Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., April 22 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 336,139 units, down 1.9 percent from the 342,679 cars and trucks built last week, according to WardsAuto.com.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 5,247,277 vehicles, down 1.9 percent from like-2004's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 257,299 vehicles this week, up 0.7 percent from the 255,575 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2005 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 3,947,501 units, down 1.4 percent compared to the 4,005,492 vehicles built in like-2004.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 46,003, a decrease of 14.6 percent from the 53,877 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2005 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 831,020 units, down 3.2 percent compared to the 858,713 vehicles produced in like-2004.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 28.9 percent; Ford Motor Co., 23.9 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 15.7 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 7.2 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 7.0 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 6.1 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.1 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.1 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.8 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 2.0 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.0 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     90,575    92,913     93,806   1,441,164   1,420,048     1.5
  Trucks  166,724   162,662    171,149   2,506,337   2,585,444    -3.1
  TOTAL   257,299   255,575    264,955   3,947,501   4,005,492    -1.4
  Canada
  Cars     17,852    26,380     21,311     398,309     425,758    -6.4
  Trucks   28,151    27,497     32,793     432,711     432,955    -0.1
  TOTAL    46,003    53,877     54,104     831,020     858,713    -3.2
  Mexico
  Cars     14,908    17,224     15,506     247,954     246,797     0.5
  Trucks   17,929    16,003     15,330     220,802     235,633    -6.3
  TOTAL    32,837    33,227     30,836     468,756     482,430    -2.8
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    123,335   136,517    130,623   2,087,427   2,092,603    -0.2
  Trucks  212,804   206,162    219,272   3,159,850   3,254,032    -2.9
  GRAND   336,139   342,679    349,895   5,247,277   5,346,635    -1.9
  TOTAL

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

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

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