---

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

4 October 1999

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Oct. 1 -- Vehicle production this week in
the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 370,953 units, up
from the 352,732 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 13,299,141 vehicles, up 12.1 percent from like-1998's pace.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 274,626 vehicles this
week, up 3.7 percent from the 264,707 cars and trucks built last week.  To
date, calendar 1999 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 9,821,186 units,
up 9.7 percent from the 8,952,352 vehicles built in like-1998.
    This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 65,312, an 18.5
percent increase from the 55,114 units assembled last week.  Estimated
calendar-1999 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,291,366 units, up
22.6 percent from the 1,869,618 vehicles produced in like-1998.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S.,
General Motors Corp. accounted for 34.5 percent; Ford Motor Co., 27.5 percent;
Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 16.5 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.1
percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 4.1 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.6
percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 2.8 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc.,
1.3 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, 2.1
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         117,365   114,778   126,545  4,240,641  4,151,503    2.1
    Trucks       157,261   149,929   142,049  5,580,545  4,800,849   16.2
    TOTAL        274,626   264,707   268,594  9,821,186  8,952,352    9.7
    Canada
    Cars          34,857    29,223    34,677  1,224,852  1,079,918   13.4
    Trucks        30,455    25,891    23,734  1,066,514    789,700   35.1
    TOTAL         65,312    55,114    58,411  2,291,366  1,869,618   22.6
    Mexico
    Cars          18,535    19,443    19,035    765,069    697,646    9.7
    Trucks        12,480    13,468    10,520    421,520    342,610   23.0
    TOTAL         31,015    32,911    29,555  1,186,589  1,040,256   14.1
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars         170,757   163,444   180,257  6,230,562  5,929,067    5.1
    Trucks       200,196   189,288   176,303  7,068,579  5,933,159   19.1
    GRAND        370,953   352,732   356,560 13,299,141 11,862,226   12.1
    TOTAL

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

    ON THE WEB: http://www.wardsauto.com