Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production- Nov 5, 2004

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Nov. 5, 2004 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 303,130 units, down 12.1 percent from the 344,819 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 14,009,526 vehicles, down 1.4 percent from like-2003's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 226,712 vehicles this week, down 10.0 percent from the 251,805 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2004 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 10,363,281 units, down 1.7 percent compared to the 10,546,096 vehicles built in like-2003.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 52,926, a decrease of 9.6 percent from the 58,562 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar- 2004 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,320,877 units, up 5.1 percent compared to the 2,209,299 vehicles produced in like-2003.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 29.1 percent; Ford Motor Co., 23.3 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.2 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 7.4 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 7.8 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 7.6 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.0 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.3 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.6 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.2 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 0.8 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.8 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.9 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     79,570     81,777     98,697   3,682,728   3,965,363     -7.1
  Trucks  147,142    170,028    172,353   6,680,553   6,580,733      1.5
  TOTAL   226,712    251,805    271,050  10,363,281  10,546,096     -1.7
  Canada
  Cars     24,694     30,258     26,332   1,134,390   1,183,819     -4.2
  Trucks   28,232     28,304     21,847   1,186,487   1,025,480     15.7
  TOTAL    52,926     58,562     48,179   2,320,877   2,209,299      5.1
  Mexico
  Cars      9,918     17,133     13,376     669,413     726,888     -7.9
  Trucks   13,574     17,319     17,077     655,955     727,757     -9.9
  TOTAL    23,492     34,452     30,453   1,325,368   1,454,645     -8.9
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    114,182    129,168    138,405   5,486,531   5,876,070     -6.6
  Trucks  188,948    215,651    211,277   8,522,995   8,333,970      2.3
  GRAND   303,130    344,819    349,682  14,009,526  14,210,040     -1.4
  TOTAL

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

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