New Brand Campaigns, Products and Technologies Create State-of-the-Art Experiences at the 2005 North American International Auto Show

Celebrating 90 years of helping define the modern auto show, The George P. Johnson Company supports automakers with dramatic brand experiences

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Jan. 6 -- Visitors to the 2005 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) will be among the first to experience the new brand campaigns and positioning for vehicles of numerous major manufacturers, with a focus on large-scale brand and media experiences in their exhibits.

The George P. Johnson Company (GPJ), the global event marketing firm continues to redefine the modern auto show through its work over the past 90 years. GPJ assists manufacturers around the world in developing event marketing campaigns that drive brand awareness, trial, preference and sales, including fully-integrated auto show design and execution.

At a time when online marketing and Internet shopping and traditional media have become the standard methods of communicating, the live three- dimensional auto show still continues to grow in popularity and importance to marketers, according to GPJ CEO Robert G. Vallee, Jr. Automakers will unveil some 60 concept and production vehicles at the 2005 NAIAS, he reports, relying on the exhibit experience to help introduce, position and articulate the ideas behind the products and the brands.

The value of shows like NAIAS is underscored in GPJ's latest Global Event Trends Survey for 2004, Vallee points out. In that survey of marketing executives, event marketing has climbed higher in the automakers' list of priorities. Thirty-six percent of survey respondents indicated that event marketing tactics deliver the greatest return on marketing investment, and that attitude is reflected in the automakers' plans for the 2005 NAIAS.

The Chrysler Group: Once again an innovator in experience design

Visitors to Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge website and exhibits can take advantage of the innovative Life Card, which is a VIP membership program for customers and prospects that allows access to a range of benefits including VIP hospitality, sweepstakes and immersive experiences throughout the show. After the show, Life Card carriers can go to all three brand dealerships to benefit from exclusive incentives.

Toyota: "Moving Forward" to introduce new brand campaign

Toyota's 2005 NAIAS exhibit is the first experiential interpretation of the company's new brand campaign, "Moving Forward," an exciting new feature of the 2005 Toyota exhibit is the Hybrid Synergy Drive Zone, showcasing the automaker's latest technology offering through an interactive experience. The attributes and benefits of Toyota's Highlander hybrid and 2005 Prius are showcased in the Zone at interactive stations where visitors can learn more about how the technology can positively impact the environment.

GPJ integration & innovation

In addition to these exhibits, GPJ's creative experience design work also can be seen in the launch and press events for Nissan and Infiniti as well as at the General Motors, Saab, Nissan and Infiniti exhibits. General construction of the show began in early November at Detroit's Cobo Center and will be completed for official press preview days from Sunday, Jan. 9 to Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2005. The show opens for the public on Saturday, Jan. 15 and runs through Sunday, Jan. 23, 2005.

Auto show innovation is nothing new to GPJ. The company has managed live events for the auto makers since its founder, George P. Johnson, helped to create one of the first Detroit Auto Shows in 1910. Additional historic milestones GPJ has achieved include the production of the first International Auto Show in New York in 1956, helping pioneer the use of the vehicle turntable in 1961 and the transformation of Detroit's Woodward Avenue into a gold-paved road to highlight the auto industry's 50th anniversary.

About George P. Johnson (http://www.gpjco.com/ )

Established in 1914, GPJ is a leading provider of global event marketing solutions, helping clients forge better customer relationships through strategic marketing integration; creative brand experiences, events and exhibits. GPJ has full-scale production facilities in Auburn Hills, Mich.; Torrance, Calif.; and Stuttgart, Germany, as well as marketing offices in Boston, and San Francisco, and international operations in London, New York, Stuttgart, Tokyo, Beijing, Singapore, Sydney, and Bangalore, India.

NOTE TO EDITORS: To schedule an interview on the NAIAS Show Floor, please contact Jane Berger at +1-313-887-7208, berger@airfoilpr.com.