CAR OF THE CENTURY

An international jury of automotive journalists and experts elected the Ford Model T as the winner of the coveted Car of the Century award. The Ford Model T was selected for the significant innovation it represented in its day, as well as its design, and its impact on the auto industry, and indeed, society itself.

"The COTC award represents the hard work of many people from all over the world. We salute the Ford Model T for winning this award," said Fred van der Vlugt, the chairman of the board of the Global Automotive Elections Foundation. The jury of 126 automotive experts represents 32 countries. The general public was also invited to join in on the voting via the Internet. Their votes were integrated with those of the experts.

The international jury also voted on a "Gallery of Fame" to honor the people that built the auto industry over the last 100 years.

• Mr. Giorgetto Giugiaro was chosen as the most important Car Designer of the Century.
• Mr. Ferdinand Porsche was voted the most significant Car Engineer of the Century.
• Mr. Henry Ford I was selected as the Car Entrepreneur of the Century.
• Mr. Ferdinand Piëch was named the Car Executive of the Century.

The Car of the Century organization is proud to announce that it will continue to operate its website at http://www.cotc.com as a virtual community for car enthusiasts.

TUNDRA IS MOTOR TREND'S
TRUCK OF THE YEAR

December 20, 1999 - MOTOR TREND magazine announced today the Toyota Tundra as its choice for 2000 Truck of the Year at the company's $1.2 billion plant in Princeton, Indiana. With their selection, MOTOR TREND applauded the new pickup's class-leading performance, car-like driving experience, sophisticated technology, inviting refinement, impressive safety and outstanding value.

"This bold upstart has sent shock waves through the industry, blending the best people-pampering attributes of a passenger car with the rough-and-ready capabilities of a true work truck," noted C. Van Tune, Editor-in-Chief of MOTOR TREND. " Toyota has created a precedent-setting package that brilliantly integrates utility, creature comforts and value with the firm's legendary reliability and toughness."

This is the 12th year that MOTOR TREND has presented a Truck of the Year award. It was initiated in 1989 to recognize each year's most significant vehicle in this extremely popular and rapidly evolving segment of the automotive market. In choosing this year's winner, MOTOR TREND editors considered all new or significantly changed 2000 pickups and full-size vans that are on sale by January 1, 2000. In picking the winner, editors weighed vehicle value, performance, technological advancement, quality of assembly, safety, livability and overall impact on the automotive market.

MOTOR TREND's annual awards-including Car of the Year, Truck of the Year and newly initiated SUV of the Year — are widely regarded as the most coveted honors in the automotive industry. Toyota 's win this year is a fitting closeout to the century, as their Xtracab SR5 V-6 Pickup won the inaugural Truck of the Year accolade in 1989.

FORD FOCUS NAMED 2000 NORTH AMERICAN 'Car of the Year'

First time ever Car of the Year winner in Europe and North America

Detroit, MI Jan.10 - Small car segment trendsetter Ford Focus was named the 2000 North American Car of the Year this morning at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. A year ago, the Ford Focus earned the 1999 European Car of the Year award. This marks the first time ever the same vehicle has been honored with both titles. The Ford Focus has been lauded with overwhelming acclaim for its driving dynamics and spacious interior package.

North American Car of the Year is considered one of the most prestigious automotive awards. A jury of 47 independent automotive journalists in the United States and Canada selected the Ford Focus. The Ford Focus was one of three finalists, which included the Lincoln LS and Audi TT. The North American Car and Truck of the year Awards were created five years ago to give consumers insight into what the continent's top journalists view as the most significant cars and trucks of the year.

"We are deeply honored by this award," said James G. O'Connor, president of Ford Division. "The Ford Focus has broken all kinds of new ground, from winning both the European and North American Car of the Year titles to initiating the first time ever live television commercial campaign simulcast on the web. Our goal for the Focus was to prove to the world that affordable, compact transportation could also provide world class driving dynamics, roominess, safety and pure pleasure."

