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Ward's Reports Estimated Production

26 November 1997

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Nov. 26 -- Vehicle production in the U.S.,
Canada and Mexico is expected to total 233,647 units this week, including
115,887 cars and 117,760 trucks, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.
    With this week's production, estimated calendar year North American output
now stands at 14,723,971.  That's a 2.7 percent rise from the 14,341,759 units
built in like-1996.
    U.S. vehicle production in the short holiday work week is expected to hit
159,114 units, down from last week's 269,536.  With this week's estimate,
calendar 1997 U.S. vehicle production totals 11,166,289 units.  That's up 2.0
percent from like-1996 figures.
    In Canada, automakers this week will manufacture an estimated 50,143 cars
and trucks.  That's a decrease of 5.2 percent compared to the 52,916 units
built last week.  Estimated calendar year Canadian vehicle production now
stands at 2,385,904, a jump of 5.8 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 33.9 percent; Ford Motor Co., 26.6
percent; Chrysler Corp., 15.1 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.0
percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 4.8 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.4
percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.2 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc.,
1.8 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.4 percent; AutoAlliance
International Inc., 1.1 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 0.4 percent;
Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc., 0.4 percent; and other manufacturers,
2.9 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      74,926     127,978     80,427  5,491,240  5,654,563       -2.89
    Trucks    84,188     141,558     74,789  5,675,049  5,298,101        7.00
    TOTAL    159,114     269,536    155,216 11,166,289 10,952,664        1.95
    Canada
    Cars      25,958      28,076     27,958  1,274,838  1,187,340        7.37
    Trucks    24,185      24,840     27,708  1,111,066  1,067,956        4.00
    TOTAL     50,143      52,916     55,666  2,385,904  2,255,296        5.79
    Mexico
    Cars      15,003      15,374     16,126    730,321    757,329       -3.57
    Trucks     9,387       9,394      9,941    441,457    376,470       17.00
    TOTAL     24,390      24,768     26,067  1,171,778  1,133,799        3.35
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars     115,887     171,428    124,511  7,496,399  7,599,232       -1.35
    Trucks   117,760     175,792    112,438  7,227,572  6,742,527        7.19
    GRAND    233,647     347,220    236,949 14,723,971 14,341,759        2.67
    TOTAL

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

SOURCE  Ward's Communications