Oldsmobile Takes A Look Forward And Back At 2001 PGA Championship In Atlanta

FOR RELEASE: August 16, 2001

Oldsmobile Takes A Look Forward And Back At 2001 PGA Championship In Atlanta

Atlanta, GA - Oldsmobile is center stage this week as Official Vehicle of the 83rd PGA Championship being held at Atlanta Athletic Club, August 13-19. An active PGA partner for many years, Oldsmobile is invigorating its Atlanta sales force with PGA promotional tie-ins, incentive programs and hot sales contests while paying tribute to its local dealers and heritage. When General Motors announced last December the 103 year-old division is gradually being phased out, Oldsmobile took immediate action to embrace its customers and dealers as well as fortify relationships with promotional partners like the PGA. "Our challenge was to sustain enthusiasm for our products and to continue to motivate our corporate and dealer teams, " said Jay Allen, Regional Marketing Manager- Oldsmobile. "Our first step was to activate local sponsorship events and promotions."

The carmaker quickly realized the PGA Championship was a golden opportunity to host a regional dealer tribute and a new product orientation course. In addition to watching professional golfers roam the manicured greens, Oldsmobile dealers' sales staffs are taking advantage of a comprehensive training course on two of its strongest products, the 2002 Bravada SUV and the 2002 Silhouette minivan, on-site at the tournament.

After training, Oldsmobile hosts dealers and special guests in a chalet transformed into a memorabilia museum with dozens of classic photos and vintage facts.

"It is no coincidence Oldsmobile selected the PGA Championship as the backdrop to celebrate its long-standing tradition of quality and excellence," explained Allen. "Atlanta and Oldsmobile go back a long way." The relationship began when the Doraville Assembly Plant - opened in 1947 as part of the former Buick-Oldsmobile-Pontiac Assembly Division of General Motors. One of the first automobiles produced at GM Doraville was the Oldsmobile Dynamic 66 which began rolling off the line in November of 1947. GM Doraville has enjoyed many milestones including building its eight-millionth vehicle in February 2000 and producing its one-millionth minivan in August 2000. Today, the 3.6 million square foot facility makes up 6.28 percent of GM's total U.S. production including the 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette. "GM Doraville employs a workforce of 4,000 people focused on safety and striving to build the best quality minivan on the market," said Randy Thayer, GM Doraville's Plant Manager.

Participating Oldsmobile dealers cap off the PGA event with a customer appreciation tent sale continuing several weeks after the tournament. The "Grand Slam" sales event adds special promotional incentives on top of the great deals all ready offered on Oldsmobile's lineup of fine vehicles. For more information on Oldsmobile, go to www.oldsmobile.com or for information on the 2001 PGA Championship go to www.pga2001.com