Focus has already received numerous accolades from automotive journalists around the world, winning more than 15 major awards. Since its introduction in North America in the fall, consumers have enthusiastically accepted the vehicle as well, with sales as of Dec. 31, 1999 totaling 55,846 cars. The Ford Focus has been for sale in dealerships since October 1999.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY TOPPLES DECEMBER AND FULL YEAR U.S.
SALES RECORDS

FORD F-SERIES REMAINS AMERICA'S BEST-SELLING VEHICLE;
FORD EXPLORER IS AMERICA'S FAVORITE SUV

Dearborn, MI, January 5, 2000 - U.S. customers purchased or leased 4,163,369 cars and trucks from Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Jaguar, and Volvo dealers in 1999, breaking a company record that had stood for 21 years. The previous full year U.S. sales record of 4,028,644 was set in 1978. The company's Ford, Jaguar, and Volvo brands set full year sales records.

The company also posted a December sales record of 333,757, breaking the old mark of 331,330 that was set in 1986. The Ford Focus and Excursion, Jaguar S-TYPE, and Volvo S40/V40 concluded 1999 with "best-ever" sales performances. The Lincoln LS, recently named Motor Trend magazine's Car of the Year, also continued its string of strong showings.

The Ford F-Series pickup broke a 21-year old sales record and, for the 18th consecutive year, reigned as America's top-selling vehicle with sales of 869,001. The previous F-Series sales record of 864,046 was set in 1978. For the ninth year in a row, the Ford Explorer topped the SUV sales charts. In 1999, Explorer sales were a near-record 428,772. Since its introduction in March 1990, over 3.3 million customers have taken delivery of a Ford Explorer - easily the best seller in a decade that will be remembered for the stunning growth in SUV sales.

"A strong economy, confident consumers, and innovative products were the major factors driving our record-breaking sales and earnings in 1999," said Bob Rewey, Ford's newly-appointed Group Vice President, Global Consumer Services and North America. "The good news is these factors are 'alive and well' as we kick off 2000."

SHIPPING DELAYS

Over the Christmas Holiday DaimlerChrysler made alternative plans to move as many vehicles as possible during this plant downtime. Prior to the shutdown there were approximately 38,000 vehicles awaiting railcars at plant locations and various off-site locations.

Daimler Chrysler announced on January 3, 2000, that 85% of these vehicles were moved and only 5,400 vehicles remain to ship. Most of the remaining volume is at the Bramalea Plant in Canada, where the LH models are produced and are destined for the East Coast.

Due to the volume of vehicles moved, the status change reports may take a few extra days to properly report the changes.

FORD PRICES INCREASED ON 12/27/99

Ford Motor Company announced to their dealers on December 20, 1999 that effective with new orders placed after December 27, 1999 prices would increase on select lines of Ford and Lincoln Mercury products. Option prices are unchanged. Destination charges remained unchanged, except for the Focus, Taurus and Sable, which were increased by $25.

Prices have been changed in ARI's CAPS and PriceNet pricing systems. Automatic price protection will be provided by Ford on firm 2000-Model fleet and retail orders placed prior to December 27, 1999.

An example of the price increase on select models is as follows:

• Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable, Ford Explorer/Mercury Mountaineer increased by $84 (dealer invoice) or $95 (MSRP)
• Ford Crown Vic/Mercury Grand Marquis increased by $87 (dealer invoice) or $95 (MSRP)
• Lincoln LS increased by $267 (dealer invoice) or $300 (MSRP)
• Ford F250 series increased by $170 (dealer invoice) or $200 (MSRP)

DAIMLERCHRYSLER PRICE INCREASES

Effective December 14, 1999, DaimlerChrysler increased prices on the following new vehicles:

DODGE ANNOUNCES NEW MODELS

In December 1999, DaimlerChrysler announced prices on the following vehicles that are scheduled to begin production in February, 2000:

2000 Intrepid R/T model LHDX41 at $24,435 MSRP, plus $560 destination charge.

KEY PRODUCT MARKETING HIGHLIGHTS

The Intrepid R/T features include: 3.5L V6 Magnum engine with 242hp, selectable dual-mode AutoStick, 17 aluminum wheels, performance suspension, leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, bright chrome tip with unique tuned exhaust, fog lamps and cloth seats with R/T logo embroidered into the headrest. Available in four exterior colors: Inferno Red, Bright Silver, Deep Slate and Stone White and one interior color Agate.

