STAR December Draft Release Incorporates Core Components and Extends Standards to Meet Member Requirements

MCLEAN, Va., Jan. 9, 2007 -- Standards for Technology in Automotive Retail (STAR), a global Information Technology (IT) standards body for the retail automotive industry, published its December 2006 Draft Release on December 29th, 2006. The December release is a draft release, which allows STAR members to immediately take advantage of recent changes.

The release includes changes to a number of STAR XML and Data Transfer Specifications (DTS). Changes to STAR versions 4 and 5 represent rapid implementation of the newly approved adoption of OAGIS 9.0 to align with Core Components Technical Specifications published by United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT). Specifically, changes to specifications that support Vehicle Remarketing and Sales Lead business processes serve marine industry members. Updates based on Core Components accommodate members' international requirements for various languages and currencies.

The December Draft release further demonstrates the benefits of the organization's agile development process and a continuing commitment to respond to the needs of its members in order to support a wide range of business processes in automotive retail.

About STAR (www.starstandard.org)

The Standards for Technology in Automotive Retail (STAR) organization is the Information Technology (IT) standards organization for the retail automotive industry. STAR is leading the effort to implement voluntary IT standards throughout the automotive industry. These standards are designed to support business information needs and provide secure and reliable means for dealers, manufacturers, and retail system providers to communicate. 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 administering 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., Chrome Systems, CIECA, Cyclone Commerce, DealerTrack, gedas, GEFEG, Karmak, National Marine Manufacturers Association, Motorcycle Industry Council, NeoSynergy, LLC, OAGI, Oxlo, PBS Financial Systems Inc., Procede Software, Quorum Information Systems, Reynolds & Reynolds, RouteOne, Sprint, Sun, Tibco, Unipart Automotive Logistics, UCS, Wipro Technologies, and 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, Mazda North American Operations, Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, Inc., Porsche Cars North America, Inc., Renault, Toyota Motor Sales, USA, and Volkswagen North America.