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Too Hot to Handle!

19 June 2000

Your Car Interior May Surpass 181 Degrees Fahrenheit This Summer, But You Can Easily Prevent It

      
    LOS ANGELES - Based on recent research conducted by Axius, on a 95 degree 
Fahrenheit day the air trapped inside a vehicle can heat up to a scorching 145 
F, the steering wheel can reach 159 F, the seat can reach 162 F and the dashboard
can heat up to 181 degrees Fahrenheit.

    In May, respondents to the "Axius Automotive Sun and Heat Protection
Survey" agreed that sun and extreme heat made their cars uncomfortable, and
that these elements resulted in notable damage to car interiors.  AAA Auto
Club South suggests using a sunshade "to cover the windshield and minimize
heat build-up and protect the car's interior."

    While 71 percent of consumers recently questioned in the Axius survey said
they know about automotive sunshades, less than a quarter of them use one
regularly.  Those who don't use a sunshade regularly say it is because they
either forget or believe it takes too much time.

    "Use of a vehicle sunshade can prevent heat build-up in a parked car by
more than 48 degrees Fahrenheit," said Deirdre Waitt, Senior Vice President of
Axius.  "That's a noticeable difference in terms of comfort, which makes the
30-second effort it takes to put up a sunshade worthwhile."

    Axius recently re-affirmed these findings with a three-part series of
experiments, the Axius Extreme Heat Tests.  The results are detailed below.

    --  Part-one, Sunshade vs. No Sunshade, compared two identical cars
        cooled to the same starting temperature, one with a sunshade in place
        and one without.  After 45 minutes the car without a sunshade was
        48 degrees hotter.

    --  Part-two, Melting Point, showed that in less than 45 minutes in a car
        without a sunshade, everyday items were damaged.

    --  Part-three, Is Your Car an Oven?, demonstrated that without a
        sunshade the temperature inside of a car can become hot enough to
        bake chicken, eggs bacon and cookies on the dashboard.

    According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), temperatures
in a parked vehicle can quickly reach a dangerous 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Research shows that the most dramatic heat build-up takes place in the first
15 to 20 minutes.  Surprisingly, 77 percent of sunshade users only install a
sunshade if they will be away from their car for more than 30 minutes.
Regardless of the length of time your car is parked, Axius recommends using a
sunshade.  A key benefit of using a sunshade is that it blocks 99 percent of
UV rays -- the primary source of fading, cracking and other damage to your car
interior.  In addition, sunshades can also prevent damage to your personal
belongings, including laptop computers, CDs, videotapes, film and lipstick.

    Additional results from the Axius survey reveal that:

    --  One in two Americans had suffered vehicle damage due to extreme
        sun or heat.

    --  Faded upholstery was the damage most commonly mentioned in the
        survey.  (Automotive experts say the cost to repair damaged vehicle
        upholstery can be prohibitive because the entire seat must be
        replaced.)

    --  One in four survey respondents indicated that their dashboard had
        cracked due to sun/heat exposure and others mentioned cracked
        steering wheels.

    "Vehicle damage caused by sun exposure is progressive," noted KABC
syndicated talk radio host and automotive expert, Leon "Motorman" Kaplan,
"When a vehicle is consistently protected by use of a sunshade it is easier to
sell, and the resale value can be as much as $1,000 to $2,000 higher than a
vehicle with interior sun and heat damage."

    Axius, formerly AUTO SHADE, Inc., is a division of the Pennzoil-Quaker
State Company and has led the automotive accessories industry for more than 15
years.  Axius introduced the sunshade to the U.S. market, and has since
continued to redefine the segment with exciting new designs, materials, colors
and sizes.  Today, Axius sells more than 400 different products, including
sunshades, vehicle organizers, steering wheel covers, window tint film, Glass
Chalk sponge markers, winter/summer protection, comfort & safety items, Sagaz
seat covers and floor mats, and a line featuring popular Looney Tunes(TM) and
Scooby-Doo(TM) characters.  Axius is headquartered in Moorpark, Calif.  and
employs more than 500 people.