This Week:

• DaimlerChrysler presents F 400 Carving research vehicle with dynamic chassis technology at the Tokyo Motor Show 2001
  .

• Chevrolet Introduces The "Cruze" Compact Lifestyle Vehicle at the Tokyo Motor Show 2001, Jointly Developed By GM, Suzuki
  .

• Porsche invests approx. 250 million marks in Leipzig
  .

• Toyota and Daihatsu Announce Plans for Tokyo Motor Show
  .

• Andrej Barcak To Take Over European Remarketing And Used Vehicles
  .

• Seita Kanai and the new Mazda 6
  .

• Ford Reports Third Quarter Loss
  .

• Audi still enjoying record-breaking success
  .

• GM, Ford And DaimlerChrysler Go After Parts Counterfeiters
  .

• Valeo announces a plan to close its Baumenheim plant in Germany
  .

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News of  October 24, 2001
.

GM, Ford And DaimlerChrysler Go After Parts Counterfeiters

Detroit - General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO), Ford Motor Company's Automotive Consumer Services Group and the Mopar Parts Division of DaimlerChrysler Corporation are leading the creation of a Global Industry Network to protect against counterfeit activity. The three automakers are cooperating in efforts to share their learnings on tracking down and seeking prosecution of counterfeiting perpetrators.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, the impact of counterfeit activity has resulted in: Lost sales of $12 billion worldwide for the automotive industry; 210,000 lost automotive related jobs; Compromised customer safety; Loss of brand reputation and consumer confidence, and Loss of opportunity for automakers to grow their respective businesses.

"We are speaking with one voice on this issue," said John F. Smith, a GM vice president and general manager of GM SPO. "We have identified areas of common concern that threaten fair competition, product integrity and safety, our employees' job security and our bottom lines. The counterfeiters -- or the 'unseen'competitors, as we call them -- are well organized, well funded and often know our markets as well as we do. While they are criminals in their own right, they are often linked to broad-based criminal organizations around the world.

"They take advantage of the faith our customers have placed in our GM- and ACDelco-branded products,"added Smith. "They have no concern for the quality or the performance of the products they produce. Counterfeit parts very seldom meet even a single GM specification or performance standard, but the counterfeiter doesn't have to care about performance, liability or safety of the consumer. Upon failure, the resulting damage to a company's reputation occurs to GM... or Ford... or DaimlerChrysler."

"There's no question that our collective effort is about protecting our customers," said Mike Jordan, president, Ford Automotive Consumer Services Group. "When customers believe they are buying a genuine Ford, GM or DaimlerChrysler part, they expect Original Equipment quality, safety and durability - and they should get it. "When counterfeiters unlawfully manufacture and sell Ford parts, they deceive and defraud our customers--depriving consumers of their trust and confidence in our brand, their expectation of quality and their peace of mind. Counterfeit parts traffickers also compromise customers' relationships with their vehicle service providers.

"What's particularly alarming is that counterfeiters are getting bolder, expanding into a wider variety of parts," Jordan continued. "Now, everything is fair game. If it goes into or onto a vehicle, it's at risk of being counterfeited. Parts such as steering and suspension components, ignition modules and brake pads - items that have a direct bearing on the safe operation of our customers' vehicles - are being sold by counterfeiters without the benefit of testing for quality, safety and durability."

Over the last few months, GM has raided 14 counterfeit retailers and four printing operations in the Middle East. As recently as Sept. 5, 2001, an automobile glass factory in China's Guangdong Province was raided and several automakers' branded glass windshields, including GM's, were confiscated. Most of the glass was being exported throughout the world contained no shatterproof safety elements to protect passengers involved in accidents.

In Mexico, Argentina and Brazil, Ford Motor Company has recently identified several dozen counterfeiters producing and trafficking everything from wheel covers to suspension parts to air filters.

(October 19, 2001)

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