Ward's Reports North American Vehicle Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., June 17 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 352,811 units, up 3.0 percent from the 342,639 cars and trucks built last week, according to http://wardsauto.com/ .

Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 7,885,732 vehicles, down 1.5 percent from like-2004's pace.

In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 258,078 vehicles this week, up 3.2 percent from the 249,999 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 2005 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 5,860,658 units, down 1.5 percent compared to the 5,949,161 vehicles built in like-2004.

This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 59,007, a decrease of 3.2 percent from the 60,988 units assembled last week. Estimated calendar- 2005 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,287,878 units, down 3.0 percent compared to the 1,328,117 vehicles produced in like-2004.

Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S., General Motors Corp. accounted for 26.9 percent; Ford Motor Co., 26.1 percent; Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 15.0 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 7.4 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 6.9 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 6.2 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.2 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.0 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.6 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 2.1 percent; Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., 1.0 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.4 percent; and other manufacturers, 3.2 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     90,687     88,154     89,377   2,128,427  2,113,290     0.7
  Trucks  167,391    161,845    147,291   3,732,231  3,835,871    -2.7
  TOTAL   258,078    249,999    236,668   5,860,658  5,949,161    -1.5
  Canada
  Cars     29,359     32,705     29,529     631,879    647,521    -2.4
  Trucks   29,648     28,283     33,805     655,999    680,596    -3.6
  TOTAL    59,007     60,988     63,334   1,287,878  1,328,117    -3.0
  Mexico
  Cars     17,259     16,744     14,744     385,639    363,731     6.0
  Trucks   18,467     14,908     15,793     351,557    362,351    -3.0
  TOTAL    35,726     31,652     30,537     737,196    726,082     1.5
  U.S.\Canada\Mexico
  Cars    137,305    137,603    133,650   3,145,945  3,124,542     0.7
  Trucks  215,506    205,036    196,889   4,739,787  4,878,818    -2.8
  GRAND   352,811    342,639    330,539   7,885,732  8,003,360    -1.5
  TOTAL

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

  ON THE WEB: http://www.wardsauto.com/

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