Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Sept. 23 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 365,483 units, up 4.7 percent from the 348,934 cars and trucks built last week, according to WardsAuto.com.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 11,965,533 vehicles, down 0.2 percent from like-2004's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 270,456 vehicles this week, up 0.5 percent from the 269,104 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2005 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 8,879,818 units, up 0.2 percent compared to the 8,859,113 vehicles built in like-2004.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 62,050, an increase of 6.6 percent from the 58,196 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2005 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,931,641 units, down 3.2 percent compared to the 1,995,943 vehicles produced in like-2004.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 29.0 percent; Ford Motor Co., 23.5 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.9 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.5 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.5 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 7.4 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.0 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 2.1 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.0 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 0.9 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.8 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; and other manufacturers, 3.7 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       95,115     96,387    93,285   3,226,795  3,167,015     1.9
  Trucks    175,341    172,717   157,331   5,653,023  5,692,098    -0.7
  TOTAL     270,456    269,104   250,616   8,879,818  8,859,113     0.2
  Canada
  Cars       33,325     28,168    28,792     953,314    973,991    -2.1
  Trucks     28,725     30,028    29,549     978,327  1,021,952    -4.3
  TOTAL      62,050     58,196    58,341   1,931,641  1,995,943    -3.2
  Mexico
  Cars       17,866     10,839    18,197     593,872    573,614     3.5
  Trucks     15,111     10,795    16,656     560,202    557,583     0.5
  TOTAL      32,977     21,634    34,853   1,154,074  1,131,197     2.0
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars      146,306    135,394   140,274   4,773,981  4,714,620     1.3
  Trucks    219,177    213,540   203,536   7,191,552  7,271,633    -1.1
  GRAND     365,483    348,934   343,810  11,965,533 11,986,253    -0.2
  TOTAL

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

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

Ward's Communications, a division of PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, Inc.