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AAA To Replace Vehicle Batteries On Site

20 May 1999

AAA To Replace Vehicle Batteries On Site

    ORLANDO, Fla.--May 20, 1999--AAA recently unveiled a plan to offer on-site battery diagnostic and replacement service for stranded member vehicles.
    "Year after year, failed batteries are the leading cause of AAA member breakdowns, accounting for 22 percent of the 30 million emergency road service calls to AAA in 1998," said Marshall L. Doney, vice president, AAA Automotive Services.
    "This agreement will allow us to properly diagnose the failure on site and, if necessary, offer a replacement battery, allowing the member to return to the road quickly and with as little inconvenience as possible."
    The new service will have limited availability in select markets through 1999. Rollout of the program will take place over the next several years.
    The AAA-exclusive mobile battery replacement program, developed by Club Assist, uses a proprietary technology that significantly reduces the time required to accurately diagnose battery failure.
    "Battery freshness is sometimes a problem in this industry," said Wayne Richardson, president/CEO of Club Assist. "Our distribution system allows us to exceed industry standards in this area."
    The batteries carry up to a 72-month warranty, with up to a 24-month free replacement if required. They are manufactured by GNB Technologies, the world's largest original equipment battery supplier.
    The service will be provided through AAA's network of fleet and contract vehicles.
    AAA is a not-for-profit federation of 90 clubs with 1,100 offices providing nearly 42 million members in the United States and Canada travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. AAA's automotive services network includes 4,400 AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities and 13,000 towing contractors representing 39,000 service vehicles.

    AAA news releases can be downloaded from http://www.aaa.com/news