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Ward's Reports Estimated Production

13 September 1999

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Sept. 10 -- Vehicle production this week
in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 306,630 units,
down from the 358,266 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 12,194,315 vehicles, up 12.9 percent from like-1998's pace.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 225,092 vehicles this
week, down 17.5 percent from the 272,958 cars and trucks built last week.  To
date, calendar 1999 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 9,000,172 units,
up 10.5 percent from the 8,141,656 vehicles built in like-1998.
    This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 51,139, a
4.0 percent decrease from the 53,250 units assembled last week.  Estimated
calendar-1999 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,100,926 units, up
23.5 percent from the 1,700,587 vehicles produced in like-1998.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S.,
General Motors Corp. accounted for 35.6 percent; Ford Motor Co., 28.4 percent;
Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 14.6 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc.,
4.9 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 4.0 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc.,
2.4 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 2.7 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive
Inc., 1.8 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.2 percent; Mitsubishi
Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.2 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of
DaimlerChrysler, 0.5 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 0.4 percent; and
other manufacturers, 2.3 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      91,984   119,635    105,968   3,881,023  3,759,626     3.2
     Trucks   133,108   153,323    113,033   5,119,149  4,382,030    16.8
     TOTAL    225,092   272,958    219,001   9,000,172  8,141,656    10.5
    Canada
     Cars      27,008    28,796     28,921   1,121,767    974,153    15.2
     Trucks    24,131    24,454     13,968     979,159    726,434    34.8
     TOTAL     51,139    53,250     42,889   2,100,926  1,700,587    23.5
    Mexico
     Cars      14,967    17,418     19,180     704,131    647,302     8.8
     Trucks    15,432    14,640     10,934     389,086    314,768    23.6
     TOTAL     30,399    32,058     30,114   1,093,217    962,070    13.6
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
     Cars     133,959   165,849    154,069   5,706,921  5,381,081     6.1
     Trucks   172,671   192,417    137,935   6,487,394  5,423,232    19.6
     GRAND    306,630   358,266    292,004  12,194,315 10,804,313    12.9
     TOTAL

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