Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production -October 15, 2004

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Oct. 15, 2004 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 338,589 units, up 0.6 percent from the 336,432 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 13,008,691 vehicles, down 1.1 percent from like-2003's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 260,657 vehicles this week, up 2.1 percent from the 255,384 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2004 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 9,630,134 units, down 1.1 percent compared to the 9,738,293 vehicles built in like-2003.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 44,731, a decrease of 6.4 percent from the 47,772 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar- 2004 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,147,910 units, up 4.3 percent compared to the 2,059,365 vehicles produced in like-2003.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 27.7 percent; Ford Motor Co., 28.6 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.2 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.1 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.8 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 6.7 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.7 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.1 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.6 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.3 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     93,748    88,800     89,356     3,443,841   3,663,979    -6.0
  Trucks  166,909   166,584    164,269     6,186,293   6,074,314     1.8
  TOTAL   260,657   255,384    253,625     9,630,134   9,738,293    -1.1
  Canada
  Cars     22,151    21,413     21,016     1,046,601   1,105,129    -5.3
  Trucks   22,580    26,359     24,393     1,101,309     954,236    15.4
  TOTAL    44,731    47,772     45,409     2,147,910   2,059,365     4.3
  Mexico
  Cars     16,810    16,837     13,980       624,183     685,875    -9.0
  Trucks   16,391    16,439     14,277       606,464     676,181   -10.3
  TOTAL    33,201    33,276     28,257     1,230,647   1,362,056    -9.6
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    132,709   127,050    124,352     5,114,625   5,454,983    -6.2
  Trucks  205,880   209,382    202,939     7,894,066   7,704,731     2.5
  GRAND   338,589   336,432    327,291    13,008,691  13,159,714    -1.1
  TOTAL

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

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