Alliance Announces OICA Certification for Chicago, Los Angeles and New York Auto Shows

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2005 -- The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers today announced that three United States auto shows have been approved for international certification. At a recent meeting in Sydney, Australia, the Organisation Internationale Des Constructeurs D'Automobiles (OICA) approved the prestigious certification for the Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York Auto Shows. In accordance with the agreement, these shows will rotate the OICA accreditation on an annual basis. They will join Detroit as the only recognized OICA show in the United States.

"We view this as a tremendous opportunity to highlight our products and our industry to the international automotive press corps. These are all unique, world class auto shows and I am very pleased that our colleagues at OICA recognized the diversity of our industry and agreed to this arrangement," said Fred Webber, Alliance President and CEO.

"New York is proud to be officially recognized among the great international auto shows in cities such as Frankfurt, Tokyo, Paris, Geneva, and Detroit," said Mark Schienberg, president of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, the organization that owns and operates the New York International Auto Show. As North America's first and largest- attended auto show, we recognize the importance of this certification from the OICA Board."

"We're gratified that the nation's largest auto show has been rewarded with an OICA sanction," said Jerry Cizek, general manager of the Chicago Auto Show. "Our latest expansion combined with Chicago's status as a world-class city makes it a worthy addition to the OICA calendar of international shows."

"This sanctioning from OICA will allow the LA Auto Show's presence throughout the automobile industry to continue to grow on an international level," said Andy Fuzesi, general manager of the Los Angeles Auto Show. "OICA's recognition of the LA Auto Show points to the growing momentum of the show within the industry due to its date shift from January to November."

OICA is the world association of the national automobile industry federations. With its more than 40 member organizations worldwide, Paris-based OICA represents the interests of the automobile industry. Representing the U.S. as an OICA member is the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

Pursuant to the agreement, in 2006 Detroit and Los Angeles Auto Shows will be OICA certified, in 2007 Detroit and Chicago, and in 2008 Detroit and New York will be OICA certified. The cycle will then begin again with the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2009.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers is a trade association of 9 car and light truck manufacturers including BMW Group, DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Mazda, Mitsubishi Motors, Porsche, Toyota and Volkswagen. For more information on advanced fuel-savings technology, visit the Alliance website at http://www.autoalliance.org/.