Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Dec. 10, 2004 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 378,001 units, up 1.2 percent from the 373,576 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 15,637,242 vehicles, down 1.3 percent from like-2003's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 284,421 vehicles this week, down 0.3 percent from the 285,263 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2004 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 11,560,991 units, down 1.6 percent compared to the 11,752,392 vehicles built in like-2003.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 58,628, an increase of 5.3 percent from the 55,657 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2004 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,600,584 units, up 5.0 percent compared to the 2,476,810 vehicles produced in like-2003.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 31.2 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., 6.2 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.0 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, 0.1 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    103,261    102,166     97,926    4,115,363    4,401,329    -6.5
  Trucks  181,160    183,097    181,414    7,445,628    7,351,063     1.3
  TOTAL   284,421    285,263    279,340   11,560,991   11,752,392    -1.6
  Canada
  Cars     29,753     27,159     26,148    1,275,391    1,308,649    -2.5
  Trucks   28,875     28,498     29,349    1,325,193    1,168,161    13.4
  TOTAL    58,628     55,657     55,497    2,600,584    2,476,810     5.0
  Mexico
  Cars     17,552     15,625     14,002      734,922      799,079    -8.0
  Trucks   17,400     17,031     15,142      740,745      810,991    -8.7
  TOTAL    34,952     32,656     29,144    1,475,667    1,610,070    -8.3
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    150,566    144,950    138,076    6,125,676    6,509,057    -5.9
  Trucks  227,435    228,626    225,905    9,511,566    9,330,215     1.9
  GRAND   378,001    373,576    363,981   15,637,242   15,839,272    -1.3
  TOTAL

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

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