Welburn; Mays; Creed; Nakamura; Pininfarina; Giugiaro, and YOU - Will Your Design Be Seen at the 2005 North American International Auto Show?

DETROIT, March 22 -- The world's top designers and media annually gather in Detroit each January for the prestigious North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). If you aren't a designer for one of the major car companies your very best chance to have your work presented at NAIAS is as a participant of the growing Michelin Challenge Design(TM).

Each year Michelin establishes a theme for designers all over the world. Their design entries are reviewed by an international panel of top designers and those selected will have their drawings, scale models or vehicles featured at NAIAS as part of the Michelin Challenge Design exhibit. Last year 38 talented designers from 16 countries had their work presented at NAIAS through this program.

The 2005 Challenge will focus on vehicles and vehicle designs that demonstrate the influence of German design, the events, people and icons that have inspired the international automotive design community.

The Challenge is open to all designers around the globe from students to seasoned professionals. But time is growing close. Designers interested in participating in the challenge should review the competition criteria and complete a questionnaire on-line at www.michelinchallengedesign.com by the April 15, 2004 deadline.

You wouldn't want America's premier auto show to start without your designs.

Michelin manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks and the space shuttle. The company also publishes travel guides, maps and atlases covering Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America employs 23,920 and operates 21 plants in 17 locations.