Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production - April 28, 2005

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., April 29 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 334,355 units, up 0.5 percent from the 332,845 cars and trucks built last week, according to http://wardsauto.com/ .

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 5,578,020 vehicles, down 2.2 percent from like-2004's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 240,410 vehicles this week, down 3.7 percent from the 249,699 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2005 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 4,180,311 units, down 2.1 percent compared to the 4,271,212 vehicles built in like-2004.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 59,568, an increase of 29.0 percent from the 46,175 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2005 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 890,361 units, down 3.3 percent compared to the 920,362 vehicles produced in like-2004.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 24.7 percent; Ford Motor Co., 26.4 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.9 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 7.7 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 7.5 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 6.5 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.4 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.2 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.8 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 2.5 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.0 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.3 percent; and other manufacturers, 3.1 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      85,131     89,782    96,137  1,525,502  1,516,185     0.6
  Trucks   155,279    159,917   169,583  2,654,809  2,755,027    -3.6
  TOTAL    240,410    249,699   265,720  4,180,311  4,271,212    -2.1
  Canada
  Cars      30,292     17,486    29,338    427,689    455,096    -6.0
  Trucks    29,276     28,689    32,311    462,672    465,266    -0.6
  TOTAL     59,568     46,175    61,649    890,361    920,362    -3.3
  Mexico
  Cars      16,448     17,698    15,230    267,192    262,027     2.0
  Trucks    17,929     19,273    14,542    240,156    250,175    -4.0
  TOTAL     34,377     36,971    29,772    507,348    512,202    -0.9
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars     131,871    124,966   140,705  2,220,383  2,233,308    -0.6
  Trucks   202,484    207,879   216,436  3,357,637  3,470,468    -3.3
  GRAND    334,355    332,845   357,141  5,578,020  5,703,776    -2.2
  TOTAL

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

  ON THE WEB: http://www.wardsauto.com/

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