Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production -1/16/04

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Jan. 16, 2004 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 336,176 units, up 8.8 percent from the 309,068 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 658,566 vehicles, down 17.5 percent from like-2003's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 252,490 vehicles this week, up 6.9 percent from the 236,164 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2004 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 491,924 units, down 17.0 percent from the 592,854 vehicles built in like-2003.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 54,415, an increase of 15.7 percent from the 47,042 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2004 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 101,967 units, down 11.8 percent compared to the 115,637 vehicles produced in like-2003.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 27.9 percent; Ford Motor Co., 30.1 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.1 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.6 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.4 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 5.8 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.1 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.3 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.5 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.9 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.1 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   2004       2003   2004 vs. 2003
  U.S.
  Cars        92,177    82,601    100,450   174,778    240,184    -27.2
  Trucks     160,313   153,563    147,137   317,146    352,670    -10.1
  TOTAL      252,490   236,164    247,587   491,924    592,854    -17.0
  Canada
  Cars        26,377    25,849     25,923    52,226     59,989    -12.9
  Trucks      28,038    21,193     28,433    49,741     55,648    -10.6
  TOTAL       54,415    47,042     54,356   101,967    115,637    -11.8
  Mexico
  Cars        12,710    13,460     18,100    34,546     50,066    -31.0
  Trucks      16,561    12,402     18,691    30,129     39,911    -24.5
  TOTAL       29,271    25,862     36,791    64,675     89,977    -28.1
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars       131,264   121,910    144,473   261,550    350,239    -25.3
  Trucks     204,912   187,158    194,261   397,016    448,229    -11.4
  GRAND      336,176   309,068    338,734   658,566    798,468    -17.5
  TOTAL

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

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