Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 9 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 116,625 units, down 59.2 percent from the 286,005 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 8,736,177 vehicles, down 0.3 percent from like-2003's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 65,245 vehicles this week, down 70.1 percent from the 218,455 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2004 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 6,473,058 units, up 1.1 percent compared to the 6,403,240 vehicles built in like-2003.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 22,554, a decrease of 41.4 percent from the 38,503 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2004 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,448,032 units, up 1.3 percent compared to the 1,428,830 vehicles produced in like-2003.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 0.0 percent; Ford Motor Co., 0.0 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 33.7 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 19.9 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 21.5 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 5.0 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 7.3 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 3.7 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 2.2 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.0 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 0.0 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.0 percent; and other manufacturers, 6.7 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    28,514     69,997     42,461   2,298,884  2,425,191      -5.2
  Trucks  36,731    148,458     52,447   4,174,174  3,978,049       4.9
  TOTAL   65,245    218,455     94,908   6,473,058  6,403,240       1.1
  Canada
  Cars     8,980     18,317      8,794     702,658    755,710      -7.0
  Trucks  13,574     20,186     11,172     745,374    673,120      10.7
  TOTAL   22,554     38,503     19,966   1,448,032  1,428,830       1.3
  Mexico
  Cars    13,561     14,114     13,531     406,589    482,557     -15.7
  Trucks  15,265     14,933     10,084     408,498    443,550      -7.9
  TOTAL   28,826     29,047     23,615     815,087    926,107     -12.0
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    51,055    102,428     64,786   3,408,131  3,663,458      -7.0
  Trucks  65,570    183,577     73,703   5,328,046  5,094,719       4.6
  GRAND  116,625    286,005    138,489   8,736,177  8,758,177      -0.3
  TOTAL

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

Ward's Communications, a division of PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, Inc.