Ward's Reports Estimated Weekly North American Vehicle Production October 28, 2005

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Oct. 28, 2005 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 345,290 units, down 5.4 percent from the 364,910 cars and trucks built last week, according to WardsAuto.com.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 13,725,661 vehicles, up 0.2 percent from like-2004's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 248,828 vehicles this week, down 7.1 percent from the 267,745 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2005 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 10,164,456 units, up 0.3 percent compared to the 10,134,573 vehicles built in like-2004.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 61,624, an increase of 12.0 percent from the 55,014 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar 2005 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,204,991 units, down 2.7 percent compared to the 2,267,069 vehicles produced in like-2004.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 28.6 percent; Ford Motor Co., 22.6 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.4 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 8.1 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 7.1 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 6.8 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.3 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 2.1 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.1 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.0 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.8 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.8 percent; and other manufacturers, 4.3 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     87,859    92,485     83,287    3,674,234   3,611,070     1.7
  Trucks  160,969   175,260    167,670    6,490,222   6,523,503    -0.5
  TOTAL   248,828   267,745    250,957   10,164,456  10,134,573     0.3
  Canada
  Cars     33,365    26,439     30,250    1,097,175   1,109,676    -1.1
  Trucks   28,259    28,575     28,062    1,107,816   1,157,393    -4.3
  TOTAL    61,624    55,014     58,312    2,204,991   2,267,069    -2.7
  Mexico
  Cars     18,105    20,168     17,133      687,892     659,495     4.3
  Trucks   16,733    21,983     17,319      668,322     642,381     4.0
  TOTAL    34,838    42,151     34,452    1,356,214   1,301,876     4.2
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    139,329   139,092    130,670    5,459,301   5,380,241     1.5
  Trucks  205,961   225,818    213,051    8,266,360   8,323,277    -0.7
  GRAND   345,290   364,910    343,721   13,725,661  13,703,518     0.2
  TOTAL

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

  Ward's Communications, a division of PRIMEDIA INC.