Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production - May 14, 2004

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 14, 2004 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 354,572 units, up 2.3 percent from the 346,685 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 6,406,047 vehicles, down 1.3 percent from like-2003's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 263,644 vehicles this week, up 2.9 percent from the 256,166 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2004 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 4,791,024 units, relatively flat compared to the 4,788,985 vehicles built in like-2003.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 61,133, an increase of 5.5 percent from the 57,945 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2004 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,039,110 units, up 0.6 percent compared to the 1,033,400 vehicles produced in like-2003.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 30.3 percent; Ford Motor Co., 25.5 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 15.6 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.2 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.3 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 5.6 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.6 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.1 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.1 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.9 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.1 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.0 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      89,848    88,903     100,042  1,694,938  1,804,794    -6.1
  Trucks   173,796   167,263     165,057  3,096,086  2,984,191     3.7
  TOTAL    263,644   256,166     265,099  4,791,024  4,788,985     0.0
  Canada
  Cars      29,339    30,962      26,803    515,377    550,221    -6.3
  Trucks    31,794    26,983      23,528    523,733    483,179     8.4
  TOTAL     61,133    57,945      50,331  1,039,110  1,033,400     0.6
  Mexico
  Cars      15,143    16,190      17,991    293,012    348,912   -16.0
  Trucks    14,652    16,384      16,769    282,901    317,749   -11.0
  TOTAL     29,795    32,574      34,760    575,913    666,661   -13.6
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars     134,330   136,055     144,836  2,503,327  2,703,927    -7.4
  Trucks   220,242   210,630     205,354  3,902,720  3,785,119     3.1
  GRAND    354,572   346,685     350,190  6,406,047  6,489,046    -1.3
  TOTAL

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

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