Ward's Reports Estimated Production
29 January 1998
Ward's Reports Estimated ProductionSOUTHFIELD, Mich., Jan. 29 -- Vehicle production in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to reach 338,877 units this week, an increase of 15.6 percent from a week ago, according to Ward's Automotive Reports. The substantial rise is due to one less day of U.S. production last week, as plants closed for the Martin Luther King holiday Jan. 19. With this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 1,224,471 cars and trucks, down 10.2 percent from the 1,362,873 vehicles built in like-1997. In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 254,966 units this week, up 20.0 percent from the 212,518 vehicles built last week. To date, calendar 1998 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 925,674 units, down 9.1 percent from like-1997's pace. Canadian vehicle production should hit 64,109 units this week, an increase of 11.3 percent from the 57,595 built a week ago. Estimated calendar 1998 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 211,837, 9.5 percent below the 234,002 vehicles built in like-1997. Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the United States, General Motors Corp. accounts for 32.5 percent; Ford Motor Co., 27.3 percent; Chrysler Corp., 17.3 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.3 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 4.3 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.3 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.1 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.8 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.2 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 0.9 percent; BMW of North America Inc., 0.5 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. International 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 1998 1997 1998 vs. 1997 U.S. Cars 117,370 99,815 124,741 437,679 490,346 -10.74 Trucks 137,596 112,703 130,948 487,995 527,747 -8.00 TOTAL 254,966 212,518 255,689 925,674 1,018,093 -9.08 Canada Cars 35,500 32,307 29,907 118,547 127,481 -7.01 Trucks 28,609 25,288 25,214 93,290 106,521 -12.00 TOTAL 64,109 57,595 55,121 211,837 234,002 -9.47 Mexico Cars 12,374 15,552 16,018 57,158 66,838 -14.48 Trucks 7,428 7,374 10,114 29,802 43,940 -32.00 TOTAL 19,802 22,926 26,132 86,960 110,778 -21.50 U.S.\Canada\Mexico Cars 165,244 147,674 170,666 613,384 684,665 -10.41 Trucks 173,633 145,365 166,276 611,087 678,208 -9.90 GRAND 338,877 293,039 336,942 1,224,471 1,362,873 -10.16 TOTAL Note: All figures include medium- and heavy-duty truck production. SOURCE Ward's Communications