Allied Automotive Group Earns ISO 9001 & Q9001:2000 Certification

DECATUR, Ga., Aug. 20, 2003 -- Allied Holdings, Inc. (AMEX:AHI) announced today that effective August 13, 2003 its automotive transportation subsidiary, Allied Automotive Group ("Allied"), has been awarded ISO 9001 and Q9001:2000 certification by American Quality Assessors (AQA), a third-party firm hired to administer the ISO audit for the Registration Accreditation Board. The certification is an improvement from ISO 9002:1994, an accreditation level that Allied had previously achieved.

The ISO standards require users to approach quality management systems as a series of processes. The improved ISO quality standards achieved by Allied place a greater emphasis on top management involvement in the Quality Management System than the accreditation level previously achieved by Allied. Additionally, the audit conducted by AQA to determine compliance with the quality standards now includes an examination of the extent to which a company's Quality Management System contains customer-focused elements, including understanding needs, meeting requirements, keeping customers informed, and measuring satisfaction.

We believe that this ISO certification evidences that Allied has met strict quality management guidelines, including standardizing operations with a focus towards customer requirements. The certification applies to all of the company's locations throughout the United States and Canada and remains in effect for three years. During that three-year period, AQA will perform an audit every year to ensure that the ISO standards continue to be met.

Allied believes that its primary customers prefer to select vendors which are ISO certified and are committed to continuous improvement in their operations.

"Allied Automotive Group's management fully supports the quality management system," said David Rawden, Senior Vice President, Business Process Engineering. "The objectives of Allied's integrated management systems incorporate the objectives of the ISO 9001:2000 standard. Allied is committed to continuous improvement in customer satisfaction, quality, reliability, training and core operating processes."

"We are extremely pleased that we were able to earn this higher level of certification," said Hugh Sawyer, Allied Holdings President and Chief Executive Officer. "Allied has made process engineering an important element of our strategy to revitalize the company. Allied has standardized the core processes of our operations and documented the key activities which we believe impact our performance. Our aspiration is to improve those core processes required to innovate, improve quality, increase speed to market and facilitate our customers' success. We aim to position Allied as the clear and compelling choice for value minded customers in the new and pre-owned vehicle distribution markets."

About Allied Holdings

Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical are "forward looking" statements. Such statements include, without limitations, any statements containing the words "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "seek," and similar expressions. Investors are cautioned that such statements, including statements regarding the preference of Allied's customers to select vendors which are ISO certified, the quality guidelines evidenced as a result of Allied's certification, and the ability of the Company to improve core processes are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Without limitation, these risks and uncertainties include economic recessions or extended or more severe downturns in new vehicle production or sales, the highly competitive nature of the automotive distribution industry, the ability to comply with the terms of its debt agreements, the ability of the Company to obtain financing in the future, the Company's highly leveraged financial position, dependence on the automotive industry, labor disputes involving the Company or its significant customers, the dependence on key personnel who have been hired or retained by the Company, the availability of strategic acquisitions, dispositions, or joint venture partners, changes in regulatory requirements which are applicable to the Company's business, risks associated with conducting business in foreign countries, and changes in vehicle sizes and weights which may impact vehicle deliveries per load. Investors are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by the Company in this press release and in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For additional information about Allied, please visit our website at www.alliedholdings.com .