AMES Award to be Presented To Carmakers at New York Auto Show
19 April 2000
AMES Award(TM) for Environmental Performance to be Presented To Toyota, Honda, Volkswagen, Mazda, Subaru and Suzuki at NY Auto Show
NOVI, Mich., April 18 Toyota, Honda, Volkswagen, Mazda,
Subaru and Suzuki will receive the AMES Award(TM) at the New York Auto Show on
April 19, 20. AMES is the acronym for Automotive Market Environmental
Sensitivity. The amesaward.com LLC developed the objective automotive
environmental performance rating system and the resulting AMES Award program
that recognizes a brand/model in each of 15 vehicle classes that is "Best" in
environmental performance. Additionally, brand/models in the top 25 percent
of each class are recognized as "Preferred" award winners. amesaward.com LLC
co-founders William Mattick and Lawrence Ranka announced the New York awards
presentations.
amesaward.com will present awards to: Don Esmond, Group Vice President and
General Manager, Toyota Division for Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc.; Dick
Colliver, Executive Vice President of American Honda Motor Corporation; Subaru
of America, Inc.; Richard Beattie, President and CEO of Mazda Motor
Corporation; Celeste Speier, Manager, Automotive Public Relations of American
Suzuki Motor Corporation; and, Volkswagen's Director of Communications, Steven
Keyes.
Toyota will receive 10 AMES Awards, three "Best" and seven "Preferred."
Toyota's Best-in-Class winners are:
Toyota Avalon - Full-size Car class
Toyota Tundra - Full-size Pickup class
Lexus RX300 - Mid-size SUV class
Preferred winners were the Toyota Corolla, Toyota Echo, Toyota Camry,
Lexus GS300/400, Toyota Celica, Toyota Solara and Toyota RAV4. "Toyota has
forged a new strategy that addresses two conflicting concerns," said Don
Esmond, Group Vice President and General Manager, Toyota Division for Toyota
Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc. "It is a strategy that strikes a balance between the
immediate demands of our customers and Toyota's long-term commitment to the
environment. Industry leadership in developing practical, environmentally
friendly powertrains is by far, our most complex and most long-term
commitment."
Honda was cited for a total of eight AMES Awards, winning three "Best" and
five "Preferred." Honda's Best-in-Class winners were:
Honda Insight - Subcompact Car class
Honda Accord - Mid-size Car class
Honda Odyssey - Minivan class
Preferred winners were the Honda Civic, Acura TL, Acura RL, Honda S2000
and Honda Passport. Dick Colliver, Executive Vice President of American Honda
Motor Corporation said, "We have worked hard to distinguish Honda as a leader
in the production of environmentally-friendly vehicles that meet the needs of
the driving public. The recognition provided by the AMES Award proves we are
on the right track."
Subaru of America won two "Best" awards:
Subaru Legacy - Compact Car class
Subaru Forester - Compact SUV class
Volkswagen won a "Best" award for the VW Cabrio in the Sporty Car class.
The manufacturer also won two "Preferred" awards for the VW Passat and the
Audi TT Coupe.
Mazda won two "Preferred" awards for the Mazda 626 and the Mazda Miata
MX5.
Suzuki won a "Preferred" award for the Suzuki Esteem. Rick Suzuki,
President of American Suzuki Motor Corporation said, "Suzuki is honored to
receive this award. We sell an environmentally friendly, value-packed line of
cars and we are happy that this award has been created to better aid consumers
in making ecologically sound car buying decisions."
The AMES Award(TM) provides an objective evaluation of the environmental
quality of brand/models from all manufacturers of U.S. sold vehicles.
Vehicles are rated using a patent-pending process developed by amesaward.com
that measures environmental sensitivity based on vehicle emissions and fuel
economy. "Complete objectivity is a critical part of our rating process,"
said Mattick. "What could be more timely, as we approach the 30th anniversary
of Earth Day, than to provide consumers with a credible means to participate
in improving our environment."
Dr. Stuart Batterman, Associate Professor of Environmental Health Sciences
at the University of Michigan and the amesaward.com's Chief Technical Advisor,
commented on the effect consumers could have on the environment if they choose
AMES Award winners over competing brand/models. "On an annual basis, for the
2000 model year fleet, volatile organic compounds would be lowered by 26
percent, oxides of nitrogen reduced by 41 percent and carbon dioxide emissions
would be cut by 1.6 million tons." Batterman added, "This obviously makes a
very significant contribution to air quality and helps reduce the risk of
global warming."
Experts agree that environmental factors are becoming more important to
consumers and automotive manufacturers. David E. Cole, Director of the Office
for the Study of Automotive Transportation at the University of Michigan said,
"The AMES Award initiative is an excellent vehicle for consumers to improve
air quality and reduce the threat of climate change by factoring the
environmental performance of cars and light trucks into their automotive
purchase decision."
Cole added, "The AMES Award provides manufacturers with a quantitatively
based marketing tool to increase market share and get a return on their
environmental compliance and R&D investment. Using a market based, consumer
participation approach to improving the environment is an idea whose time has
come."
The AMES Award(TM) provides manufacturers with 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 17-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 awards, as a platform to communicate the
manufacturer's other environmental accomplishments.
A complete list of the 2000 AMES Award(TM) winners is available at the
AMES Award(TM) website, http://www.amesaward.com . The Ames Award presentation
schedule for the New York International Auto Show is:
Recipient Date Time Location
Richard Beattie Wednesday 9:00 a.m. Mazda display
President and CEO April 19
Mazda Motor Corporation
Steven Keyes Wednesday 10:30 a.m. Volkswagen display
Director of Communications April 19
Volkswagen
Dick Colliver Wednesday 11:45 a.m. Honda display
Executive Vice President April 19
American Honda Motor
Corporation
Don Esmond Wednesday 1:15 p.m. Toyota Display
Group Vice President and April 19
General Manager,
Toyota Division,
Toyota Motor Sales
Celeste Speier Wednesday 1:45 p.m. Suzuki display
Manager, Automotive April 19
Public Relations
American Suzuki Motor
Corporation
Subaru of America, Inc. Thursday 10:35 a.m. Subaru display
April 20
Lawrence Ranka and William Mattick established amesaward.com LLC in 1999.
The company is based in Novi, Mich.