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Ward's Reports Estimated Production

15 January 1999

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Jan. 15 -- Vehicle production this week in
the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 350,535 units, up
from the 297,692 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 652,686 vehicles, up 10.8 percent from like-1998's pace.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 260,595 vehicles this week
up 21.8 percent from the 214,034 cars and trucks built last week.  To date,
calendar 1999 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 474,629 units, up 4.2
percent from the 455,564 vehicles built in like-1998.
    This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 62,936, a 10.0
percent increase from the 57,218 units assembled last week.  Estimated
calendar-1999 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 120,154 units, up 37.4
percent from the 87,465 vehicles produced in like-1998.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S.,
General Motors Corp. accounted for 36.4 percent; Ford Motor Co., 27.1 percent;
Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.6 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.2
percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.6 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.7
percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 2.3 percent; AutoAlliance International
Inc., 1.5; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.6 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of
America Inc., 1.3 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.6 percent;
BMW of North America Inc., 0.5 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.6 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        115,267    94,571   115,607   209,838  220,482      -4.8
     Trucks      145,328   119,463   122,101   264,791  235,082      12.6
     TOTAL       260,595   214,034   237,708   474,629  455,564       4.2
    Canada
     Cars         34,470    32,195    28,158    66,665   48,940      36.2
     Trucks       28,466    25,023    19,542    53,489   38,525      38.8
     TOTAL        62,936    57,218    47,700   120,154   87,465      37.4
    Mexico
     Cars         17,574    17,197    17,238    37,020   31,092      19.1
     Trucks        9,430     9,243     7,379    20,883   14,955      39.6
     TOTAL        27,004    26,440    24,617    57,903   46,047      25.7
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
     Cars        167,311   143,963   161,003   313,523  300,514       4.3
     Trucks      183,224   153,729   149,022   339,163  288,562      17.5
     GRAND       350,535   297,692   310,025   652,686  589,076      10.8
     TOTAL

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