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Ward's Reports Estimated Production

11 January 1999

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Jan. 8 -- Vehicle production in the U.S.,
Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 335,168 units for this first
production week of 1999, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.  The estimate
for this week gives this year a 20.1 percent jump on like-1998 production.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 248,531 vehicles this
week, a 14.9 percent increase over 1998's production for the same week.  This
week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 58,873, a 48.3 percent
increase from the 39,693 units built a year ago.  In Mexico, vehicle
production estimates indicate a 29.6 percent increase when compared to the
same week last year.
    Of all of the vehicles produced in the U.S. in the 1999 calendar year,
General Motors Corp. accounted for 37.2 percent; Ford Motor Co., 26.3 percent;
Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 15.2 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.4
percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.7 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.9
percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 1.6 percent; AutoAlliance International
Inc., 1.4 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.0 percent; Mitsubishi Motor
Mfg. of America Inc., 1.4 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.6
percent; BMW of North America Inc., 0.5 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.8
percent.

                       NORTH AMERICA FACTORY PRODUCTION

          This Week    Last Week   Same Week   To Date   To Date  Pct. Change
          Estimated    Revised     Last Year    1999       1998  1999 vs. 1998
    U.S.
     Cars   110,410       0          103,282    110,410   104,875     5.3
     Trucks 138,121       0          112,981    138,121   112,981    22.3
     TOTAL  248,531       0          216,263    248,531   217,856    14.1
    Canada
     Cars    34,041       0           20,710     34,041    20,782    63.8
     Trucks  24,832       0           18,983     24,832    18,983    30.8
     TOTAL   58,873       0           39,693     58,873    39,765    48.1
    Mexico
     Cars    17,838       0           13,854     17,838    13,854    28.8
     Trucks   9,926       0            7,576      9,926     7,576    31.0
     TOTAL   27,764       0           21,430     27,764    21,430    29.6
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
     Cars   162,289       0          137,846    162,289   139,511    16.3
     Trucks 172,879       0          139,540    172,879   139,540    23.9
     GRAND  335,168       0          277,386    335,168   279,051    20.1
     TOTAL

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