Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production - September 17, 2004

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Sept. 17 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 322,974 units, up 15.6 percent from the 279,398 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 11,621,699 vehicles, down 1.5 percent from like-2003's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 234,205 vehicles this week, up 19.5 percent from the 196,017 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2004 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 8,577,931 units, down 1.4 percent compared to the 8,701,361 vehicles built in like-2003.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 67,150, an increase of 38.3 percent from the 48,554 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2004 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,943,935 units, up 4.5 percent compared to the 1,860,689 vehicles produced in like-2003.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 32.6 percent; Ford Motor Co., 23.0 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 12.4 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.8 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 7.5 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 6.9 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.5 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.3 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.5 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.0 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.2 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.8 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.5 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      84,561   69,247     95,693    3,057,513   3,284,633    -6.9
  Trucks   149,644  126,770    165,282    5,520,418   5,416,728     1.9
  TOTAL    234,205  196,017    260,975    8,577,931   8,701,361    -1.4
  Canada
  Cars      34,398   25,306     29,918      949,198   1,009,913    -6.0
  Trucks    32,752   23,248     22,253      994,737     850,776    16.9
  TOTAL     67,150   48,554     52,171    1,943,935   1,860,689     4.5
  Mexico
  Cars      10,974   18,091     13,135      556,772     631,351   -11.8
  Trucks    10,645   16,736     14,914      543,061     609,161   -10.9
  TOTAL     21,619   34,827     28,049    1,099,833   1,240,512   -11.3
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars     129,933  112,644    138,746    4,563,483   4,925,897    -7.4
  Trucks   193,041  166,754    202,449    7,058,216   6,876,665     2.6
  GRAND    322,974  279,398    341,195   11,621,699  11,802,562    -1.5
  TOTAL

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

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