Ward's Reports Estimated North American Vehicle Production - May 12, 2005

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 13, 2005 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 357,739 units, up 10.9 percent from the 322,569 cars and trucks built last week, according to http://wardsauto.com/ .

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 6,249,956 vehicles, down 2.3 percent from like-2004's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 267,474 vehicles this week, up 10.2 percent from the 242,616 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2005 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 4,684,731 units, down 2.0 percent compared to the 4,782,433 vehicles built in like-2004.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 56,425, an increase of 9.2 percent from the 51,658 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2005 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 996,790 units, down 4.6 percent compared to the 1,044,532 vehicles produced in like-2004.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 28.7 percent; Ford Motor Co., 25.7 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.6 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.9 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.6 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 6.0 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.6 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.0 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.6 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 2.4 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.0 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.3 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.6 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      92,838    88,561     89,390   1,708,423  1,694,398      0.8
  Trucks   174,636   154,055    167,074   2,976,308  3,088,035     -3.6
  TOTAL    267,474   242,616    256,464   4,684,731  4,782,433     -2.0
  Canada
  Cars      30,781    22,320     29,999     480,455    515,881     -6.9
  Trucks    25,644    29,338     34,849     516,335    528,651     -2.3
  TOTAL     56,425    51,658     64,848     996,790  1,044,532     -4.6
  Mexico
  Cars      16,142    15,084     14,092     297,058    290,204      2.4
  Trucks    17,698    13,211     15,753     271,377    282,382     -3.9
  TOTAL     33,840    28,295     29,845     568,435    572,586     -0.7
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars     139,761   125,965    133,481   2,485,936  2,500,483     -0.6
  Trucks   217,978   196,604    217,676   3,764,020  3,899,068     -3.5
  GRAND    357,739   322,569    351,157   6,249,956  6,399,551     -2.3
  TOTAL

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

  ON THE WEB:  HERE.

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