Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production - September 10, 2004

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Sept. 10 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 294,593 units, down 5.8 percent from the 312,624 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 11,309,774 vehicles, down 1.3 percent from like-2003's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 193,813 vehicles this week, down 15.8 percent from the 230,175 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2004 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 8,341,522 units, down 1.2 percent compared to the 8,440,386 vehicles built in like-2003.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 63,185, an increase of 31.1 percent from the 48,203 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2004 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,891,416 units, up 4.6 percent compared to the 1,808,518 vehicles produced in like-2003.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 33.6 percent; Ford Motor Co., 23.3 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 12.1 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.5 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 7.2 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 7.4 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.0 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.2 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.3 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, 2.7 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     68,772    77,302     99,482   2,972,477   3,188,940    -6.8
  Trucks  125,041   152,873    165,923   5,369,045   5,251,446     2.2
  TOTAL   193,813   230,175    265,405   8,341,522   8,440,386    -1.2
  Canada
  Cars     30,947    22,778     29,545     920,441     979,995    -6.1
  Trucks   32,238    25,425     23,859     970,975     828,523    17.2
  TOTAL    63,185    48,203     53,404   1,891,416   1,808,518     4.6
  Mexico
  Cars     20,679    18,214     15,151     548,946     618,216   -11.2
  Trucks   16,916    16,032     19,018     527,890     594,247   -11.2
  TOTAL    37,595    34,246     34,169   1,076,836   1,212,463   -11.2
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    120,398   118,294    144,178   4,441,864   4,787,151    -7.2
  Trucks  174,195   194,330    208,800   6,867,910   6,674,216     2.9
  GRAND   294,593   312,624    352,978  11,309,774  11,461,367    -1.3
  TOTAL

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

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