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

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Sept. 16 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 344,370 units, up 17.0 percent from the 294,231 cars and trucks built last week, according to WardsAuto.com.

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 11,588,641 vehicles, down 0.5 percent from like-2004's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 259,686 vehicles this week, up 25.2 percent from the 207,463 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2005 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 8,597,319 units, down 0.1 percent compared to the 8,608,497 vehicles built in like-2004.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 56,218, an increase of 15.8 percent from the 48,568 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar-2005 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,867,613 units, down 3.6 percent compared to the 1,937,602 vehicles produced in like-2004.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 28.9 percent; Ford Motor Co., 22.2 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 15.2 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 7.3 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.8 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 6.6 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.8 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.9 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, 0.7 percent; and other manufacturers, 3.6 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      94,704   70,286     92,167    3,129,997   3,073,730    1.8
  Trucks   164,982  137,177    154,720    5,467,322   5,534,767   -1.2
  TOTAL    259,686  207,463    246,887    8,597,319   8,608,497   -0.1
  Canada
  Cars      28,309   24,714     30,336      920,130     945,199   -2.7
  Trucks    27,909   23,854     30,598      947,483     992,403   -4.5
  TOTAL     56,218   48,568     60,934    1,867,613   1,937,602   -3.6
  Mexico
  Cars      17,154   17,204     10,982      578,101     555,417    4.1
  Trucks    11,312   20,996     10,193      545,608     540,927    0.9
  TOTAL     28,466   38,200     21,175    1,123,709   1,096,344    2.5
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars     140,167  112,204    133,485    4,628,228   4,574,346    1.2
  Trucks   204,203  182,027    195,511    6,960,413   7,068,097   -1.5
  GRAND    344,370  294,231    328,996   11,588,641  11,642,443   -0.5
  TOTAL

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

Ward's Communications, a division of PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, Inc.