BIG THREE HAVE BIG PRODUCTION PLANS IN STORE

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 20, 1993                   TAG: 9301200039
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: METRO  
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: DETROIT                                LENGTH: Short
BIG THREE HAVE BIG PRODUCTION PLANS IN STORE
Domestic automakers are building 23.7 percent more cars and trucks this winter than a year ago, seemingly confident the long-awaited recovery of their industry is here.
But numbers can be deceptive, and automakers may change their estimates at the beginning of February and March, depending on the strength of sales.
The double-digit increase in planned production reflects fewer inventories at the end of 1992, anticipation of the traditional spring buying season and the first cyclical upturn in seven years, said Phillip Fricke, an auto industry analyst with Prudential Securities Research in New York.
"It remains to be seen whether the cyclical rebound will last more than one quarter," Fricke said Tuesday. "It's basically been a downturn since 1986 with a couple of false starts weaved in there."
Sales of cars and trucks were weak in early January but no cause for concern, analysts said, because they followed very strong sales in late December fueled by year-end closeouts and other promotions.
The Big Three - General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Corp. - are the most bullish of the 10 major U.S. manufacturers of cars and trucks.
GM plans to build 11.7 percent more cars and 21.2 percent more trucks. Ford expects to make 18 percent more cars and 16.7 percent more trucks, and Chrysler will produce 19.4 percent more cars and 63.5 percent more trucks.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB