Ward's Reports Estimated Weekly North American Vehicle Production - August 20, 2004

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Aug. 20, 2004 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 342,324 units, up 4.8 percent from the 326,578 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 10,380,816 vehicles, down 1.0 percent from like-2003's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 244,728 vehicles this week, up 1.8 percent from the 240,468 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2004 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 7,686,998 units, down 0.3 percent compared to the 7,712,793 vehicles built in like-2003.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 58,587, an increase of 9.7 percent from the 53,413 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2004 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,717,950 units, up 3.2 percent compared to the 1,664,033 vehicles produced in like-2003.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 32.8 percent; Ford Motor Co., 24.7 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 10.8 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.5 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 7.9 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 6.2 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.3 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.2 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.2 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.0 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.1 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.6 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     92,099     86,732     98,171   2,744,978   2,913,333      -5.8
  Trucks  152,629    153,736    161,671   4,942,020   4,799,460       3.0
  TOTAL   244,728    240,468    259,842   7,686,998   7,712,793      -0.3
  Canada
  Cars     27,416     24,872     24,920     834,649     899,635      -7.2
  Trucks   31,171     28,541     17,225     883,301     764,398      15.6
  TOTAL    58,587     53,413     42,145   1,717,950   1,664,033       3.2
  Mexico
  Cars     20,824     18,778     14,782     495,801     572,329     -13.4
  Trucks   18,185     13,919     14,041     480,067     539,253     -11.0
  TOTAL    39,009     32,697     28,823     975,868   1,111,582     -12.2
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    140,339    130,382    137,873   4,075,428   4,385,297      -7.1
  Trucks  201,985    196,196    192,937   6,305,388   6,103,111       3.3
  GRAND   342,324    326,578    330,810  10,380,816  10,488,408      -1.0
  TOTAL

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

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