Automotive News Manufacturing Conference to Explore Complexities of Supply Chain Management, May 5 - 6, 2003

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., March 19 -- Tom LaSorda, executive vice president manufacturing, DaimlerChrysler and Carlos Mazzorin, chairman and CEO, Magna Donnelly will lead a contingent of top automotive executives in exploring the complexities of manufacturing in the United States at the Automotive News Manufacturing Conference. The event is slated for May 5 - 6 at the Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham, AL.

Titled "After Efficient, Then What? The Next Frontiers in Manufacturing," the conference will emphasize supply chain management through individual presentations and a panel discussion: "Reinventing the Supply Chain: Five Approaches to a Model that Works."

Joining LaSorda and Mazzorin in sharing their insights and experiences will be:

* Ron Kruse, president, Client Services Division, Caterpillar Logistics Services, Inc.

* Charles Ernst, plant manager and vice president of operations, Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC

* Emil Hassan, senior vice president manufacturing, purchasing, quality and logistics, Nissan North America, Inc.

* Byung-Mo Ahn, executive vice president administration, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama

  *  Dave Nelson, vice president, global purchasing, Delphi Corporation
  *  Kevin Prouty, research director, AMR Research, Inc.
  *  Bill Taylor, president and CEO, Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc.

* James Wiemels, vice president, Global Manufacturing Process, General Motors

The Automotive News Manufacturing Conference attracts hundreds of manufacturing experts and top managers of the industry's leading automotive manufacturers and the OEMs, suppliers, retailers, financial service firms and trade associations that support them. In addition to speaker insights, the conference offers attendees:

  *  The Gala Dinner Tuesday, May 6;
  *  VIP tours of the Mercedes-Benz plant; and
  *  networking opportunities during meals, receptions and breaks.

Registration for the Automotive News Manufacturing Conference, sponsored by Mercedes-Benz U.S. International and Deloitte Consulting, is $695 per person. Gala Dinner only tickets, including the pre-dinner reception, are available at $150 per person or $1,300 for a table of ten. A complete agenda and online registration are available at www.autonews.com/anEvents.cms . For information or registration via phone, call 800-279-3611.

The Automotive News Manufacturing Conference is scheduled in conjunction with the Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association's (AAMA) quarterly meeting Wednesday, May 7 at the Wynfrey Hotel. Automotive News Executive Editor and Associate Publisher Peter Brown will address the luncheon audience. AAMA quarterly meeting details are available at www.aama.to .