Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production - 10/29/04

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Oct. 29, 2004 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 344,840 units, down 0.9 percent from the 347,809 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 13,706,132 vehicles, down 1.1 percent from like-2003's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 251,943 vehicles this week, down 0.9 percent from the 254,130 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2004 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 10,136,422 units, down 1.3 percent compared to the 10,275,046 vehicles built in like-2003.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 57,084, a decrease of 3.4 percent from the 59,086 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar- 2004 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,266,473 units, up 4.9 percent compared to the 2,161,120 vehicles produced in like-2003.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 31.1 percent; Ford Motor Co., 25.2 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 12.8 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.7 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 7.1 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 6.6 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.9 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.2 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.7 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.4 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.1 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 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     84,572    84,675      99,915   3,605,956   3,866,666     -6.7
  Trucks  167,371   169,455     165,797   6,530,466   6,408,380      1.9
  TOTAL   251,943   254,130     265,712  10,136,422  10,275,046     -1.3
  Canada
  Cars     28,555    30,281      26,197   1,106,903   1,157,487     -4.4
  Trucks   28,529    28,805      21,145   1,159,570   1,003,633     15.5
  TOTAL    57,084    59,086      47,342   2,266,473   2,161,120      4.9
  Mexico
  Cars     17,553    17,428      13,906     660,884     713,512     -7.4
  Trucks   18,260    17,165      17,944     642,353     710,680     -9.6
  TOTAL    35,813    34,593      31,850   1,303,237   1,424,192     -8.5
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    130,680   132,384     140,018   5,373,743   5,737,665     -6.3
  Trucks  214,160   215,425     204,886   8,332,389   8,122,693      2.6
  GRAND   344,840   347,809     344,904  13,706,132  13,860,358     -1.1
  TOTAL

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

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