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*** SACHS TRNAVA TO START REBUILDING CLUTCHES FOR SKODA The Slovak-based Sachs Trnava, maker of clutches and torque converters, is preparing to begin rebuilding Skoda clutches. Sachs Trnava was formed in Slovakia in 1993 and currently produces each year 600,000 passenger car clutches, 50,000 truck clutches, and 30,000 torque converters. The company is the only producer of torque converters in all of Europe. Some 95% of the company's production is exported to Western Europe. By the year 2000, Sachs Trnava expects to employ 500 workers in Slovakia and reach DM 100 million in sales. ISUZU ON SCHEDULE IN POLAND According to Isuzu Motors Polska president Hisaomi Sasaki, Isuzu's diesel engine plant under construction in Tychy, Poland is "progressing as scheduled." Isuzu has invested some 100 million DM into its new plant, which will have a production capacity of 300,000 units a year. The plant is expected to come on line in June, 1999. "We will source components in Europe, not Japan," said Sasaki. "All potential suppliers able to meet the selection criteria will be invited to study and propose products." In March and April of this year, about 50 future employees at the new plant will be sent to Japan for training. NEW ASSEMBLY REGULATIONS READY NEXT YEAR IN POLAND According to Marek Wejtko, director of multilateral integration at the Polish Ministry of Economy, new regulations governing the assembly of vehicles in Poland are being developed and will be out by early next year. Poland is trying to correct its liberal rules governing industrial assembly. "By the beginning of next year, we'll have a complex solution to the assembly problem," said Wejtko. The new rules are meant to discourage simple SKD assembly. As a temporary solution, Poland recently introduced licenses for the duty-free import of parts for the industrial assembly of passenger vehicles. CENTRAL EUROPE AUTOMOTIVE REPORT-CEAR.COM(TM) March 1998 Issue Highlights: VDO Expanding in the Czech Republic; New Factory, New Orders Regional Market Highlights UK Parts Manufacturer Tackles Central European Aftermarket Listen Up, Global Suppliers; Dana Executive Outline 3 Keys to Success Czech Republic's New Certification Law -- New Duties Opel -- Made in Romania? Best Selling Brands in Poland (1997) Communicating Fastest Sales Climbers in Poland (1997) Romania's Dacia Beating All Odds 1997 Car Production at Revoz/Renault Plant in Slovenia Passenger Car & Jeep Sales in Hungary Sales Loss Leaders in Poland (1997) New Car Sales in Slovakia Drop in '97 VDO Key Numbers AO Moskvich Outlines Development Plan Beward of New Transfer Pricing Guidelines and Tax Regulations Investment Opportunities New Vehicle Sales by Segment in Hungary Exhibitions, Conferences, and Shows in 1998 Czech Republic Suppliers of Parts and Components New Car Registrations Growth in Europe (1997) Macroeconomic Highlights: Czech Republic, Slovak Republic BAT & SKODA ELCAR Team Up to Develop Elec. & Super Effic. Vehicles Sales of New Cars and Commercial Vehicles in Poland (1997) Polish Vehicle Market Segmentation (1997) Top 10 Best Selling Cars & Commercial Vehicles in Poland (1997) ****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.