Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production - March 5, 2004

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., March 5 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 353,995 units, up 2.9 percent from the 344,138 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 3,002,654 vehicles, down 4.6 percent from like-2003's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 274,243 vehicles this week, up 5.6 percent from the 259,699 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2004 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 2,254,690 units, down 2.9 percent from the 2,322,241 vehicles built in like-2003.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 49,222, a decrease of 7.1 percent from the 52,999 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar- 2004 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 468,398 units, down 3.6 percent compared to the 486,048 vehicles produced in like-2003.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 34.0 percent; Ford Motor Co., 24.1 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.8 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.1 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.1 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 6.0 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.1 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.1 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.5 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.8 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 0.2 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      105,997     93,095    86,688     804,071     883,052    -8.9
  Trucks    168,246    166,604   162,794   1,450,619   1,439,189     0.8
  TOTAL     274,243    259,699   249,482   2,254,690   2,322,241    -2.9
  Canada
  Cars       26,946     26,960    26,301     241,088     259,662    -7.2
  Trucks     22,276     26,039    22,679     227,310     226,386     0.4
  TOTAL      49,222     52,999    48,980     468,398     486,048    -3.6
  Mexico
  Cars       14,509     15,170    19,639     134,983     182,135   -25.9
  Trucks     16,021     16,270    19,157     144,583     156,323    -7.5
  TOTAL      30,530     31,440    38,796     279,566     338,458   -17.4
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars      147,452    135,225   132,628   1,180,142   1,324,849   -10.9
  Trucks    206,543     208,913  204,630   1,822,512   1,821,898     0.0
  GRAND     353,995     344,138  337,258   3,002,654   3,146,747    -4.6
  TOTAL

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