---

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

26 February 1999

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Feb. 26 -- Vehicle production this week in
the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 344,159 units,
down from the 367,618 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 2,761,133 vehicles, up 7.6 percent from like-1998's pace.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 256,350 vehicles this
week, down 6.1 percent from the 273,141 cars and trucks built last week.  To
date, calendar 1999 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 2,021,309 units,
up 3.6 percent from the 1,950,357 vehicles built in like-1998.
    This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 58,779, a
10.4 percent decrease from the 65,621 units assembled last week.  Estimated
calendar-1999 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 498,245 units, up
15.8 percent from the 430,232 vehicles produced in like-1998.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S.,
General Motors Corp. accounted for 35.3 percent; Ford Motor Co., 27.7 percent;
Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.5 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc.,
5.5 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.7 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc.,
2.9 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 2.4 percent; AutoAlliance International
Inc., 1.5 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.6 percent; Mitsubishi Motor
Mfg. of America Inc., 1.1 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7
percent; BMW of North America Inc., 0.4 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.7
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     118,683   117,623    111,103    877,030    902,075       -2.8
    Trucks   137,667   155,518    147,006  1,144,279  1,048,282        9.2
    TOTAL    256,350   273,141    258,109  2,021,309  1,950,357        3.6
    Canada
    Cars      31,889    35,754     30,918    271,366    236,576       14.7
    Trucks    26,890    29,867     25,448    226,879    193,656       17.2
    TOTAL     58,779    65,621     56,366    498,245    430,232       15.8
    Mexico
    Cars      19,381    19,286     16,164    161,061    125,389       28.4
    Trucks     9,649     9,570      8,687     80,518     60,143       33.9
    TOTAL     29,030    28,856     24,851    241,579    185,532       30.2

    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars     169,953   172,663    158,185  1,309,457  1,264,040        3.6
    Trucks   174,206   194,955    181,141  1,451,676  1,302,081       11.5
    GRAND    344,159   367,618    339,326  2,761,133  2,566,121        7.6
    TOTAL

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