Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production - 10/31/03

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Oct. 31, 2003 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 343,492 units, down 3.6 percent from the 356,339 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 13,855,445 vehicles, down 3.7 percent from like-2002's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 266,950 vehicles this week, down 1.6 percent from the 271,165 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2003 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 10,276,414 units, down 2.7 percent from the 10,560,486 vehicles built in like-2002.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 47,669, a 13.2 percent decrease from the 54,888 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2003 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,157,816 units, down 4.9 percent compared to the 2,268,962 vehicles produced in like-2002.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 30.9 percent; Ford Motor Co., 26.7 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.7 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.3 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.9 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 5.8 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.9 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.2 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.5 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.9 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     99,641   102,832   110,338   3,866,451   4,357,301    -11.3
  Trucks  167,309   168,333   157,720   6,409,963   6,203,185      3.3
  TOTAL   266,950   271,165   268,058  10,276,414  10,560,486     -2.7
  Canada
  Cars     26,737    26,161    26,564   1,158,027   1,168,105     -0.9
  Trucks   20,932    28,727    20,918     999,789   1,100,857     -9.2
  TOTAL    47,669    54,888    47,482   2,157,816   2,268,962     -4.9
  Mexico
  Cars     12,601    13,458    19,764     711,023     836,638    -15.0
  Trucks   16,272    16,828    17,544     710,192     717,210     -1.0
  TOTAL    28,873    30,286    37,308   1,421,215   1,553,848     -8.5
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    138,979   142,451   156,666   5,735,501   6,362,044     -9.8
  Trucks  204,513   213,888   196,182   8,119,944   8,021,252      1.2
  GRAND   343,492   356,339   352,848  13,855,445  14,383,296     -3.7
  TOTAL

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

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