Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production - February 18, 2005

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Feb. 18, 2005 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 358,130 units, up 0.3 percent from the 357,056 cars and trucks built last week, according to WardsAuto.com.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 2,282,668 vehicles, down 0.9 percent from like-2004's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 270,850 vehicles this week, up 0.8 percent from the 268,796 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2005 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 1,710,224 units, down 0.6 percent compared to the 1,721,129 vehicles built in like-2004.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 49,176, a decrease of 8.7 percent from the 53,849 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar- 2005 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 360,922 units, down 2.3 percent compared to the 369,295 vehicles produced in like-2004.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 29.2 percent; Ford Motor Co., 24.1 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 15.5 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.8 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.5 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 7.4 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.9 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.0 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.7 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 2.1 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 0.9 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.4 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.5 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      98,708    100,218     96,420    637,359    604,977     5.4
  Trucks   172,142    168,578    170,724  1,072,865  1,116,152    -3.9
  TOTAL    270,850    268,796    267,144  1,710,224  1,721,129    -0.6
  Canada
  Cars      21,433     25,615     27,961    183,680    188,954    -2.8
  Trucks    27,743     28,234     23,423    177,242    180,341    -1.7
  TOTAL     49,176     53,849     51,384    360,922    369,295    -2.3
  Mexico
  Cars      18,841     17,990     16,330    117,812    109,285     7.8
  Trucks    19,263     16,421     15,248     93,710    104,275   -10.1
  TOTAL     38,104     34,411     31,578    211,522    213,560    -1.0
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars     138,982    143,823    140,711    938,851    903,216     3.9
  Trucks   219,148    213,233    209,395  1,343,817  1,400,768    -4.1
  GRAND    358,130    357,056    350,106  2,282,668  2,303,984    -0.9
  TOTAL

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

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