Ward's Reports Estimated Weekly North American Vehicle Production - December 16, 2005

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Dec. 16, 2005 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 345,599 units, down 3.7 percent from the 358,959 cars and trucks built last week, according to WardsAuto.com.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 16,061,092 vehicles, up 0.4 percent from like-2004's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 245,126 vehicles this week, down 3.7 percent from the 254,420 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2005 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 11,761,640 units, down 0.6 percent compared to the 11,828,584 vehicles built in like-2004.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 61,758, a decrease of 1.4 percent from the 62,657 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar 2005 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,642,876 units, down 0.6 percent compared to the 2,659,352 vehicles produced in like-2004.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 28.5 percent; Ford Motor Co., 23.2 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 10.9 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 8.0 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 7.3 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 7.2 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 4.0 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 2.2 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.1 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.0 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.9 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.8 percent; and other manufacturers, 4.9 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       92,227     93,746     95,663    4,273,619   4,208,446      1.5
  Trucks    152,899    160,674    174,314    7,488,021   7,620,138     -1.7
  TOTAL     245,126    254,420    269,977   11,761,640  11,828,584     -0.6
  Canada
  Cars       33,518     34,435     30,335    1,329,165   1,306,544      1.7
  Trucks     28,240     28,222     27,811    1,313,711   1,352,808     -2.9
  TOTAL      61,758     62,657     58,146    2,642,876   2,659,352     -0.6
  Mexico
  Cars       18,081     20,934     14,473      834,553     745,442     12.0
  Trucks     20,634     20,948     17,993      822,023     760,098      8.1
  TOTAL      38,715     41,882     32,466    1,656,576   1,505,540     10.0
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars      143,826    149,115    140,471    6,437,337   6,260,432      2.8
  Trucks    201,773    209,844    220,118    9,623,755   9,733,044     -1.1
  GRAND     345,599    358,959    360,589   16,061,092  15,993,476      0.4
  TOTAL

  Note: All figures include medium- and heavy-duty truck production.
  Ward's Communications, a division of PRIMEDIA INC.