CALSTART's Green Index 2000 Report Finds Ford Current Automotive Leader in ``Environmental Image''.

Business Editors/Automotive and Environment Writers

PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 16, 2000

Custom Research Survey Now Available:

Measures Opinion Leader Perceptions of Auto Industry

Environmental and Technology Leadership

Results of a new global opinion leader survey -- Green Index(TM) 2000, just released by CALSTART, the advanced transportation consortium -- show that Ford Motor Co. is perceived as the premier automaker when it comes to environmental image and leadership, followed by Toyota and Honda.

The report also finds that automakers are beginning to take seriously environmental issues and their "green image" and leading companies see competitive advantage in environmental products. This emerging competition on "green" issues represents positive news for the environment should it continue. The Green Index(TM) provides the first tools to track this image and the reality behind it.

The Green Index(TM) 2000 Report -- now available for purchase from CALSTART -- is a custom research survey that tracks opinion leader perceptions of the environmental actions, or "green image," of world automakers.

The survey measures auto industry image across two "green" dimensions: overall environmental leadership and technology leadership. The survey was performed over the summer and fall of 1999 and targeted key opinion leaders in environmental, transportation, air quality and energy organizations and agencies.

"Automakers -- and suppliers -- who are making a commitment to environmentally beneficial technologies and product development are starting to reap the image benefits," said Michael J. Gage, president and chief executive officer of CALSTART.

"The Green Index(TM) tracks what is becoming the new high ground for competitive advantage -- 'green image.' Environmental commitment is setting companies apart, and you need to know where your customers -- and competitors -- stand. Companies such as Ford, Toyota and Honda see the value and are positioning themselves to be the early leaders."

The targeted survey posed several questions about how different actions, such as developing and building clean fuel vehicles, were perceived, and which automakers were believed to have a real commitment to environmental issues.

It also measured leadership in key technology areas and quantified these responses against several key indicators. Among its findings:

-- Ford was perceived as the top company for overall environmental
   leadership, chosen by 33 percent of respondents who selected an
   automaker, followed by Honda (21 percent) and Toyota (16 percent).
   Four other organizations were also recognized.

-- However, a remarkable 65 percent of total respondents also felt
   there was not yet a clear environmental leader among automakers.

-- Toyota was identified by 70 percent of respondents as the clear
   leader in hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) technologies; Ford was
   perceived as the natural gas vehicle (NGV) technology leader (56
   percent); General Motors topped electric vehicle (EV) technology
   leadership (54 percent); DaimlerChrysler was viewed as the fuel
   cell electric vehicle (FCEV) leader (47 percent).

-- Opinion leaders believe (by 94 percent) building clean fuel
   vehicles (CFVs) is critical to air quality improvements, while
   conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles were viewed
   as a major cause of air pollution (by 81 percent).

Using these data, the Green Index(TM) also developed a composite measurement of total "green image," combining technology and overall environmental leadership. In this final analysis, reported in detail in the study, Ford emerged as the overall "green image" leader, followed by Toyota, Honda, DaimlerChrysler, General Motors, Ballard Power Systems and Solectria.

It is important to note that size and name recognition alone were not the most important determining factors. Both Ballard and Solectria were able to reap far greater image recognition than their size alone would justify because of their success with such key indicators as marketing commitment, support of top management, investment in R&D and infrastructure and advertising of environmental benefits.

"'Green image' is an emerging battleground and there are some clear early leaders and laggards," noted Mark Gomez, Green Index(TM) 2000 editor and principal investigator.

"What we found was a valuable snapshot of who is currently leading the image race, what criteria are being used to judge them and what strategies and actions are working for them. From this, we make recommendations to 'green image' contenders about how to move ahead."

Added Gage: "With global warming concerns coupled with urban congestion and pollution, much of it caused by automobiles, automakers are looking for environmental solutions. With global competition, they need new ways to set themselves apart.

"The environment, as an automotive issue, will be to the next decade what safety was to the last. This is critical competitive data for automakers, suppliers and their marketing organizations to learn."

For more information on the complete, 80-page Green Index(TM) 2000 Report, or to purchase a copy or company license, visit CALSTART's Web site at www.calstart.org/greenindex; or call 800/9-START-9 toll free in the United States, and 626/744-5600 elsewhere.

CALSTART is a division of WestStart-CALSTART, a non-profit, advanced transportation technologies consortium that focuses on developing new, clean technologies and solutions in transportation.

A consortium of more than 200 private and public partners worldwide, CALSTART provides industry technology research and development, market analysis and fleet implementation services. Visit its Web site at www.calstart.org.