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Hispanic Dealer Opens Largest Infiniti Dealership in the World

14 July 2000

    HOUSTON - Fernando Somoza, veteran automotive dealer, has opened North 
Houston Infiniti, the largest Infiniti facility in the world.

    Fernando Somoza, dealer principal, adds this dealership to his long list
of other successfully owned and operated businesses in the Houston area.  As
co-owner of a Porsche-Audi dealership, a BMW-Porsche-Saab dealership and three
Saturn dealerships in Houston, he has been in the automobile retail business
for more than twenty-five years.  Kirk Franceschini, Somoza's business partner
of 20 years, is the co-owner of North Houston Infiniti and will act as the
dealership's executive manager.

    At 30,318 sq. feet, North Houston Infiniti stands close to 5,000 sq. feet
larger than any other the Infiniti dealership.  The formal grand opening will
take place in late August or early September.

    "I am very excited about being able to expand my business with a nameplate
as prestigious as Infiniti," said Somoza.  "I've worked hard to reach this
point and this is an excellent opportunity for me to tap into an entirely
different group of consumers.  Infiniti's reputation for exceptional customer
service and quality vehicles mirrors the way I strive to operate all my
dealerships.  We are a perfect match."

    "This is a tribute to Mr. Somoza's success as a retailer in the automotive
industry," said Tom Lagergren, Dealers Operations Manager of Infiniti of North
Houston.  "We know that he will bring the same level of expertise and
knowledge to Infiniti of North Houston that he has to all his other
dealerships."

    Infiniti is supported by a network of approximately 170 retailers
throughout North America and offers a range of luxury vehicles including the
Infiniti QX4 luxury Sport Utility Vehicle, G20 sports sedan, I30 luxury sedan,
and flagship Q45 performance sedan.