Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production October 24, 2003

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Oct. 24, 2003 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 352,141 units, up 7.4 percent from the 327,946 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 13,509,762 vehicles, down 3.7 percent from like-2002's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 267,587 vehicles this week, up 5.6 percent from the 253,305 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2003 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 10,005,578 units, down 2.8 percent from the 10,292,428 vehicles built in like-2002.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 55,361, a 19.4 percent increase from the 46,384 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2003 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,112,935 units, down 4.9 percent compared to the 2,221,480 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., 26.2 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 15.2 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.2 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.5 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 4.8 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.0 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.2 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.5 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.0 percent; Subaru Automotive Inc., 1.0 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.6 percent; and other manufacturers, 1.6 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    101,335     88,956    102,992    3,764,914     4,246,963    -11.4
  Trucks  166,252    164,349    161,644    6,240,664     6,045,465      3.2
  TOTAL   267,587    253,305    264,636   10,005,578    10,292,428     -2.8
  Canada
  Cars     26,737     22,903     25,783    1,133,753     1,141,541     -0.7
  Trucks   28,624     23,481     26,378      979,182     1,079,939     -9.3
  TOTAL    55,361     46,384     52,161    2,112,935     2,221,480     -4.9
  Mexico
  Cars     12,921     13,669     17,217      697,885       816,874    -14.6
  Trucks   16,272     14,588     17,107      693,364       699,666     -0.9
  TOTAL    29,193     28,257     34,324    1,391,249     1,516,540     -8.3
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    140,993    125,528    145,992    5,596,552     6,205,378     -9.8
  Trucks  211,148    202,418    205,129    7,913,210     7,825,070      1.1
  GRAND   352,141    327,946    351,121   13,509,762    14,030,448     -3.7
  TOTAL

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