This Week:

• Ford unveils an American beauty in Thunderbird Sports Roadster concept

• "Will" Finds Its Way To 2001 Los Angeles Auto Show In The Form of a New Concept Vehicle

• 2001 Detroit Auto Show - Three world premieres for Mercedes-Benz

• Renault consolidates its lead with 29.1% of the French automobile market in 2000

• Porsche - Horst Marchart hands over the Development Center in Weissach to Wolfgang Dürheimer

• BMW Group Looks Back On A Successful Year: Over 2,500 New Jobs In Germany

• Mercedes-Benz M-Class Production in 2000 Increases 17 Percent Over Last Year
  .
• Volvo Caps 2000 With Sales Records
  .

• New Five Year/60,000 Mile Service Plan Announced By Oldsmobile
  .

• Hyundai Motor Company Moves to New Headquarters In Korea
  .

• Delphi to Become Battery Supplier To International Truck and Engine Corporation  
  .
• Visteon Corporation Wins Mach(R) Satellite Digital Radio Contract With Ford Motor Company

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News of  January 02, 2001

Porsche - Horst Marchart hands over the Development Center in Weissach to Wolfgang Dürheimer

Stuttgart, Germany - After over 40 years in the service of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, Horst Marchart has decided to retire on March 31, 2001. As the Executive Board Member for Research and Development, he had a major influence on the successful Porsche sports car product range and thus on the company's financial turnaround after difficult crisis years. It was under his responsibility that the 993 and 996 versions of the 911 models, and also the Boxster, made their way from the drawing board to the road. Marchart's youngest "prodigy", the near-series high-performance Carrera GT sports car study, created much excitement in international circles only a few weeks ago at the Paris Motor Show. Born in Vienna and the father of four grown-up children, Horst Marchart will celebrate his 62nd birthday on 28th March 2001.

At its meeting on January 18th 2001 the Supervisory Board will propose Wolfgang Dürheimer, who is currently 911 model line executive manager, as Horst Marchart's successor. Dürheimer has been at Porsche AG since January 1999. Previously, he was a member of general management at the motorcycle division of BMW AG with responsibility for the research and development department and project management. Dürheimer was born on 20th June 1958 in Martinszell in the Upper Allgäu region of Germany. He is married and the father of two children.

A "lucky break for Porsche" is how Professor Helmut Sihler, Chairman of the Stuttgart sports car maker's Supervisory Board, described Horst Marchart, and praised his work for the company: "He especially impressed everyone with his comprehensive technical knowledge as an engineer. This was also true of both his managerial skills and his ability to get things done, not only by focusing the potential of all the workforce in Weissach on the project in hand, but also by continually extending its activities. In all his years and in his positions at the Company, Horst Marchart has made a considerable contribution toward making Porsche the epitome of innovation, fascination and emotion on the international sports car scene. The Supervisory Board, Executive Board and shareholders would like to express their heartfelt thanks to him."

The proposal to nominate 42-year-old Wolfgang Dürheimer as the new Board member responsible for research and development, is for Sihler further categorical proof of the ongoing generation change at Porsche: "Young, talented and already highly experienced people will and must shape the future of our company. Wolfgang Dürheimer has not only proved his ability in the last few years, but also, as anyone can see, understands Porsche's product and corporate philosophy. We wish him good fortune in all his future decisions."

Dr. Wendelin Wiedeking, Chief Executive of Porsche AG, particularly emphasized Horst Marchart's spirit of cooperation and fairness: "With his wealth of technical and human experience, but also with his proverbial Austrian composure, he has positively influenced important decisions especially at critical moments. For me, Horst Marchart is a dyed-in-the-wool Porsche personality from whom one can learn a great deal, regardless of whether one is on the Board or in Weissach." Wiedeking also drew attention to the innumerable race victories, particularly in Le Mans, which carry Marchart's signature to this very day.

(Dec. 21, 2000)

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