CSM Worldwide Launches the CSM Automotive Production Barometer(TM)

Monthly report provides an accurate and reliable head start on financial analysis of U.S. auto production

DETROIT, Jan. 11 -- CSM Worldwide, the leading provider of market intelligence and forecasting to the automotive industry, today launched of the CSM Automotive Production Barometer(TM) (APB). Released in advance of existing sources of information, this new service will provide an accurate tally of light vehicle production for the previous month to assist automotive economists and financial analysts in their ongoing industry evaluations.

"Our APB is intended to mirror and expand on the Federal Reserve's estimate of U.S. light vehicle production," said Greg Mount, chief economist at CSM Worldwide. "With our industry knowledge, historical record-keeping and expertise in forecasting, we're able to provide an accurate count of U.S. and aggregate North American light vehicle production an average of three to four days in advance of the Federal Reserve's report. In an industry where minutes can matter, we see this as a significant advantage."

Light vehicle production in the U.S. market rose 1.5% to a seasonally adjusted rate of 11.68M units in December 2004. On a not seasonally adjusted basis, December was down 2.6% year-over-year at 0.86M units. The decline was not unforeseen in the wake of announced incremental downtime by General Motors, Ford, and DaimlerChrysler as they come to grips with mounting supply. The December seasonally adjusted rebound brings production back to levels near October's output after the 1.5% decline seen in November. Total U.S. light vehicle assembly for 2004 ended down 1.7% to a seasonally adjusted rate of 11.71M units with total non-adjusted output coming in at 11.64M units.

U.S. light truck production slipped to a 63.9% share of total build for the month on a seasonally adjusted basis compared to 65.3% in November. Light truck production declined 0.8% in December compared to a 5.7% increase for cars on an adjusted basis. For 2004, U.S. light truck production share increased to 64.3% on a seasonally adjusted basis, marking the seventh consecutive year of truck assemblies outpacing autos in total U.S. light vehicle production.

North American production increased 5.5% in December compared to last month, but slipped 0.6% versus last year to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 16.64M units. Total North American output in 2004 slipped 0.7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 15.79M units.

The CSM Automotive Production Barometer for January 2005 is currently available via the CSM Worldwide website: http://www.csmauto.com/auto-production-barometer . Subsequent reports will be posted to the same location on or near the 11th of each month, with a teleconference to discuss the report and other issues related to the light vehicle market beginning in February 2005.

For more information regarding the release schedule and for a detailed history and expanded analysis of the CSM Automotive Production Barometer (APB), visit http://www.csmauto.com/ or contact Joseph Langley, Market Analyst, North American Vehicle Forecasts, at 248.380.9000.

CSM Worldwide (http://www.csmauto.com/ ) supports more than 350 of the world's top automakers, suppliers and financial organizations with global market intelligence and forecasting services. With corporate offices in Detroit, CSM Worldwide covers the global automotive environment from London, Frankfurt, Paris, Tokyo, Shanghai, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Bangalore and Budapest.