PURCHASING NEWS

Pool Vehicles

2002 Model Year
Final Order Dates

2003 Model Year
Fleet Programs

Issue 213 – July 8, 2002

EnviroFleet; ARI's Environmental Fleet Technology Newsletter

GM's OnStar for 2003

For additional information go to
http://www.OnStar.com

DaimlerChrysler Announces 2003MY "Pre-Sell" Pricing

In an effort to assist clients who are interested in placing early 2003MY fleet orders, DaimlerChrysler recently released what it calls "Fleet Pre-Sell" pricing, which provides price protection for any sold fleet orders that are placed prior to the announcement of Introductory Pricing.

Once Introductory Pricing is announced, the Fleet Pre-Sell pricing and price protection that it provides is no longer in effect.

It is important to note that the Fleet Pre-Sale pricing is not firm pricing and should be used as a guideline only until official 2003MY Introductory Pricing is announced.

GM Adds 2003MY Medium Duty Trucks to VX5 Program

GM recently added 2003 Model Year Chevrolet and GMC Medium Duty products to the National Fleet Purchase Program (VX5).

Clients may receive this credit on the invoice by ordering option VX5 or as an open account credit on out-of-stock units. This replaces last years' VX5 allowance that only applied to out-of-stock applications.

A $500 National Fleet Purchase Incentive is available on the following Medium Duty vehicles: C5500, C6500, C7500 and C8500.

As with all GM models, a valid GM Fleet Account Number (FAN) is required.

Final Order Due Date Notice – 2003MY F650/750

Due to a change in production facilities, the 2003 F650/750 will have a short model year run with a tentative final order due date of 7/26/02. Vehicle Special Order (VSO) F650/750s have a tentative final order due date of 6/28/02.

The model is currently produced in Cuautitlan, Mexico but it is being moved to a plant in Escapado, Mexico, which is closer to the U.S. border. Production at the Escapado plant will be dedicated to the F650/750 model line only, Ford sources say.

The 2004MY F650/750 order bank opening date and production startup date is unavailable at this time.

2003 Express and Savana Cutaway Van Build Restriction

Due to unforeseen build restrictions, GM is halting production of certain 2003 Express and Savana Cutaway Van models. As a result, any orders that were in the production schedule will not be built until the restriction is lifted.

This restriction applies only to models CG33503 and TG33503. Cargo, Passenger and other Cutaway models are not affected.

GM expects this restriction to be in place for about 4 – 6 weeks with production commencing in September. Further information will be provided as it becomes available.

NHTSA Announces Publication on Safe Trailer Towing

U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta recently announced the release of a new consumer brochure containing important safety information for motorists who tow trailers.

The brochure, called "Towing a Trailer: Being Equipped for Safety", covers the following topics:

Safety tips for driving with a trailer
The pre-departure checklist
Tire safety when towing
Proper loading and weight distribution of cargo and equipment
State and local requirements for towing a trailer
Safety tips for maintaining a tow vehicle and trailer
How the size and weight of a trailer affects the selection of a tow vehicle
The importance of trailer manufacturers' tow ratings
How to measure the weight of a trailer
The hitching, braking, and wiring systems that connect tow vehicles with trailers

"It is important to make good decisions about safety when buying and driving tow vehicles and trailers," said Secretary Mineta. "Taking time to make sure a tow vehicle and trailer are compatible and properly equipped for safety can help prevent injuries and minimize the inconvenience and consequences of a crash or break down."

The brochure is on the NHTSA Website at: http://www.nhtsa.org/cars/problems/Equipment/towing/index.htm and can be obtained free of charge by calling the NHTSA Hotline at (888)-327-4236.

U.S. Rule on Tire-Pressure Monitors Challenged by Consumer Groups

Bloomberg News reports that three consumer advocacy groups are suing the U.S. Transportation Department to overturn a new rule recently passed by Congress requiring automakers to include standard tire pressure monitors on their vehicles.

Under the new rule, automakers can choose between two methods for monitoring tire pressure: a system that monitors each tire directly or another that uses the vehicle's antilock brake system to sense tire pressure.

Advocacy groups (Public Citizen, the Center for Auto Safety and the New York Public Research Group) say that the new rule allows for an "inferior" system, referring to the indirect method that measures tire pressure by using the vehicles' antilock brake system - the less expensive of the two methods.

OnStar Services Expand Across GM's 2003 Lineup

GM has announced that OnStar services will be available on more models and packages within the GM lineup for the 2003 model year. Previously unavailable, OnStar services will now be offered on the Cavalier, Sunfire, Express and Savana. The new Hummer H2 also will offer OnStar.

Since launching in 1996, OnStar has had about 16 million interactions with subscribers. On a monthly basis, Onstar:

Answers 200,000 routing calls
Answers 14,250 roadside assistance requests
Performs 15,000 door unlocks
Responds to 500 air bag deployments
Responds to 375 stolen vehicle location requests

OnStar is available on all Cadillacs, Buicks, Saabs, Saturns, all GM minivans and SUVS and an extensive range of midsize sedans from Chevrolet, Pontiac and Oldsmobile. In all, OnStar services will be offered on 44 of 53 models in 2003.

Depending on the model, OnStar is either standard, part of a preferred equipment group or convenience package, or a $695 MSRP option, which includes a year of Safe & Sound service (Cadillac buyers, except CTS, receive a year of Directions and Connections service). After the first year, subscribers can renew the Safe & Sound service for $16.95 a month, or sign up for the Directions and Connections package for $34.95 a month.

For more information about 2003MY OnStar model availability and services, please go to www.arifleet.com, select "Purchasing News", and then select "GM's OnStar for 2003".

