Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production - May 21, 2004

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 21, 2004 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 333,276 units, down 5.3 percent from the 351,760 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 6,734,887 vehicles, down 1.2 percent from like-2003's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 256,121 vehicles this week, down 0.3 percent from the 256,780 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2004 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 5,039,211 units, up 0.2 percent compared to the 5,028,265 vehicles built in like-2003.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 47,089, a decrease of 25.8 percent from the 63,469 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2004 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,088,535 units, up 0.4 percent compared to the 1,083,755 vehicles produced in like-2003.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 30.5 percent; Ford Motor Co., 25.5 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 15.4 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.3 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.6 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 5.6 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.1 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.2 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     88,318     89,470     91,251  1,782,878  1,896,045      -6.0
  Trucks  167,803    167,310    148,029  3,256,333  3,132,220       4.0
  TOTAL   256,121    256,780    239,280  5,039,211  5,028,265       0.2
  Canada
  Cars     22,923     30,174     26,153    539,135    576,374      -6.5
  Trucks   24,166     33,295     24,202    549,400    507,381       8.3
  TOTAL    47,089     63,469     50,355  1,088,535  1,083,755       0.4
  Mexico
  Cars     14,902     15,610     17,983    307,750    366,895     -16.1
  Trucks   15,164     15,901     16,772    299,391    334,521     -10.5
  TOTAL    30,066     31,511     34,755    607,141    701,416     -13.4
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    126,143    135,254    135,387  2,629,763  2,839,314      -7.4
  Trucks  207,133    216,506    189,003  4,105,124  3,974,122       3.3
  GRAND   333,276    351,760    324,390  6,734,887  6,813,436      -1.2
  TOTAL

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

  ON THE WEB: www.wardsauto.com

Ward's Communications, a division of PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, Inc.