2002 Philadelphia International Auto Show Shatters Attendance Records

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 18 -- The Automobile Dealers Association of Greater Philadelphia (ADAGP) today announced record-breaking attendance results for the 2002 Philadelphia International Auto Show. A total of 238,291 show-goers attended the 101st edition of the show, which parked at the Pennsylvania Convention Center from January 5-13. The final tally was 12 percent higher than the previous record set at last year's show (211,896).

``Our history-making attendance is indicative of how important this show has become to the consumers in the greater Philadelphia region,'' said Chuck Peterson, chairman of the 2002 Philadelphia International Auto Show. ``Past surveys have shown that 92 percent of show attendees found the auto show helpful in making their vehicle purchase decisions.''

The ADAGP unveiled a new charitable initiative, CARing for Kids, a community service program of the ADAGP that supports The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and other child-related causes in the Philadelphia five-county area. It is a formal extension of the Association's ongoing relationship with Children's Hospital and its interest in the welfare of children.

``The Association is also proud of the monetary contribution such a record represents,'' added Peterson. One dollar from every ticket sold to the auto show is donated to The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Also through the program, the Quality Plus Ford Dealers generated an additional $31,000 for Children's Hospital by holding a silent auction for a new Ford Windstar. As a result, this year's total donation to Children's Hospital has reached $269,291 just through the 2002 Show.

This year's show was home to four North American vehicle introductions including the Lamborghini Murcielago, Mercedes Benz SL, Infiniti G35 and a redesigned Ford Expedition. Several celebrities made appearances at the show including Philadelphia Eagles Brian Dawkins and Bobby Taylor, Philadelphia Flyers Mark Recchi and Brian Boucher, Philadelphia 76er Dikembe Mutombo and NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

More Information About the ADAGP

Established in 1904, the Automobile Dealers Association of Greater Philadelphia (ADAGP) is the oldest association of its kind in the nation. The Association is comprised of 220 franchised new car dealerships in the Philadelphia five county area. The mission of the Association is to support, promote and protect the common interests of the dealers in Greater Philadelphia by providing services and educational programs, disseminating information, enhancing dealership image and pooling collective influence for the benefit of its members. The ADAGP's largest endeavors are the annual Philadelphia International Auto Show and its Black Tie Tailgate Preview Gala.

The ADAGP's 220 members sell approximately 215,000 new vehicles every year. This process generates just under $9 billion in sales and employs approximately 15,400 people with annual payroll of over $700 million.

For more than a decade, the Automobile Dealers Association of Greater Philadelphia has supported the extraordinary work of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, one of the finest pediatric hospitals in the nation. This support is exhibited through the Association's contribution scheduled to reach $2.5 million by the year 2005. One dollar of every ticket sold to the auto show is donated to Children's Hospital. This year, the ADAGP extended its involvement with children and unveiled CARing for Kids, the formalized program in which the Association supports Children's Hospital and other child-related causes in the Philadelphia five-county area.

For more information on the ADAGP, visit www.adagp.com.