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

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 8 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 100,719 units, down 66.7 percent from the 302,694 cars and trucks built last week, according to http://wardsauto.com/ .

The downtime for this week is due to General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. beginning their traditional summer shutdowns.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 8,611,443 vehicles, down 1.3 percent from like-2004's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 53,331 vehicles this week, down 76.5 percent from the 227,088 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2005 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 6,395,482 units, down 1.2 percent compared to the 6,470,674 vehicles built in like-2004.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 15,221, a decrease of 63.6 percent from the 41,795 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2005 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,389,526 units, down 4.1 percent compared to the 1,449,380 vehicles produced in like-2004.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 0.0 percent; Ford Motor Co., 0.0 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 43.2 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 0.0 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 26.7 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 0.0 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 12.4 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 2.7 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 2.0 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.0 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 0.0 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.0 percent; and other manufacturers, 13.0 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     20,167    85,051     27,560    2,329,946  2,294,150     1.6
  Trucks   33,164   142,037     36,280    4,065,536  4,176,524    -2.7
  TOTAL    53,331   227,088     63,840    6,395,482  6,470,674    -1.2
  Canada
  Cars      4,800    19,741      8,480      676,517    702,786    -3.7
  Trucks   10,421    22,054     13,590      713,009    746,594    -4.5
  TOTAL    15,221    41,795     22,070    1,389,526  1,449,380    -4.1
  Mexico
  Cars     15,719    15,764     10,388      428,505    403,805     6.1
  Trucks   16,448    18,047      8,558      397,930    400,596    -0.7
  TOTAL    32,167    33,811     18,946      826,435    804,401     2.7
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars     40,686   120,556     46,428    3,434,968  3,400,741     1.0
  Trucks   60,033   182,138     58,428    5,176,475  5,323,714    -2.8
  GRAND   100,719   302,694    104,856    8,611,443  8,724,455    -1.3
  TOTAL

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

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

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