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Ward's Reports Estimated Production

30 October 1998

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Oct. 30 -- Vehicle production this week in
the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 348,175 units,
down from the 376,372 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 13,248,882 vehicles, down 1.4 percent from like-1997's pace.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 267,274 vehicles this
week, down 7.1 percent from the 287,634 cars and trucks built last week.  To
date, calendar 1998 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 10,029,866 units,
down 1.6 percent from the 10,191,559 vehicles built in like-1997.
    This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 53,513, a
9.7 percent decrease from the 59,249 units assembled a week ago.  Estimated
calendar-1998 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,086,192 units, off
4.2 percent from the 2,178,309 vehicles produced in like-1997.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S.,
General Motors Corp. accounted for 34.3 percent; Ford Motor Co., 29.2 percent;
Chrysler Corp., 14.9 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.1 percent; Toyota
Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.8 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.8 percent; Nissan
Motor Mfg. Corp., 2.5 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.7 percent;
Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.7 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, 1.7 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     131,476   136,629    128,196   4,670,952   5,023,083     -7.0
    Trucks   135,798   151,005    147,869   5,358,914   5,168,476      3.7
    TOTAL    267,274   287,634    276,065  10,029,866  10,191,559     -1.6
    Canada
    Cars      34,458    34,605     24,409   1,208,846   1,167,067      3.6
    Trucks    19,055    24,644     24,683     877,346   1,011,242    -13.2
    TOTAL     53,513    59,249     49,092   2,086,192   2,178,309     -4.2
    Mexico
    Cars      17,644    19,287     12,115     761,433     668,539     13.9
    Trucks     9,744    10,202      8,961     371,391     404,329     -8.1
    TOTAL     27,388    29,489     21,076   1,132,824   1,072,868      5.6

    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars     183,578   190,521    164,720   6,641,231   6,858,689     -3.2
    Trucks   164,597   185,851    181,513   6,607,651   6,584,047      0.4
    GRAND    348,175   376,372    346,233  13,248,882  13,442,736     -1.4
    TOTAL

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