Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production - 12/19/03

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Dec. 19, 2003 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 339,011 units, down 6.9 percent from the 364,126 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 16,176,377 vehicles, down 3.1 percent from like-2002's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 260,764 vehicles this week, down 6.7 percent from the 279,345 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2003 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 12,013,170 units, down 1.9 percent from the 12,246,654 vehicles built in like-2002.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 50,416, a 9.4 percent decrease from the 55,637 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2003 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,525,306 units, down 4.6 percent compared to the 2,646,535 vehicles produced in like-2002.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 35.4 percent; Ford Motor Co., 21.5 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 16.0 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.4 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.4 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 5.4 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.0 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.3 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.4 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      88,455     97,926     91,675   4,489,785  5,019,428   -10.6
  Trucks   172,309    181,419    148,568   7,523,385  7,227,226     4.1
  TOTAL    260,764    279,345    240,243  12,013,170 12,246,654    -1.9
  Canada
  Cars      26,377     26,148     25,966   1,335,026  1,372,425    -2.7
  Trucks    24,039     29,489     20,481   1,190,280  1,274,110    -6.6
  TOTAL     50,416     55,637     46,447   2,525,306  2,646,535    -4.6
  Mexico
  Cars      12,276     14,082     18,072     811,651    971,457   -16.5
  Trucks    15,555     15,062     16,749     826,250    823,586     0.3
  TOTAL     27,831     29,144     34,821   1,637,901  1,795,043    -8.8
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars     127,108    138,156    135,713   6,636,462  7,363,310    -9.9
  Trucks   211,903    225,970    185,798   9,539,915  9,324,922     2.3
  GRAND    339,011    364,126    321,511  16,176,377 16,688,232    -3.1
  TOTAL

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

  ON THE WEB: www.wardsauto.com