Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production October 22, 2004

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Oct. 22, 2004 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 349,702 units, up 4.7 percent from the 334,116 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 13,360,426 vehicles, down 1.1 percent from like-2003's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 257,159 vehicles this week, up 0.9 percent from the 254,896 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2004 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 9,885,573 units, down 1.2 percent compared to the 10,009,334 vehicles built in like-2003.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 56,730, an increase of 23.0 percent from the 46,114 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2004 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,206,209 units, up 4.4 percent compared to the 2,113,778 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., 25.5 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 11.7 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.6 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 7.1 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 7.2 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.8 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.1 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.7 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.4 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.0 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.1 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    90,144     86,616    102,772    3,526,853   3,766,751    -6.4
  Trucks 167,015    168,280    168,269    6,358,720   6,242,583     1.9
  TOTAL  257,159    254,896    271,041    9,885,573  10,009,334    -1.2
  Canada
  Cars    28,495     23,501     26,161    1,076,562   1,131,290    -4.8
  Trucks  28,235     22,613     28,252    1,129,647     982,488    15.0
  TOTAL   56,730     46,114     54,413    2,206,209   2,113,778     4.4
  Mexico
  Cars    17,553     17,365     13,731      643,456     699,606    -8.0
  Trucks  18,260     15,741     16,555      625,188     692,736    -9.8
  TOTAL   35,813     33,106     30,286    1,268,644   1,392,342    -8.9
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars   136,192    127,482    142,664    5,246,871   5,597,647    -6.3
  Trucks 213,510    206,634    213,076    8,113,555   7,917,807     2.5
  GRAND  349,702    334,116    355,740   13,360,426  13,515,454    -1.1
  TOTAL

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

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