Polk Wraps Up New York International Auto Show Survey Initiative

1 May 2000

              Ninth Report in a Series From the NYIAS 2000 Floor

    NEW YORK, April 30 With the New York International Auto
Show 2000 coming to a close, Polk has compiled the data volunteered by more
than 7,000 respondents during eight of the nine days NYIAS 2000 was open to
the public (April 22-29).  Today's report summarizes these survey responses
and provides a sampling of additional questions being asked at the Polk Auto
Trend Centers, along with a Top 5 listing of favorites from the show displays.
Final show survey results will be available during the coming week.

    Key Trends Found by Polk at NYIAS 2000

    Consumer response at Polk's Auto Trend Centers indicated the following
trends in new vehicle shopping:

    -- New vehicle models, which cross many of the traditional vehicle
       category lines, made quite an impression on visitors to NYIAS 2000.
       These evolving segments include crossover vehicles, which combine
       car-like features with the functionality of trucks, and nostalgia
       vehicles, which bring back model designs from the past and combine them
       with new high-tech features.  The Chrysler PT Cruiser is an example of
       a vehicle that fits into both of these evolving segment definitions,
       and was continuously voted as the favorite within the Minivan/Full-size
       Van category by NYIAS visitors.

    -- A great deal of attention was given to alternative fuel and hybrid
       vehicles at NYIAS 2000, as most major manufacturers displayed current
       and concept vehicles designed to operate with greater efficiency.
       According to results from Polk's Auto Trend Centers, more than half of
       consumers at the show plan to look for a more fuel-efficient vehicle.
       However, time will tell if consumer behavior will follow their
       sentiment.  To date, the increase in fuel costs and the environmental
       issues have had little effect on the strong light truck market, where
       most of the lower mileage vehicles reside.

    -- Ethnic differences in vehicle preferences and shopping were also
       observed in the Big Apple.  Key differences among ethnic groups
       included the type of manufacturer being considered for a next new
       vehicle purchase, the likelihood to repurchase from the same
       manufacturer, and the value placed on product innovativeness and
       high-tech features.

    -- The Internet's impact on the auto industry was also evident among
       visitors to NYIAS 2000.  The Internet was chosen as the information
       source most relied on for a new vehicle purchase, followed by the test
       drive.  More than half of recent new vehicle buyers at the auto show
       indicated that they surfed the Web when shopping for their new vehicle.
       This is noteworthy, considering the fact that in recent years the Web
       was not even ranked as an information source.

                      Who Took Polk's Auto Trend Survey?
                        (As of 4/30/00 at 10:30 a.m.)

    Total Number of Respondents = 7,910
    Total Number of Completed Interviews = 4,623


    Men                                                  76%
    Women                                                24%

    Echo Boomers (under 18)                              25%
    Gen-Xers (18-34)                                     44%
    Baby Boomers (35-54)                                 25%
    Mature Market (55 and over)                           6%

    African American                                     11%
    Asian                                                 7%
    Hispanic                                             14%
    White/Caucasian                                      58%
    Other                                                10%

    NYC Residents                                        43%
    Tri-State Residents                                  48%
    Out-of-Town Visitors                                  9%

                           Vehicle Lifestyle Trends

    Activities Done in Vehicle (In Last Six Months):

                   Overall        Men        Women          NYC     Tri-State
                                                       Residents     Residents
    Ate or drank      85%          85%          90%          83%         89%
    Sang out loud     82%          80%          91%          80%         84%
    Talked on phone   74%          74%          76%          73%         76%
    Been romantic     57%          59%          54%          60%         55%
    Read while
     driving          31%          32%          29%          31%         31%
    Shaved or
     applied make-up  29%          20%          53%          29%         26%
    Got caught
     honking in a
     no honking zone  21%          21%         17%          22%          17%


                       Overall      Men       Women     NYC       Tri-State
                                                      Residents    Residents
    Do you favor a
     ban on cell
     phone use while
     driving?    (Yes)     45%       44%       52%       49%           43%
    Do you plan to
     buy a more fuel
     efficient vehicle?
     (Yes)                 52%       51%       59%       57%           49%

    Which New York Personality Best Describes Your Driving Personality?
    (Top 10)

                     Overall        Men       Women         NYC      Tri-State
                                                        Residents    Residents
    Jerry Seinfeld    21%          24%          11%          21%         22%
    Howard Stern      20%          23%          11%          20%         22%
    David Letterman   11%          13%           5%          10%         13%
    Rosie O'Donnell    9%           5%          23%           9%          9%
    Rudy Giuliani      8%           9%           3%           9%          7%
    Regis Philbin      6%           7%           5%           6%          7%
    Donald Trump       6%           7%           4%           8%          5%
    George
     Steinbrenner      5%           6%           3%           6%          6%
    Sarah Jessica
     Parker            5%           1%          15%           5%          4%
    Katie Couric       4%           2%          12%           3%          5%

    Which of the Following Products Would You Most Want in Your Next New
    Vehicle?

