Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production Week Of 12/05/03

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Dec. 5, 2003 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 355,093 units, up 52.8 percent from the 232,349 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 15,466,187 vehicles, down 3.4 percent from like-2002's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 274,741 vehicles this week, up 80.9 percent from the 151,901 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2003 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 11,473,377 units, down 2.1 percent from the 11,724,603 vehicles built in like-2002.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 51,016, a 1.9 percent increase from the 50,045 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2003 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,416,491 units, down 5.1 percent compared to the 2,547,117 vehicles produced in like-2002.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 32.1 percent; Ford Motor Co., 25.1 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 15.9 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.3 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.1 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 5.0 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, 1.4 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     94,138    57,398    104,840    4,302,866    4,817,235    -10.7
  Trucks  180,603    94,503    166,896    7,170,511    6,907,368      3.8
  TOTAL   274,741   151,901    271,736   11,473,377   11,724,603     -2.1
  Canada
  Cars     22,640    20,834     31,772    1,281,279    1,315,466     -2.6
  Trucks   28,376    29,211     27,566    1,135,212    1,231,651     -7.8
  TOTAL    51,016    50,045     59,338    2,416,491    2,547,117     -5.1
  Mexico
  Cars     12,778    13,412     19,205      781,866      935,715    -16.4
  Trucks   16,558    16,991     16,692      794,453      796,867     -0.3
  TOTAL    29,336    30,403     35,897    1,576,319    1,732,582     -9.0
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    129,556    91,644    155,817    6,366,011    7,068,416     -9.9
  Trucks  225,537   140,705    211,154    9,100,176    8,935,886      1.8
  GRAND   355,093   232,349    366,971   15,466,187   16,004,302     -3.4
  TOTAL

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

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