Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production - January 14, 2005

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Jan. 14, 2005 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 322,282 units, up 26.4 percent from the 255,020 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 577,302 vehicles, down 10.9 percent from like-2004's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 234,506 vehicles this week, up 14.1 percent from the 205,516 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2005 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 440,022 units, down 8.6 percent compared to the 481,685 vehicles built in like-2004.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 57,636, an increase of 65.6 percent from the 34,794 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2005 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 92,430 units, down 9.8 percent compared to the 102,518 vehicles produced in like-2004.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 26.2 percent; Ford Motor Co., 30.2 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 9.3 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 7.2 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 7.4 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 7.2 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., 2.4 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.1 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.8 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.8 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    93,615     78,469     87,790    172,084    168,031      2.4
  Trucks 140,891    127,047    155,950    267,938    313,654    -14.6
  TOTAL  234,506    205,516    243,740    440,022    481,685     -8.6
  Canada
  Cars    29,730     17,497     26,038     47,227     51,887     -9.0
  Trucks  27,906     17,297     28,828     45,203     50,631    -10.7
  TOTAL   57,636     34,794     54,866     92,430    102,518     -9.8
  Mexico
  Cars    15,361     10,913     14,218     26,274     35,317    -25.6
  Trucks  14,779      3,797     15,571     18,576     28,221    -34.2
  TOTAL   30,140     14,710     29,789     44,850     63,538    -29.4
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars   138,706    106,879    128,046    245,585    255,235     -3.8
  Trucks 183,576    148,141    200,349    331,717    392,506    -15.5
  GRAND  322,282    255,020    328,395    577,302    647,741    -10.9
  TOTAL

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

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