Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production - 1/23/04

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Jan. 23, 2004 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 291,675 units, down 11.3 percent from the 329,002 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 940,776 vehicles, down 14.4 percent from like-2003's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 207,094 vehicles this week, down 15.0 percent from the 243,765 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2004 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 688,829 units, down 14.8 percent from the 808,266 vehicles built in like-2003.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 55,096, an increase of 0.6 percent from the 54,773 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2004 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 157,481 units, down 8.6 percent compared to the 172,326 vehicles produced in like-2003.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 25.4 percent; Ford Motor Co., 28.4 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 16.2 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.5 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 7.9 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 5.4 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.4 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.2 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.1 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.8 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.3 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.6 percent; and other manufacturers, 1.8 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      72,283     87,790     86,069    240,314    326,253    -26.3
  Trucks   134,811    155,975    129,343    448,515    482,013     -6.9
  TOTAL    207,094    243,765    215,412    688,829    808,266    -14.8
  Canada
  Cars      26,574     25,982     30,492     78,405     90,481    -13.3
  Trucks    28,522     28,791     25,307     79,076     81,845     -3.4
  TOTAL     55,096     54,773     55,799    157,481    172,326     -8.6
  Mexico
  Cars      12,830     14,065     16,593     47,796     66,659    -28.3
  Trucks    16,655     16,399     11,260     46,670     51,171     -8.8
  TOTAL     29,485     30,464     27,853     94,466    117,830    -19.8
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars     111,687    127,837    133,154    366,515    483,393    -24.2
  Trucks   179,988    201,165    165,910    574,261    615,029     -6.6
  GRAND    291,675    329,002    299,064    940,776  1,098,422    -14.4
  TOTAL

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

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