2000 Durango R/T 4x4 Package build-up:

Durango model DN5L74 is $28,170 MSRP plus destination charge of $535
28G CPOS = $915 MSRP SLT Plus DŽcor Package # ATK $2,315 MSRP
New Durango R/T Package # ASU $1,645 MSRP
H.O. Magnum 5.9L V8 engine EML $595 MSRP
Total Durango R/T 4x4 (excluding options) $34,175 MSRP

KEY PRODUCT MARKETING HIGHLIGHTS

The Durango R/T is an option package (ASU) on the SLT+ (requires ATK). Features include: 5.9L High Output Magnum V8 engine with Premium Fuel Calibration providing 250hp, Full Time Transfer Case, Chrome Tip Tuned Exhaust, perfomance-tuned shocks, 17 aluminum wheels, P275/60R17 tires, body colored moldings and running boards and two-tone leather seats with R/T embroidered on fronts. Available in four colors: Flame Red, Black, Patriot Blue and Bright Platinum.

FINAL ORDER DATES

GM announced on January 7, 2000 the first phase of their 2000-Model "final order dates." Orders for the vehicles noted below must be received by January 29, 2000.

In regards to Phase 1, please note, only the models mentioned above are included in this portion of the build-out. We will still be accepting orders for the following:

• GMT 400 Chevrolet CK & GMC Sierra Classic Regular Cab Pickups without special Equipment Options or SEO Paint (subject to the restrictions listed above)
• GMT 400 Series Chassis Cab orders regardless of equipment, powertrain or SEO for the following GVWRs: C7A – 10,000 lbs., C7E – 11,000 lbs., C7L 12,000 lbs., C5B 15,000 lbs.
• GMT 800 Chevrolet Silverado and / or GMC Sierra 1500 Series Regular Cab Pickups and 1500 Series Extended Cab Short-Box Pickups.

HAVE YOU TRIED "PRICENET?"

PriceNet is ARI's secure vehicle specing, pricing and ordering system on the Internet. It is one of the selections contained within "INSIDE ARI" that allows a fleet manager to build and price almost every car or light/medium-duty truck sold in the U.S and Canada.

PriceNet's up-to-the-minute equipment, invoice and MSRP pricing, insightful package analysis and extensive quoting capabilities are built into a simple browser-based "box–and–button" interface.

This makes it easier, more powerful and more useful than any other on-line pricing system. Everything a fleet manager needs to know - equipment compatibility, fleet incentives, standard and optional features, mechanical, functional, interior/exterior, dimensions, performance ratings, color options and manufacturers' warranties – is at their fingertips for managing and creating selector lists.

As manufacturers change their pricing, options and specifications, PriceNet is updated daily to insure that fleet managers have the latest information prior to ordering. PriceNet plays an important role in providing a secure and easy-to-use electronic means of ordering fleet vehicles with ARI.

SATURN'S ROLLOUT OF E-COMMERCE

Troy, MI – December 16, 1999 - Saturn and its retailers are making the Internet a smarter tool for car shoppers with the nationwide rollout of the Saturn e-commerce network and the formation of strategic alliances with three leading Internet sites.

"The Saturn e-commerce network is part of our strategy to grow the Saturn brand by offering innovative new products and services," said Cynthia Trudell, chairman and president of Saturn. "Our mission is to develop friendly, thoughtful, intuitive vehicles and services. Making online shopping for a Saturn easy and enjoyable is an important part of this strategy."

