On NEW YORK item, please change headline to read "GM CEO sees US auto sales near top of range" instead of "...sees US auto production..." (Corrects data set)
NEW YORK, June 19 (Reuters) -General Motors Corp. Chief Executive Rick Wagoner on Thursday said overall U.S. auto sales for 2003 could be at the higher end of previous forecasts and also expressed hope that incentives may be reduced next year.
"Our bias is probably nudging closer to the 16.5 million," Wagoner said at an event in New York to announce a new auto sales and service center. Previously the company had forecast a sales range of 16.0 million to 16.5 million.
Wagoner also said the incentives being offered to car buyers will be reduced when the U.S. economy rebounds. "Hopefully we will see them ease off next year," Wagoner said.