Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Weekly Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Oct. 8, 2004 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 353,533 units, up 1.1 percent from the 349,691 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 12,683,537 vehicles, down 1.2 percent from like-2003's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 268,803 vehicles this week, up 5.2 percent from the 255,591 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2004 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 9,374,850 units, down 1.2 percent compared to the 9,484,668 vehicles built in like-2003.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 48,705, a decrease of 18.5 percent from the 59,792 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2004 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,104,112 units, up 4.5 percent compared to the 2,013,956 vehicles produced in like-2003.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 29.3 percent; Ford Motor Co., 26.6 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.1 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.9 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.6 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 7.8 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.9 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.0 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.5 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.3 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.1 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.6 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.3 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     102,839    94,859     87,855    3,359,125   3,574,623    -6.0
  Trucks   165,964   160,732    165,464    6,015,725   5,910,045     1.8
  TOTAL    268,803   255,591    253,319    9,374,850   9,484,668    -1.2
  Canada
  Cars      21,004    29,064     19,305    1,024,041   1,084,113    -5.5
  Trucks    27,701    30,728     25,308    1,080,071     929,843    16.2
  TOTAL     48,705    59,792     44,613    2,104,112   2,013,956     4.5
  Mexico
  Cars      18,290    18,258     13,951      611,694     671,895    -9.0
  Trucks    17,735    16,050     17,135      592,881     661,904   -10.4
  TOTAL     36,025    34,308     31,086    1,204,575   1,333,799    -9.7
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars     142,133   142,181    121,111    4,994,860   5,330,631    -6.3
  Trucks   211,400   207,510    207,907    7,688,677   7,501,792     2.5
  GRAND    353,533   349,691    329,018   12,683,537  12,832,423    -1.2
  TOTAL

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

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