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Ward's Reports Estimated Production

20 November 1998

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Nov. 20 -- Vehicle production this week in
the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 362,135 units, up
from the 320,602 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 14,325,704 vehicles, down 1.2 percent from like-1997's pace.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 266,197 vehicles this
week, up 16.0 percent from the 229,534 cars and trucks built last week.  To
date, calendar 1998 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 10,817,209 units,
down 1.8 percent from the 11,018,263 vehicles built in like-1997.
    This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 63,858, a 5.6
percent increase from the 60,463 units assembled a week ago.  Estimated
calendar-1998 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,283,457 units, off
2.1 percent from the 2,332,048 vehicles produced in like-1997.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S.,
General Motors Corp. accounted for 38.2 percent; Ford Motor Co., 28.3 percent;
Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 11.8 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., 2.4 percent; AutoAlliance International
Inc., 1.9 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.7 percent; Mitsubishi Motor
Mfg. of America Inc., 1.3 percent;  Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7
percent; BMW of North America Inc., 0.4 percent; and other manufacturers, 1.6
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    119,307     108,316    128,087   5,028,805   5,416,423     -7.2
    Trucks  146,890     121,218    141,909   5,788,404   5,601,840      3.3
    TOTAL   266,197     229,534    269,996  10,817,209  11,018,263     -1.8
    Canada
    Cars     37,397      35,506     28,076   1,321,804   1,247,560      6.0
    Trucks   26,461      24,957     24,685     961,653   1,084,488    -11.3
    TOTAL    63,858      60,463     52,761   2,283,457   2,332,048     -2.1
    Mexico
    Cars     21,033      20,368     15,374     823,092     715,318     15.1
    Trucks   11,047      10,237      9,394     401,946     432,070     -7.0
    TOTAL    32,080      30,605     24,768   1,225,038   1,147,388      6.8
    U.S.\
    Canada\
    Mexico
    Cars    177,737     164,190    171,537   7,173,701   7,379,301     -2.8
    Trucks  184,398     156,412    175,988   7,152,003   7,118,398      0.5
    GRAND   362,135     320,602    347,525  14,325,704  14,497,699     -1.2
    TOTAL

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