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.August 06, 2003
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This Week:

• Toyota Launches Alphard Hybrid

• Mercedes-Benz is the first car manufacturer to offer a combination of EU 4 and diesel particulate filter

• Porsche accelerates away again in Germany

• All-New 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Pricing Announced

• Chrysler Group Applies Flexibility and Reduces Capital Expense in Preparation for the Launch of the All-New 2004 Dodge Durango

• MINI Announces 2004 Model Year Pricing and Changes

• Ford Motor Company Reports July And Year-To-Date U.S. Sales

• New entry-level engine for the Volkswagen Touran

• Renault reports sharp rise in net income and operating margin of 3.2% 

• Cathleen O'Hare Named Buick Communications Manager

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Porsche accelerates away again in Germany
 

The Cayenne gives Zuffenhausen sports car maker a boost Stuttgart, Germany. In the first half of 2003 Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart was able to achieve a new registrations record in its German home market, which puts it well on the way to beating its previous best year 2002. In the months January to June 2003, according to the German Federal Motor Vehicle Registration Agency (KBA), there were 7,576 Porsche vehicles registered. Compared with the corresponding period for the previous year (7,278 vehicles), this is an increase of four per cent. Against the background of a shrinking overall market, Porsche is thus once again on a growth course.

A crucial contribution here was made by the Porsche Cayenne, successfully introduced into the market last December. It represents a new benchmark in the premium sport utility vehicle segment and has already won itself a top place there in a short time. In the first half of 2003, there were 2,144 Cayenne S and Turbo vehicles registered in Germany. The Cayenne was therefore more than able to compensate for the decline in sales of the Model series 911 and Boxster, which were affected by the weak market conditions for sports cars: 3,568 units of the 911 were registered from January to June (minus 26 per cent compared with the same period for the previous year); and 1,855 units of the Boxster (minus 22 per cent).

According to Bernhard Maier, Managing Director of Porsche Deutschland GmbH, "The Cayenne came at the right time and ideally complements our sports car range. Furthermore, from September we shall be expanding our sports car range in some attractive ways with additional versions of the evergreen 911, such as the Turbo Cabriolet, the Carrera 4S Cabriolet and the GT3 RS. With the boost from the Cayenne taking us forward and the new 911 versions, we are very confident for the second half and have a good chance of beating 2002, our best ever year in the history of Porsche Deutschland."

(July 31, 2003)