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Ward's Reports Estimated Production

23 October 1997

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Oct. 23 -- Vehicle production in the U.S.,
Canada and Mexico is expected to hit 335,662 units this week, including
166,816 cars and 168,846 trucks, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.
    With this week's production, estimated calendar year North American output
now totals 13,132,755.  That's an increase of 1.6 percent compared to the
12,926,369 vehicles built in like-1996.
    U.S. vehicle production is expected to total 263,080 units this week, down
2.1 percent from last week's output of 268,626.  Calendar 1997 U.S. vehicle
production now stands at 9,906,249.  That's up 0.6 percent from like-1996
levels.
    In Canada, automakers will manufacture 46,040 cars and trucks this week,
an increase of 15.6 percent from the 39,811 units built last week, shortened
by the Thanksgiving holiday.  Estimated calendar year Canadian vehicle
production now stands at 2,128,709, up 6.7 percent from the year-ago pace.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the United
States, General Motors Corp. accounts for 36.4 percent; Ford Motor Co., 27.4
percent; Chrysler Corp., 15.2 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.0
percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.4 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.2
percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.8 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive
Inc., 1.8 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.4 percent;
AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.9 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 0.5
percent; and other manufacturers, 2.0 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     127,034   126,343   108,154     4,900,096     5,102,087     -3.96
    Trucks   136,046   142,283   119,618     5,006,153     4,745,344      5.50
    TOTAL    263,080   268,626   227,772     9,906,249     9,847,431      0.60
    Canada
    Cars      23,353    21,145    19,531     1,138,742     1,056,435      7.79
    Trucks    22,687    18,666    22,674       989,967       939,081      5.42
    TOTAL     46,040    39,811    42,205     2,128,709     1,995,516      6.67
    Mexico
    Cars      16,429    16,566    16,662       674,588       673,772      0.12
    Trucks    10,113     9,858     7,962       423,209       409,650      3.31
    TOTAL     26,542    26,424    24,624     1,097,797     1,083,422      1.33
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars     166,816   164,054   144,347     6,713,426     6,832,294     -1.74
    Trucks   168,846   170,807   150,254     6,419,329     6,094,075      5.34
    GRAND    335,662   334,861   294,601    13,132,755    12,926,369      1.60
    TOTAL

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