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Final Numbers for Detroit Auto Interiors Show 2000 Add Up to Success

20 June 2000

Final Numbers for Detroit Auto Interiors Show 2000 Add Up to Success

    ATLANTA - The Detroit Auto Interiors Show, formerly the Automotive & 
Transportation Interiors Expo, released final figures today for attendance at 
its May 16 - 18 event.  More than 4,440 automotive industry professionals 
involved in interior design, engineering and production, attended 21 conferences 
and talked to hundreds of companies on the expo floor during the three-day event 
at Cobo Center.  Gary DeHart, publisher of Auto Interiors, formerly Automotive & 
Transportation Interiors magazine, made the announcement.

    According to DeHart, "The show continues to evolve and grow each year.
This year the emphasis was clearly on the integration of powerful and diverse
electronic features and products into functional and stylish interiors.  We
anticipate even more dramatic news and demonstrations in the electronic and
digital fields at next year's show, as the industry moves to what is being
billed as 'smart interiors.'"

    This year's show also celebrated the first annual Car & Truck Interior of
the Year Awards.  Of the six finalists representing Audi, BMW, Ford,
DaimlerChrysler, Mazda and Toyota; the Audi TT Coupe won for car interior and
the Mazda MPV won for truck interior.  The winners were announced at the
show's annual awards and scholarship banquet and again at a press conference
on the show floor where all of the vehicles, winners and finalists, were
represented.

    In addition, banquet speakers recognized technical achievements from
companies like Magna, Visteon, Lear, Johnson Controls, Foamex, InMold, Delphi
and others.

    The show also awarded $12,000 in scholarships to students from The Center
for Creative Studies, Fiber Design Program in Detroit, Michigan; North
Carolina State University, College of Textiles in Raleigh and Oakland
University, Department of Engineering and Computer Science in Rochester,
Michigan.

    As in past years, the Detroit Auto Interiors Show helped to host an
Automotive Press Association luncheon and panel discussion on electronic
interiors.  This year it attracted close to 100 attendees.  In addition, over
45 press credentials were issued at the show for local, regional and national
automotive press.

    The Detroit Auto Interiors Show is the only industry tradeshow that
focuses entirely on providing technical conferences and exhibits for those
responsible for the design, engineering and creation of automotive interiors
components and systems.