California International Auto Show and Motor Press Guild Present West Coast Automotive Design Forum

ANAHEIM, Calif., Oct. 15 -- The California International Auto Show (CIAS) and the Los Angeles-based Motor Press Guild (MPG), have joined together to present an automotive design forum and business breakfast scheduled for Oct. 2, 20039, 2003 at the CIAS in Anaheim.

The West Coast Automotive Design Forum/KFWB Business Breakfast will feature a panel discussion of leading automotive designers representing Southern California's numerous area studios and design centers. The breakfast is being sponsored by news radio 980KFWB and Cars.com, and will be co- moderated by Richard Saxton, KFWB and Bloomberg reporter. Detroit's John McElroy, longtime auto journalist and host of the Speed Channel's "AutoLine Detroit" will join Saxton as co-moderator.

Panelists will discuss the industry's growing focus on the hot youth market, and future design trends, many of which are sure to originate in Southern California -- widely considered the nation's modern home of automotive design and influence. Featured guests include: Henrick Fisker, executive director, Global Advanced Design, Ford Motor Company and Aston Martin design director; Tom Matano, director of industrial design, Academy of Art College, and former executive designer and director of Mazda North American Operations; Frank Saucedo, design director, General Motors 5350 Industrial Concepts; Jeff Teague, president, Teague Design, Inc.; and Eddie Paul, custom car builder for the Fast and Furious movies.

The day begins at 6:30 a.m. with a "Networking Breakfast" at the Anaheim Hilton, Pacific Ballrooms C & D, adjacent to the Anaheim Convention Center, followed by the program at 7:30 a.m. All members of the MPG are invited to attend the breakfast meeting as complimentary guests of the CIAS and should register online at www.caautoshow.com .

Working press will also receive credentials to attend press conferences during the auto show's media day, which will include a North American vehicle debut by Volkswagen. Press conferences and other media events begin immediately after the panel discussion at approximately 9:00 a.m. Tickets are available for $25 for non-media guests, who can register by calling 980KFWB at 323-462-5392 or visiting www.kfwb.com .

The 2004-Model CIAS is presented by the Orange County Automobile Dealers Association and Southland Motor Car Dealers Association, sponsored by the Los Angeles Times and produced by Motor Trend Auto Shows, Inc. The show will be open to the public Wed., Oct. 29 through Sun., Nov. 2, 2003. For more show information, ticket prices, discount coupons and show hours, please visit www.caautoshow.com .

The MPG is a non-profit professional association of journalists, photographers and public relations professionals dedicated to promoting education and information exchange within the motoring press.

  Media Contacts:
  Joe Rohatynski (Detroit)            Lauren Holzman (California)
  313-378-6570                        858-523-0001
  joe@joepr.com                       Lauren.Holzman@primedia.com