Wards Consolidates Information Into Subscription Website

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Dec. 17 -- Ward's Communications, a PRIMEDIA company and the world's leading provider of auto industry information, today announced the launch of WardsAuto.com, the ultimate source for news, data and analysis for those who work in or professionally follow auto making and retailing.

WardsAuto.com will provide subscribers with unrestricted and immediate access to all the latest and archived news, data and analysis from Ward's Communications, which has covered the auto industry for more than 75 years through its leading newsletters, including Ward's Automotive Reports, and magazines, such as Ward's AutoWorld and Ward's Dealer Business.

``Ward's is a trusted name providing professionals both directly and indirectly affected by the automobile industry with the information they need to help them do their jobs well,'' said Jim Bush, publisher of Ward's Information Products. ``Now, with the integration of all of Ward's information into one product and by leveraging the benefits of the Internet -- its immediacy, its search-and-retrieve power, and its portability -- we can better serve our subscribers.''

WardsAuto.com is organized to simplify the process of finding the most relevant information for each of the industry's many diverse functional groups, such as engineering, manufacturing and sales. The site features sections tailored to geographic regions of the world and to specific topics, including technology, marketing and strategy. In addition, archive searches can be narrowed down by subject matter to provide more focused results for users.

Among initial subscribers are several of the industry's major international companies, including automakers and component suppliers. Subscriptions also will be valuable to virtually anyone with a professional interest in the auto industry: consultants, dealers, analysts and academic and government officials tracking worldwide and domestic auto markets.