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Ward's Reports Estimated Production

23 April 1999

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., April 23 -- Vehicle production this week
in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 394,335 units,
up from the 386,475 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 5,705,251 vehicles, up 8.4 percent from like-1998's pace.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 292,688 vehicles this
week, up 1.9 percent from the 287,321 cars and trucks built last week.  To
date, calendar 1999 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 4,200,803 units,
up 5.5 percent from the 3,981,542 vehicles built in like-1998.
    This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 68,420, a 5.9
percent increase from the 64,601 units assembled last week.  Estimated
calendar-1999 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,005,791 units, up
14.1 percent from the 881,306 vehicles produced in like-1998.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S.,
General Motors Corp. accounted for 35.1 percent; Ford Motor Co., 29.4 percent;
Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.6 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.1
percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 4.2 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.6
percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 1.9 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc.,
1.4 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.3 percent; Mitsubishi Motor
Mfg. of America Inc., 1.1 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.6
percent; BMW of North America Inc., 0.4 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.3
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       128,630    125,353    120,240   1,824,137  1,814,331     0.5
    Trucks     164,058    161,968    149,976   2,376,666  2,167,211     9.7
    TOTAL      292,688    287,321    270,216   4,200,803  3,981,542     5.5
    Canada
    Cars        35,851     34,246     32,167     536,098    484,421    10.7
    Trucks      32,569     30,355     26,258     469,693    396,885    18.3
    TOTAL       68,420     64,601     58,425   1,005,791    881,306    14.1
    Mexico
    Cars        24,540     25,892     18,098     351,292    266,071    32.0
    Trucks       8,687      8,661     10,083     147,365    135,283     8.9
    TOTAL       33,227     34,553     28,181     498,657    401,354    24.2
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars       189,021    185,491    170,505   2,711,527   2,564,823    5.7
    Trucks     205,314    200,984    186,317   2,993,724   2,699,379   10.9
    GRAND      394,335    386,475    356,822   5,705,251   5,264,202    8.4
    TOTAL

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