Unipart Logistics Joins STAR

MCLEAN, Va., Jan. 17, 2005 -- STAR (Standards for Technology in Automotive Retail), the IT standards organization for the North American retail automotive industry, has announced that Unipart Logistics (Unipart), a provider of automotive logistics services, has recently joined STAR as its 47th member.

STAR, a non-profit entity, is leading an auto industry-wide initiative to implement voluntary IT standards supporting the business information needs and Internet links that dealers, manufacturers, and retail system providers need to communicate with each other.

Unipart Logistics has been providing a unique and comprehensive range of integrated logistics services to the automotive industry since 1987, from demand forecasting, inventory management and supply through to order processing, warehousing, distribution and financial services.

Unipart Logistics has developed a number of software products as part of its management of supply chains between OEMs and Dealers and sees significant value in establishing clear and consistent data communication standards in the automotive industry supply chain. This is the primary reason that the company has decided to join STAR and it is keen to support this voluntary initiative.

Unipart Logistics is committed to a philosophy of Continuous Improvement throughout its logistics operations. We believe that STAR will help us to identify opportunities to improve processes and achieve greater efficiencies throughout the supply chain.

Today Unipart Logistics employs over 3,000 people, supplies products directly to 74 countries and operates 4 million square feet of warehouse space from 20 warehouse locations worldwide. Unipart Logistics is the logistics and business services division of the Unipart Group of Companies providing comprehensive integrated logistics to the Telecommunications, Automotive, Information Technology, Retail, Aerospace, Rail, Industrial and Defence sectors.

STAR's initiatives can assist dealers, manufacturers, and other companies in improving their operational efficiencies. STAR standards promote the effective exchange of business information among dealers, manufacturers, and other companies which can result in reduced costs, increased availability of data, and improved customer satisfaction levels.

  About STAR (http://www.starstandard.org/)
   Source: STAR

The Standards for Technology in Automotive Retail (STAR) organization is the Information Technology (IT) standards organization for the retail automotive industry. STAR's goal is to use IT standards as a catalyst in fulfilling the business information needs of dealers and manufacturers while reducing the time and effort previously required to support this activity.

Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, STAR is a not-for-profit volunteer organization and its members include Dealers, Manufacturers and Retail System Providers (RSPs). As members, they are interested in developing, promoting, and implementing voluntary IT standards in the retail automotive industry and improving the effectiveness, timeliness and competitiveness of the IT solutions needed within the retail automotive industry.

  STAR membership roster:
  Dealer Groups: CCAQ, NADA

Retail System Providers: ADP, Advent Resources, Inc., AIAG, AFSA, Arkona, Autodata Solutions, AutoDESA, Auto/Mate Inc., Cyclone Commerce, Chrome Systems, DealerTrack, Motorcycle Industry Council, NAT, Inc., NeoSynergy, LLC, PBS Financial Systems Inc., OAGI, Oxlo, Procede Software, Reynolds & Reynolds, RouteOne, Sprint, Sun, Tibco, Unipart Automotive Logistics, UCS, 5Square Systems Corporation

Manufacturers: American Honda Motor Co., Inc., American Suzuki Motor Corp., BMW of North America, Inc., DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corp., Hyundai Motor America, Jaguar Cars, Kia Motors America, Land Rover, Mazda North American Operations, Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, Inc., Nissan North America, Inc., Porsche Cars North America, Inc., Renault, Saab Cars USA, Subaru, Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Volkswagen of America

  About Unipart Logistics (http://www.unipartlogistics.co.uk/)
   Source: Unipart Logistics

Unipart Logistics is the logistics and business services division of the Unipart Group of Companies and provides comprehensive integrated logistics to the Telecommunications, Automotive, Information Technology, Retail, Aerospace, Rail, Industrial and Defence sectors.

Unipart Logistics is based upon the principle of demand chain management and reflects Unipart's capability in managing complete supply chains, from suppliers through to customers.

It underlines the fundamental approach to logistics by which Unipart Logistics seek to deliver the greatest possible benefits to their clients by adding value at each level of the supply chain.

Unipart Logistics employs over 3,000 people, supplies products directly to 74 countries and operates 4 million square feet of warehouse space from 20 warehouse locations worldwide.