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Ward's Reports Estimated Production

19 July 1999

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 16 -- Vehicle production this week in
the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 101,070 units, up
from the 92,877 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 9,488,305 vehicles, up 12.0 percent from like-1998's pace.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 61,977 vehicles this week,
up 14.2 percent from the 54,257 cars and trucks built last week.  To date,
calendar 1999 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 6,979,563, up 10.0
percent from the 6,346,569 vehicles built in like-1998.
    This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 10,910, a 13.7
percent decrease from the 12,642 units assembled last week.  Estimated
calendar-1999 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,649,735 units, up
19.1 percent from the 1,385,142 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, 15.4 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 22.1
percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 16.9 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc.,
11.7 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 0.0 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive
Inc., 5.6 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 6.2 percent; Mitsubishi
Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 4.8 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of
DaimlerChrysler, 2.9 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 1.9 percent; and
other manufacturers, 12.5 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     34,439    26,905      57,601  3,024,870  2,889,171      4.7
    Trucks   27,538    27,352      61,062  3,954,693  3,457,398     14.4
    TOTAL    61,977    54,257     118,663  6,979,563  6,346,569     10.0
    Canada
    Cars      7,864    7,622        6,810    881,112    759,980     15.9
    Trucks    3,046    5,020        1,737    768,623    625,162     22.9
    TOTAL    10,910   12,642        8,547  1,649,735  1,385,142     19.1
    Mexico
    Cars     17,068    14,691      17,235    571,212    490,410     16.5
    Trucks   11,115    11,287       7,524    287,795    246,377     16.8
    TOTAL    28,183    25,978      24,759    859,007    736,787     16.6
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars     59,371    49,218      81,646  4,477,194  4,139,561      8.2
    Trucks   41,699    43,659      70,323  5,011,111  4,328,937     15.8
    GRAND   101,070    92,877     151,969  9,488,305  8,468,498     12.0
     TOTAL

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