Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Sept. 24 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 351,804 units, up 7.4 percent from the 327,486 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 11,983,200 vehicles, down 1.4 percent from like-2003's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 251,615 vehicles this week, up 2.7 percent from the 244,956 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2004 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 8,845,482 units, down 1.4 percent compared to the 8,969,288 vehicles built in like-2003.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 64,164, an increase of 4.6 percent from the 61,355 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2004 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,002,304 units, up 4.5 percent compared to the 1,915,588 vehicles produced in like-2003.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 32.1 percent; Ford Motor Co., 25.4 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.0 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.3 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.9 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 7.5 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.4 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.2 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.0 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, 2.4 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     94,068    89,234   102,960    3,156,723   3,387,593    -6.8
  Trucks  157,547   155,722   164,967    5,688,759   5,581,695     1.9
  TOTAL   251,615   244,956   267,927    8,845,482   8,969,288    -1.4
  Canada
  Cars     32,711    30,185    29,159      977,696   1,039,072    -5.9
  Trucks   31,453    31,170    25,740    1,024,608     876,516    16.9
  TOTAL    64,164    61,355    54,899    2,002,304   1,915,588     4.5
  Mexico
  Cars     18,290    10,930    13,977      575,018     645,328   -10.9
  Trucks   17,735    10,245    18,121      560,396     627,282   -10.7
  TOTAL    36,025    21,175    32,098    1,135,414   1,272,610   -10.8
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    145,069   130,349   146,096    4,709,437   5,071,993    -7.1
  Trucks  206,735   197,137   208,828    7,273,763   7,085,493     2.7
  GRAND   351,804   327,486   354,924   11,983,200  12,157,486    -1.4
 TOTAL

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

  ON THE WEB: http://www.wardsauto.com/

Ward's Communications, a division of PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, Inc.