Ward's Reports Estimated Weekly North American Vehicle Production April 2, 2004

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., April 2 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 350,452 units, up 0.2 percent from the 349,718 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 4,388,468 vehicles, down 3.4 percent from like-2003's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 265,579 vehicles this week, up 0.8 percent from the 263,554 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2004 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 3,293,761 units, down 1.6 percent from the 3,347,315 vehicles built in like-2003.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 56,060, a decrease of 0.2 percent from the 56,192 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar- 2004 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 695,640 units, down 2.5 percent compared to the 713,733 vehicles produced in like-2003.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 32.1 percent; Ford Motor Co., 25.0 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 15.4 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.3 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.3 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 5.3 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.9 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.3 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.3 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.5 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 0.9 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.6 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.1 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     95,213     90,871     92,090  1,161,720  1,263,326     -8.0
  Trucks  170,366    172,683    163,070  2,132,041  2,083,989      2.3
  TOTAL   265,579    263,554    255,160  3,293,761  3,347,315     -1.6
  Canada
  Cars     27,664     27,524     30,930    354,892    379,474     -6.5
  Trucks   28,396     28,668     27,249    340,748    334,259      1.9
  TOTAL    56,060     56,192     58,179    695,640    713,733     -2.5
  Mexico
  Cars     15,310     16,136     19,689    204,900    256,662    -20.2
  Trucks   13,503     13,836     17,692    194,167    225,034    -13.7
  TOTAL    28,813     29,972     37,381    399,067    481,696    -17.2
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    138,187    134,531    142,709  1,721,512  1,899,462     -9.4
  Trucks  212,265    215,187    208,011  2,666,956  2,643,282      0.9
  GRAND   350,452    349,718    350,720  4,388,468  4,542,744     -3.4
  TOTAL

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

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