Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., April 30 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 352,953 units, up 1.1 percent from the 349,057 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 5,699,295 vehicles, down 1.7 percent from like-2003's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 262,734 vehicles this week, down 0.2 percent from the 263,245 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2004 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 4,265,155 units, down 0.1 percent from the 4,271,318 vehicles built in like-2003.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 60,096, an increase of 13.3 percent from the 53,061 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2004 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 916,061 units, down 1.3 percent compared to the 927,935 vehicles produced in like-2003.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 30.8 percent; Ford Motor Co., 26.4 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 15.5 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.2 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.4 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 5.2 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.9 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.1 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.1 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.9 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.0 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.6 percent; and other manufacturers, 1.9 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      95,322    94,223     99,734   1,517,199   1,611,531    -5.9
  Trucks   167,412   169,022    159,563   2,747,956   2,659,787     3.3
  TOTAL    262,734   263,245    259,297   4,265,155   4,271,318    -0.1
  Canada
  Cars      29,086    21,052     32,120     453,975     496,404    -8.5
  Trucks    31,010    32,009     26,689     462,086     431,531     7.1
  TOTAL     60,096    53,061     58,809     916,061     927,935    -1.3
  Mexico
  Cars      15,110    15,961     16,834     261,908     313,047   -16.3
  Trucks    15,013    16,790     14,320     256,171     284,570   -10.0
  TOTAL     30,123    32,751     31,154     518,079     597,617   -13.3
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars     139,518   131,236    148,688   2,233,082   2,420,982    -7.8
  Trucks   213,435   217,821    200,572   3,466,213   3,375,888     2.7
  GRAND    352,953   349,057    349,260   5,699,295   5,796,870    -1.7
  TOTAL

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

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