Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production - December 23, 2004

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Dec. 22, 2004 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 263,862 units, down 25.7 percent from the 355,179 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 16,257,525 vehicles, down 0.3 percent from like-2003's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 190,404 vehicles this week, down 27.9 percent from the 264,073 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2004 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 12,016,973 units, down 0.7 percent compared to the 12,104,143 vehicles built in like-2003.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 46,212, a decrease of 19.0 percent from the 57,043 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2004 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,703,854 units, up 6.1 percent compared to the 2,547,697 vehicles produced in like-2003.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 31.3 percent; Ford Motor Co., 21.2 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.4 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 7.0 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 7.3 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 7.1 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.1 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.2 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.7 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 2.1 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.0 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.8 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.8 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    67,481      93,969     30,645    4,276,013   4,519,073    -5.4
  Trucks 122,923     170,104     62,493    7,740,960   7,585,070     2.1
  TOTAL  190,404     264,073     93,138   12,016,973  12,104,143    -0.7
  Canada
  Cars    23,896      29,320     10,703    1,329,098   1,345,415    -1.2
  Trucks  22,316      27,723      9,950    1,374,756   1,202,282    14.3
  TOTAL   46,212      57,043     20,653    2,703,854   2,547,697     6.1
  Mexico
  Cars    13,326      16,661      9,387      764,612     820,422    -6.8
  Trucks  13,920      17,402      6,674      772,086     832,810    -7.3
  TOTAL   27,246      34,063     16,061    1,536,698   1,653,232    -7.0
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars   104,703     139,950     50,735    6,369,723   6,684,910    -4.7
  Trucks 159,159     215,229     79,117    9,887,802   9,620,162     2.8
  GRAND  263,862     355,179    129,852   16,257,525  16,305,072    -0.3
  TOTAL

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