CAP GEMINI ERNST & YOUNG ANNOUNCES AUTOMOTIVE NEWS PACET 2003 AWARDS FINALISTS

PACET finalists exemplify innovation driving the automotive industry

PARIS, November 20, 2002 - Cap Gemini Ernst & Young and Automotive News have announced 22 finalists from Europe and North America for the prestigious Automotive News PACET 2003 Awards.

The annual Automotive News PACET (Premier Automotive Suppliers' and OEMs' Contributions to Excellence) Awards program recognizes outstanding automotive suppliers that have excelled in adapting and reinventing their companies or their products and processes to meet the growing service and quality demands of their customers-the world's major automotive manufacturers. Finalists are raising the level of competition throughout the industry by introducing new products and better practices.

"The demand for increased productivity and product value creates an unprecedented opportunity for technological and innovative advances in the way we approach business. This year's finalists and honorable mentions have come forth with enormously creative responses to those challenges," says Michael Wujciak, Vice President, Global Automotive Leader, Cap Gemini Ernst & Young. "We are pleased to extend recognition to companies that distinguish themselves within the industry." Recipients of the Automotive News PACET 2003 Awards will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Detroit Opera House, Detroit, MI., on Sunday, March 2, 2003, which coincides with the start of the SAE International Congress and Exposition (Society of Automotive Engineers).

The 22 finalists include companies from Italy, Germany, Canada and the U.S. These companies move on to the second stage in the application process, which includes a site visit to evaluate both the innovation and management teams of these companies. An independent panel of distinguished judges, consisting of industry, academic and business leaders will determine the recipients of the Automotive News PACET 2003 Awards.

The 2003 PACE Awards categories:

• Product
  Innovations in new products and introductions processes that have significant market impact and act as 'game changers' in the automotive industry. Excludes vehicles.
• Product - Europe
  Same as 'Product', but innovations developed/first commercialized in Europe.
• Information Technology and Services
  Applications in the IT category highlight innovations in the design, implementation and use of information systems solutions that enable companies to improve operational performance or deliver services. Examples of IT innovations include applying information technology to improve product design and product development processes, linking supplier and customer supply chains, developing innovative approaches to connecting employees to company and industry information and the use of information technologies within the vehicle. Also included are innovations in service offering. Innovations may be entered from North America or Europe. Applicants can be parts suppliers, service providers or IT companies themselves.
• Manufacturing Process and Capital Equipment
  Applications in Manufacturing Process and Capital Equipment may encompass North American or European innovations involving game-changing processes (manufacturing or business) or innovative capital equipment that supports the automotive supply chain or manufacturing processes.
• Open
  Innovations in other areas of the automotive supplier industry that cannot be classified in the categories identified above, or at the judges' discretion. For example, human resources and sales & marketing.

In addition to 22 finalists (see Attachment 1), the Automotive News PACET Awards selection committee also recognized nine entrants who received honorable mentions for their innovative achievements. These nine companies are recognized as exceptional contributors to the automotive industry.

For the ninth consecutive year, Automotive News and Cap Gemini Ernst & Young are co-presenters of the awards in association with the Transportation Research Center, which are dedicated to promoting product, manufacturing and service achievements by automotive suppliers of all sizes. For profiles of previous Automotive News PACET winners, visit the PACET web site at http://www.us.cgey.com/pace or http://www.automotivenews.com. For more information call +1 313 628 7157 or +1 313 446 6039.

WWJ Newsradio 950 is the exclusive broadcast sponsor of PACET 2003. Other sponsors include The Transportation Research Center (TRC) and the Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA).

The Cap Gemini Ernst & Young Group is one of the largest management and IT consulting organizations in the world. The company offers management and IT consulting services, systems integration, and technology development, design and outsourcing capabilities on a global scale to help businesses continue to implement growth strategies and leverage technology. The organization employs around 55,000 people worldwide and reported 2001 global revenues of more than 8.4 billion euros. More

information about individual service lines, offices and research is available at www.cgey.com.

Automotive News is a critical source of news, data, analysis and information for the North American auto industry. It is the flagship of a worldwide group of publications that also includes Automotive News Europe. The weekly publication provides in-depth coverage of the auto industry and is written for automakers, dealers and suppliers. Automotive News' circulation is over 81,000 and is the only 100% paid publication in the industry. The group's Web sites, automotivenews.com and autonewseurope.com, are the global industry's sources of news as it happens.

Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC), an affiliate of The Ohio State University, is an independent manager of Transportation Research Center, a transportation proving ground supporting the automotive industry. The company specializes in R&D testing as well as testing to FMVSS and industry certification/compliance standards. Testing for safety, fuel economy, durability and performance are accomplished at the 4,500 acre facility, which includes: 7.5 mile test tract, crash testing facility, 24" HYGE Sled, Static Fixture Labs, 50 acre Vehicle Dynamics Area, 9000 foot skid pad, off-highway area and ride quality roads. TRC Inc is and ISO-2001 registered company. For information on TRC Inc. visit www.trcpg.com.

About WWJ Newsradio

WWJ Newsradio 950 is Detroit's only all-news radio station, serving the area's largest radio audience. A CBS Network station, WWJ covers business and the automotive industry with two dedicated automotive reporters, twice-hourly business updates, live reports from the Detroit Bureau of The Wall Street Journal, and perspectives from WWJ's business correspondent.

The Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA) was formed in August of 1998 to provide a forum to address automotive industry issues of common interest, serve as a source of industry information and analysis, promote the industry, and serve as a voice for the OE supplier community when appropriate. The association represents over 260 automotive suppliers, with global automotive sales of $280 billion. For information call Noelle Schiffer at +1 248 952 6401, or send a message to nschiffer@oesa.org.

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