Volvo Joins OEConnection's Parts and Service Web Portal

    RICHFIELD, Ohio, Aug. 27 Volvo Cars of North America, LLC
has become the latest automaker to join OEConnection, LLC, the premier
Internet-based original equipment parts and service portal. OEConnection,
headquartered here, is the new venture owned and supported by DaimlerChrysler,
Ford Motor Company, General Motors and Bell & Howell.
    By participating, collision centers and eventually independent repair
facilities, fleets and other retailers will have online access to Volvo's
original equipment parts through OEConnection's suite of e-commerce products.
OEConnection's products will create a more efficient parts buying experience
for wholesale parts customers and their parts-supplying Volvo retailers.
    The first such product is CollisionLink(TM), which facilitates the parts
specification and ordering process between dealerships and their collision
shop customers. CollisionLink(TM) is currently being released nationwide on a
region-by-region basis.
    "Volvo is driven to deliver innovative solutions to its retailers that
improve productivity and strengthen the retailers' relationships with their
wholesale parts customers," said Kevin Weidinger, OEConnection Vice President,
Sales and National Accounts. "Volvo's participation in this venture further
strengthens OEConnection's vision to develop a common original equipment parts
application for the retailer and wholesale parts buying community."
    To assist its retailers in more efficiently delivering genuine Volvo parts
to their wholesale parts customers, Volvo will provide OEConnection with
parts, service and related technical information.  Volvo's approximately
400 North American retailers can subscribe to the service, and gain
opportunities to fulfill wholesale orders using genuine Volvo parts.
    Quote from Phil Cabot, manager, Volvo Aftersales Business Development  --
"CollisionLink(TM) acts as a parts highway between Volvo retailer parts
departments and their collision shop customers, allowing them to increase
sales and efficiency in their operations."
    OEConnection was formed in December 2000 with the backing of
DaimlerChrysler, Ford, GM and technology partner Bell & Howell. In July,
Saturn Corporation agreed to participate, adding its vehicles to existing
product lines from Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Ford,
Lincoln, Mercury, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Plymouth in the online portal.
    About OEConnection: OEConnection is a new venture created by
DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors and Bell & Howell to
provide automotive dealerships and their wholesale customers an e-commerce
suite of products and services for their parts and service information needs.
OEConnection will facilitate the specification, ordering and servicing of OE
parts between dealerships and their parts procurement customers. The venture
is based in northeastern Ohio, and is currently releasing the
CollisionLink(TM) product that streamlines the parts specification and
ordering process between dealerships and collision repair facilities. For more
information on OEConnection, visit http://www.oeconnection.com .

    About Volvo Cars of North America:
    Volvo Cars of North America, LLC is a part of Volvo Car Corporation of
Goteborg, Sweden, which is a wholly owned division of Ford Motor Company. The
company provides marketing, sales, parts, service, technology and training
support to its Volvo automobile retailers in the US and Canada. The 2001 Volvo
automobile line includes the flagship S80 luxury sedan, versatile V70 wagon
and rugged Cross Country, C70 coupe and convertible, the sporty, new S60 sedan
and compact S40 and V40 models. For more information on Volvo Cars of North
America, visit http://new.volvocars.com .

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