The increase, the second in as many months, means GM now expects to build 1,537,000 cars and trucks between April and June, 365,000 more than in the strike-impacted second quarter of 1998. "We led the industry in full-size pickup truck sales in April," said Ron Zarrella, president of GM North America. "We know how hot the truck market is, and we're responding to that. But our midsize car sales are up more than 18.5 percent for the year, and we need more of them as we enter the heart of the spring selling season."

GM produced 497,000 cars and trucks in the United States, Canada and Mexico in April, a 5.2 percent increase over the same month last year.

The North American production consisted of 250,000 trucks and 247,000 cars. By adding 13,000 trucks and 12,000 cars to the production plan, GM expects to produce 784,000 trucks and 753,000 cars in the second quarter.

Dakota's score of 163 is 46 points better than the previous year -- and more than seven percent better than the average for all compact pickups. Dakota scored especially high marks for ride and handling, interior and exterior design and features -- critically important areas for the wide range of customers.