Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production - 2/4/05

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Feb. 4, 2005 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 355,825 units, up 3.6 percent from the 343,346 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 1,571,127 vehicles, down 2.6 percent from like-2004's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 259,840 vehicles this week, up 2.3 percent from the 253,986 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2005 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 1,168,984 units, down 2.1 percent compared to the 1,194,635 vehicles built in like-2004.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 57,886, an increase of 2.5 percent from the 56,454 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2005 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 258,424 units, down 3.6 percent compared to the 268,183 vehicles produced in like-2004.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 27.7 percent; Ford Motor Co., 24.6 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.8 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.6 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.7 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 8.2 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.0 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.1 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.7 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 2.2 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.0 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.7 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        89,782     90,769     87,840    433,872    416,090     4.3
  Trucks     170,058    163,217    163,975    735,112    778,545    -5.6
  TOTAL      259,840    253,986    251,815  1,168,984  1,194,635    -2.1
  Canada
  Cars        29,818     29,487     27,870    137,380    133,559     2.9
  Trucks      28,068     26,967     27,120    121,044    134,624   -10.1
  TOTAL       57,886     56,454     54,990    258,424    268,183    -3.6
  Mexico
  Cars        18,839     17,849     13,398     82,080     77,027     6.6
  Trucks      19,260     15,057     15,101     61,639     73,871   -16.6
  TOTAL       38,099     32,906     28,499    143,719    150,898    -4.8
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars       138,439    138,105    129,108    653,332    626,676     4.3
  Trucks     217,386    205,241    206,196    917,795    987,040    -7.0
  GRAND      355,825    343,346    335,304  1,571,127  1,613,716    -2.6
  TOTAL

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

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