Providata Automotive Introduces New Competitive Teardown and Market Research Clinic Services, Appoints Chris Olliff to Head New Operations

    ANN ARBOR, Mich., Feb. 16 Providata Automotive, the
automotive industry's leading management consulting and market intelligence
firm, announced the formation of its new Competitive Teardown/Clinic Services
division (CTCS).  "With the launch of CTCS, Providata Automotive is now the
only full-service automotive competitive intelligence provider to the global
automotive industry," according to Scott D. Upham, president and founder of
Providata Automotive.
    Providata Automotive has appointed Chris Olliff to the position of
Manager, Competitive Teardown & Clinic Services.  Chris joins Providata
Automotive from Lear Corporation where he was a Benchmarking & Product
Specialist within the company's competitive benchmarking group.  Prior to
Lear, Olliff held several managerial positions with Saturn Corporation based
in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
    Providata Automotive's CTCS division will incorporate both automotive
component teardown capabilities and consumer clinic capabilities within the
company's full-service package to vehicle manufacturers and Tier 1-2-3
automotive suppliers.  "Car makers and suppliers have discovered that they can
achieve a substantial competitive edge through vehicle teardowns, component
analysis and in-depth consumer clinics focused on product attributes and
performance -- Providata Automotive is the only supplier to bring these
elements together," Upham said.
    As part of the CTCS operations, Providata Automotive offers its new
ClinicTech product line:

    *  ClinicTech Consumer Product Focus Group Clinics
    *  ClinicTech Consumer Technology Clinics
    *  ClinicTech Consumer Attitude Clinics
    *  ClinicTech Ride & Drive Focus Group Clinics

    Providata Automotive offers its ClinicTech Packages to vehicle
manufacturers and Tier 1-2-3 automotive suppliers to gage consumer interest,
collect direct market research data and record consumer likes/dislikes on
automotive products, new designs or full prototypes.  Quite often, solid
market-tested product prototypes and proposals require consumer input for
validation and marketability.  Providata Automotive provides the resources and
analytical horsepower to deliver consumer clinic solutions to automotive
companies.
    Providata Automotive's turnkey approach to competitive teardown and
consumer clinic research provides significant flexibility and maximizes
marketing, business development and research & development dollars.
    More information on Providata Automotive's products and services can be
found at http://www.providata.com , via e-mail at info@providata.com or by
calling Scott D. Upham at 734-213-0400.
    Based in Ann Arbor, Mich., Providata Automotive is the automotive
industry's leading management consulting, market research, forecasting and
competitive intelligence firms.  Providata Automotive has built a solid
reputation with automotive executives around the world as an intelligent
alternative to high-priced multi-industry management consulting firms.
Providata Automotive's web-site at http://www.providata.com contains over 5,000 free
links to automotive supplier Internet web-sites.