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Ward's Reports Estimated Production

23 July 1999

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 23 -- Vehicle production this week in
the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 314,074 units, up
from the 94,955 cars and trucks built a week ago, according to Ward's
Automotive Reports, as some automakers resume production after summer
shutdowns and holiday observances.
    Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now
totals 9,790,529 vehicles, up 13.0 percent from like-1998's pace.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 237,902 vehicles this
week, up 283.0 percent from the 62,109 cars and trucks built last week.  To
date, calendar 1999 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 7,216,370, up 11.1
percent from the 6,494,708 vehicles built in like-1998.
    This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 48,737, a 344.1
percent increase from the 10,974 units assembled last week.  Estimated
calendar-1999 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,698,316 units, up
20.4 percent from the 1,410,919 vehicles produced in like-1998.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S.,
General Motors Corp. accounted for 37.7 percent; Ford Motor Co., 31.3 percent;
Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 9.6 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.8
percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 0.7 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.0
percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.1 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc.,
1.8 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.5 percent; Mitsubishi Motor
Mfg. of America Inc., 1.3 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler,
0.8 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 0.5 percent; and other manufacturers,
2.9 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   102,506    31,333      71,744   3,124,267   2,960,915     5.5
    Trucks 135,396    30,776      76,395   4,092,103   3,533,793    15.8
    TOTAL  237,902    62,109     148,139   7,216,370   6,494,708    11.1
    Canada
    Cars    30,239     7,845      18,062     911,332     778,042    17.1
    Trucks  18,498     3,129       7,715     786,984     632,877    24.4
    TOTAL   48,737    10,974      25,777   1,698,316   1,410,919    20.4
    Mexico
    Cars    15,868    13,469      17,838     582,337     508,248    14.6
    Trucks  11,567     8,403       7,202     293,506     253,579    15.7
    TOTAL   27,435    21,872      25,040     875,843     761,827    15.0
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars   148,613    52,647     107,644   4,617,936   4,247,205     8.7
    Trucks 165,461    42,308      91,312   5,172,593   4,420,249    17.0
    GRAND  314,074    94,955     198,956   9,790,529   8,667,454    13.0
    TOTAL

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