Automotive Industry Trends

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., June 11, 2008 – Audi of America, Inc. posted the greatest ranking improvement in initial quality in the results from J.D. Power and Associates’ 2008 industry-wide study, released June 4, 2008. Even as initial quality improved across the auto industry, Audi distinguished itself from the pack, jumping sixteen spots to #10 with 113 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100). The Audi A6 ranked third in a tie in the Midsize Premium Car segment.

CUV Interest Grows as SUV Interest Declines

COSTA MESA, Calif., May 20, 2008 -- The gap in consumer interest between crossover utility vehicles (CUVs) and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) continues to widen, according to a report released today by NADAguides.com. The company, a vehicle pricing and information website, says consumer interest in crossovers increased 14.8 percent in April 2008 compared to April 2007, while SUV interest was down at almost the same rate of 15.9 percent during that same timeframe.

2009 Dodge Journey

Ford becomes Founding Reporter of the new voluntary North American facility CO2 reporting initiative.

DEARBORN, Mich., May 5, 2008 - Ford Motor Company is taking an industry-leading move by becoming the first automaker to join The Climate Registry (TCR), building upon Ford's leadership in facility greenhouse gas (GHG) initiatives globally. Ford supports the global harmonization of GHG monitoring and reporting practices. TCR represents a significant step toward that goal.

Highlights:
* Ford is the first automaker to join The Climate Registry.

Paderborn, March 17, 2008 -- dSPACE has now added a model for simulating road traffic to its Automotive Simulation Models (ASM). The new ASM Traffic Model simulates up to 15 vehicles surrounding a test vehicle equipped with radar sensors. The model is excellent for developing and testing driver assistance systems such as adaptive cruise control (ACC) and precrash.

Highlights
* New model for simulating road traffic
* Ideal for developing adaptive cruise control (ACC) systems
* Flexible traffic scenarios

March 10, 2008, Research Triangle Park, N.C. – Steve Ganster, managing director, Technomic Asia, will present “Developments in China’s Aftermarket” at the 2008 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) on Tuesday, May 20, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Chicago, Ill.

Steve Ganster, who lives and works in Shanghai, will characterize trends in the most dynamic auto market in the world, highlighting recent developments in vehicle growth, aftermarket size and segmentation, distribution dynamics, quality issues and sourcing. He will also present a perspective on opportunities and challenges for western auto suppliers.

New Delhi, India, 08/02/2008 -- The figures for April-January 2008 over April-January 2007 indicate that domestic sales of automobiles decelerated with a negative growth rate of (-) 4.82 percent.

The cumulative growth of the Passenger Vehicles segment during April-January 2008 was 12.79 percent. Passenger Cars grew by 12.75 percent, Multi Purpose Vehicles by 23.60 percent and Utility Vehicles by 8.95 percent in April-January 2008 compared to the same period last year.

In April- January 2008, the Commercial Vehicles segment grew by 2.98 percent over the same period in 2007. Light Commercial Vehicles recorded a growth of 13.84 percent; however, Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicles witnessed a fall by 4.55 percent.

Year off to a Slow Start

SANTA MONICA, Calif., January 28, 2008 — This month's new vehicle sales (including fleet sales) are expected to be 1.05 million units, a 2.9 percent decrease from January 2007 and a 23.8 percent decrease from December 2007, according to Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information. This amounts to a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 16.1 million units.

According to KBB Marketing Research, Shoppers Spend Less on Self in Order to Spend More on Others

January 17, 2008, ARLINGTON, VA — The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is pleased to announce the election of Brian V. Boyden as the new chairman of the Board of Directors. Boyden is executive vice president, State Farm Insurance Companies. He succeeds Gary Kusumi, president and chief executive officer, personal lines, of GMAC Insurance. Kusumi served as IIHS chairman during 2007 and will continue to serve as a member of the Board.

January 17, 2008, ARLINGTON, VA — The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) is pleased to announce the election of Laurette Stiles as the new chairman of the Board of Directors. Stiles is vice president, strategic resources, at State Farm Insurance Companies. She succeeds Eugene C. Connell, senior vice president and division officer, actuarial division, at Erie Insurance Group. Connell served as HLDI chairman in 2007 and will continue to serve as a Board member.

"The work HLDI does to understand insurance losses to achieve lower costs for the public is important, and I'm proud to be working toward this goal," Stiles says. HLDI president Adrian Lund adds, "I’m pleased that HLDI gains such a strong leader."