---

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

21 February 2000

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Feb. 18 -- Vehicle production this week in
the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 367,416 units,
down from the 374,725 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's
Automotive Reports.
    Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now
totals 2,506,877 vehicles, up 3.5 percent from like-1999's pace.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 271,538 vehicles this
week, a decrease of 0.7 percent from the 273,326 cars and trucks built last
week.  To date, calendar 2000 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated
1,824,354 units, up 3.1 percent from the 1,769,261 vehicles built in
like-1999.
    This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 65,243, a
3.5 percent decrease from the 67,614 units assembled last week.  Estimated
calendar-2000 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 453,512 units, up
2.3 percent from the 443,256 vehicles produced in like-1999.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S.,
General Motors Corp. accounted for 31.2 percent; Ford Motor Co., 28.1 percent;
Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 18.1 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc.,
5.1 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 4.4 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc.,
2.5 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., 1.3 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of
DaimlerChrysler, 0.6 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 0.4 percent; and
other manufacturers, 2.6 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        112,149    115,435    119,475    775,668    760,199     2.0
    Trucks      159,389    157,891    158,768  1,048,686  1,009,062     3.9
    TOTAL       271,538    273,326    278,243  1,824,354  1,769,261     3.1
    Canada
    Cars         34,069     35,633     36,146    237,553    239,929    -1.0
    Trucks       31,174     31,981     31,605    215,959    203,327     6.2
    TOTAL        65,243     67,614     67,751    453,512    443,256     2.3
    Mexico
    Cars         19,965     21,720     17,455    148,479    137,940     7.6
    Trucks       10,670     12,065     10,689     80,532     71,290    13.0
    TOTAL        30,635     33,785     28,144    229,011    209,230     9.5
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars        166,183    172,788    173,076  1,161,700  1,138,068     2.1
    Trucks      201,233    201,937    201,062  1,345,177  1,283,679     4.8
    GRAND       367,416    374,725    374,138  2,506,877  2,421,747     3.5
    TOTAL

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