week, down 0.7 percent from the 249,496 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2003 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 2,569,953 units, down 0.4 percent from the 2,580,653 vehicles built in like-2002.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 53,365, a 9.4 percent increase from the 48,799 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2003 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 537,932 units, down 5.8 percent compared to the 571,306 vehicles produced in like-2002.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 29.5 percent; Ford Motor Co., 29.2 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 15.3 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 7.2 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.3 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 2.9 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.5 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     89,525     86,702     108,387     972,591   1,105,654    -12.0
  Trucks  158,173    162,794     151,212   1,597,362   1,474,999      8.3
  TOTAL   247,698    249,496     259,599   2,569,953   2,580,653     -0.4
  Canada
  Cars     26,124     26,300      26,216     285,785     285,022      0.3
  Trucks   27,241     22,499      28,610     252,147     286,284    -11.9
  TOTAL    53,365     48,799      54,826     537,932     571,306     -5.8
  Mexico
  Cars     20,770     20,340      20,440     203,211     203,156      0.0
  Trucks   18,421     18,392      16,821     173,496     167,970      3.3
  TOTAL    39,191     38,732      37,261     376,707     371,126      1.5
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    136,419    133,342     155,043   1,461,587   1,593,832     -8.3
  Trucks  203,835    203,685     196,643   2,023,005   1,929,253      4.9
  GRAND   340,254    337,027     351,686   3,484,592   3,523,085     -1.1
  TOTAL

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