Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production - 2/25/05

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Feb. 25, 2005 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 351,884 units, down 2.0 percent from the 359,237 cars and trucks built last week, according to WardsAuto.com.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 2,633,690 vehicles, down 0.6 percent from like-2004's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 259,243 vehicles this week, down 5.7 percent from the 275,045 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2005 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 1,971,672 units, down 0.5 percent compared to the 1,981,009 vehicles built in like-2004.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 56,179, an increase of 12.0 percent from the 50,150 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2005 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 418,096 units, down 1.4 percent compared to the 424,153 vehicles produced in like-2004.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 28.9 percent; Ford Motor Co., 23.6 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 15.3 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 7.1 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 7.6 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 7.2 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.4 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, 0.4 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    92,540   104,987     93,095     736,146     698,072      5.5
  Trucks 166,703   170,058    166,785   1,235,526   1,282,937     -3.7
  TOTAL  259,243   275,045    259,880   1,971,672   1,981,009     -0.5
  Canada
  Cars    28,900    22,050     27,593     213,145     216,547     -1.6
  Trucks  27,279    28,100     27,265     204,951     207,606     -1.3
  TOTAL   56,179    50,150     54,858     418,096     424,153     -1.4
  Mexico
  Cars    17,401    17,949     16,754     134,321     126,039      6.6
  Trucks  19,061    16,093     14,822     109,601     119,097     -8.0
  TOTAL   36,462    34,042     31,576     243,922     245,136     -0.5
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars   138,841   144,986    137,442   1,083,612   1,040,658      4.1
  Trucks 213,043   214,251    208,872   1,550,078   1,609,640     -3.7
  GRAND  351,884   359,237    346,314   2,633,690   2,650,298     -0.6
  TOTAL

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

Ward's Communications, a division of PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, Inc.