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World Motor Vehicle Production Hit Record High in 1997

24 February 1998

World Motor Vehicle Production Hit Record High in 1997

    WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 -- Worldwide production of motor vehicles
rose 5.5% to a record level last year, according to the International
Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA).
    "A record 54 million cars, trucks, buses and coaches were built around the
world in 1997," said Andrew H. Card, Jr., President & CEO of the American
Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA). "In the U.S., car and truck
production by Chrysler, Ford and General Motors increased 2.6%, to more than
9 1/2 million units."
    Card, who will begin serving a two-year term as OICA President in May,
reported that according to data gathered by the association:
    -- World car production, at 38.8 million units, increased 5.4%;
    -- World light commercial vehicle production, at 12.9 million units, rose
       4.7%;
    -- World industrial vehicle production, at 2.3 million units, jumped 11%;
    -- World bus and coach production, at 160,000 units, increased by 7%; and
    -- Global motor vehicle exports of 22.1 million units grew even faster
       than production with a 10% increase.

    Card noted that "OICA has a long and distinguished history of promoting
auto industry issues of global interest.  With GM, Ford and Chrysler
manufacturing and selling more vehicles worldwide than ever before, AAMA's
role in OICA's leadership is a tremendous opportunity to advance their views."
    AAMA's Vice President of Engineering Affairs, Dr. Richard Klimisch, serves
as Chairman of OICA's Technical Committee.
    Founded in 1919 in Paris, OICA -- known in Europe as the Organisation
Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles -- comprises 30 national trade
associations, of which twenty represent the major automobile manufacturing
countries in Europe, America and Asia.  The organization conducts its
activities in the fields of technology, industrial and economic policy and the
coordination of international motor shows worldwide.
     AAMA is the trade association whose members are Chrysler Corporation
, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation
. Visit the AAMA's site on the World Wide Web at
http://www.aama.com.

SOURCE  American Automobile Manufacturers Association