Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Aug. 6, 2004 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 327,283 units, up 6.0 percent from the 308,713 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 9,715,225 vehicles, down 1.5 percent from like-2003's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 242,378 vehicles this week, up 2.8 percent from the 235,745 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2004 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 7,202,678 units, down 0.3 percent compared to the 7,223,481 vehicles built in like-2003.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 50,796, an increase of 4.3 percent from the 48,719 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2004 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,603,117 units, up 0.9 percent compared to the 1,588,108 vehicles produced in like-2003.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 33.2 percent; Ford Motor Co., 23.0 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.8 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.5 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 7.4 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 5.9 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.7 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 0.0 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.2 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.9 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.0 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.7 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     87,243     88,217     80,296    2,567,181    2,732,839     -6.1
  Trucks  155,135    147,528    146,951    4,635,497    4,490,642      3.2
  TOTAL   242,378    235,745    227,247    7,202,678    7,223,481     -0.3
  Canada
  Cars     25,025     22,951     28,838      780,932      855,476     -8.7
  Trucks   25,771     25,768     19,796      822,185      732,632     12.2
  TOTAL    50,796     48,719     48,634    1,603,117    1,588,108      0.9
  Mexico
  Cars     15,755     12,529     15,063      457,099      542,771    -15.8
  Trucks   18,354     11,720     17,706      452,331      511,248    -11.5
  TOTAL    34,109     24,249     32,769      909,430    1,054,019    -13.7
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    128,023    123,697    124,197    3,805,212    4,131,086     -7.9
  Trucks  199,260    185,016    184,453    5,910,013    5,734,522      3.1
  GRAND   327,283    308,713    308,650    9,715,225    9,865,608     -1.5
  TOTAL

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