North American Production Sets a Record

North American auto production for 1999 will end at an all-time high of 17.62 million units, Ward’s Automotive Reports said. Production of autos--including medium- and heavy-duty trucks--was nearly 10% above the 16.03 million produced last year and the previous all-time high of 16.06 million in 1997. The United States, Canada and Mexico all will post individual records, Ward’s said. U.S. production will finish at 13,030,938 units, the first time it has topped 13 million, and beating the previous high of 12,895,286 in 1978. Canada will finish the year at 3.05 million units, and Mexico at 1.54 million units.