---

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

27 August 1999

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Aug. 27 -- Vehicle production this week in
the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 352,364 units,
down from the 364,524 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 11,497,381 vehicles, up 12.9 percent from like-1998's pace.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 262,033 vehicles this
week, down 5.0 percent from the 275,858 cars and trucks built last week.  To
date, calendar 1999 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 8,479,679 units,
up 10.6 percent from the 7,663,585 vehicles built in like-1998.
    This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 58,340, only 11
units above the 58,329 units assembled last week.  Estimated calendar-1999
Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,985,345 units, up 22.8 percent
from the 1,616,632 vehicles produced in like-1998.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S.,
General Motors Corp. accounted for 35.9 percent; Ford Motor Co., 26.0 percent;
Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 15.8 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.1
percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.9 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.8
percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 2.9 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc.,
1.6 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.2 percent; Mitsubishi Motor
Mfg. of America Inc., 1.3 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.6
percent; BMW of North America Inc., 0.4 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.5
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   108,251     116,785    129,377   3,659,491   3,526,615     3.8
    Trucks 153,782     159,073    134,045   4,820,188   4,136,970     16.5
    TOTAL  262,033     275,858    263,422   8,479,679   7,663,585     10.6
    Canada
    Cars    30,410      28,667     33,626   1,059,838     917,407     15.5
    Trucks  27,930      29,662     14,864     925,507     699,225     32.4
    TOTAL   58,340      58,329     48,490   1,985,345   1,616,632     22.8
    Mexico
    Cars    17,583      16,660     17,943     672,601     608,603     10.5
    Trucks  14,408      13,677      8,607     359,756     295,427     21.8
    TOTAL   31,991      30,337     26,550   1,032,357     904,030     14.2
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars   156,244     162,112    180,946   5,391,930   5,052,625     6.7
    Trucks 196,120     202,412    157,516   6,105,451   5,131,622     19.0
    GRAND  352,364     364,524    338,462  11,497,381  10,184,247     12.9
    TOTAL

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