GM's Car Czar Bob Lutz to Open Press Week at the 2002 New York International Auto Show

NEW YORK, March 5 -- Since taking over as General Motors' top product executive back in September 2001, Bob Lutz -- vice chairman of product development and chairman, North America -- has been faced with the challenge of changing buyers' perception of GM products. As the featured speaker at this year's annual New York International Automobile Show/International Motor Press Association press breakfast, Lutz is expected to reveal some important news about his plan to get GM back on top.

(Lutz's automotive pedigree is well known. From his early days at GM in the 60s, where he held a variety of positions in Europe, and a stint as executive vice president of sales at BMW in Munich to Ford, where he spent twelve years in positions that included Chairman of Ford of Europe and EVP of Ford's international operations. Lutz left Ford in 1986 to join Chrysler where he was soon elected to the Chrysler Corp. Board, before becoming vice chairman and subsequently president and COO.

A string of recent unveilings by GM including concept cars like the Pontiac Solstice, Chevrolet Bel Air, Pontiac Grand Prix ``G-Force'' and the production models like the revised Saturn L-Series and the Pontiac Sunfire, show a renewed confidence in GM design.

In his remarks, Lutz is expected to discuss his vision for the biggest of the Big Three.

The annual NYIAS/IMPA breakfast has been held each year at the New York International Automobile Show since 1986. Over the years the event has attracted many of the world's highest-ranking automotive executives including such notables as Bob Eaton, Henrich Heitmann, Lee Iococca, Jacques Nasser, Jack Smith, Alex Trotman, Carlos Ghosn, and Rick Wagoner.

Celebrating its 102nd anniversary as North America's first auto show, the 2002 NYIAS will be held at New York City's Jacob Javits Convention Center from March 29 through April 7. Prior to the public opening, the Show hosts nearly 4,000 media and industry personnel during its annual Press Preview. This year's press days are Wednesday, March 27 and Thursday, March 28.