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UL to Deliver AIAG Gap Assessment Services to Prepare Chinese Auto Parts Suppliers for Entry Into N.A. Auto Market

Northbrook, Ill., Jan. 31, 2007 -- The Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG), a leading not-for-profit automotive industry trade association, today announced an agreement with Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL), a world leader in product safety testing and certification, under which UL will provide AIAG Gap Assessment Services to automotive parts and accessories manufacturers in China to facilitate North American market access for these suppliers.

Under the collaborative agreement, UL will perform gap analysis as well as training in problem solving and heat treatment process control. The agreement leverages AIAG' s technical and management expertise and UL's professional service capability in evaluating products, components, materials and systems to help automotive parts suppliers in China export their higher quality products more quickly.

Dr. Chen Yilong, General Director of Asia-Pacific Affairs & Chief Representative in China, AIAG, said: "Asia, particularly China, represent a key economic growth sector for the automotive parts sourcing industry. Many international automotive manufacturers prefer to buy parts and accessories from suppliers in China, but some suppliers have found it challenging to export their products to North America due to the gap in meeting stringent sourcing requirements, especially with the Big Three."

AIAG Gap Assessment Services is a new program developed specifically to assist AIAG members including GM, Ford, and DCX in resolving issues with sourcing automotive parts and accessories in China. The program helps potential suppliers identify gaps in meeting Big Three sourcing requirements, where increased price and time pressure have made efficient, cost-effective manufacturing and delivery more crucial than ever.

Mr. John H. Schmidt, Senior Vice President, Chief Development Manager of UL, said: "We look forward to deploying UL's specialized professional training and automotive industry service resources to make this program as valuable as possible to parts suppliers. UL will closely adhere to AIAG's criteria for technical and service level quality, while AIAG will oversee the program to ensure that the needs and preferences of all participants are acknowledged and implemented."

Gap assessment (or gap analysis) is a business evaluation tool enabling a company to compare its actual performance with its potential performance. This provides the company with insight into areas that offer opportunity for improvement. The gap assessment process involves determining, documenting and approving the variance between business requirements and current capabilities.

For business inquiries, please contact Ms. Chen or Ms. Zhu at +86-21-5292 8665.

About AIAG

The Automotive Industry Action Group is a globally recognized organization founded in 1982 by a group of visionary managers from DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors. AIAG provides an open forum where members cooperate in developing and promoting solutions that enhance the prosperity of the automotive industry. AIAG focuses on continuously improving business processes and practices involving trading partners throughout the supply chain. Volunteers from approximately 1,500 AIAG member companies have worked together to resolve issues critical to the automotive supply chain including the development of new technologies and the standards that govern their usage.

About UL

Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) is an independent, not-for-profit product safety certification organization that has been testing products and writing Standards for Safety for over a century. UL evaluates more than 19,000 types of products, components, materials and systems annually with 21 billion UL Marks appearing on 71,000 manufacturers' products each year. UL's worldwide family of companies and network of service providers includes 66 laboratory, testing, and certification facilities serving customers in 104 countries. UL is also one of the authoritative ISO/TS 16949 services provider.

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