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Ward's Reports Estimated Production

15 May 1998

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 15 -- Vehicle production in the U.S.,
Canada and Mexico is expected to hit 349,312 units this week, a decrease of
5.1 percent from the 368,162 cars and trucks built a week ago, according to
Ward's Automotive Reports.
    With this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals
6,317,335 vehicles.  That is 0.01 percent ahead of like-1997's pace.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 271,264 vehicles this
week, down 1.9 percent from the 276,429 cars and trucks built last week.  To
date, calendar 1998 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 4,791,168 units,
an increase of 0.4 percent from the 4,773,725 vehicles built in like-1997.
    This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 47,664, a
20.9 percent decrease from the 60,234 units assembled a week ago.  Estimated
calendar-1998 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,049,512 units, off
1.1 percent from the 1,061,349 vehicles produced in like-1997.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the United
States, General Motors Corp. accounted for 34.9 percent; Ford Motor Co.,
29.5 percent; Chrysler Corp., 15.5 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc.,
4.7 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.7 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc.,
2.6 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 2.0 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive
Inc., 1.7 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.2 percent; Mitsubishi
Motor Mfg. of America Inc., 1.1 percent; BMW of North America Inc.,
0.5 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc., 0.5 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      121,413   125,158    131,974   2,173,901   2,375,213    -8.48
    Trucks    149,851   151,271    127,197   2,617,267   2,398,512     9.00
    TOTAL     271,264   276,429    259,171   4,791,168   4,773,725     0.37
    Canada
    Cars       26,591    31,735     25,996     575,709     582,831    -1.22
    Trucks     21,073    28,499     21,507     473,803     478,518    -1.00
    TOTAL      47,664    60,234     47,503   1,049,512   1,061,349    -1.12
    Mexico
    Cars       20,573    20,680     15,811     315,850     305,538     3.38
    Trucks      9,811    10,819     10,273     160,805     176,093    -9.00
    TOTAL      30,384    31,499     26,084     476,655     481,631    -1.03
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars      168,577   177,573    173,781   3,065,460   3,263,582    -6.07
    Trucks    180,735   190,589    158,977   3,251,875   3,053,123     6.51
    GRAND     349,312   368,162    332,758   6,317,335   6,316,705     0.01
    TOTAL

    Note: All figures include medium- and heavy-duty truck production.
    ON THE WEB: http://www.wardsauto.com

SOURCE  Ward's