Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production April 8, 2004

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., April 8 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 298,170 units, down 15.5 percent from the 353,007 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 4,690,876 vehicles, down 3.7 percent from like-2003's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 223,252 vehicles this week, down 15.6 percent from the 264,409 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2004 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 3,514,704 units, down 1.9 percent from the 3,581,859 vehicles built in like-2003.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 47,493, a decrease of 16.7 percent from the 57,013 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2004 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 746,908 units, down 2.9 percent compared to the 769,033 vehicles produced in like-2003.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 28.1 percent; Ford Motor Co., 25.9 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.9 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 7.5 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 7.5 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 7.0 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.7 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.4 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.0 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.8 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.3 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.2 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     84,318     95,211     82,969   1,246,037  1,346,295     -7.4
  Trucks  138,934    169,198    151,575   2,268,667  2,235,564      1.5
  TOTAL   223,252    264,409    234,544   3,514,704  3,581,859     -1.9
  Canada
  Cars     23,776     27,328     31,537     378,393    411,011     -7.9
  Trucks   23,717     29,685     23,763     368,515    358,022      2.9
  TOTAL    47,493     57,013     55,300     746,908    769,033     -2.9
  Mexico
  Cars     14,574     16,510     20,143     220,674    276,805    -20.3
  Trucks   12,851     15,075     17,664     208,590    242,698    -14.1
  TOTAL    27,425     31,585     37,807     429,264    519,503    -17.4
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    122,668    139,049    134,649   1,845,104  2,034,111     -9.3
  Trucks  175,502    213,958    193,002   2,845,772  2,836,284      0.3
  GRAND   298,170    353,007    327,651   4,690,876  4,870,395     -3.7
  TOTAL

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

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