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Ward's Reports Estimated Production

24 April 2000

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., April 20 Vehicle production this week
in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 310,230 units,
down from the 391,344 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's
Automotive Reports.
    Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now
totals 5,928,287 vehicles, up 4.5 percent from like-1999's pace.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 222,982 vehicles this week
-- a shortened workweek for many automakers due to the Good Friday holiday, a
decrease of 22.3 percent from the 286,966 cars and trucks built last week.  To
date, calendar 2000 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 4,332,441 units,
up 3.6 percent from the 4,183,731 vehicles built in like-1999.
    This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 52,811, a 21.4
percent decrease from the 67,199 units assembled last week.  Estimated
calendar-2000 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,043,422 units, up
4.1 percent from the 1,002,580 vehicles produced in like-1999.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S.,
General Motors Corp. accounted for 32.3 percent; Ford Motor Co., 26.2 percent;
Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 18.3 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 4.9
percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.3 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.5
percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 2.8 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc.,
1.6 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., 0.5 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.5
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     94,361   121,060   124,434    1,840,104    1,819,941     1.1
    Trucks  128,621   165,906   161,515    2,492,337    2,363,790     5.4
    TOTAL   222,982   286,966   285,949    4,332,441    4,183,731     3.6
    Canada
    Cars     27,128    34,352    35,884      541,979      536,271     1.1
    Trucks   25,683    32,847    29,725      501,443      466,309     7.5
    TOTAL    52,811    67,199    65,609    1,043,422    1,002,580     4.1
    Mexico
    Cars     21,625    22,735    19,870      345,804      338,760     2.1
    Trucks   12,812    14,444    11,103      206,620      149,735    38.0
    TOTAL    34,437    37,179    30,973      552,424      488,495    13.1
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars    143,114   178,147   180,188    2,727,887    2,694,972     1.2
    Trucks  167,116   213,197   202,343    3,200,400    2,979,834     7.4
    GRAND   310,230   391,344   382,531    5,928,287    5,674,806     4.5
    TOTAL

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