NATIONWIDE E-COMMERCE NETWORK
All Saturn retail facilities in the U.S. went online in early December with designated e-commerce consultants whose goal is to respond to online customer queries within one business day. To supplement the queries Saturn retailers now receive through Saturn's Web site - http://www.saturn.com - Saturn has also formed strategic alliances with two leading automotive sites, Autobytel.com and Autoweb.com. A third alliance with AutoVantage.com goes online in mid-January. "The key to making online shopping satisfying will be the way Saturn follows up once an inquiry reaches the retailer," said Jill Lajdziak, vice president of sales, service and marketing for Saturn. "Our nationwide network of retailers — already industry leaders in customer service — will enable Saturn to set a new standard for e-commerce as well."

Like all Saturn retail initiatives, the Saturn e-commerce network was developed in partnership with Saturn retailers. "About a year ago, our retailer task force started working on an e-commerce strategy. This strategy was jointly developed and refined by Saturn and its retailers," said Saturn retailer Ed Williamson of Miami, Florida. "Our goal is to identify good prospects — people who have a strong interest in Saturn — and make it easy for them to shop for and buy a Saturn."

"The Internet is becoming an increasingly important tool for shoppers. In coordination with initiatives by e-GM to integrate e-commerce throughout General Motors, Saturn and its retailers are developing and implementing a full range of e-commerce initiatives," said Lajdziak. "We think Saturn's strengths, including our award-winning retail network, our no-hassle, no-haggle pricing, and our commitment to customer service, will help make us a leader in e-commerce as well."

SATURN HALTS PRODUCTION OF IT'S L-SERIES

General Motors Corp.'s Saturn unit confirmed it has stopped production of the L-Series until January 18 at it's Wilmington, Delaware assembly plant because of excess inventory and a desire to make some plant production adjustments.

Inventories in December rose to 20,000 cars because of a year-end blitz by Toyota and Honda to sell Camrys and Accords.

Saturn has also stopped production until January 18 at its second plant in Spring Hill, Tenn., where it makes the S-Series car, because of production preparations for a sport utility vehicle to be launched next year.

RECENT STUDY SHOWS LONG HOURS, LITTLE SLEEP CONTRIBUTE TO DROWSY DRIVING CRASHES

Washington, Dec. 21 - In the first-ever study of its kind, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center (HSRC) studied hundreds of sleep and fatigue-related car crashes to identify the driver behavior that caused them.

Factors strongly associated with having a drowsy driving crash included sleeping less than six hours per night, being awake for 20 hours or longer, working more than one job and/or working night shifts, and frequent driving between midnight and 6 a.m. With 35 million drivers about to travel for the holidays, this issue is particularly timely.

"Previous studies about drowsiness and driving were done in a laboratory," says David K. Willis, President of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. "This is the first time anyone has looked at real-world crashes to see what happens. And what happens is that drivers who have had six or less hours of sleep or who often drive between midnight and 6 a.m. put themselves at very high risk."

The study was performed by Dr. Jane Stutts of the HSRC with Drs. Bradley Vaughn and Jean Wilkins of the UNC School of Medicine. Researchers who used police crash reports and driver records to identify and interview 1,400 drivers. The sample included four groups: drivers who fell asleep, drivers who were fatigued, drivers who crashed for non-sleep reasons, and a control group of drivers who had not had a crash in three years. The researchers administered a detailed questionnaire about the drivers' work schedules, sleep habits, quality of sleep, amount of driving, and the circumstances surrounding their crash. Drivers were also asked questions to assess their present levels of sleepiness.

Large differences were found among the groups. Sleep and fatigue crash drivers had been awake longer and had slept less — just a fifth of them reported getting 8 or more hours of sleep before the crash, compared with nearly half of the control group. Drivers in sleep and fatigue crashes were also more likely to deal with their drowsiness once they were on the road rather than by planning ahead and taking precautions such as getting enough sleep or using caffeine.

