USCAR Appoints Bill Gouse As Permanent Executive Director

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Feb. 8, 2005 -- The United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR) has appointed S. William (Bill) Gouse as Executive Director.

Effective February 9, Gouse will manage the USCAR organization and facilitate collaborative research among USCAR member companies -- DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation. Gouse will serve as the organization's first permanent executive director. Previously, the position was rotated among executives on loan from the member companies for two year terms. Gouse is replacing Pat Flaherty, who has completed her two year term and is retiring from DaimlerChrysler.

Gouse will report to the USCAR Council. Mark Chernoby, Vice President of Advanced Vehicle Engineering for DaimlerChrysler, Gerhard Schmidt, Vice President of Research & Advanced Engineering for Ford, and Larry Burns, Vice President of Research & Development and Planning for GM, comprise the USCAR Council.

"Bill brings the ideal mix of experience to this job," Chernoby said. "He has overseen development of advanced automotive technologies and complements that with a background collaborating with industry and government."

Schmidt added, "Our companies have been cooperating on research for more than a decade through USCAR, which allows us to advance environmental and safety technologies faster and more cost effectively than we could accomplish alone."

Burns said, "Appointing a permanent director is an important step in helping expand USCAR's research portfolio in the future. Bill will be a key liaison with our research partners in national labs, universities and supplier companies."

Gouse most recently served as Vice President of Engineering for the American Trucking Associations in Alexandria, Va. He has over 24 years of automotive engineering and management experience, including oversight of government sponsored research and collaborative projects. Gouse also held executive engineering positions at Freightliner in Portland, Ore. He earned a bachelor degree in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and is currently pursuing a master in science degree in transport emissions from the University of Leeds.