Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production- December 22, 2005

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Dec. 22, 2005 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 299,620 units, down 16.5 percent from the 358,621 cars and trucks built last week, according to WardsAuto.com.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 16,381,489 vehicles, up 0.9 percent from like-2004's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 212,566 vehicles this week, down 16.8 percent from the 255,406 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2005 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 11,992,241 units, down 0.1 percent compared to the 12,006,302 vehicles built in like-2004.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 48,369, a decrease of 22.6 percent from the 62,455 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar 2005 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,691,942 units, down 0.4 percent compared to the 2,702,937 vehicles produced in like-2004.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 27.2 percent; Ford Motor Co., 24.2 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 9.7 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 9.3 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 8.2 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 6.3 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.8 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 2.3 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 0.9 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.1 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.9 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.8 percent; and other manufacturers, 5.3 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     77,664     94,235     57,805    4,353,291   4,266,251     2.0
  Trucks  134,902    161,171    119,913    7,638,950   7,740,051    -1.3
  TOTAL   212,566    255,406    177,718   11,992,241  12,006,302    -0.1
  Canada
  Cars     27,081     34,320     21,896    1,357,048   1,328,440     2.2
  Trucks   21,288     28,135     21,689    1,334,894   1,374,497    -2.9
  TOTAL    48,369     62,455     43,585    2,691,942   2,702,937    -0.4
  Mexico
  Cars     18,088     20,812      9,465      855,372     754,907    13.3
  Trucks   20,597     19,948      8,279      841,934     768,377     9.6
  TOTAL    38,685     40,760     17,744    1,697,306   1,523,284    11.4
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    122,833    149,367     89,166    6,565,711   6,349,598     3.4
  Trucks  176,787    209,254    149,881    9,815,778   9,882,925    -0.7
  GRAND   299,620    358,621    239,047   16,381,489  16,232,523     0.9
  TOTAL

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

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