Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production Week of November 1, 2004

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Nov. 12, 2004 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 307,607 units, up 0.3 percent from the 306,821 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 14,317,756 vehicles, down 1.5 percent from like-2003's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 223,182 vehicles this week, down 2.5 percent from the 228,795 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2004 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 10,586,408 units, down 1.8 percent compared to the 10,783,080 vehicles built in like-2003.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 54,964, an increase of 2.2 percent from the 53,797 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2004 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,375,782 units, up 5.0 percent compared to the 2,261,931 vehicles produced in like-2003.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 32.7 percent; Ford Motor Co., 18.6 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.6 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 7.4 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 7.9 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 7.9 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.3 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.2 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.6 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.8 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.2 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.8 percent; and other manufacturers, 3.0 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     75,745    81,141     91,254   3,767,964   4,056,617    -7.1
  Trucks  147,437   147,654    145,730   6,818,444   6,726,463     1.4
  TOTAL   223,182   228,795    236,984  10,586,408  10,783,080    -1.8
  Canada
  Cars     28,537    25,609     25,810   1,163,768   1,209,629    -3.8
  Trucks   26,427    28,188     26,822   1,212,014   1,052,302    15.2
  TOTAL    54,964    53,797     52,632   2,375,782   2,261,931     5.0
  Mexico
  Cars     11,201    10,122     14,858     680,818     741,746    -8.2
  Trucks   18,260    14,107     16,843     674,748     744,600    -9.4
  TOTAL    29,461    24,229     31,701   1,355,566   1,486,346    -8.8
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    115,483   116,872    131,922   5,612,550   6,007,992    -6.6
  Trucks  192,124   189,949    189,395   8,705,206   8,523,365     2.1
  GRAND   307,607   306,821    321,317  14,317,756  14,531,357    -1.5
  TOTAL

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

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