Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production - September 3, 2004

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Sept. 3 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 320,144 units, down 3.7 percent from the 332,578 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 11,029,359 vehicles, down 0.7 percent from like-2003's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 232,466 vehicles this week, down 3.5 percent from the 240,967 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2004 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 8,161,674 units, down 0.2 percent compared to the 8,174,981 vehicles built in like-2003.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 49,378, a decrease of 13.7 percent from the 57,196 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2004 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,824,390 units, up 3.9 percent compared to the 1,755,114 vehicles produced in like-2003.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 30.1 percent; Ford Motor Co., 25.9 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.6 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.8 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 7.5 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 6.0 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.1 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.3 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.9 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.0 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.2 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      78,781     83,921     82,427   2,906,786   3,089,458    -5.9
  Trucks   153,685    157,046    135,416   5,254,888   5,085,523     3.3
  TOTAL    232,466    240,967    217,843   8,161,674   8,174,981    -0.2
  Canada
  Cars      24,628     28,371     21,418     889,148     950,450    -6.4
  Trucks    24,750     28,825     20,420     935,242     804,664    16.2
  TOTAL     49,378     57,196     41,838   1,824,390   1,755,114     3.9
  Mexico
  Cars      20,679     18,320     15,333     530,732     603,065   -12.0
  Trucks    17,621     16,095     18,332     512,563     575,229   -10.9
  TOTAL     38,300     34,415     33,665   1,043,295   1,178,294   -11.5
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars     124,088    130,612    119,178   4,326,666   4,642,973    -6.8
  Trucks   196,056    201,966    174,168   6,702,693   6,465,416     3.7
  GRAND    320,144    332,578    293,346  11,029,359  11,108,389    -0.7
  TOTAL

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

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