Ward's Reports Estimated Production
7 May 1998
Ward's Reports Estimated Production
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 7 -- Vehicle production in the U.S.,
Canada and Mexico is expected to hit 354,337 units this week, an increase of
0.9 percent from the 351,120 cars and trucks built a week ago, according to
Ward's Automotive Reports.
With this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals
5,956,047 vehicles. That lags 0.5 percent behind like-1997's pace.
In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 264,098 vehicles this
week, up 0.9 percent from the 261,741 cars and trucks built last week. To
date, calendar 1998 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 4,508,225 units, a
drop of 0.1 percent from the 4,514,554 vehicles built in like-1997.
Canadian vehicle production should hit 59,343 this week, a 1.8 percent
decrease from the 60,434 units assembled a week ago. Estimated calendar 1998
Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,000,423 units, off 1.3 percent
from the 1,013,846 vehicles produced in like-1997.
Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the United
States, General Motors Corp. accounts for 35.3 percent; Ford Motor Co., 29.6
percent; Chrysler Corp., 14.9 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 4.8
percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.2 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 2.5
percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.4 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive
Inc., 1.7 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.3 percent; Mitsubishi
Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.1 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 0.5
percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc., 0.5 percent; and other
manufacturers, 2.2 percent.
NOTE: Beginning next week, Ward's will release this report (North
American Production estimates) on Fridays instead of Thursdays.
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 119,319 112,284 124,354 2,045,946 2,243,239 -8.80
Trucks 144,779 149,457 112,204 2,462,279 2,271,315 8.00
TOTAL 264,098 261,741 236,558 4,508,225 4,514,554 -0.14
Canada
Cars 32,500 32,533 32,116 549,454 556,835 -1.33
Trucks 26,843 27,901 24,669 450,969 457,011 -1.00
TOTAL 59,343 60,434 56,785 1,000,423 1,013,846 -1.32
Mexico
Cars 20,373 19,758 16,391 295,578 289,727 2.02
Trucks 10,523 9,187 8,147 151,821 165,820 -8.00
TOTAL 30,896 28,945 24,538 447,399 455,547 -1.79
U.S.\Canada\ Mexico
Cars 172,192 164,575 172,861 2,890,978 3,089,801 -6.43
Trucks 182,145 186,545 145,020 3,065,069 2,894,146 5.91
GRAND 354,337 351,120 317,881 5,956,047 5,983,947 -0.47
TOTAL
Note: All figures include medium- and heavy-duty truck production.
SOURCE Ward's Communications