ADVISORY/Thomas Group to Host Automotive eReadiness Roundtable for Automotive Supplier Industry.

News/Assignment Editors

ADVISORY...for Wednesday (Aug. 23)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

    What: An Automotive eReadiness Roundtable: Building a Successful
          eBusiness Strategy -- Kevin Prouty, senior analyst for the
          automotive industry at AMR Research and noted expert on the
          automotive trade exchange initiatives will discuss key
          issues such as:

          --  The impact of e-Business strategies on automation,
              plant processes, and plant-supplier relationships

          --  Automotive trading exchange initiatives: what's real,
              who wins and who loses

          --  Trends toward modular construction and supplier
              consolidation

          Following Mr. Prouty's presentation, a selected panel of
          automotive industry executives will conduct a roundtable
          discussion to explore the impact of customer, business and
          technology trends on the industry, and to discuss ways to
          optimize efficiencies and implement a strategic plan of
          action.

    Who:  Speaker: Kevin Prouty, automotive industry senior analyst,
          AMR Research;
          Panel: automotive industry executives;
          Panel Moderator: Ed Lapham, editor, Automotive News;

    When: Wednesday, August 23, 2000
          7:00-8:00 a.m.    Complimentary Buffet Breakfast
          8:00-8:15 a.m.    Welcome and Introduction
          8:15-9:00 a.m.    "Automotive e-Business: Business as Usual"
                            (K. Prouty)
          9:15-10:00 a.m.   Panel discussion
          10:00-10:30 a.m.  Questions and Answers

    Where: Birmingham Country Club, 1750 Saxon Drive, Birmingham
           Michigan

    Media Opportunity: Mr. Prouty will be available for interviews at
           a press briefing immediately following the event.

    Sponsored by: Thomas Group, Inc. Automotive Practice, Detroit