DaimlerChrysler Facility Will Speed Development of New Products

DaimlerChrysler's new Aero-Acoustic Wind Tunnel

DaimlerChrysler has opened a new $37.5 million dollar wind tunnel facility that will provide the automaker with state-of-the-art aerodynamic and acoustic testing capability in the design and engineering of future vehicles.

The 31,000 square foot Aero-Acoustic Wind Tunnel facility can accommodate vehicles up to 10,000 pounds. The 18-foot turntable permits precise positioning of vehicles during testing. The facilities' fans can generate winds in excess of 150 miles per hour to assess aerodynamic drag and wind noise.

"Reducing the air drag is the most efficient way to improve fuel economy, which is a top priority for us," said Dieter Zetsche, Chrysler Group President and CEO. "Since the noise levels of powertrains have been greatly reduced, wind noise management is more important than ever."

With the use of acoustic materials and other design elements to minimize background sound, the facility is acoustically the quietest wind tunnel currently in use in the industry, the automaker said.

Chrysler Group said that the test facility also will enable the company to reduce the time and cost of bringing new vehicles to market.

Volvo Develops First Pregnant Crash Test Dummy

Volvo Car Corporation has developed the world's first official computer model of a pregnant crash test dummy.

Surprisingly, researchers still know very little about what happens to a fetus when a pregnant woman is involved in a car accident so Volvo is hoping to better understand this important area through new research.

The virtual crash dummy is a woman at a late stage of pregnancy, since that is when an unborn baby is at greatest risk in an accident. The basic geometry was completed in January, 2002 and Volvo has devoted much time since then refining the model.

"We've started running simulated front-end impact tests on it," said Camilla Palmertz, a biomedical engineer at the Volvo Cars Safety Centre. "One big advantage is that both mother and baby can be scaled up or down to the size we want to study."

The purpose of these initial tests is to study how the virtual mother-to-be and her unborn baby are affected by the seat belt and airbag in simulated collisions. The computer model makes it possible to study how the belt moves, the influence of belt and airbag on the fetus and how the fetus moves in relation to the mother's body, among other things. The model can also be used to test new designs for seat belts and other safety systems.

"I'm certain that there's room for further development of the three-point belt, to make it more comfortable and provide even better protection," said Palmertz.

Many pregnant women wonder whether the seat belt could harm their unborn baby if they're involved in an accident, but researchers agree that they should always wear their seat belts. Palmertz says that the upper portion of the belt should be worn down the center of the chest and the lower lap portion should be as low as possible over the hips. Women should, however, consult their doctor on the proper way to wear a safety belt during pregnancy.

GM Introduces Innovative New SUV

In model year 2004, GM will produce what is being hailed as a "revolutionary" new SUV – the GMC Envoy XUV.

Exclusive to GMC, the Envoy XUV is a highly adaptable SUV with functional innovation and state-of-the-art technology. Industry-first features include:

Power-sliding rear roof – With the touch of a button, the Envoy XUV converts the cargo area from fully enclosed to open air. This allows Envoy XUV to carry oversized or tall items.
Next generation Midgate – with power glass – The Midgate glass can be raised or lowered with the touch of a button. When the window is raised, the passenger compartment is sealed off from the rear cargo area, creating a cargo space capable of fitting multiple 4x8 building sheets or other large materials.
All-weather cargo area – A weather-resistant rear cargo area has an innovative QuickDrain system that channels up to 22 cubic inches of water per second out of the cargo space. Cargo area versatility is further enhanced by four tie-down rings that are designed to secure items of various shapes and sizes. An extensive selection of GM Accessories will be available for the cargo area.
Drop or swing tailgate with power window – The dual-function tailgate provides increased flexibility. The tailgate power window can be raised or lowered with the push of a button. With the window fully lowered, the tailgate can be dropped for ease of loading and unloading. The tailgate can also swing right, allowing bumper access to the cargo area.

Sharing the same platform as the GMC Envoy XL, the Envoy XUV is specifically designed to meet the diverse needs of SUV customers in one multifunctional vehicle.

The Envoy XUV will make its public debut this September. Production will begin in mid-2003 at GM's Oklahoma City plant.

Mazda MPV Receives Top Rating from NHTSA

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has awarded the 2002 Mazda MPV a quadruple five-star crash test rating – the highest rating possible – in its New Car Assessment Program. The announcement makes the MPV one of NHTSA's top-rated vehicles.

In NHTSA's newly released frontal crash-test ratings, the MPV received five stars for both driver and passenger seating positions. Previously, the MPV achieved five star ratings for both front and rear occupants in a side crash test.

For additional information on the New Car Assessment Program, please go to: http://www.nhtsa.org/nhtsa/announce/press/pressdisplay.cfm?year=2002&filename=pr47-02.html.

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Purchasing News Home

Pool Vehicle Inventory

CARS
Year	Make	Cyl	Model	Dr	Location	Invoice	Ref #
02	Dodge	6	Intrepid	4	Stockton, CA	$18,998	02024
02	Ford	8	Crown Victoria HD Sedan	4	Springfield, NJ	$22,274	55309
02	Ford	8	Crown Victoria HD Sedan	4	Birmingham, AL	$22,002	21274
02	Ford	8	Crown Victoria HD Sedan	4	Birmingham, AL	$22,002	21275
02	Mercury	6	Sable GS Plus Wagon	4	Dallas, TX	$17,763	100506

TRUCKS
Year	Make	Cyl	Model	Location	Invoice	Ref #
02	Ford	8	Explorer 4 Dr XLT 4x4	Batesville, MS	$29,417	20014
02	Ford	8	F350 Crew Chassis 4x4	Broadway, VA	$27,684	Multiple
When a "stock purchase" is desired, you may consider using a vehicle from the ARI "pool" to save money and time. Call your ARI representative for details!

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