---

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

31 July 1997

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 31 -- Vehicle production in the U.S.,
Canada and Mexico is expected to hit 293,732 units this week, including
151,713 cars and 142,019 trucks, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.
    With this week's production, estimated calendar year North American output
now totals 9,291,186, a 1.02 percent hike from the 9,197,505 cars and trucks
produced in like-1996.
    U.S. vehicle production is expected to total 227,285 units this week, an
increase of 5.73 percent from last week's output of 214,969.  Calendar 1997
U.S. car and truck production now stands at 6,945,984, a 0.20 percent decline
from like-1996's pace.
    In Canada, automakers will manufacture 42,680 vehicles this week, a jump
of 6.65 percent from last week's 40,018 units.  Estimated calendar year
Canadian car and truck production totals 1,562,149 units, up 7.58 percent from
like-1996 levels.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the United
States, General Motors Corp., 35.6 percent; Ford Motor Co. accounts for 34.2
percent; Chrysler Corp., 8.9 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.7 percent;
Nissan Motor Mfg., 4.0 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.3 percent;
Toyota Motor Mfg., 3.0 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.6
percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.3 percent; BMW of North America Inc.,
0.6 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.0 percent; and other
manufacturers, 1.8 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     112,295    107,513    125,704   3,465,999    3,627,093    -4.44
    Trucks   114,990    107,456    105,366   3,479,985    3,333,042     4.41
    TOTAL    227,285    214,969    231,070   6,945,984    6,960,135    -0.20
    Canada
    Cars      24,813     23,512     25,318     858,676      770,255    11.48
    Trucks    17,867     16,506     14,169     703,473      681,798     3.18
    TOTAL     42,680     40,018     39,487   1,562,149    1,452,053     7.58
    Mexico
    Cars      14,605     11,229     14,287     471,070      477,771    -1.40
    Trucks     9,162      9,150      6,270     311,983      307,546     1.44
    TOTAL     23,767     20,379     20,557     783,053      785,317    -0.29
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars     151,713    142,254    165,309   4,795,745    4,875,119    -1.63
    Trucks   142,019    133,112    125,805   4,495,441    4,322,386     4.00
    GRAND    293,732    275,366    291,114   9,291,186    9,197,505     1.02
     TOTAL

    Note: All figures include medium- and heavy-duty truck production.
     ON THE WEB: http://www.wardsauto.com
SOURCE  Ward's Automotive Reports