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

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Dec. 24, 2003 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 124,901 units, down 62.9 percent from the 336,413 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

However, due to the holiday season most manufacturers only worked three days this week, and most were closed the entire week a year ago.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 16,298,680 vehicles, down 2.5 percent from like-2002's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 97,187 vehicles this week, down 62.5 percent from the 259,197 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2003 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 12,108,790 units, down 1.1 percent from the 12,248,664 vehicles built in like-2002.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 12,446, a 75.2 percent decrease from the 50,115 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2003 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,537,451 units, down 4.1 percent compared to the 2,646,805 vehicles produced in like-2002.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 34.6 percent; Ford Motor Co., 22.9 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 15.7 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.8 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.7 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 6.0 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.1 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 0.0 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.0 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.0 percent; Subaru Automotive Inc., 0.0 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; and other manufacturers, 3.5 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    30,807     87,353         0     4,519,490   5,019,428    -10.0
  Trucks  66,380    171,844     2,010     7,589,300   7,229,236      5.0
  TOTAL   97,187    259,197     2,010    12,108,790  12,248,664     -1.1
  Canada
  Cars     5,392     25,799         0     1,339,840   1,372,425     -2.4
  Trucks   7,054     24,316       270     1,197,611   1,274,380     -6.0
  TOTAL   12,446     50,115       270     2,537,451   2,646,805     -4.1
  Mexico
  Cars     8,927     11,956    13,547       820,258     985,004    -16.7
  Trucks   6,341     15,145     5,304       832,181     828,890      0.4
  TOTAL   15,268     27,101    18,851     1,652,439   1,813,894     -8.9
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    45,126    125,108    13,547     6,679,588   7,376,857     -9.5
  Trucks  79,775    211,305     7,584     9,619,092   9,332,506      3.1
  GRAND  124,901    336,413    21,131    16,298,680  16,709,363     -2.5
  TOTAL

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