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Ward's Reports Estimated Production

17 January 2000

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Jan. 14 -- Vehicle production this week in
the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 363,077 units, up
from the 325,814 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's
Automotive Reports.
    Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now
totals 688,891 vehicles, up 9.6 percent from like-1999's pace.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 266,497 vehicles this
week, up 10.8 percent from the 240,430 cars and trucks built last week.  To
date, calendar 2000 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 506,927 units, up
11.5 percent from the 454,554 vehicles built in like-1999.
    This holiday week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 67,883, an
18.2 percent increase over the 57,417 units assembled last week.  Estimated
calendar-2000 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 125,300 units, up 9.5
percent from the 114,460 vehicles produced in like-1999.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S.,
General Motors Corp. accounted for 31.5 percent; Ford Motor Co., 29.4 percent;
Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 15.4 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.2
percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 4.6 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.7
percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 2.8 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc.,
1.7 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.2 percent; Mitsubishi Motor
Mfg. of America Inc., 1.5 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7
percent; BMW of North America Inc., 0.4 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.9
percent.

                       NORTH AMERICA FACTORY PRODUCTION

               This Week   Last Week  Same Week To Date  To Date  Pct. Change
               Estimated   Revised    Last Year  2000      1999  2000 vs. 1999
    U.S.
    Cars        116,851     95,670    106,333   212,521   200,904      5.8
    Trucks      149,646    144,760    135,093   294,406   253,650     16.1
    TOTAL       266,497    240,430    241,426   506,927   454,554     11.5
    Canada
    Cars         34,854     30,363     31,363    65,217    63,558      2.6
    Trucks       33,029     27,054     25,909    60,083    50,902     18.0
    TOTAL        67,883     57,417     57,272   125,300   114,460      9.5
    Mexico
    Cars         20,709     18,989     20,585    39,698    40,322     -1.5
    Trucks        7,988      8,978     10,237    16,966    19,478    -12.9
    TOTAL        28,697     27,967     30,822    56,664    59,800     -5.2
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars        172,414    145,022    158,281   317,436   304,784      4.2
    Trucks      190,663    180,792    171,239   371,455   324,030     14.6
    GRAND       363,077    325,814    329,520   688,891   628,814      9.6
    TOTAL

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