Ward's Reports Estimated Vehicle Production - December 30, 2004

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Dec. 30, 2004 -- Due to the holiday season, there was no production estimated for this week, and most manufacturers only worked three days this same week a year ago, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Ward's also is estimating that calendar year production in North America of all cars and trucks -- including medium- and heavy-duty makes -- will finish at 16,257,727 units, up 0.3 percent from 2003's 16,215,337.

In just the U.S., calendar 2004 output is estimated at 12,016,886 units, down 0.6 percent from the 12,087,028 vehicles assembled last year.

Canada's 2004 output is pegged at 2,703,814 units, up 5.9 percent from 2003, while production in Mexico is estimated to have declined 2.4% to 1,537,027.

Of 2004's estimated U.S. vehicle production, General Motors Corp. accounted for 29.8 percent; Ford Motor Co., 25.4 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.3 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.6 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 7.1 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 6.3 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.2 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.2 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.9 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.1 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.0 percent; Mercedes- Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 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         0    66,347           0   4,278,026   4,510,469    -5.2
  Trucks       0   124,053       3,666   7,738,860   7,576,559     2.1
  TOTAL        0   190,400       3,666  12,016,886  12,087,028    -0.6
  Canada
  Cars         0    23,896           0   1,329,082   1,340,175    -0.8
  Trucks       0    22,316         540   1,374,732   1,212,687    13.4
  TOTAL        0    46,212         540   2,703,814   2,552,862     5.9
  Mexico
  Cars         0    13,326       7,961     765,020     774,048    -1.2
  Trucks       0    13,920       1,184     772,007     801,399    -3.7
  TOTAL        0    27,246       9,145   1,537,027   1,575,447    -2.4
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars         0   103,569       7,961   6,372,128   6,624,692    -3.8
  Trucks       0   160,289       5,390   9,885,599   9,590,645     3.1
  GRAND        0   263,858      13,351  16,257,727  16,215,337     0.3
  TOTAL

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

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