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Ward's Reports Estimated Production

2 July 1998

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 2 -- Vehicle production in the U.S.,
Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 88,319 units this week, a
decrease of 63.9 percent from the 244,397 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
8,203,535 vehicles.  That is down 1.9 percent from like-1997's pace.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 38,409 vehicles this week,
down 78.2 percent from the 175,789 cars and trucks built last week.  To date,
calendar 1998 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 6,165,570 units, which
is down 1.7 percent from the 6,269,852 vehicles built in like-1997.
    This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 27,345, a
32.6 percent decrease from the 40,595 units assembled a week ago.  Estimated
calendar-1998 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,363,920 units, off
4.8 percent from the 1,432,324 vehicles produced in like-1997.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the United
States, General Motors Corp. accounted for 0.0 percent; Ford Motor Co.,
0.0 percent; Chrysler Corp., 72.1 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc.,
0.0 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 0.0 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc.,
14.6 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 0.0 percent; AutoAlliance
International Inc., 0.0 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 0.0 percent;
Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 0.0 percent;  Mercedes-Benz U.S.
International Inc., 0.0 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 0.0 percent; and
other manufacturers, 13.3 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     11,092    82,463     7,548    2,804,178   3,107,486    -9.76
    Trucks   27,317    93,326    17,622    3,361,392   3,162,366     6.00
    TOTAL    38,409   175,789    25,170    6,165,570   6,269,852    -1.66
   Canada
    Cars     11,682    17,961    12,504      742,846     776,056    -4.28
    Trucks   15,663    22,634    15,327      621,074     656,268    -5.00
    TOTAL    27,345    40,595    27,831    1,363,920   1,432,324    -4.78
   Mexico
    Cars     13,553    19,246    15,989      446,099     417,999     6.72
    Trucks    9,012     8,767     9,238      227,946     246,009    -7.00
    TOTAL    22,565    28,013    25,227      674,045     664,008     1.51

   U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars     36,327   119,670    36,041    3,993,123   4,301,541    -7.17
    Trucks   51,992   124,727    42,187    4,210,412   4,064,643     3.59
    GRAND    88,319   244,397    78,228    8,203,535   8,366,184    -1.94
    TOTAL

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