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2000 Auto Industry Design & Technology Award Finalists Announced

19 April 2000

2000 Auto Industry Design & Technology Award Finalists Announced

    ATLANTA, April 19 This year's finalists in the 2000 Auto
Industry Design & Technology Award competition represent some of the largest
and most innovative Tier I and Tier II auto suppliers in the world.  First and
second place winners will be announced at the 2000 Auto Interiors Awards
Banquet to be held the evening of May 16, 2000 at The Atheneum Suite Hotel in
Detroit.  The awards banquet, in its sixth year, is held in conjunction with
the Automotive & Transportation Interiors Expo and Conference that will run
May 16-18, 2000 at Cobo Center in Detroit.
    "This year we had 21 outstanding entries in the competition," said Richard
Lebovitz, co-publisher/editor, Auto & Transportation Interiors magazine.  "The
competition is divided into two divisions, concept and production.  It was
difficult for our independent judges to select the 12 finalists, but they do
represent significant innovation in design and production of interior
components and systems."
    The 12 finalists are:

    Concept Division
    *  Magna Seating Systems - Lightweight Seating
    *  Visteon Automotive Systems - Reconfigurable Projected Image Display
    *  Visteon Automotive Systems - Superintegration Technology
    *  Lear Corp. - TransG Concept Interior
    *  Johnson Controls Inc. - Vios

    Production Division
    *  Foamex International Inc. - Continuous Platform Cutting
    *  Delphi Automotive Systems - Humanware
    *  Visteon Automotive Sytems - ICES
    *  Schukra of North America - Massage Seat System
    *  InMold Corp. - Thermoplastic Steering Column Support Bracket
    *  Visteon Automotive Systems - Visteon Laminate Insert Molding
    *  Visteon Automotive Systems - Voice Activated Control System

    All entries are point scored by a panel of independent judges and scoring
is analyzed by PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP.  This year's distinguished panel of
judges included:

    *  Ian Adcock, European editor, Automotive & Transportation Interiors
    *  Ian Callum, director, styling, Jaguar Cars Ltd.
    *  Douglas Halbert, executive designer, Mazda Design North America Inc.
    *  Truman Pllard, chief designer, Mazda Design North America
    *  Maureen Sobolewski, staff product engineer, Interior Body Center, GM
North American Operations
    *  Eric Strebel, director of design, Botzen Design

    First and second place winners in each division will receive their awards
at the sixth annual Auto Interiors Award Banquet.  Funds raised at the banquet
and sixth annual golf tournament, scheduled for May 15, 2000 will be used to
provide scholarships to students pursuing careers in the auto interior field.
    For more information on the finalists, or to reserve space at the banquet
or golf tournament contact: Aimee Doyne at 800-241-9034.  Or register online
at http://www.autointeriorexpo.com .