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AAMA: Auto Exports to Mexico Rise 48 Percent

4 November 1997

AAMA: Auto Exports to Mexico Rise 48 Percent, Keep Record Pace

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 -- U.S. automakers' exports to Mexico are
on pace to set a new record in 1997 and may reach 100,000 by the end of the
year, the industry's trade association announced today.
    U.S. automakers exported 76,111 passenger cars and light trucks to Mexico
during the first nine months of 1997, a 48 percent increase over 1996,
according to the American Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA).
    AAMA President and CEO Andrew H. Card, Jr., said the 10,191 vehicles
exported to Mexico in September were more than the number exported in all of
1993, the last year before the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was
implemented.
    "Increased U.S. auto exports to Mexico are a direct result of the lowering
of Mexican trade barriers that has occurred since 1993," Card said.  "AAMA
hopes Congress considers this significant record this week as it prepares to
vote to provide the President with normal trade negotiating authority.  This
is no time to limit U.S. options for opening markets."
    AAMA's members are Chrysler Corporation , Ford Motor Company
, and General Motors Corporation .  Visit the AAMA Web site
on the World Wide Web at http://www.aama.com.

SOURCE  American Automobile Manufacturers Association