Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 2 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 354,017 units, up from the 304,617 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 5,800,186 vehicles, down 2.4 percent from like-2002's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 255,261 vehicles this week, up 12.5 percent from the 226,957 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2003 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 4,268,596 units, down 2.2 percent from the 4,364,445 vehicles built in like-2002.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 60,441, a 15.5 percent increase from the 52,328 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2003 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 928,085 units, down 4.2 percent compared to the 968,800 vehicles produced in like-2002.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 32.9 percent; Ford Motor Co., 26.9 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.6 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.9 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.5 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.3 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.0 percent; Subaru Automotive Inc., 1.0 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.6 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.5 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.4 percent; and other manufacturers, 1.7 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     99,271    88,482    115,180   1,611,806   1,861,658    -13.4
  Trucks  155,990   138,475    155,227   2,656,790   2,502,787      6.2
  TOTAL   255,261   226,957    270,407   4,268,596   4,364,445     -2.2
  Canada
  Cars     31,869    28,303     31,365     496,159     483,619      2.6
  Trucks   28,572    24,025     28,281     431,926     485,181    -11.0
  TOTAL    60,441    52,328     59,646     928,085     968,800     -4.2
  Mexico
  Cars     20,135     9,313     14,117     316,348     332,476     -4.9
  Trucks   18,180    16,019     16,538     287,157     279,454      2.8
  TOTAL    38,315    25,332     30,655     603,505     611,930     -1.4
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    151,275   126,098    160,662   2,424,313   2,677,753     -9.5
  Trucks  202,742   178,519    200,046   3,375,873   3,267,422      3.3
  GRAND   354,017   304,617    360,708   5,800,186   5,945,175     -2.4
  TOTAL

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