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Ward's Reports Estimated Production

16 October 1998

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Oct. 16 -- Vehicle production this week in
the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 336,740 units,
down from the 351,732 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 12,510,698 vehicles, down 1.9 percent from like-1997's pace.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 265,408 vehicles this
week, down 2.6 percent from the 272,615 cars and trucks built last week.  To
date, calendar 1998 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 9,468,095 units,
down 1.8 percent from the 9,644,452 vehicles built in like-1997.
    This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 43,759, a 14.9
percent decrease from the 51,403 units assembled a week ago.  Estimated
calendar-1998 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,965,968 units, off
5.4 percent from the 2,077,946 vehicles produced in like-1997.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S.,
General Motors Corp. accounted for 34.8 percent; Ford Motor Co., 28.1 percent;
Chrysler Corp., 15.5 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.2 percent; Toyota
Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.8 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.8 percent; Nissan
Motor Mfg. Corp., 2.1 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.7 percent;
Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.8 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America
Inc., 1.4 percent;  Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc., 0.6 percent; BMW of
North America Inc., 0.3 percent; and other manufacturers, 1.9 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    124,866  126,654    126,343    4,403,035   4,767,568    -7.6
     Trucks  140,542  145,961    144,052    5,065,060   4,876,884     3.9
     TOTAL   265,408  272,615    270,395    9,468,095   9,644,452    -1.8
    Canada
     Cars     28,695   29,302     21,205    1,137,915    1,115,929    2.0
     Trucks   15,064   22,101     19,145      828,053      962,017  -13.9
     TOTAL    43,759   51,403     40,350    1,965,968    2,077,946   -5.4
    Mexico
     Cars     17,644   18,132     15,781      724,551      640,451   13.1
     Trucks    9,929    9,582      9,596      352,084      385,778   -8.7
     TOTAL    27,573   27,714     25,377    1,076,635    1,026,229    4.9
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
     Cars    171,205  174,088    163,329    6,265,501    6,523,948   -4.0
     Trucks  165,535  177,644    172,793    6,245,197    6,224,679    0.3
     GRAND   336,740  351,732    336,122   12,510,698   12,748,627   -1.9
     TOTAL

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