Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production - April 8, 2005

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., April 8 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 338,724 units, up 14.1 percent from the 296,772 cars and trucks built last week, according to WardsAuto.com.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 4,563,698 vehicles, down 2.5 percent from like-2004's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 255,736 vehicles this week, up 16.6 percent from the 219,265 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2005 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 3,436,485 units, down 1.9 percent compared to the 3,504,753 vehicles built in like-2004.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 45,660, a decrease of 7.9 percent from the 49,561 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar- 2005 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 721,914 units, down 4.0 percent compared to the 751,757 vehicles produced in like-2004.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 28.4 percent; Ford Motor Co., 25.6 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 15.1 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.2 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 7.0 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 6.3 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., 2.7 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 0.7 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.3 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     86,926    78,134      76,426   1,256,094  1,239,095      1.4
  Trucks  168,810   141,131     132,573   2,180,391  2,265,658     -3.8
  TOTAL   255,736   219,265     208,999   3,436,485  3,504,753     -1.9
  Canada
  Cars     17,227    25,775      23,281     349,960    379,541     -7.8
  Trucks   28,433    23,786      24,560     371,954    372,216     -0.1
  TOTAL    45,660    49,561      47,841     721,914    751,757     -4.0
  Mexico
  Cars     16,567    14,765       9,841     214,141    216,697     -1.2
  Trucks   20,761    13,181       9,518     191,158    205,121     -6.8
  TOTAL    37,328    27,946      19,359     405,299    421,818     -3.9
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    120,720   118,674     109,548   1,820,195  1,835,333     -0.8
  Trucks  218,004   178,098     166,651   2,743,503  2,842,995     -3.5
  GRAND   338,724   296,772     276,199   4,563,698  4,678,328     -2.5
  TOTAL

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

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