Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production December 3, 2004

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Dec. 3, 2004 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 371,456 units, up 62.5 percent from the 228,533 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 15,259,442 vehicles, down 1.4 percent from like-2003's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 284,418 vehicles this week, up 89.6 percent from the 150,010 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2004 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 11,278,047 units, down 1.7 percent compared to the 11,473,052 vehicles built in like-2003.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 53,424, an increase of 0.7 percent from the 53,031 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2004 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,539,722 units, up 4.9 percent compared to the 2,421,313 vehicles produced in like-2003.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 30.1 percent; Ford Motor Co., 26.4 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.3 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.8 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.2 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 7.2 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.6 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.0 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.6 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.8 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.0 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.6 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    101,342    53,159    94,095    4,011,281   4,303,403    -6.8
  Trucks  183,076    96,851   179,744    7,266,766   7,169,649     1.4
  TOTAL   284,418   150,010   273,839   11,278,047  11,473,052    -1.7
  Canada
  Cars     25,089    25,128    23,862    1,243,038   1,282,501    -3.1
  Trucks   28,335    27,903    29,776    1,296,684   1,138,812    13.9
  TOTAL    53,424    53,031    53,638    2,539,722   2,421,313     4.9
  Mexico
  Cars     16,214    10,583    14,934      717,959     785,077    -8.5
  Trucks   17,400    14,909    17,837      723,714     795,849    -9.1
  TOTAL    33,614    25,492    32,771    1,441,673   1,580,926    -8.8
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    142,645    88,870   132,891    5,972,278   6,370,981    -6.3
  Trucks  228,811   139,663   227,357    9,287,164   9,104,310       2
  GRAND   371,456   228,533   360,248   15,259,442  15,475,291    -1.4
  TOTAL

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

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