AMES Award(TM) Gives Consumers First-of-a-Kind Awards Program
7 January 2000
AMES Award(TM) Gives Consumers First-of-a-Kind Awards Program to Evaluate Environmental Sensitivity of Cars and Light Trucks
Experts say choice of motor vehicle is the 'single most important
environmental decision people can make.'
NOVI, Mich., Jan. 7 -- Automotive consumers are about to get
a new resource to help them evaluate the environmental performance of cars and
light trucks. Beginning in the current 2000 model year, the AMES Award(TM)
will recognize brand/models that are "Best" in environmental excellence.
Brand/models in 15 vehicle utility classes will be analyzed utilizing a new
patent-pending business process. Additionally, brand/models in the top 25
percent of each class also will be recognized as "Preferred" award winners.
The vehicle classes were established based on body style, specifications,
perceived market position and price.
The AMES Award(TM) was developed by amesaward.com LLC, the first for-
profit, e-commerce company to develop a system to rate the environmental
sensitivity of specific brand/models in a consumer-friendly format. The
announcement was made today by William Mattick and Lawrence Ranka, co-founders
of amesaward.com LLC, who both have more than 35 years experience in the
automotive industry at the manufacturer, supplier and regulatory levels. AMES
is the acronym for Automotive Market Environmental Sensitivity.
The choice of a motor vehicle is the, "single most important environmental
decision people can make," according to Warren Leon, former Deputy Director of
the Union of Concerned Scientists. With the introduction of the AMES
Award(TM), consumers can now easily include environmental considerations in
the purchase of a vehicle.
The AMES Award(TM) provides an objective evaluation of the environmental
quality of brand/models from all manufacturers of U.S. sold vehicles.
"Complete objectivity is a critical part of our rating process," said Mattick.
"Favorable reviews by outside experts and our own internal systems ensure this
is a creditable measurement of environmental performance." The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Energy (DOE) and the California Air
Resources Board (CARB) have favorably reviewed the amesaward.com program.
A detailed list of the AMES Award(TM) winners is attached to this news
release and also is available at the AMES Award(TM) Web site,
http://www.amesaward.com .
In summary, Toyota led the way with 10 awards, followed by General Motors
and Ford with nine each and Honda with eight. Both Honda and Toyota won three
"Best" awards and DaimlerChrysler and Subaru won two "Best" awards each.
Overall, Ford tied with General Motors for the most "Preferred" awards with
eight, as well as earning the most light truck awards, with a total of six.
In describing the initiative behind the development of the
amesaward.com(TM), Ranka said, "Consumers are more concerned than ever about
issues such as global warming and air quality. Recent changes in weather
patterns amplify these concerns. The news media and the manufacturers
themselves are paying more attention to the environment. As the importance of
these issues grow, they are becoming a greater factor in consumers' purchasing
decisions. The awards and web site are designed to make it easy for consumers
to get the information they need to make a well-informed decision. And,
consumers can influence the future product direction of manufacturers by
purchasing AMES "Best" and AMES "Preferred Award winners."
At the same time, the awards provide manufacturers with a mechanism to
validate their environmental stewardship to the consumer. Market research has
shown that, in general, manufacturers cannot effectively advertise their
environmental accomplishments; an independent third-party endorsement is
required. The AMES Award(TM) provides manufacturers with that independent
third-party evaluation of their environmental performance. "This will
directly impact a manufacturer's market share of environmentally conscious
consumers," said Ranka. "In a 16-million vehicle market, a small percent
increase in market share will generate several hundred million dollars in
gross profit." Award benefits include opportunities to publicize and promote
a manufacturer's AMES Award success, and use the award as a platform to
communicate the manufacturer's other environmental accomplishments.
The amesaward.com also may pay off for manufacturers in another way. With
automakers under increasing scrutiny from federal regulators and special
interest groups, the Awards provide the industry with an incentive to
voluntarily lower emissions and increase fuel economy to gain market share.
According to Mattick, "By active and intense competition, the industry has an
opportunity to demonstrate that market-based initiatives can substitute for
regulatory actions as a means to provide a solution to environmental
problems."
Dr. Stuart Batterman, associate professor of Environmental Health Sciences
at the University of Michigan, serves as technical advisor for amesaward.com
LLC. Dr. Batterman holds a Ph.D. from MIT in Water Resources and
Environmental Engineering.
amesaward.com LLC was established in 1999 by Lawrence Ranka and William
Mattick. Ranka has held several senior management positions with Chrysler
Corporation, including Manager of the Dodge Car Marketing Group and Manager of
Certification Systems Development in Chrysler's engineering office. From 1971
to 1977 he worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Mattick was an owner and member of the senior management team of Huron
Plastics Group of St. Clair, Mich., serving in a variety of positions
including President-Powertrain Operations, Vice President-New Business
Development, Vice President-Sales and Vice President-Marketing. From 1972 to
1985, he was active in product engineering management for Ford Motor Company
and was involved in the introduction of catalytic converter equipped exhaust
systems.
amesaward.com is based in Novi, Mich.
2000 AMES Award Summary
Passenger Vehicles
Class (# of entries) Subcompact (26)
Best Honda Insight
Preferred Chevrolet Prizm
Ford Focus
Honda Civic
Suzuki Esteem
Toyota Corolla
Toyota Echo
Class (# of entries) Compact (11)
Best Suburu Legacy
Preferred VW Passat
Mazda 626
Class (# of entries) Mid Size (15)
Best Honda Accord
Preferred Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet Malibu
Saturn L Series
Toyota Camry
Class (# of entries) Full-Size (7)
Best Toyota Avalon
Preferred Buick LeSabre
Class (# of entries) Premium (18)
Best Infiniti G20
Preferred Acura TL
Infiniti I30
Saab 9-3
Volvo 40 Series
Class (# of entries) Luxury (18)
Best Mercedes E-Series
Preferred Acura RL
BMW 5 Series
Toyota Lexus GS
Volvo S80
Class (# of entries) Sporty Car (15)
Best VW Cabrio
Preferred Hyundai Tiburon
Toyota Celica
Toyota Solara
Class (# of entries) Sports Car (15)
Best Mercedes CLK
Preferred Audi TT Coupe
Honda S2000
Mazda MX-5 Miata
Mercedes-Benz SLK
Vans/Light Trucks
Class (# of entries) Minivan (15)
Best Honda Odyssey
Preferred Chevrolet Astro
Ford Windstar
Mercury Villager
Class (# of entries) Full Size Van (4)
Best Ford E150/E250
Preferred
Class (# of entries) Compact Pickup (8)
Best GMC Sonoma
Preferred Chevrolet S-10
Class (# of entries) Full Size Pickup (5)
Best Toyota Tundra
Preferred
Class (# of entries) Compact SUV (9)
Best Suburu Forester
Preferred Toyota Rav4
Class (# of entries) Mid-Size SUV (15)
Best Lexus RX300
Preferred Ford Explorer
Honda Passport
Isuzu Rodeo
Mercury Mountaineer
Class (# of entries) Full Size SUV
Best Isuzu Trooper
Preferred BMW X5
Ford Expedition