Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Aug. 27, 2004 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 334,122 units, down 0.3 percent from the 335,014 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 10,707,628 vehicles, down 1.0 percent from like-2003's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 235,556 vehicles this week, down 3.2 percent from the 243,422 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2004 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 7,921,248 units, down 0.5 percent compared to the 7,957,138 vehicles built in like-2003.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 59,839, an increase of 3.4 percent from the 57,871 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2004 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,777,073 units, up 3.7 percent compared to the 1,713,276 vehicles produced in like-2003.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 31.8 percent; Ford Motor Co., 24.9 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 12.0 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.7 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 7.5 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 7.0 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.2 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.3 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.0 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.9 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.1 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.9 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       81,312     91,185    93,698   2,825,376  3,007,031    -6.0
  Trucks    154,244    152,237   150,647   5,095,872  4,950,107     2.9
  TOTAL     235,556    243,422   244,345   7,921,248  7,957,138    -0.5
  Canada
  Cars       29,165     28,916    29,397     865,314    929,032    -6.9
  Trucks     30,674     28,955    19,846     911,759    784,244    16.3
  TOTAL      59,839     57,871    49,243   1,777,073  1,713,276     3.7
  Mexico
  Cars       20,824     18,674    15,403     514,475    587,732   -12.5
  Trucks     17,903     15,047    17,644     494,832    556,897   -11.1
  TOTAL      38,727     33,721    33,047   1,009,307  1,144,629   -11.8
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars      131,301    138,775   138,498   4,205,165  4,523,795    -7.0
  Trucks    202,821    196,239   188,137   6,502,463  6,291,248     3.4
  GRAND     334,122    335,014   326,635  10,707,628 10,815,043    -1.0
  TOTAL

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

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