The Big Three's automotive profits come entirely from light-truck sales in the United States.

The company is also suffering in the United States market, where most automotive profits are made.

Over all, automotive profits topped $1.5 billion, a $113 million increase from the comparable period a year ago.

Foreign automotive profits hit a record $696 million, up $160 million from last year.

Ford gained share in the critical United States market, where the bulk of the industry's automotive profits are made.

United States automotive profits dropped 80 percent, to $160 million from $800 million.

Jeeps, along with mini-vans, now account for nearly all of the company's automotive profits, some analysts say.

As a result, G.M.'s net automotive profits fell in North America.

For the year, its pretax automotive profits in North America declined to $1.5 billion, down 18 percent from 2003.

Many industry analysts worry that the Big Three have weak automotive profits at a time of strong industry sales.