Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production - September 29, 2003

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Oct. 3, 2003 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 346,284 units, down 3.3 percent from the 358,129 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 12,504,956 vehicles, down 3.8 percent from like-2002's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 261,566 vehicles this week, down 2.6 percent from the 268,560 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2003 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 9,232,021 units, down 3.0 percent from the 9,518,247 vehicles built in like-2002.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 55,981, a 2.8 percent decrease from the 57,565 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2003 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,971,964 units, down 4.8 percent compared to the 2,070,483 vehicles produced in like-2002.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 32.2 percent; Ford Motor Co., 24.8 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 16.0 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.5 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.2 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 4.8 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.0 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.3 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.6 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.4 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     96,341    103,337     96,369   3,484,313   3,950,949    -11.8
  Trucks  165,225    165,223    158,809   5,747,708   5,567,298      3.2
  TOTAL   261,566    268,560    255,178   9,232,021   9,518,247     -3.0
  Canada
  Cars     26,817     29,159     30,760   1,065,889   1,062,911      0.3
  Trucks   29,164     28,406     28,222     906,075   1,007,572    -10.1
  TOTAL    55,981     57,565     58,982   1,971,964   2,070,483     -4.8
  Mexico
  Cars     13,106     13,883     19,868     658,058     759,765    -13.4
  Trucks   15,631     18,121     17,645     642,913     647,310     -0.7
  TOTAL    28,737     32,004     37,513   1,300,971   1,407,075     -7.5
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    136,264    146,379    146,997   5,208,260   5,773,625     -9.8
  Trucks  210,020    211,750    204,676   7,296,696   7,222,180      1.0
  GRAND   346,284    358,129    351,673  12,504,956  12,995,805     -3.8
  TOTAL

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