North American International Auto Show Announces 2004 Show Dates

DETROIT, March 14 -- The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) today announced the dates of its 2004 show as follows:

Press Preview Days will be held Sunday, Jan. 4, through Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004. In 2003, more than 6,700 journalists from around the world witnessed the introduction of 61 new vehicles unveiled during the three-day Press Preview period.

Industry Preview Days will be Wednesday, Jan. 7, and Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004. In 2003, more than 27,000 employees of 2,000 auto manufacturer and supplier companies attended Industry Preview Days, which are an exclusive opportunity for companies in the automotive industry to invite key contacts, suppliers and employees to preview the NAIAS before the show opens to the public.

Charity Preview will be held Friday evening, Jan. 9, 2004. This annual black-tie fundraising gala raised $6.125 million for Detroit-area children's charities in 2003 by selling all 17,500 tickets at $350 each. The public is encouraged to call 888-838-7500 to be placed on a wait list for the 2004 event.

Public Days will be Saturday, Jan. 10, through Monday, Jan. 19, 2004 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day). The 2003 show set a Public Days attendance record by attracting more than 810,000 visitors to the show.

All events listed above will be held at Cobo Center in Detroit. Co- chairmen for the 2004 NAIAS will be Chuck Fortinberry, owner of Clarkston Chrysler-Jeep (Clarkston, Mich.), and Bill Cook, of Cook Imports (Farmington Hills, Mich.).

"The NAIAS Executive Committee visited the Geneva auto show to talk with many industry leaders about dates for 2004, and carefully reviewed logistical options for Cobo Center and the calendar of events for the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles (the sanctioning body for worldwide auto shows)," said Chuck Fortinberry, senior co-chair of the NAIAS 2004. "The Jan. 4-19 dates were the best option based on the feedback we received, coupled with further research of our convention center flexibility. Moving the dates to a week later would have been close to impossible given the Cobo Center event calendar particularly at this late stage."

About Chuck Fortinberry

Chuck Fortinberry is senior co-chairman of the 2004 NAIAS, having served as co-chair for the 2003 NAIAS. He also has served on the Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA) executive committee as president (2001-2002), vice president (2000-2001), secretary/treasurer (1999-2000) and was on the DADA Board of Directors from 1995-1998. Fortinberry currently is a member of several DADA committees and also serves on the Auto Dealers of Michigan, LLC Board of Managers.

About Bill Cook

William (Bill) Cook is co-chairman of the NAIAS. He also has served on the DADA executive committee as president (2002-2003), vice president (2001- 2002), secretary/treasurer (2000-2001) and was on the DADA Board of Directors from 1998-2000. He currently serves on the DADA Charitable Foundation Fund Advisory Committee, the Auto Dealers of Michigan, LLC Board of Directors, the Michigan Automobile Dealers Association (MADA) Executive Committee and Board of Directors and is a member of the Mazda National Dealer Advisory Council.

About the North American International Auto Show

Entering its 16th year as an international event, the North American International Auto Show is considered among the most prestigious auto shows in the world and is one of the largest media events in North America. The NAIAS is the only auto show in the United States to earn the distinguished sanction of the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles, the Paris- based alliance of automotive trade associations and manufacturers from around the world. The NAIAS website can be accessed at www.naias.com .