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Ward's Reports Estimated Production

17 September 1999

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Sept. 17 -- Vehicle production this week
in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 367,120 units,
up from the 316,263 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 12,572,646 vehicles, up 12.9 percent from like-1998's pace.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 273,350 vehicles this
week, up 19.3 percent from the 229,186 cars and trucks built last week.  To
date, calendar 1999 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 9,277,616 units,
up 10.4 percent from the 8,407,398 vehicles built in like-1998.
    This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 62,855, a 14.5
percent increase from the 54,917 units assembled last week.  Estimated
calendar-1999 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,167,525 units, up
23.7 percent from the 1,752,134 vehicles produced in like-1998.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S.,
General Motors Corp. accounted for 35.1 percent; Ford Motor Co., 27.6 percent;
Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 15.7 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.1
percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 4.1 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.5
percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 2.8 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc.,
1.4 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, 2.2
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      116,431    96,472    128,526  4,001,942  3,888,152      2.9
    Trucks    156,919   132,714    137,216  5,275,674  4,519,246     16.7
    TOTAL     273,350   229,186    265,742  9,277,616  8,407,398     10.4
    Canada
    Cars       33,534    29,588     34,809  1,157,918  1,008,962     14.8
    Trucks     29,321    25,329     16,738  1,009,607    743,172     35.9
    TOTAL      62,855    54,917     51,547  2,167,525  1,752,134     23.7
    Mexico
    Cars       18,535    19,101     12,461    729,628    659,763     10.6
    Trucks     12,380    13,059      6,564    397,877    321,332     23.8
    TOTAL      30,915    32,160     19,025  1,127,505    981,095     14.9
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars      168,500   145,161    175,796  5,889,488  5,556,877      6.0
    Trucks    198,620   171,102    160,518  6,683,158  5,583,750     19.7
    GRAND     367,120   316,263    336,314 12,572,646 11,140,627     12.9
     TOTAL

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