Automotive Industry Trends

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., June 11, 2008 – Audi of America, Inc. posted the greatest ranking improvement in initial quality in the results from J.D. Power and Associates’ 2008 industry-wide study, released June 4, 2008. Even as initial quality improved across the auto industry, Audi distinguished itself from the pack, jumping sixteen spots to #10 with 113 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100). The Audi A6 ranked third in a tie in the Midsize Premium Car segment.

CUV Interest Grows as SUV Interest Declines

COSTA MESA, Calif., May 20, 2008 -- The gap in consumer interest between crossover utility vehicles (CUVs) and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) continues to widen, according to a report released today by NADAguides.com. The company, a vehicle pricing and information website, says consumer interest in crossovers increased 14.8 percent in April 2008 compared to April 2007, while SUV interest was down at almost the same rate of 15.9 percent during that same timeframe.

2009 Dodge Journey

Ford becomes Founding Reporter of the new voluntary North American facility CO2 reporting initiative.

DEARBORN, Mich., May 5, 2008 - Ford Motor Company is taking an industry-leading move by becoming the first automaker to join The Climate Registry (TCR), building upon Ford's leadership in facility greenhouse gas (GHG) initiatives globally. Ford supports the global harmonization of GHG monitoring and reporting practices. TCR represents a significant step toward that goal.

Highlights:
* Ford is the first automaker to join The Climate Registry.

Paderborn, March 17, 2008 -- dSPACE has now added a model for simulating road traffic to its Automotive Simulation Models (ASM). The new ASM Traffic Model simulates up to 15 vehicles surrounding a test vehicle equipped with radar sensors. The model is excellent for developing and testing driver assistance systems such as adaptive cruise control (ACC) and precrash.

Highlights
* New model for simulating road traffic
* Ideal for developing adaptive cruise control (ACC) systems
* Flexible traffic scenarios

March 10, 2008, Research Triangle Park, N.C. – Steve Ganster, managing director, Technomic Asia, will present “Developments in China’s Aftermarket” at the 2008 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) on Tuesday, May 20, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Chicago, Ill.

Steve Ganster, who lives and works in Shanghai, will characterize trends in the most dynamic auto market in the world, highlighting recent developments in vehicle growth, aftermarket size and segmentation, distribution dynamics, quality issues and sourcing. He will also present a perspective on opportunities and challenges for western auto suppliers.

New Delhi, India, 08/02/2008 -- The figures for April-January 2008 over April-January 2007 indicate that domestic sales of automobiles decelerated with a negative growth rate of (-) 4.82 percent.

The cumulative growth of the Passenger Vehicles segment during April-January 2008 was 12.79 percent. Passenger Cars grew by 12.75 percent, Multi Purpose Vehicles by 23.60 percent and Utility Vehicles by 8.95 percent in April-January 2008 compared to the same period last year.

In April- January 2008, the Commercial Vehicles segment grew by 2.98 percent over the same period in 2007. Light Commercial Vehicles recorded a growth of 13.84 percent; however, Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicles witnessed a fall by 4.55 percent.

Year off to a Slow Start

SANTA MONICA, Calif., January 28, 2008 — This month's new vehicle sales (including fleet sales) are expected to be 1.05 million units, a 2.9 percent decrease from January 2007 and a 23.8 percent decrease from December 2007, according to Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information. This amounts to a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 16.1 million units.

According to KBB Marketing Research, Shoppers Spend Less on Self in Order to Spend More on Others

January 17, 2008, ARLINGTON, VA — The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is pleased to announce the election of Brian V. Boyden as the new chairman of the Board of Directors. Boyden is executive vice president, State Farm Insurance Companies. He succeeds Gary Kusumi, president and chief executive officer, personal lines, of GMAC Insurance. Kusumi served as IIHS chairman during 2007 and will continue to serve as a member of the Board.

January 17, 2008, ARLINGTON, VA — The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) is pleased to announce the election of Laurette Stiles as the new chairman of the Board of Directors. Stiles is vice president, strategic resources, at State Farm Insurance Companies. She succeeds Eugene C. Connell, senior vice president and division officer, actuarial division, at Erie Insurance Group. Connell served as HLDI chairman in 2007 and will continue to serve as a Board member.

"The work HLDI does to understand insurance losses to achieve lower costs for the public is important, and I'm proud to be working toward this goal," Stiles says. HLDI president Adrian Lund adds, "I’m pleased that HLDI gains such a strong leader."

