Ward's Reports Estimated Production
23 December 1997
Ward's Reports Estimated Production
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Dec. 23 -- North American vehicle
production will wind up at a record 15,948,797 units in calendar 1997, up 3.8
percent from like-1996 levels, according to Ward's Automotive Reports
estimates.
The tally includes 8,093,090 cars and 7,855,707 trucks, the latter also an
all-time best. A year ago, automakers assembled 8,121,293 cars and 7,251,237
trucks in North America.
With all U.S. and Canadian plants operating just two days this week due to
the holidays, North American vehicle production will reach only an estimated
136,542 units, including 65,072 cars and 71,470 trucks.
In the U.S., vehicle manufacturers are expected to produce 95,737 units,
down 64.9 percent from last week's total of 273,084.
Canadian vehicle production should hit 20,913 vehicles this week, a 62.0
percent decline from the 55,921 built last week.
Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the United
States, Ford Motor Co. accounts for 30.6 percent; General Motors Corp., 30.2
percent; Chrysler Corp., 16.4 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.3
percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 4.1 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.5
percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.2 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive
Inc., 1.9 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.3 percent; Mitsubishi
Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.7 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 0.5
percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc., 0.5 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 42,889 130,929 390 5,928,146 6,039,358 -1.84
Trucks 52,848 142,155 481 6,176,054 5,706,358 8.00
TOTAL 95,737 273,084 871 12,104,200 11,745,716 3.05
Canada
Cars 10,801 28,911 0 1,375,102 1,276,866 7.69
Trucks 10,112 27,010 0 1,202,705 1,137,201 6.00
TOTAL 20,913 55,921 0 2,577,807 2,414,067 6.78
Mexico
Cars 11,382 15,734 6,654 789,842 805,069 -1.89
Trucks 8,510 8,697 2,703 476,948 407,678 17.00
TOTAL 19,892 24,431 9,357 1,266,790 1,212,747 4.46
U.S.\Canada\Mexico
Cars 65,072 175,574 7,044 8,093,090 8,121,293 -0.35
Trucks 71,470 177,862 3,184 7,855,707 7,251,237 8.34
GRAND 136,542 353,436 10,228 15,948,797 15,372,530 3.75
TOTAL
Note: All figures include medium- and heavy-duty truck production.
SOURCE Ward's Automotive Reports