Ward's Reports Estimated Production
30 April 1998
Ward's Reports Estimated ProductionSOUTHFIELD, Mich., April 30 -- Vehicle production in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit 351,061 units this week, a decrease of 1.6 percent from the 356,807 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 5,601,651 vehicles. That lags 1.1 percent behind like-1997's pace. In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 264,256 vehicles this week, down 2.4 percent from the 270,693 cars and trucks built last week. To date, calendar 1998 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 4,246,642 units, a drop of 0.7 percent from the 4,277,996 vehicles built in like-1997. Canadian vehicle production should hit 60,686 this week, a 3.6 percent increase from the 58,585 units assembled a week ago. Estimated calendar 1998 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 941,332 units, off 1.6 percent from the 957,061 vehicles produced in like-1997. Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the United States, General Motors Corp. accounts for 35.5 percent; Ford Motor Co., 27.9 percent; Chrysler Corp., 15.2 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.1 percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.6 percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 2.7 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.7 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 1.6 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.3 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, 2.3 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 116,409 120,240 129,782 1,930,752 2,118,885 -8.88 Trucks 147,847 150,453 113,841 2,315,890 2,159,111 7.00 TOTAL 264,256 270,693 243,623 4,246,642 4,277,996 -0.73 Canada Cars 32,889 32,167 31,736 517,310 524,719 -1.41 Trucks 27,797 26,418 24,340 424,022 432,342 -2.00 TOTAL 60,686 58,585 56,076 941,332 957,061 -1.64 Mexico Cars 16,301 17,644 16,490 271,748 273,336 -0.58 Trucks 9,818 9,885 7,246 141,929 157,673 -10.00 TOTAL 26,119 27,529 23,736 413,677 431,009 -4.02 U.S.\Canada\Mexico Cars 165,599 170,051 178,008 2,719,810 2,916,940 -6.76 Trucks 185,462 186,756 145,427 2,881,841 2,749,126 4.83 GRAND 351,061 356,807 323,435 5,601,651 5,666,066 -1.14 TOTAL Note: All figures include medium- and heavy-duty truck production. ON THE WEB: http://www.wardsauto.com SOURCE Ward's Automotive Reports