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Ward's Reports Estimated Production

24 July 1997

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 24 -- Vehicle production in the U.S.,
Canada and Mexico is expected to hit 271,808 units this week, including 39,292
cars and 132,516 trucks, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.
    With this week's production, estimated calendar year North American output
now totals 8,992,732, a 1.0 percent hike from the 8,906,391 cars and trucks
produced in like-1996.
    U.S. vehicle production is expected to total 207,539 units this week, an
increase of 11.0 percent from last week's output of 186,912.  Calendar 1997
U.S. car and truck production now stands at 6,714,636, a 0.2 percent decline
from like-1996's pace.
    In Canada, automakers will manufacture 42,773 vehicles this week, a jump
of 44.1 percent from last week's 29,692 units.  Estimated calendar year
Canadian car and truck production totals 1,518,810 units, up 7.5 percent from
like-1996 levels.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the United
States, Ford Motor Co. accounts for 34.6 percent; General Motors Corp., 27.6
percent; Chrysler Corp., 13.9 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.4
percent; Nissan Motor Mfg., 4.4 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg., 4.0 percent; New
United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.7 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc.,
1.7 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.1 percent; BMW of North America
Inc., 0.6 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.0 percent; and other
manufacturers, 2.0 percent.

                         NORTH AMERICA FACTORY PRODUCTION
                This Week  Last Week  Same Week  To Date    To Date     Pct.
                Estimated  Revised    Last Year   1997        1996     Change
                                                                        1997
                                                                      vs. 1996
    U.S.
    Cars          102,990   103,700   124,359   3,354,252   3,501,389   -4.20
    Trucks        104,549    83,212   107,044   3,360,384   3,227,676    4.11
    TOTAL         207,539   186,912   231,403   6,714,636   6,729,065   -0.21
    Canada
    Cars           24,973    20,233    22,859     834,577     744,937   12.03
    Trucks         17,800     9,459    13,519     684,233     667,629    2.49
    TOTAL          42,773    29,692    36,378   1,518,810   1,412,566    7.52
    Mexico
    Cars           11,329    11,383    14,200     456,465     463,484   -1.51
    Trucks         10,167    10,220     7,455     302,821     301,276    0.51
    TOTAL          21,496    21,603    21,655     759,286     764,760   -0.72
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars          139,292   135,316   161,418   4,645,294   4,709,810   -1.37
    Trucks        132,516   102,891   128,018   4,347,438   4,196,581    3.59
    GRAND         271,808   238,207   289,436   8,992,732   8,906,391    0.97
    TOTAL

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