J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Annual Growth of Diesel Light-Vehicle Demand in Eastern Europe, Asia and North America Set to Surpass That of Western Europe

OXFORD: 16 January 2008 — Annual growth of diesel light-vehicle demand in Eastern Europe, Asia and North America combined is projected to surpass growth in Western Europe by the early part of the next decade, according to the J.D. Power and Associates Automotive Forecasting Global Diesel Light-Vehicle ForecastSM.

AURORA, ON, Jan. 16, 2008 /PRNewswire - FirstCall/ -- Magna International Inc. (TSX: MG.A; NYSE: MGA) announced today its financial outlook for 2008 (All amounts are in U.S. dollars).

For the full year 2008, we expect consolidated sales to be between $24.9 billion and $26.2 billion, based on full year 2008 light vehicle production volumes of approximately 14.4 million units in North America and approximately 15.6 million units in Europe. Full year 2008 average dollar content per vehicle is expected to be between $855 and $885 in North America and between $440 and $465 in Europe. We expect full year 2008 complete vehicle assembly sales to be between $3.6 billion and $3.9 billion.

Competition Recognizes Success in a Unique Industry

January 15, 2008, RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – The seventh annual “Excellence in Automotive PR” award recognizing outstanding automotive-related public relations campaigns is now accepting entries.

Sponsored by the Automotive Public Relations Council (APRC), the Excellence awards honor those who have approached an automotive-related PR issue with exemplary professional skill, creativity and resourcefulness. The annual award also recognizes complete PR programs that incorporate sound research, planning, execution and evaluation.

12/01/2008 -- Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers organized the third Auto Trade Dialogue on January 11, 2008 in New Delhi. The Dialogue was intended to facilitate better understanding and appreciation of the characteristics, market dynamics and policies of the automotive industries in individual countries and regions.

There were three focused sessions in the programme – Trade Agreements, Trade & IPR and Market Characteristics, Trade Flows & Auto Policies. The Dialogue saw participation of international associations and Indian Government, academia and industry.

DETROIT, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Automotive industry executives have identified finding alternative fuel sources as the number one trend facing the industry and are focused on producing low cost cars and hybrids to meet consumer demand, according to an annual global survey by KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm.

Automakers Boost Incentives in Attempt to End Year on a High Note

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — January 3, 2008 — Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information, estimated today that the average automotive manufacturer incentive in the U.S. was $2,472 per vehicle sold in December 2007, up $197, or 8.7 percent, from November 2007, and up $157, or 6.8 percent, from December 2006.

January 7, 2008, RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – The member collaboration work session slated for Saturday, March 1, at the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) Vision Conference will feature open discussions of “Cataloging a Better Way” and “Collaborative Purchasing for Indirect Items.”

The AASA Vision Conference 2008 – scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 28, through Saturday, March 1, at the Swan and Dolphin Resort, Orlando, Fla. – will feature presentations, panel discussions and two additional Vision Work Sessions. The conference is exclusive to AASA member companies.

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Jan. 3 /PRNewswire - USNewswire/ -- The Society of Automotive Analysts (SAA) presents its 20th annual Automotive Outlook Conference Tuesday, January 15, 2008 in conjunction with the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).

Highlights of the conference include -

-- Perennial sales projections from economists of Detroit's Three - Paul Traub (Chrysler LLC), Emily Kolinski Morris (Ford Motor Company) and Ted H. Chu (General Motors);

-- Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author Paul Ingrassia, formerly of Dow Jones Newswires;

-- Noted analysts Michael Robinet of CSM Worldwide, Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics, and Erich Merkle of IRN, Inc. presenting their takes on the year ahead; and

WASHINGTON and NEW YORK, Dec. 17, 2007 /PRNewswire - FirstCall/ -- The world's leading automakers joined the list of prominent businesses and organizations in favor of the merger of XM Satellite Radio (NASDAQ:XMSR) and SIRIUS Satellite Radio (NASDAQ:SIRI) . General Motors Corporation, Ford Motor Company, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai and Kia Motors America have publicly supported a combined SIRIUS-XM. Chrysler also sent a letter to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and Assistant Attorney General Thomas Barnett expressing no opposition to the merger. In 2006, these automakers sold more than 14 million vehicles, or over 85% of the light vehicles sold in the United States.

11/12/2007, New Delhi, India -- The figures for April-November 2007 over April-November 2006 indicate that India domestic sales of automobiles decelerated with a negative growth rate of 4.34 percent.

The cumulative growth of the Passenger Vehicles segment during April-November 2007 was 13.93 percent. Passenger Cars grew by 13.78 percent, Multi Purpose Vehicles by 19.35 percent and Utility Vehicles by 12.61 percent in April-November 2007 compared to the same period last year.