AIAM Member Companies Highlight Investment and Clean Technologies that Help Drive the California Economy

SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 18, 2010; Representatives of the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers (AIAM) and its member companies are in Sacramento today to meet with California state legislators to highlight the positive impact their companies have on the state.

"Investment by AIAM companies produce jobs and clean vehicle technologies that benefit all Californians," said Gordon Fry, AIAM's director of state relations. "We want to tell lawmakers we are proud to be a part of California's economy and describe some of the latest advanced vehicle technologies we are bringing to market."

  In California, AIAM members:

  --  Directly employ approximately 10,500 Californians and maintains a
      total annual payroll of more than $1.3 billion(1).
  --  Have invested over $4 billion and operate nearly 100 separate
      facilities including eight corporate headquarters offices, seventeen
      R&D centers, eight financial service operations and one manufacturing
      facility(2).
  --  Accounted for 54 percent of the over one million new cars and light
      trucks registrations in 2009, sold by 680 dealerships across the
      state(3).  These dealerships employ about 49,000 workers and have a
      payroll of $2.7 billion in new-vehicle-related sales and service
      activities(4).
  --  Through November 2009, California held 21 percent of all hybrids sold
      in the United States.  Two of the top five metro markets for hybrids
      in the first eleven months of 2009 are Los Angeles (#1) and San
      Francisco (#3).(5)

In addition to today's meetings, AIAM member companies' advanced technology vehicles are on display for lawmakers to experience firsthand, including Mitsubishi's zero emissions electric i-MieV, the natural gas-powered Honda Civic GX, and Toyota's Prius Plug-In Hybrid.

About AIAM - The Association of International Automobile Manufacturers, Inc. (AIAM) is a trade association representing 15 international motor vehicle manufacturers who account for 40 percent of all passenger cars and light trucks sold annually in the United States. AIAM provides members with information, analysis and advocacy on a wide variety of legislative and regulatory issues impacting the auto sector. The Association is dedicated to the promotion of free trade and to policies that enhance motor vehicle safety and the protection of the environment. For more information, visit our website at www.aiam.org.

  (1) Source: AIAM member survey
  (2) Source: AIAM member survey
  (3) Source: R.L. Polk
  (4) Source: AIAM estimate based on NADA data
  (5) Source: www.hybridcars.com