Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production - July 19, 2004ction

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 23 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 255,223 units, up substantially from the 124,738 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 9,110,202 vehicles, down 1.6 percent from like-2003's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 191,038 vehicles this week, up from the 83,905 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2004 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 6,746,432 units, down 0.4 percent compared to the 6,776,254 vehicles built in like-2003.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 38,883, an increase from the 19,162 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2004 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,507,034 units, up 0.9 percent compared to the 1,493,727 vehicles produced in like-2003.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 40.4 percent; Ford Motor Co., 24.6 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 4.7 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 8.3 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 0.0 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 7.2 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 4.2 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.6 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 2.1 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.1 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.5 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.9 percent; and other manufacturers, 3.4 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      68,669    38,714     93,314   2,402,397  2,571,900     -6.6
  Trucks   122,369    45,191    122,980   4,344,035  4,204,354      3.3
  TOTAL    191,038    83,905    216,294   6,746,432  6,776,254     -0.4
  Canada
  Cars      20,614    11,188     28,753     734,419    795,960     -7.7
  Trucks    18,269     7,974     12,575     772,615    697,767     10.7
  TOTAL     38,883    19,162     41,328   1,507,034  1,493,727      0.9
  Mexico
  Cars      13,562    11,704     15,235     430,485    512,407    -16.0
  Trucks    11,740     9,967     18,188     426,251    475,595    -10.4
  TOTAL     25,302    21,671     33,423     856,736    988,002    -13.3
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars     102,845    61,606    137,302   3,567,301  3,880,267     -8.1
  Trucks   152,378    63,132    153,743   5,542,901  5,377,716      3.1
  GRAND    255,223   124,738    291,045   9,110,202  9,257,983     -1.6
  TOTAL

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

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