Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Feb. 13, 2004 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 350,776 units, up 4.2 percent from the 336,483 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 1,968,204 vehicles, down 7.4 percent from like-2003's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 270,336 vehicles this week, up 6.9 percent from the 252,901 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2004 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 1,466,059 units, down 6.7 percent from the 1,571,311 vehicles built in like-2003.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 51,243, a decrease of 8.7 percent from the 56,140 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar- 2004 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 320,411 units, down 4.1 percent compared to the 333,988 vehicles produced in like-2003.

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., 27.0 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 15.8 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.2 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.1 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 5.8 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.9 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.1 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.5 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.8 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.0 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.6 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    2004       2003   2004 vs. 2003
  U.S.
  Cars      98,194     87,840     96,358    514,286    609,314    -15.6
  Trucks   172,142    165,061    159,488    951,773    961,997     -1.1
  TOTAL    270,336    252,901    255,846  1,466,059  1,571,311     -6.7
  Canada
  Cars      26,711     27,237     30,472    159,637    177,598    -10.1
  Trucks    24,532     28,903     26,949    160,774    156,390      2.8
  TOTAL     51,243     56,140     57,421    320,411    333,988     -4.1
  Mexico
  Cars      12,830     11,734     17,644     86,608    121,537    -28.7
  Trucks    16,367     15,708     18,084     95,126     99,007     -3.9
  TOTAL     29,197     27,442     35,728    181,734    220,544    -17.6
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars     137,735    126,811    144,474    760,531    908,449    -16.3
  Trucks   213,041    209,672    204,521  1,207,673  1,217,394     -0.8
  GRAND    350,776    336,483    348,995  1,968,204  2,125,843     -7.4
  TOTAL

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

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