Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., March 11 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 341,095 units, down 6.1 percent from the 363,333 cars and trucks built last week, according to WardsAuto.com.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 3,342,569 vehicles, down 0.2 percent from like-2004's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 252,101 vehicles this week, down 6.2 percent from the 268,891 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2005 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 2,498,997 units, down 0.3 percent compared to the 2,507,006 vehicles built in like-2004.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 51,620, a decrease of 12.1 percent from the 58,698 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2005 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 531,176 units, down 0.4 percent compared to the 533,442 vehicles produced in like-2004.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 26.6 percent; Ford Motor Co., 25.4 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.6 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 7.0 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 7.8 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 7.4 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.2 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.1 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.7 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 2.3 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 0.7 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.3 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.9 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     85,198     94,132     87,143     918,812    885,644      3.7
  Trucks  166,903    174,759    170,018   1,580,185  1,621,362     -2.5
  TOTAL   252,101    268,891    257,161   2,498,997  2,507,006     -0.3
  Canada
  Cars     23,710     29,130     27,771     266,451    271,976     -2.0
  Trucks   27,910     29,568     29,405     264,725    261,466      1.2
  TOTAL    51,620     58,698     57,176     531,176    533,442     -0.4
  Mexico
  Cars     17,456     17,377     16,154     166,816    158,329      5.4
  Trucks   19,918     18,367     15,247     145,580    149,620     -2.7
  TOTAL    37,374     35,744     31,401     312,396    307,949      1.4
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    126,364    140,639    131,068   1,352,079  1,315,949      2.7
  Trucks  214,731    222,694    214,670   1,990,490  2,032,448     -2.1
  GRAND   341,095    363,333    345,738   3,342,569  3,348,397     -0.2
  TOTAL

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

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