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Ward's Reports Estimated Production

30 July 1999

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 30 -- Vehicle production this week in
the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 361,921 units, up
from the 287,033 cars and trucks built a week ago, according to Ward's
Automotive Reports, as some automakers resume production after summer
shutdowns.
    Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now
totals 10,122,091 vehicles, up 13.8 percent from like-1998's pace.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 265,546 vehicles this
week, up 28.1 percent from the 207,326 cars and trucks built last week.  To
date, calendar 1999 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 7,448,502, up 11.8
percent from the 6,661,326 vehicles built in like-1998.
    This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 65,676, a 47.7
percent increase from the 44,472 units assembled last week.  Estimated
calendar-1999 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,759,247 units, up
22.2 percent from the 1,439,851 vehicles produced in like-1998.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S.,
General Motors Corp. accounted for 32.5 percent; Ford Motor Co., 31.0 percent;
Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.6 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.2
percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 4.3 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.7
percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 2.7 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc.,
1.7 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.4 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     118,881     86,769     79,666   3,225,853  3,040,581     6.1
    Trucks   146,665    120,557     86,952   4,222,649  3,620,745    16.6
    TOTAL    265,546    207,326    166,618   7,448,502  6,661,326    11.8
    Canada
    Cars      34,085     26,847     18,547     941,697    796,589    18.2
    Trucks    31,591     17,625     10,385     817,550    643,262    27.1
    TOTAL     65,676     44,472     28,932   1,759,247  1,439,851    22.2
    Mexico
    Cars      19,132     20,561     21,291     606,162    529,539    14.5
    Trucks    11,567     14,674      9,362     308,180    262,941    17.2
    TOTAL     30,699     35,235     30,653     914,342    792,480    15.4
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars     172,098    134,177    119,504   4,773,712  4,366,709     9.3
    Trucks   189,823    152,856    106,699   5,348,379  4,526,948    18.1
    GRAND    361,921    287,033    226,203  10,122,091  8,893,657    13.8
    TOTAL

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