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Ward's Reports Estimated Production

9 July 1999

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 9 -- Vehicle production this week in
the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 100,606 units,
down from the 304,087 cars and trucks built a week ago, according to Ward's
Automotive Reports, as some automakers suspend production for summer shutdowns
and holiday observances.
    Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now
totals 9,394,170 vehicles, up 13.2 percent from like-1998's pace.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 55,931 vehicles this week,
down 75.1 percent from the 224,955 cars and trucks built last week.  To date,
calendar 1999 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 6,919,992, up 11.3
percent from the 6,214,911 vehicles built in like-1998.
    This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 12,990, a 72.9
percent decrease from the 47,895 units assembled last week.  Estimated
calendar-1999 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,637,969 units, up
18.9 percent from the 1,377,453 vehicles produced in like-1998.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S.,
General Motors Corp. accounted for 0.0 percent; Ford Motor Co., 0.0 percent;
Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 36.1 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 20.1
percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 13.8 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc.,
10.4 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 0.0 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive
Inc., 0.0 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.0 percent; Mitsubishi
Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 4.3 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of
DaimlerChrysler, 0.0 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.6 percent; and
other manufacturers, 13.7 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       27,868     92,886    33,073   2,991,575  2,831,570     5.7
    Trucks     28,063    132,069    23,160   3,928,417  3,383,341    16.1
    TOTAL      55,931    224,955    56,233   6,919,992  6,214,911    11.3
    Canada
    Cars        7,992     24,694     7,908     872,206    753,170    15.8
    Trucks      4,998     23,201     1,037     765,763    624,283    22.7
    TOTAL      12,990     47,895     8,945   1,637,969  1,377,453    18.9
    Mexico
    Cars       19,722     19,780    16,849     559,077    473,175    18.2
    Trucks     11,963     11,457     7,088     277,132    234,404    18.2
    TOTAL      31,685     31,237    23,937     836,209    707,579    18.2
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars       55,582    137,360    57,830   4,422,858  4,057,915       9
    Trucks     45,024    166,727    31,285   4,971,312  4,242,028    17.2
    GRAND     100,606    304,087    89,115   9,394,170  8,299,943    13.2
    TOTAL

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