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Ward's Reports Estimated Production

11 September 1998

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Sept. 11 -- Vehicle production in the
U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 239,060 units this
week, down from the 327,007 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
10,715,049 vehicles. That is down 3.2 percent from like-1997's pace.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 178,011 vehicles this
week, down 31.0 percent from the 257,973 cars and trucks built last week. To
date, calendar 1998 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 8,082,880 units,
which is down 2.9 percent from the 8,322,952 vehicles built in like-1997.
    This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 38,668 a 5.9
percent decrease from the 41,099 units assembled a week ago. Estimated
calendar-1998 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,697,422 units, off
7.7 percent from the 1,839,439 vehicles produced in like-1997.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S.,
General Motors Corp. accounted for 34.0 percent; Ford Motor Co., 26.7 percent;
Chrysler Corp., 13.5 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.9 percent; Toyota
Motor Mfg. Inc., 4.5 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 4.1 percent; Nissan
Motor Mfg. Corp., 2.3 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.9 percent;
Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 2.1 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America
Inc., 1.6 percent;  Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc., 0.6 percent; BMW of
North America Inc., 0.3 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.5 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             88,534    127,043 112,3593,742,204 4,144,154     -9.7
     Trucks           89,477    130,930 126,6154,340,676 4,178,798      3.9
    TOTAL            178,011    257,973 238,9748,082,880 8,322,952     -2.9

    Canada
     Cars             26,538     27,825  25,883  971,770   992,527     -2.1
     Trucks           12,130     13,274  24,532  725,652   846,912    -14.3
    TOTAL             38,668     41,099  50,4151,697,422 1,839,439     -7.7

    Mexico
     Cars             15,136     19,619  15,719  633,459   565,703     12.0
     Trucks            7,245      8,316  10,429  301,288   343,321    -12.2
    TOTAL             22,381     27,935  26,148  934,747   909,024      2.8

    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
     Cars            130,208    174,487 153,9615,347,433 5,702,384     -6.2
     Trucks          108,852    152,520 161,5765,367,616 5,369,031      0.0
    GRAND            239,060    327,007 315,537 10,715,049 11,071,415  -3.2
    TOTAL

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