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Ward's Reports Estimated Production

18 August 2000

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich. - Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and 
Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 358,546 units, up from the 334,266 cars 
and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.

    Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now
totals 11,568,169 vehicles, up 3.8 percent from like-1999's pace.

    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 256,848 vehicles this
week, an increase of 4.7 percent from the 245,277 cars and trucks built last
week.  To date, calendar 2000 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated
8,419,469 units, up 2.5 percent from the 8,217,856 vehicles built in
like-1999.

    This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 58,335, a
21.3 percent increase from the 48,102 units assembled last week.  Estimated
calendar-2000 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,936,411 units, up
0.3 percent from the 1,930,675 vehicles produced in like-1999.

    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S.,
General Motors Corp. accounted for 31.3 percent; Ford Motor Co., 35.9 percent;
Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 8.1 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc.,
5.2 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 5.8 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp.,
3.0 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.8 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive
Inc., 1.7 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.9 percent;
AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.8 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of
DaimlerChrysler, 0.6 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 0.5 percent; and
other manufacturers, 2.4 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       107,934    109,703   116,785   3,647,470  3,551,240     2.7
    Trucks     148,914    135,574   159,143   4,771,999  4,666,616     2.3
    TOTAL      256,848    245,277   275,928   8,419,469  8,217,856     2.5
    Canada
    Cars        33,129     29,318    29,177   1,017,798  1,031,958    -1.4
    Trucks      25,206     18,784    30,042     918,613    898,717     2.2
    TOTAL       58,335     48,102    59,219   1,936,411  1,930,675     0.3
    Mexico
    Cars        22,266     22,229    16,660     728,939    652,666    11.7
    Trucks      21,097     18,658    13,575     483,350    342,949    40.9
    TOTAL       43,363     40,887    30,235   1,212,289    995,615    21.8
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars       163,329    161,250   162,622   5,394,207  5,235,864     3.0
    Trucks     195,217    173,016   202,760   6,173,962  5,908,282     4.5
    GRAND      358,546    334,266   365,382  11,568,169 11,144,146     3.8
    TOTAL

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