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Automotive Youth Educational Systems Recruits Young Service Technicians

21 December 2000

Subaru Joins as Sponsor of Automotive Youth Educational Systems; Effort to Recruit and Develop Young Auto Service Technicians Expands

    CHERRY HILL, N.J., Dec. 20 Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA),
a pioneer of crossover all-wheel-drive vehicles designed for the active
lifestyle, today announced it has become a sponsoring partner of Automotive
Youth Educational Systems, Inc.  Additionally, Takao Saito, SOA Chairman of
the Board and Chief Executive Officer, has been invited to join the AYES Board
of Directors.
    Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES) is a nonprofit organization
dedicated to helping retail automotive dealerships secure the qualified
service technicians that are currently in short supply.
    AYES builds business and education partnerships between participating
dealerships and their local high schools or tech prep schools that offer high
quality automotive technology programs.  Dealerships advise the schools on the
technical skills that are needed to service today's sophisticated,
electronically-controlled vehicles.  The participating dealerships also
provide opportunities for paid student internships, and assign mentors
(experienced technicians) to those students to help them develop their skills.
By the time a student graduates from high school and earns an AYES
certificate, he or she is qualified to be hired as an entry-level dealership
service technician, or to pursue postsecondary studies in automotive service
technology.
    "As the number of Subaru owners continues to rise, our dealers' needs for
qualified service technicians is growing, also," said James Sinclair, Senior
Director of Service.  "The AYES initiative offers a proven strategy for
recruiting and developing new technicians, to help us keep our customers'
vehicles performing well for years to come."
    AYES is currently sponsored by General Motors, DaimlerChrysler, Toyota
Motor Sales USA, Volkswagen of America, Audi of America, American Honda Motor
Sales, BMW of North America, and the National Automobile Dealers Association.
AYES also receives support from a number of state and metropolitan dealer
associations, and the workforce commissions or departments of education in
various states.
    Launched in 1995, AYES is currently affiliated with 205 schools and nearly
2000 dealerships in 35 states and the District of Columbia.  Approximately 75
schools and 750 dealerships will be added by the end of 2001.
    Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy
Industries Ltd. of Japan.  The company markets and distributes vehicles, parts
and accessories through a network of 588 dealers across the US.  Over the past
eight years, the company has seen its sales nearly double, thanks in large
part to its popular line of car-based sports utility vehicles.  Subaru is
among the fastest growing brands in the automobile industry.