Ward's Reports Estimated North Amercan Vehicle Production - December 17, 2004

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Dec. 17, 2004 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 356,422 units, down 5.9 percent from the 378,828 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 15,994,493 vehicles, down 1.1 percent from like-2003's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 265,546 vehicles this week, down 7.0 percent from the 285,513 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2004 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 11,827,629 units, down 1.5 percent compared to the 12,011,005 vehicles built in like-2003.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 56,813, a decrease of 3.1 percent from the 58,643 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar- 2004 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,657,412 units, up 5.2 percent compared to the 2,527,044 vehicles produced in like-2003.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 29.4 percent; Ford Motor Co., 26.7 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 12.7 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.3 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.6 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 7.6 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.9 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.0 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.6 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.9 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     95,525    102,413     87,099   4,210,040   4,488,428    -6.2
  Trucks  170,021    183,100    171,514   7,617,589   7,522,577     1.3
  TOTAL   265,546    285,513    258,613  11,827,629  12,011,005    -1.5
  Canada
  Cars     28,918     30,244     26,063   1,304,800   1,334,712    -2.2
  Trucks   27,895     28,399     24,171   1,352,612   1,192,332    13.4
  TOTAL    56,813     58,643     50,234   2,657,412   2,527,044     5.2
  Mexico
  Cars     16,661     17,253     11,956     751,286     811,035    -7.4
  Trucks   17,402     17,419     15,145     758,166     826,136    -8.2
  TOTAL    34,063     34,672     27,101   1,509,452   1,637,171    -7.8
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    141,104    149,910    125,118   6,266,126   6,634,175    -5.5
  Trucks  215,318    228,918    210,830   9,728,367   9,541,045     2.0
  GRAND   356,422    378,828    335,948  15,994,493  16,175,220    -1.1
 TOTAL

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

  ON THE WEB: http://www.wardsauto.com/

Ward's Communications, a division of PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, Inc.