Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 18 Vehicle production this week in
the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 342,951 units,
down from the 350,882 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's
Automotive Reports.

    Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now
totals 6,322,383 vehicles, down 15.4 percent from like-2000's pace.

    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 252,213 vehicles this
week, down 3.7 percent from the 261,769 cars and trucks built last week.  To
date, calendar 2001 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 4,545,183 units,
down 17.2 percent from the 5,487,555 vehicles built in like-2000.

    This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 52,908, a
4.8 percent decrease from the 55,569 units assembled last week.  Estimated
calendar-2001 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,058,809 units, down
18.0 percent compared to the 1,291,352 vehicles produced in like-2000.

    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S.,
General Motors Corp. accounted for 31.8 percent; Ford Motor Co., 29.1 percent;
Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 15.4 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.4
percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.0 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 2.7
percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.2 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive
Inc., 2.1 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.5 percent;
AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.7 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of
DaimlerChrysler, 0.7 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 0.9 percent; and
other manufacturers, 1.5 percent.

                       NORTH AMERICA FACTORY PRODUCTION
          This Week  Last Week  Same Week  To Date   To Date     Pct. Change
          Estimated  Revised    Last Year   2001       2000     2001 vs. 2000
    U.S.
    Cars    111,262   114,411   132,051   2,020,728  2,360,889    -14.4
    Trucks  140,951   147,358   169,036   2,524,455  3,126,666    -19.3
    TOTAL   252,213   261,769   301,087   4,545,183  5,487,555    -17.2
    Canada
    Cars     26,785    25,897    28,207     521,163    668,486    -22.0
    Trucks   26,123    29,672    26,241     537,646    622,866    -13.7
    TOTAL    52,908    55,569    54,448   1,058,809  1,291,352    -18.0
    Mexico
    Cars     21,762    17,885    23,169     408,100    433,635     -5.9
    Trucks   16,068    15,659    15,511     310,291    263,005     18.0
    TOTAL    37,830    33,544    38,680     718,391    696,640      3.1
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars    159,809   158,193   183,427   2,949,991  3,463,010    -14.8
    Trucks  183,142   192,689   210,788   3,372,392  4,012,537    -16.0
    GRAND   342,951   350,882   394,215   6,322,383  7,475,547    -15.4
    TOTAL

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