Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production-Week of 9/27/04

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Oct. 1, 2004 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 353,419 units, up 3.1 percent from the 342,817 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 12,326,861 vehicles, down 1.4 percent from like-2003's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 254,872 vehicles this week, up 2.6 percent from the 248,421 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2004 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 9,095,615 units, down 1.5 percent compared to the 9,231,349 vehicles built in like-2003.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 62,989, an increase of 5.8 percent from the 59,543 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2004 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,061,446 units, up 4.7 percent compared to the 1,969,343 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., 25.1 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.6 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.2 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 7.0 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 6.7 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.6 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.2 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, 2.3 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      92,745     91,636     99,175   3,247,803  3,486,768    -6.9
  Trucks   162,127    156,785    162,886   5,847,812  5,744,581     1.8
  TOTAL    254,872    248,421    262,061   9,095,615  9,231,349    -1.5
  Canada
  Cars      32,071     29,053     25,736   1,006,522  1,064,808    -5.5
  Trucks    30,918     30,490     28,019   1,054,924    904,535    16.6
  TOTAL     62,989     59,543     53,755   2,061,446  1,969,343     4.7
  Mexico
  Cars      18,380     18,114     12,616     593,222    657,944    -9.8
  Trucks    17,178     16,739     17,487     576,578    644,769   -10.6
  TOTAL     35,558     34,853     30,103   1,169,800  1,302,713   -10.2
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars     143,196    138,803    137,527   4,847,547  5,209,520    -6.9
  Trucks   210,223    204,014    208,392   7,479,314  7,293,885     2.5
  GRAND    353,419    342,817    345,919  12,326,861 12,503,405    -1.4
  TOTAL

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

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