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Ward's Reports Estimated Production

4 September 1998

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Sept. 4 -- Vehicle production in the U.S.,
Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 289,649 units this week,
down from the 338,167 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
10,441,501 vehicles.  That is down 2.9 percent from like-1997's pace.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 230,367 vehicles this
week, down 12.4 percent from the 263,097 cars and trucks built last week.  To
date, calendar 1998 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 7,880,133 units,
which is down 2.5 percent from the 8,083,978 vehicles built in like-1997.
    This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 36,901 a 24.0
percent decrease from the 48,523 units assembled a week ago.  Estimated
calendar-1998 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,654,556 units, off
7.5 percent from the 1,789,024 vehicles produced in like-1997.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S.,
General Motors Corp. accounted for 38.3 percent; Ford Motor Co., 25.3 percent;
Chrysler Corp., 13.3 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 4.7 percent; Toyota
Motor Mfg. Inc., 4.3 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.1 percent; Nissan
Motor Mfg. Corp., 2.4 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.8 percent;
Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 2.1 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America
Inc., 1.3 percent;  Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc., 0.5 percent; BMW of
North America Inc., 0.5 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.4 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      111,726    130,121    92,448   3,641,223  4,031,795     -9.7
    Trucks    118,641    132,976   104,146   4,238,910  4,052,183      4.6
    TOTAL     230,367    263,097   196,594   7,880,133  8,083,978     -2.5
    Canada
    Cars       25,747     33,626    22,564     943,154    966,644     -2.4
    Trucks     11,154     14,897    19,693     711,402    822,380    -13.5
    TOTAL      36,901     48,523    42,257   1,654,556  1,789,024     -7.5
    Mexico
    Cars       15,136     18,043    15,314     613,840    549,984     11.6
    Trucks      7,245      8,504    10,428     292,972    332,892    -12.0
    TOTAL      22,381     26,547    25,742     906,812    882,876      2.7
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars      152,609    181,790   130,326   5,198,217  5,548,423     -6.3
    Trucks    137,040    156,377   134,267   5,243,284  5,207,455      0.7
    GRAND     289,649    338,167   264,593  10,441,501 10,755,878     -2.9
    TOTAL

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