Despite a favorable backdrop of relatively high employment...

Despite a favorable backdrop of relatively high employment and low financing rates, U.S. automakers, in our opinion, will collectively lose market share to foreign manufacture again in 2006, particularly in the luxury vehicle category. Additionally, Standard & Poor's Equity Research believes the U.S. will face margin compression on two fronts, the first as a result of higher retiree and health-care costs. The second results from a combination of rising gas prices and increased sales of crossover utility vehicles which will negatively impact sales of higher margin large SUVs.