Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 12 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 132,570 units, up from the 93,754 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 8,993,965 vehicles, up 5.6 percent from like-2001's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 71,864 vehicles this week, up 87.6 percent from the 38,307 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2002 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 6,540,170 units, up 7.2 percent from the 6,101,700 vehicles built in like-2001.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 25,005, a 34.5 percent increase from the 18,592 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2002 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,457,295 units, up 3.1 percent compared to the 1,412,989 vehicles produced in like-2001.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 20.7 percent; Ford Motor Co., 0.0 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.7 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 20.8 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 18.7 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 0.0 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 10.6 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 0.0 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 3.5 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.0 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 2.5 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 3.6 percent; and other manufacturers, 4.9 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      45,039    12,145    34,609    2,774,069   2,696,326     2.9
    Trucks    26,825    26,162    35,301    3,766,101   3,405,374    10.6
    TOTAL     71,864    38,307    69,910    6,540,170   6,101,700     7.2
    Canada
    Cars      12,999     8,586     5,598      735,951     704,483     4.5
    Trucks    12,006    10,006     4,983      721,344     708,506     1.8
    TOTAL     25,005    18,592    10,581    1,457,295   1,412,989     3.1
    Mexico
    Cars      18,804    18,804    16,904      542,443     554,251    -2.1
    Trucks    16,897    18,051    16,615      454,057     449,520     1.0
    TOTAL     35,701    36,855    33,519      996,500   1,003,771    -0.7
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars      76,842    39,535     57,111   4,052,463   3,955,060     2.5
    Trucks    55,728    54,219     56,899   4,941,502   4,563,400     8.3
    GRAND    132,570    93,754    114,010   8,993,965   8,518,460     5.6
    TOTAL

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