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Society of Automotive Analysts Automotive Outlook Conference Speaker Line-up

5 December 2000

Society of Automotive Analysts Automotive Outlook Conference Speaker Line-up 
    DETROIT, Dec. 5 The Society of Automotive Analysts (SAA)
will present its annual Automotive Outlook Conference January 8, 2001 in
conjunction with the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).  The
theme of this year's conference is "New Economy, New Politics, New Products."
The keynote speaker will be Norman Ornstein, Resident Scholar at the American
Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research.  His timely topic: "New
Economy, New Political Landscape, Collision Course or Peace?"  Other
highlights of the conference will include the following panel presentations:
    Discussing "Flexible Capacity and Its Impact on the Bottom Line" will be
Steven Girsky, managing director of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter; Michael
Robinet, director of forecast services for CSM Worldwide; and Laurie Felax,
vice president of Harbour and Associates.
    A trio of expert automotive journalists will present "2001 NAIAS Preview:
What's Hot, What's Not?" a guided tour of this year's new products and an
assessment of their significance.  Participants in this panel will include
Paul Eisenstein, publisher of TheCarConnection.com and bureau chief, The
Detroit Bureau; and Tony Swan, executive editor of Car & Driver.  The panel
will be moderated by noted auto analyst John McElroy of Blue Sky Productions.
    "Election Aftermath: What's Next?" will examine the prospects for 2001 and
beyond from three distinct perspectives.  Panelists include Susan Walter, vice
president of government relations for General Electric; Warren Brown of The
Washington Post and Jim Mateyka, vice president in the global automotive
practice of A.T.Kearney, Inc., whose focus will be on potential changes in the
retail environment.
    The conference will conclude with a perennial favorite, "The Leading
Economists' Annual Report."  This year's panel is comprised of W. Van Bussman,
corporate economist for DaimlerChrysler, Ellen Hughes-Cromwick, corporate
economics manager for Ford Motor Company and G. Mustafa Mohatarem, chief
economist at General Motors.

    Each of the panel discussions, as well as the Keynote Address, will
provide ample time for audience dialogue with the speakers via Q&A -- always
among the highlights of the Outlook Conference.  Attendees will hear candid
opinions and analysis from some of the industry's most respected authorities.
They also will have the opportunity to interact with colleagues to share
experiences, ideas and solutions.  After the conference, each registrant can
enjoy a sneak preview of the latest products at the NAIAS with an exclusive
SAA analyst pass, valid during Press Week, January 8-12.
    For additional information, including conference registration, contact SAA
member services at 800-704-0051; fax 734-677-2407; e-mail to
info@autoanalyst.org , or visit the SAA Web site at http://www.autoanalyst.org .
    The Society of Automotive Analysts is dedicated to providing outstanding
educational programs and superior networking opportunities to its members by
offering conferences, programs, and other forums in which to discuss, debate,
and learn about a broad variety of subjects and timely industry issues.  The
society is comprised of over six hundred individual members.