THIS IS A SPECIAL NEWS BULLETIN FROM: _______________________________________________________________ AutoNewsFast(TM) The Special Email News Bulletin Service of the CENTRAL EUROPE AUTOMOTIVE REPORT-CEAR.COM(TM) The Source For Automotive Information On Central Europe(TM) On The Web at http://www.cear.com (TM) or Email: cetmpr@ibm.net _______________________________________________________________ NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT By opening this file or attachment you are agreeing to be bound by the terms in this paragraph. The entire contents of AutoNewsFast(TM) in print, and all electronic file formats are copyrighted 1998 by Central European Trade & Marketing, L.L.C. with all rights reserved. Reproduction, Electronic or Print Forwarding in any format, or use in any form, without permission is prohibited. ***Begin Bulletin*** FIAT HAS HIGH HOPES FOR SEICENTO MODEL The European premiere of Fiat's Seicento -- successor to the Cinquecento -- is scheduled for this Spring. The Italian car company hopes the new model, which will be manufactured in Poland, makes a big splash on the small-car market. Production of the new model has already started in the Fiat Auto Poland plant in Tychy, but the manufacturer still hasn't revealed the date of the Polish premiere, nor Seicento's expected price. The car will probably cost 10-15% more than the Cinquecento 900, currently priced at PZL 23,500 ($6,900). MAGNA SNAPS UP ROLTRA MORSE; POLISH FACTORY INCLUDED IN PURCHASE Magna International Inc. has entered into an agreement to buy 100% of the shares of Roltra Morse S.p.A. from IMO Industries Inc. Roltra Morse is a supplier of automotive latches, window regulators, cable systems, door modules, and gear shift mechanisms to OEMs in Europe, South America, and Turkey. Roltra employs some 1,050 people in three wholly owned plants in Italy, one wholly owned facility in Poland, and two jointly controlled facilities in Brazil and Turkey. Its principal customer is Fiat, and other customers include Saab, Porsche, and Rolls Royce. Sales in 1997 were approximately CDN $150 million (USD $104.5 million). SLOVAKIA HIKES IMPORT CHARGES ON USED VEHICLES In 1998, the charge assessed on used cars imported into Slovakia jumped significantly. Under a new law, the charge for importing used cars ranges from SK 10,000 ($285) per car for cars up to 3 years old, to SK 50,000 ($1,428) for cars more than 6 years old. For more on these and other stories, see the next issue of the CENTRAL EUROPE AUTOMOTIVE REPORT-CEAR.COM(TM). ****End Bulletin**** ************************************************************************** AutoNewsFast(TM) Special News Bulletin Service is delivered weekly and is a service of the CENTRAL EUROPE AUTOMOTIVE REPORT-CEAR.COM(TM). You may be receiving this service on a free trial basis. Contact for details, order information, and sample issues of the CENTRAL EUROPE AUTOMOTIVE REPORT(TM). ***** Remove From List If at any time you would like your address removed from this list, simply reply with "Remove" and you will be removed. Please be sure to reply from the address this message was mailed to. IMPORTANT: If your mail is forwarded from another address, please include the specific address that we mailed to in your reply. We apologize for any inconvenience.