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

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., March 18 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 343,899 units, down 0.4 percent from the 345,423 cars and trucks built last week, according to WardsAuto.com.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 3,691,807 vehicles, up 0.1 percent from like-2004's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 263,212 vehicles this week, up 2.0 percent from the 258,001 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2005 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 2,770,641 units, up 0.2 percent compared to the 2,763,772 vehicles built in like-2004.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 44,960, a decrease of 16.0 percent from the 53,505 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2005 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 581,647 units, down 0.7 percent compared to the 585,726 vehicles produced in like-2004.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 25.0 percent; Ford Motor Co., 25.7 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 16.5 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.7 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.8 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 7.4 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.0 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.1 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.6 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 3.3 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     99,248    91,554     89,991   1,024,416    975,635       5.0
  Trucks  163,964   166,447    166,775   1,746,225  1,788,137      -2.3
  TOTAL   263,212   258,001    256,766   2,770,641  2,763,772       0.2
  Canada
  Cars     17,050    23,746     27,728     283,537    299,704      -5.4
  Trucks   27,910    29,759     24,556     298,110    286,022       4.2
  TOTAL    44,960    53,505     52,284     581,647    585,726      -0.7
  Mexico
  Cars     15,286    16,612     16,254     176,935    174,583       1.3
  Trucks   20,441    17,305     15,810     162,584    165,430      -1.7
  TOTAL    35,727    33,917     32,064     339,519    340,013      -0.1
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    131,584   131,912    133,973   1,484,888  1,449,922       2.4
  Trucks  212,315   213,511    207,141   2,206,919  2,239,589      -1.5
  GRAND   343,899   345,423    341,114   3,691,807  3,689,511       0.1
  TOTAL

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

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