Toyota Among Newest MICHauto Members

MICHauto recaps first year, announces membership achievements and issues 2008 plan

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Jan. 23 -- MICHauto, an automotive business accelerator that advocates the Michigan automotive industry, announced today that Toyota has committed to membership in the organization. Toyota's participation caps a successful membership recruitment effort in 2007, according to MICHauto leadership. The announcement was made during the Automotive News World Congress in Detroit. MICHauto exhibited at the World Congress to provide attendees with information about the organization.

"We are pleased to report that we developed a strong membership foundation in 2007, and have created tremendous momentum going into 2008," said Tom Manganello, chairman of the MICHauto executive committee. "The addition of Toyota validates the mission of MICHauto as an all inclusive accelerator for Michigan's automotive industry."

Other members who have committed to the organization for 2008 are Oakland County, and individual members William Chapin and William Bournias. Toyota, Oakland County, Chapin and Bournias join other leading industry companies such as General Motors, R.L. Polk Co., Goodyear Tire and Rubber, BorgWarner, 3M Automotive, ArvinMeritor, Deloitte & Touche, Warner, Norcross & Judd, and Wayne County as members of the grassroots organization formed to sustain Michigan's position as a global automotive hub. A full membership list can be found on the organization's Web site, http://www.michauto.org/.

Manganello also announced the publication of the organization's first-year activity summary, and the adoption of its 2008 strategic plan by its membership.

  Highlights of the summary include:
  -- MICHauto presentation in Beijing, China -- MICHauto representatives
     traveled to Beijing to present at the 2007 China Automotive Export
     Conference, sponsored by R.L. Polk and the Chinese Automotive
     Technology and Research Center.  Thomas Manganello presented
     opportunities that exist in Michigan, with guidance on how Chinese
     companies can leverage those opportunities.
  -- Hosting of Chinese business delegations -- On two separate occasions
     MICHauto played host to delegations of business and municipal leaders
     from China.  The first delegation visited the 2007 SAE World Congress
     in April, where MICHauto sponsored a reception that included
     presentations by the delegation and various local business entities.
     The second delegation came from the city of Changchun, of Jilin
     Province in Northeast China.  The Changchun delegation traveled to
     Michigan to explore mutual opportunities with Michigan automotive and
     manufacturing firms.

In addition to the summary, the executive committee presented the organization's strategic plan for 2008, which includes the development and execution of a series of Education and Industry Summits designed to foster partnerships between the automotive industry and Michigan's colleges and universities for the purpose of recruiting and retaining engineering talent.

About MICHauto

MICHauto was formed to leverage Michigan's automotive industry cluster to sustain and grow its position as a global leader in research, development and manufacturing. MICHauto serves as the automotive hub of Michigan promoting collaboration and unlocking its power to increase Michigan's competitive advantages. MICHauto is the only Michigan automotive organization that is all-inclusive, counting automakers, suppliers, and others with ties to the automotive industry as members. It serves its members by providing unique benefits that will help grow and enhance their Michigan-based businesses.