The study indicated that many drivers do not know how sleepy they are. Around half the drivers in sleep-related crashes said they did not feel even moderately drowsy before they crashed. "People need to think about sleep even when they don't feel tired," Willis says. "Driving with your eyes closed can kill you."

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a not-for-profit charitable organization funded by donations from AAA and CAA clubs and members. It is devoted to preventing crashes and saving lives through research and education in the field of traffic safety. The full study may be found on the AAA Foundation's web site, http://www.aaafoundation.org.

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NEW JERSEY SURCHARGE
Revised 12/1/99

To recover anticipated increased costs of conducting business in New Jersey, as a result of recent legislation, General Motors announced to their dealers on October 1, 1999 that effective immediately they were revising prices of 2000 model cars and trucks. This "surcharge" is only added to invoices of vehicles that are shipped to dealers in New Jersey.

Should Ford or DaimlerChrysler follow suit, we will announce it here in the Purchasing News.

If a vehicle is shipped to a New Jersey dealer for delivery out of the state, GM is developing a refund procedure.

The option code on the GM invoice is "R6M - New Jersey Cost Surcharge." The amount of the surcharge varies by model. It ranges from $22 on a Prizm to $227 for a Cadillac Seville. Here is the list of GM surcharges by model:

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DAIMLERCHRYSLER 2000 MODEL YEAR PURCHASE ALLOWANCES

FORD 2000 MODEL YEAR NATIONAL FLEET INCENTIVES

GENERAL MOTORS 2000 MODEL YEAR NATIONAL FLEET PURCHASE PROGRAM

MAZDA 2000 MODEL YEAR COMMERCIAL FLEET PROGRAM

NISSAN 2000 MODEL YEAR FLEET PROGRAMS

SAAB 2000 MODEL YEAR FLEET PROGRAM

SUBARU 2000 MODEL YEAR FLEET INCENTIVE PROGRAM

TOYOTA 2000 MODEL YEAR COMMERCIAL FLEET INCENTIVE INVOICE CREDIT PROGRAM

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2000 Model Year Fleet Programs: Ford * General Motors * Mazda * Nissan * Saab * Subaru * Toyota

Ford Motor Company - National Fleet Incentives

On July 2, 1999, Ford announced the following National Fleet Incentives for the 2000 model year cars and trucks. Ford is combining the National Fleet Incentives with the Fleet Marketing Credits for a "Total Fleet Discount" for each vehicle line. This is to provide an accurate comparison between Ford vehicles and the facing GM products for the 2000 model year. Their national incentives have been increased to compensate for the elimination of marketing credits to fleet customers for 2000. The "Total Fleet Incentive" should avoid confusion that may exist due to the GM fleet program change.

2000 Model Year Fleet Programs: Daimlerchrysler * General Motors * Mazda * Nissan * Saab * Subaru * Toyota

2000 Model Year Fleet Programs: Daimlerchrysler * Ford * Mazda * Nissan * Saab * Subaru * Toyota

2000 Model Year Fleet Programs: Daimlerchrysler * Ford * General Motors * Nissan * Saab * Subaru * Toyota

2000 Model Year Fleet Programs: Diamlerchrysler * Ford * General Motors * Mazda * Saab * Subaru * Toyota

Model year 2000 Fleet Program Incentives apply to all new vehicles sold and reported to Saab Cars USA, Inc. by December 31, 2000. Dealer must complete Form SF#3 and mail along with supporting documents to the Fleet Sales Dept. in Norcross. GA. For more information call Mitch. Kamon at (770) 279-6892.

2000 Model Year Fleet Programs: Daimlerchrysler * Ford * Gerneral Motors * Mazda * Nissan * Subaru * Toyota

2000 Model Year Fleet Programs: Daimlerchrysler * Ford * General Motors * Mazda * Nissan * Saab * Toyota