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Ward's Reports Estimated Production

22 May 1998

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 22 -- Vehicle production in the U.S.,
Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 321,739 units this week, a
decrease of 9.7 percent from the 356,154 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
6,643,190 vehicles.  That is about even with like-1997's pace.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 253,124 vehicles this
week, down 8.1 percent from the 275,535 cars and trucks built last week.  To
date, calendar 1998 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 5,049,150 units,
an increase of 0.5 percent from the 5,025,701 vehicles built in like-1997.
    This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 41,346, a 17.7
percent decrease from the 50,234 units assembled a week ago.  Estimated
calendar-1998 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 1,093,280 units, off
1.4 percent from the 1,108,342 vehicles produced in like-1997.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the United
States, General Motors Corp. accounted for 32.0 percent; Ford Motor Co., 31.0
percent; Chrysler Corp., 15.8 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.0
percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.9 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.8
percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 1.9 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc.,
1.8 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.3 percent; Mitsubishi Motor
Mfg. of America Inc., 1.2 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc., 0.6
percent; BMW of North America Inc., 0.5 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.2
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        119,122   121,869    124,740   2,293,682  2,499,953    -8.25
    Trucks      134,002   153,666    127,236   2,755,468  2,525,748     9.00
    TOTAL       253,124   275,535    251,976   5,049,150  5,025,701     0.47
    Canada
    Cars         25,235    27,913     25,639     601,972    608,470    -1.07
    Trucks       16,111    22,321     21,354     491,308    499,872    -2.00
    TOTAL        41,346    50,234     46,993   1,093,280  1,108,342    -1.36
    Mexico
    Cars         18,144    20,114     16,194     331,512    321,732     3.04
    Trucks        9,125    10,271      9,958     169,248    186,051    -9.00
    TOTAL        27,269    30,385     26,152     500,760    507,783    -1.38
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars        162,501   169,896    166,573   3,227,166  3,430,155    -5.92
    Trucks      159,238   186,258    158,548   3,416,024  3,211,671     6.36
    GRAND       321,739   356,154    325,121   6,643,190  6,641,826     0.02
    TOTAL

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

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