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Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production December 2, 2005

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Dec. 2, 2005 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 346,980 units, up 36.1 percent from the 254,955 cars and trucks built last week, according to WardsAuto.com.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 15,359,092 vehicles, up 0.7 percent from like-2004's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 243,341 vehicles this week, up 61.5 percent from the 150,640 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2005 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 11,262,401 units, down 0.1 percent compared to the 11,271,113 vehicles built in like-2004.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 62,338, an increase of 0.7 percent from the 61,910 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar 2005 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,518,820 units, down 0.9 percent compared to the 2,542,199 vehicles produced in like-2004.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 26.1 percent; Ford Motor Co., 23.2 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.4 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 8.1 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 7.2 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 7.6 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.3 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 2.4 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.1 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.0 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.0 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.9 percent; and other manufacturers, 4.7 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     91,697     55,198     99,896   4,081,773   4,010,256     1.8
  Trucks  151,644     95,442    179,484   7,180,628   7,260,857    -1.1
  TOTAL   243,341    150,640    279,380  11,262,401  11,271,113    -0.1
  Canada
  Cars     33,236     32,947     27,159   1,259,080   1,245,638     1.1
  Trucks   29,102     28,963     28,855   1,259,740   1,296,561    -2.8
  TOTAL    62,338     61,910     56,014   2,518,820   2,542,199    -0.9
  Mexico
  Cars     18,603     20,925     14,020     792,987     715,925    10.8
  Trucks   22,698     21,480     17,740     784,884     723,992     8.4
  TOTAL    41,301     42,405     31,760   1,577,871   1,439,917     9.6
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    143,536    109,070    141,075   6,133,840   5,971,819     2.7
  Trucks  203,444    145,885    226,079   9,225,252   9,281,410    -0.6
  GRAND   346,980    254,955    367,154  15,359,092  15,253,229     0.7
  TOTAL

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

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  Ward's Communications, a division of PRIMEDIA INC.