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Ward's Reports Estimated Production

14 August 1997

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Aug. 14 -- Vehicle production in the U.S.,
Canada and Mexico is expected to hit 314,327 units this week, including
157,026 cars and 157,301 trucks, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.
    With this week's production, estimated calendar year North American output
now totals 9,877,651 units.  That's up 1.0 percent compared to the 9,777,175
vehicles built in like-1996.
    U.S. vehicle production is expected to total 236,492 units this week, an
increase of 3.0 percent from last week's output of 229,609.  Calendar 1997
U.S. car and truck production now stands at 7,411,992, a decline of 0.2
percent from like-1996's pace.
    In Canada, automakers will manufacture 50,956 cars and trucks this week, a
jump of 12.7 percent from last week's total of 45,221 units.  Estimated
calendar year Canadian car and truck production now stands at 1,655,727 units,
up 7.2 percent from like-1996 levels.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the United
States, General Motors Corp. accounts for 39.4 percent; Ford Motor Co., 28.9
percent; Chrysler Corp., 12.8 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.3
percent; Nissan Motor Mfg., 3.9 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg., 2.9 percent;
Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.6 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 1.3
percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.3 percent; BMW of North
America Inc., 0.5 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.0 percent; and
other manufacturers, 2.1 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    115,777   119,841   121,191    3,705,572    3,874,243     -4.35
     Trucks  120,715   109,768   109,875    3,706,420    3,549,251      4.43
    TOTAL    236,492   229,609   231,066    7,411,992    7,423,494     -0.15
    Canada
     Cars     23,796    20,847    27,642      899,550      822,320      9.39
     Trucks   27,160    24,374    21,130      756,177      721,171      4.85
    TOTAL     50,956    45,221    48,772    1,655,727    1,543,491      7.27
    Mexico
     Cars     17,453    17,479    15,887      488,523      493,658     -1.04
     Trucks    9,426     8,550     8,986      321,409      316,532      1.54
    TOTAL     26,879    26,029    24,873      809,932      810,190     -0.03

    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
     Cars    157,026   158,167   164,720    5,093,645    5,190,221     -1.86
     Trucks  157,301   142,692   139,991    4,784,006    4,586,954      4.30
    GRAND    314,327   300,859   304,711    9,877,651    9,777,175      1.03
    TOTAL

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

SOURCE  Ward's Automotive Reports