Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Sept. 26 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 353,877 units, up 3.1 percent from the 343,254 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 12,154,420 vehicles, down 3.9 percent from like-2002's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 268,767 vehicles this week, up 2.9 percent from the 261,166 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2003 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 8,970,662 units, down 3.2 percent from the 9,263,069 vehicles built in like-2002.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 56,661, a 4.7 percent increase from the 54,133 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2003 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,915,079 units, down 4.8 percent compared to the 2,011,501 vehicles produced in like-2002.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 31.9 percent; Ford Motor Co., 26.3 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 15.3 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.3 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.7 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 4.6 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.9 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.2 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.6 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.0 percent; Subaru Automotive Inc., 1.0 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 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    102,338     95,694    107,981    3,386,973   3,854,580    -12.1
  Trucks  166,429    165,472    164,966    5,583,689   5,408,489      3.2
  TOTAL   268,767    261,166    272,947    8,970,662   9,263,069     -3.2
  Canada
  Cars     27,857     29,918     26,471    1,037,770   1,032,151      0.5
  Trucks   28,804     24,215     27,330    877,309       979,350    -10.4
  TOTAL    56,661     54,133     53,801    1,915,079   2,011,501     -4.8
  Mexico
  Cars     13,106     12,621     17,179    642,399       739,897    -13.2
  Trucks   15,343     15,334     18,127    626,280       629,665     -0.5
  TOTAL    28,449     27,955     35,306    1,268,679   1,369,562     -7.4
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    143,301    138,233    151,631    5,067,142   5,626,628     -9.9
  Trucks  210,576    205,021    210,423    7,087,278   7,017,504      1.0
  GRAND   353,877    343,254    362,054    12,154,420 12,644,132     -3.9
  TOTAL

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