Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., April 15 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 345,214 units, up 4.2 percent from the 331,333 cars and trucks built last week, according to WardsAuto.com.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 4,908,797 vehicles, down 1.8 percent from like-2004's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 255,642 vehicles this week, up 1.9 percent from the 250,975 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2005 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 3,688,689 units, down 1.4 percent compared to the 3,740,537 vehicles built in like-2004.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 52,824, an increase of 13.1 percent from the 46,699 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2005 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 781,730 units, down 2.8 percent compared to the 804,609 vehicles produced in like-2004.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 29.3 percent; Ford Motor Co., 24.0 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 15.2 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.2 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 7.7 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 6.1 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.4 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.1 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.7 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 2.0 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 0.9 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.3 percent; and other manufacturers, 3.1 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     87,312     88,508    87,147   1,344,988    1,326,242     1.4
  Trucks  168,330    162,467   148,637   2,343,701    2,414,295    -2.9
  TOTAL   255,642    250,975   235,784   3,688,689    3,740,537    -1.4
  Canada
  Cars     24,964     17,647    24,906     377,813      404,447    -6.6
  Trucks   27,860     29,052    27,946     403,917      400,162     0.9
  TOTAL    52,824     46,699    52,852     781,730      804,609    -2.8
  Mexico
  Cars     16,307     17,044    14,594     230,925      231,291    -0.2
  Trucks   20,441     16,615    15,182     207,453      220,303    -5.8
  TOTAL    36,748     33,659    29,776     438,378      451,594    -2.9
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    128,583    123,199   126,647   1,953,726    1,961,980    -0.4
  Trucks  216,631    208,134   191,765   2,955,071    3,034,760    -2.6
  GRAND   345,214    331,333   318,412   4,908,797    4,996,740    -1.8
  TOTAL

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

  ON THE WEB: www.wardsauto.com

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