Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers Formed by Nine Automobile Companies

Washington, D.C. - January 12, 1999 — Nine global automakers today announced the formation of a new trade association to represent the common interests of its members on a broad range of public policy issues. The new organization will be called the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers or the Alliance.

The nine companies forming the Alliance are: BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors, Mazda, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (the Alliance) member companies have more than 642,000 employees in the United States. The Alliance members have 255 manufacturing facilities in 33 states and approximately a 90 percent share of U.S. vehicle sales.

Peter Pestillo, Vice Chairman of Ford Motor Company, will serve as Chairman of the Alliance for the first year of the new association. Tom Gale, executive vice president, Chrysler Product Strategy, Design and Passenger Car Operations of DaimlerChrysler, has been named vice chairman of the group. The chairman position will rotate on an annual basis. The Vice Chairman will serve as Chairman-Elect for the Alliance.

"The Alliance provides our companies a forum to work together on public policy matters of common interest to develop constructive approaches and to work with government and other stakeholders to find sensible and effective solutions, said Mr. Pestillo, Chairman of the Alliance."

"We have a special commitment to improving the environment and motor vehicle safety. A major emphasis will be to convey this commitment as well as the industry's accomplishments and positions on public policy issued to the public, the government and other interested parties."

Other import goals of the Alliance are:

• To provide credible industry information and data on a global basis.
• To seek common/consistent global regulator standards.
• To provide an essential industry interface with other organizations and coalitions.
• To promote science and market-based, cost effective solutions on public policy issues.

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