MSN Carpoint to Serve as Official Web Site Of the 2001 North American International Auto Show MICROSOFT LOGO Microsoft company logo. (PRNewsFoto)[PM] REDMOND, WA USA 08/22/2000

8 January 2001
MSN Carpoint to Serve as Official Web Site Of the 2001 North American International Auto Show MICROSOFT LOGO Microsoft company logo. (PRNewsFoto)[PM] REDMOND, WA USA 08/22/2000
Exclusive Internet Coverage Enables Anytime, Anywhere Show Access Including a
  Virtual Show Experience With Streaming Video and Photography and Immediate
           Updates as New Production and Concept Cars Are Unveiled

    REDMOND, Wash., Jan. 8 The MSN(R) Carpoint(TM) online
automotive service, the most visited car-buying and ownership site on the Web,
today announced its exclusive sponsorship as the official Web site of the
North America International Auto Show (NAIAS).
    (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )
    Carpoint will provide a backstage pass to the show, including views of the
hottest cars before the doors of the show are open to the general public. In
addition to the 6 million consumers that visit Carpoint each month, the
230 million monthly users of MSN can access show coverage with only a single
click. Show coverage begins Jan. 7, with a glimpse at more than 50 new
production and concept cars, which will be unveiled during four preshow media
days.
    For the fourth consecutive year as the show's official Web site, Carpoint
will take consumers behind the scenes with streaming video highlights,
extensive photography, 360-degree surround videos and editorial reportage from
the show floor. The Carpoint Celebrity Fashion Editor, Todd Oldham, will be at
the NAIAS media days offering his personal perspective, aesthetic and
lifestyle commentary as well as conducting interviews on the hottest car
trends -- from new interiors and hybrid vehicles to the return of the station
wagon. With photos, videos and content updated as vehicles are unveiled, the
Carpoint Virtual Show Floor will offer an experience unlike any other. The
Cobo Center in Detroit, complete with webcams in the ceilings, will let
consumers tuning into the Carpoint Web site navigate the venue as if they were
actually on the show floor during the show's public days Saturday, Jan. 13
through Sunday, Jan. 21.
    "We are very proud of our sponsorship of NAIAS," said Jeff Dossett, CEO of
Carpoint at Microsoft Corp. .  "Carpoint is committed to
providing consumers with the most in-depth automotive content to make car
buying easier and more interesting than ever. With the help of the NAIAS team,
we've been able to take advantage of new technologies to provide car
enthusiasts with the first look at the new vehicles as they are unveiled in
Detroit."
    Consumers can take a sneak peek at advance photos of new production and
concept cars that are scheduled to be unveiled at this year's show.
Enthusiasts can preview the full schedule of unveilings, as well as take a
ride back in time to learn more about the history of the nation's premier
international auto show.
    Carpoint will also include three Digital Showcases produced by premier
sponsors Toyota/Lexus, The GM Experience Live and Ford to present their newest
vehicles to a global online audience. The Digital Showcases will feature
360-degree interior and exterior views, and synchronized virtual vehicle
unveilings and product announcements in real time.
    In addition to the extensive show coverage provided by Carpoint, consumers
can register to win a new car or a mobile family entertainment center.* The
auto theatre giveaway, sponsored by Crutchfield Corp., includes a Sony 6-inch
LCD monitor, Infiniti Kappa 3-way speakers and a Panasonic DVD player, with a
total value over $3,000.

    About Carpoint
    Launched in October 1995, Carpoint (http://www.carpoint.com/) is the
leading online automotive marketplace, visited by more than 6 million
consumers each month. From product reviews and surround video features to new
and used car pricing, Carpoint helps consumers find the car they love, at a
price they can afford. With details on more than 10,000 car models and
100,000 used vehicles, visitors can research and compare cars of virtually
every make and model, identify local dealers, and receive instructions for
post-purchase service and maintenance. With a network of more than
5,000 affiliated dealers nationwide, Carpoint generates more than $8 billion
in auto sales each year and is exclusively endorsed by the American
International Automobile Dealers Association.

    About Microsoft
    Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services
and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company
offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people
through great software - any time, any place and on any device.
    * No purchase necessary. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United
States and the District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older. Games
end Jan. 26, 2001. For full rules, see Web site at http://www.carpoint.com/.
    NOTE:  Microsoft, MSN and Carpoint are either registered trademarks or
trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. The
names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks
of their respective owners.