Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production - 1/21/05

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Jan. 21, 2005 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 310,904 units, down 0.9 percent from the 313,684 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 878,994 vehicles, down 6.8 percent from like-2004's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 218,172 vehicles this week, down 6.7 percent from the 233,871 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2005 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 656,989 units, down 4.9 percent compared to the 690,552 vehicles built in like-2004.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 57,859, a decrease of 0.5 percent from the 58,154 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar- 2005 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 150,807 units, down 4.9 percent compared to the 158,531 vehicles produced in like-2004.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 26.3 percent; Ford Motor Co., 26.9 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 11.8 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 7.3 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 8.8 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 7.5 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.9 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.3 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.7 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 2.1 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.2 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.5 percent.

                     NORTH AMERICA FACTORY PRODUCTION
          This Week  Last Week  Same Week   To Date   To Date   Pct. Change
          Estimated   Revised   Last Year    2005      2004    2005 vs. 2004
  U.S.
  Cars      81,621     92,647     73,715    252,191   241,746       4.3
  Trucks   136,551    141,224    135,152    404,798   448,806      -9.8
  TOTAL    218,172    233,871    208,867    656,989   690,552      -4.9
  Canada
  Cars      29,818     30,637     26,922     77,952    78,809      -1.1
  Trucks    28,041     27,517     29,091     72,855    79,722      -8.6
  TOTAL     57,859     58,154     56,013    150,807   158,531      -4.9
  Mexico
  Cars      16,439     12,614     14,315     40,005    49,632     -19.4
  Trucks    18,434      9,045     15,728     31,193    43,949     -29.0
  TOTAL     34,873     21,659     30,043     71,198    93,581     -23.9
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars     127,878    135,898    114,952    370,148   370,187       0.0
  Trucks   183,026    177,786    179,971    508,846   572,477     -11.1
  GRAND    310,904    313,684    294,923    878,994   942,664      -6.8
  TOTAL

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

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