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Ward's Reports Estimated Production

18 September 1998

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Sept. 18 -- Vehicle production in the
U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 305,892 units this
week, down from the 279,161 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
11,061,042 vehicles.  That is down 3.0 percent from like-1997's pace.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 237,082 vehicles this
week, up 11.5 percent from the 212,676 cars and trucks built last week.  To
date, calendar 1998 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 8,354,627 units,
which is down 2.6 percent from the 8,578,500 vehicles built in like-1997.
    This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 45,449, a 13.5
percent increase from the 40,033 units assembled a week ago.  Estimated
calendar-1998 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,744,236 units, off
7.8 percent from the 1,891,852 vehicles produced in like-1997.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S.,
General Motors Corp. accounted for 35.4 percent; Ford Motor Co., 27.1 percent;
Chrysler Corp., 13.8 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.5 percent; Toyota
Motor Mfg. Inc., 4.2 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.1 percent; Nissan
Motor Mfg. Corp., 2.3 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.8 percent;
Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 2.0 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America
Inc., 1.5 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc., 0.6 percent; BMW of
North America Inc., 0.3 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    114,161   105,334    122,869   3,873,165  4,267,023    -9.2
     Trucks  122,921   107,342    132,679   4,481,462  4,311,477     3.9
     TOTAL   237,082   212,676    255,548   8,354,627  8,578,500    -2.6
    Canada
     Cars     29,879    27,185     28,190   1,002,296  1,020,717    -1.8
     Trucks   15,570    12,848     24,223     741,940    871,135   -14.8
     TOTAL    45,449    40,033     52,413   1,744,236  1,891,852    -7.8
    Mexico
     Cars     14,569    17,019     12,523     649,911    578,226    12.4
     Trucks    8,792     9,433      7,621     312,268    350,942   -11.0
     TOTAL    23,361    26,452     20,144     962,179    929,168     3.6
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
     Cars    158,609   149,538    163,582   5,525,372  5,865,966    -5.8
     Trucks  147,283   129,623    164,523   5,535,670  5,533,554     0.0
    GRAND    305,892   279,161    328,105  11,061,042 11,399,520    -3.0
    TOTAL

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