Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., March 24 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 267,476 units, down 20.2 percent from the 335,070 cars and trucks built last week, according to http://wardsauto.com/ .

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 3,942,763 vehicles, down 2.4 percent from like-2004's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 209,286 vehicles this week, down 19.4 percent from the 259,742 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2005 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 2,968,766 units, down 1.9 percent compared to the 3,027,041 vehicles built in like-2004.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 47,017, an increase of 3.8 percent from the 45,301 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2005 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 629,005 units, down 2.1 percent compared to the 642,712 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., 24.5 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 15.3 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 7.6 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 7.8 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 7.1 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., 2.5 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 0.7 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.4 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      80,197     96,869     90,871   1,094,394  1,066,506     2.6
  Trucks   129,089    162,873    172,398   1,874,372  1,960,535    -4.4
  TOTAL    209,286    259,742    263,269   2,968,766  3,027,041    -1.9
  Canada
  Cars      23,945     17,145     27,585     307,577    327,289    -6.0
  Trucks    23,072     28,156     29,401     321,428    315,423     1.9
  TOTAL     47,017     45,301     56,986     629,005    642,712    -2.1
  Mexico
  Cars       5,950     14,715     16,078     182,314    190,661    -4.4
  Trucks     5,223     15,312     15,087     162,678    180,517    -9.9
  TOTAL     11,173     30,027     31,165     344,992    371,178    -7.1
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars     110,092    128,729    134,534   1,584,285  1,584,456     0.0
  Trucks   157,384    206,341    216,886   2,358,478  2,456,475    -4.0
  GRAND    267,476    335,070    351,420   3,942,763  4,040,931    -2.4
  TOTAL

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

  ON THE WEB: http://www.wardsauto.com/

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