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Ward's Reports Estimated Production

2 October 1998

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Oct. 2 -- Vehicle production this week in
the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 339,673 units,
down from the 357,189 cars and trucks built a week ago, according to Ward's
Automotive Reports.
    Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now
totals 11,799,269 vehicles, down 2.4 percent from like-1997's pace.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 258,027 vehicles this
week, down 4.3 percent from the 269,701 cars and trucks built last week.  To
date, calendar 1998 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 8,915,106 units,
down 2.2 percent from the 9,114,105 vehicles built in like-1997.
    This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 52,181 a 10.1
percent decrease from the 58,017 units assembled a week ago.  Estimated
calendar-1998 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,863,430 units, off
6.5 percent from the 1,993,047 vehicles produced in like-1997.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S.,
General Motors Corp. accounted for 34.2 percent; Ford Motor Co., 30.7 percent;
Chrysler Corp., 13.3 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.2 percent; Toyota
Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.7 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.9 percent; Nissan
Motor Mfg. Corp., 2.1 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.6 percent;
Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.9 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America
Inc., 1.4 percent;  Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc., 0.6 percent; BMW of
North America Inc., 0.4 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.0 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      127,687  135,083   124,249  4,150,934  4,517,075   -8.1
     Trucks    130,340  134,618   140,866  4,764,172  4,597,030    3.6
     TOTAL     258,027  269,701   265,115  8,915,106  9,114,105   -2.2
    Canada
     Cars       33,636   36,182    27,460  1,078,580  1,073,070    0.5
     Trucks     18,545   21,835    23,648    784,850    919,977  -14.7
     TOTAL      52,181   58,017    51,108  1,863,430  1,993,047   -6.5
    Mexico
     Cars       18,611   19,178    15,496    688,217    609,174   13.0
     Trucks     10,854   10,293     8,758    332,516    367,433   -9.5
     TOTAL      29,465   29,471    24,254  1,020,733    976,607    4.5
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
     Cars      179,934  190,443   167,205  5,917,731  6,199,319   -4.5
     Trucks    159,739  166,746   173,272  5,881,538  5,884,440    0.0
     GRAND     339,673  357,189   340,477 11,799,269 12,083,759   -2.4
     TOTAL

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