International Automakers Meet With California Legislators

AIAM Member Companies Highlight Contributions to State Economy and Leadership in Advanced Technology Vehicles

SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 22 -- The Association of International Automobile Manufacturers, Inc. (AIAM) and several of its member company representatives met with lawmakers of the California Legislature and the Governor's Office today to highlight their contributions to the state's economy and demonstrate the leadership roles they are taking in the area of advanced technology vehicles.

In California, AIAM members directly employ 18,000 people and operate 76 separate facilities, including four manufacturing facilities, seven headquarters offices, nineteen R&D centers, and seven financial service operations. AIAM members also account for 50 percent of the more than 2 million new passenger cars and light trucks registered in the state last year.

"Our theme today is 'Driving Clean Technologies in California: The Companies of AIAM,'" said Paul D. Ryan, AIAM's director of government affairs. "Many do not realize the significant presence AIAM members have in California, so it is important that we make an effort to educate state officials about all the work being done in their backyard to bring advanced technology vehicles to the marketplace."

In a daylong effort, AIAM and its member companies visited state lawmakers to talk about their impact on California's economy, as well as types of advanced technologies currently in auto showrooms and under development. Several gasoline-electric hybrid, compressed natural gas, and fuel cell vehicles -- all manufactured by AIAM members -- were on display for lawmakers to learn about. California leads the country in hybrid vehicle purchases, accounting for 26.5 percent of the more than 250,000 hybrid vehicles sold in the United States in 2006. AIAM members account for over 75 percent of all hybrid sales nationwide.