Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production - 10/17/03

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Oct. 17, 2003 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 331,804 units, up 0.6 percent from the 329,689 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 13,163,501 vehicles, down 3.8 percent from like-2002's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 257,069 vehicles this week, up 1.5 percent from the 253,218 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2003 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 9,741,665 units, down 2.9 percent from the 10,027,792 vehicles built in like-2002.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 48,742, a 7.4 percent increase from the 45,385 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2003 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,062,044 units, down 4.9 percent compared to the 2,169,319 vehicles produced in like-2002.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 31.1 percent; Ford Motor Co., 27.2 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.7 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.5 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.3 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 4.8 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.4 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.3 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.5 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.9 percent; Subaru Automotive Inc., 1.0 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.6 percent; and other manufacturers, 1.7 percent.

                     NORTH AMERICA FACTORY PRODUCTION
        This Week  Last Week  Same Week  To Date    To Date     Pct. Change
        Estimated  Revised    Last Year   2003        2002     2003 vs. 2002
  U.S.
  Cars     88,325   87,794     94,199    3,662,887   4,143,971    -11.6
  Trucks  168,744  165,424    160,778    6,078,778   5,883,821      3.3
  TOTAL   257,069  253,218    254,977    9,741,665  10,027,792     -2.9
  Canada
  Cars     23,138   19,305     25,566    1,107,251   1,115,758     -0.8
  Trucks   25,604   26,080     21,863      954,793   1,053,561     -9.4
  TOTAL    48,742   45,385     47,429    2,062,044   2,169,319     -4.9
  Mexico
  Cars     12,921   13,652     19,893      684,216     799,657    -14.4
  Trucks   13,072   17,434     17,832      675,576     682,559     -1.0
  TOTAL    25,993   31,086     37,725    1,359,792   1,482,216     -8.3
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    124,384  120,751    139,658    5,454,354   6,059,386    -10.0
  Trucks  207,420  208,938    200,473    7,709,147   7,619,941      1.2
  GRAND   331,804  329,689    340,131   13,163,501  13,679,327     -3.8
  TOTAL

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