Ward's Reports Estimated Production

10 July 1997

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 10 -- Vehicle production in the U.S.,
Canada and Mexico is expected to hit 74,704 units this week, including 53,775
cars and 20,929 trucks, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.  The lower
than usual total reflects the impact of industry summer shutdowns and Chrysler
Corp. changeovers.
    With this week's production, estimated calendar year North American output
now totals 8,475,238, up 2.1 percent from the 8,297,327, cars and trucks
produced in like-1996.
    U.S. vehicle production is expected to total 46,846 units this week, up
133.1 percent from last week's shutdown output of 20,096.  Calendar 1997 U.S.
car and truck production now stands at 6,316,901, up 0.4 percent ahead of
like-1996's pace.
    In Canada, automakers will manufacture 10,850 vehicles this week, a
decline of  55.7 percent from last week's shutdown output of 24,499 units.
Estimated calendar year Canadian car and truck production totals 1,441,579
units, an increase of 6.9 percent from like-1996 levels.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the United
States, Honda of America Mfg. Inc. accounts for 28.4 percent; Nissan Motor
Mfg. 17.7 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 16.8 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg.
15.3 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 6.8 percent; Subaru-Isuzu
Automotive Inc. 3.8 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 2.6 percent; Chrysler
Corp., 0.1 percent; General Motors Corp. accounts for 0.0 percent; Ford Motor
Co., 0.0 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.0 percent; and other
manufacturers, 8.5 percent.

                        NORTH AMERICA FACTORY PRODUCTION
               This Week  Last Week  Same Week  To Date  To Date   Pct. Change
               Estimated   Revised   Last Year   1997     1996   1997 vs. 1996
    U.S.
    Cars         37,321     6,394    46,859   3,149,744  3,262,772    -3.46
    Trucks        9,525    13,702    29,810   3,167,157  3,027,950     4.60
    TOTAL        46,846    20,096    76,669   6,316,901  6,290,722     0.42
    Canada
    Cars          8,650    11,158     8,547     785,818    706,735    11.19
    Trucks        2,200    13,341    11,275     655,761    641,467     2.23
    TOTAL        10,850    24,499    19,822   1,441,579  1,348,202     6.93
    Mexico
    Cars          7,804    11,254    12,924     434,292    434,438    -0.03
    Trucks        9,204     9,138     8,550     282,466    223,965    26.12
    TOTAL        17,008    20,392    21,474     716,758    658,403     8.86
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars         53,775    28,806    68,330   4,369,854  4,403,945    -0.77
    Trucks       20,929    36,181    49,635   4,105,384  3,893,382     5.45
    GRAND        74,704    64,987   117,965   8,475,238  8,297,327     2.14
    TOTAL

    Note: All figures include medium- and heavy-duty truck production.
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SOURCE  Ward's