                     Overall      Men         Women         NYC     Tri-State
                                                       Residents    Residents
    On-line mapping
     or navigation
     system            31%        31%          34%          31%          33%
    Voice-activated
     controls          23%        23%          21%          23%          23%
    Video
     entertainment
     console           15%        16%          14%          15%          15%
    Internet access    12%        13%          10%          14%          10%
    Heated
     seats/individual
     climate control   12%        11%          15%          10%          13%
    Adaptive
     /intelligent
     cruise control     7%         7%           5%           6%           7%

    Shopping Preferences

                       Overall      Men       Women      NYC        Tri-State
                                                      Residents      Residents
    Have you
     purchased or
     leased a vehicle
     in the last six
     months? (Yes)        30%       30%         28%        25%           33%

    Did you use the
     Internet to shop
     for your new
     vehicle? (Yes)       58%       58%         58%        56%           60%


    Did You Use the Internet to ...

                    Overall        Men         Women        NYC     Tri-State
                                                        Residents   Residents
    Obtain
     information on
     vehicle pricing? 95%          95%         96%          95%          96%
    Visit product
     information
     /ratings sites?  88%          87%         91%          85%          90%
    Contact a dealer
     located on the
     Web?             53%          53%         55%          59%          48%

    Your Next Vehicle Purchase Will Most Likely Be From Which Type of
    Manufacturer:

                     Overall      Men         Women         NYC     Tri-State
                                                       Residents    Residents
    Domestic          45%          45%          46%          45%         45%
    Asian             23%          22%          24%          22%         23%
    European          32%          33%          30%          33%         32%


    Which of the Following Information Sources Do You Rely On Most When
    Purchasing a New Vehicle?(a)

                     Overall      Men         Women         NYC     Tri-State
                                                       Residents    Residents
    Internet          42%          40%          37%          39%         39%
    Test Drive        39%          36%          36%          37%         35%
    Print information
     sources          34%          30%          32%          30%         31%
    Previous
     experience with
     manufacturer     29%          25%          28%          23%          28%
    Dealership
     salesperson      23%          20%          20%          18%         22%

    (a) Total is greater than 100 because respondents could select up to two
        sources.

    Polk is a global company, delivering multi-dimensional marketing
information solutions to the automotive industry to enhance the relationships
consumers have with brands.  Through lifetime understanding of individuals,
Polk helps its clients maintain current customers, win new ones and build
their brand loyalty.  The company has served the automotive industry for
78 years and is the longest-standing steward of automobile records in the
United States.  Founded in Detroit in 1870, Polk launched its motor vehicle
statistical operations in 1922 when the first car registration reports were
published.  It now serves nearly every segment of the motor vehicle industry
as an analytical consultant and statistician, a provider of database-marketing
services, a supplier of vehicle histories and a data enabler for geographic
information systems.
   Based in Southfield, Mich., Polk is a privately held firm that employs more
than 2,500 people worldwide, currently operating in Australia, Canada, China,
France, Germany, Holland, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.

    As of 11:30 a.m. April 30, 2000   *Top 5 leaders based on voting at the
    Polk Auto Trend Centers


    Concept Vehicle:                         Minivan/Full-size Van:
    1. BMW Z9                  16%           1. Chrysler PT Cruiser      18%
    2. Dodge Viper Concept     12%           2. Mazda MPV                12%
    3. Jaguar F-Type Concept    9%           3. Mercury Villager          9%
    4. Hummer H2                6%           4. Dodge Caravan             8%
       Chrysler 300 Hemi        6%           5. Ford Windstar             7%

    Exhibit:                                 Pickup Truck:
    1. BMW                     11%           1.
Toyota Tundra            20%
    2. Hyundai                  6%           2. Ford F-Series            17%
    3. Hummer                   6%           3. Dodge Ram Pickup Truck   13%
    4. Porsche                  5%           4. Toyota Tacoma            10%
       Jaguar                   5%           5. Dodge Dakota              8%
       Mercedes-Benz            5%

    Sports Car:                              Prestige Luxury Car:
    1. Dodge Viper             14%           1. Mercedes-Benz S-Class    14%
    2. Chevrolet Camaro        10%           2. Jaguar XJR               12%
    3. Porsche 911              8%           3. Jaguar XJ8               10%
    4. BMW M5                   5%           4. Rolls Royce
                                                Silver Seraph             9%
    5. BMW Z3                   4%           5. BMW 7 Series              7%

    Luxury Car:                              SUV:
    1. Lincoln LS              10%           1. Hummer                   11%
    2. Jaguar S TYPE            9%           2. BMW X5                    8%
    3. Lexus GS400              8%           3. Lincoln Navigator         6%
    4. Mercedes-Benz CLK        7%           4. Jeep Grand Cherokee       5%
    5. BMW 528                  6%           5. Lexus RX 300              4%

    Midsize/Large Car:                       Small Car:
    1. Honda Accord            10%           1. Volkswagen New Beetle    22%
    2. Volkswagen Passat        9%           2. Honda Civic              14%
    3. Volkswagen Jetta         6%           3. Ford Focus               10%
       Ford Taurus              6%           4. Volkswagen Golf           7%
       Volvo S40                6%           5. Saturn SL                 5%