Ward's Reports Estimated Weekly North American Vehicle Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Oct. 21, 2005 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 352,720 units, up 2.6 percent from the 343,925 cars and trucks built last week, according to WardsAuto.com.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 13,368,181 vehicles, up 0.1 percent from like-2004's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 261,142 vehicles this week, up 2.8 percent from the 254,025 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2005 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 9,909,025 units, up 0.3 percent compared to the 9,883,616 vehicles built in like-2004.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 56,096, an increase of 10.4 percent from the 50,801 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar 2005 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,144,449 units, down 2.9 percent compared to the 2,208,757 vehicles produced in like-2004.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 28.5 percent; Ford Motor Co., 24.4 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 12.8 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 7.7 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.8 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 6.9 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.2 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 2.2 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.0 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.0 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.8 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.8 percent; and other manufacturers, 3.9 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    91,343     87,291    86,185   3,585,233   3,527,783        1.6
  Trucks 169,799    166,734   167,679   6,323,792   6,355,833       -0.5
  TOTAL  261,142    254,025   253,864   9,909,025   9,883,616        0.3
  Canada
  Cars    27,837     27,062    30,570   1,065,208   1,079,426       -1.3
  Trucks  28,259     23,739    28,266   1,079,241   1,129,331       -4.4
  TOTAL   56,096     50,801    58,836   2,144,449   2,208,757       -2.9
  Mexico
  Cars    18,127     17,763    17,187     667,746     642,362        4.0
  Trucks  17,355     21,336    17,406     646,961     625,062        3.5
  TOTAL   35,482     39,099    34,593   1,314,707   1,267,424        3.7
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars   137,307    132,116   133,942   5,318,187   5,249,571        1.3
  Trucks 215,413    211,809   213,351   8,049,994   8,110,226       -0.7
  GRAND  352,720    343,925   347,293  13,368,181  13,359,797        0.1
  TOTAL

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

  Ward's Communications, a division of PRIMEDIA INC.