---

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

16 January 1998

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Jan. 15 -- Vehicle production in the U.S.,
Canada and Mexico is expected to hit 300,497 units this week, including
150,823 cars and 149,674 trucks, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.
    With this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals
582,677 down 20.0 percent from the 728,575 vehicles built in like-1997.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 232,676 units this week,
up 6.3 percent from the 218,862 vehicles built last week. To date, calendar
1998 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 453,131 units, down 16.9 percent
from like-1997's pace.
    Canadian vehicle production should hit 43,628 units this week, an increase
of 6.3 percent from the 41,027 built a week ago. Estimated calendar 1998
Canadian vehicle production now stands at 84,727, 31.9 percent below the
124,361 vehicles built in like-1997.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the United
States, Ford Motor Co. accounts for 30.2 percent; General Motors Corp., 29.2
percent; Chrysler Corp., 14.3 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.5
percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 4.7 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 4.3
percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.6 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc.,
1.8 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.4 percent; AutoAlliance
International Inc., 1.0 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc., 0.5
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   1998     1997  1998 vs. 1997

    U.S.
     Cars        111,792   103,294   108,144   216,679   261,434   -17.12
     Trucks      120,884   115,568   123,543   236,452   284,069   -17.00
     TOTAL       232,676   218,862   231,687   453,131   545,503   -16.93
    Canada
     Cars         22,590    21,610    28,726    44,272    67,953   -34.85
     Trucks       21,038    19,417    24,268    40,455    56,408   -28.00
     TOTAL        43,628    41,027    52,994    84,727   124,361   -31.87
    Mexico
     Cars         16,441   12,920     16,036    29,361    34,952   -16.00
     Trucks        7,752    7,706      9,854    15,458    23,759   -35.00
     TOTAL        24,193   20,626     25,890    44,819    58,711   -23.66
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
     Cars        150,823  137,824    152,906   290,312   364,339   -20.32
     Trucks      149,674  142,691    157,665   292,365   364,236   -19.73
     GRAND       300,497  280,515    310,571   582,677   728,575   -20.03
     TOTAL

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