AutoVIBES Reports Carbuyers Buzzing About New Domestic Nameplates

AutoVIBES, a monthly automotive omnibus study from Harris Interactive® and Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research tracking 34 new model launches, reports that four out of the top five most buzzworthy vehicles come out of Detroit's domestic stable. For the third straight month, Chrysler's all-new 300 claims the No.1 slot. Daimler-Chrysler hits another home run in July, with car-buyers ranking the Dodge Magnum at No. 2. Detroit rounds out the top five with the Pontiac GTO and the Chevrolet Colorado. The only foreign manufacturer with a vehicle in the top five is Nissan with its Titan pickup; it has been holding tight to a top-five slot for three months straight.

   July 2004: Top 5 Most Buzzworthy New Vehicle Launches

   1.  2005 Chrysler 300
   2.  2004 Dodge Magnum
   3.  2004 Nissan Titan
   4.  2005 Pontiac GTO
   5.  2004 Chevrolet Colorado

"Detroit called 2004 'the year of the car' and it's impressive to see three domestic cars in the AutoVIBES top 5," said Charlie, Vogelheim, executive editor, Kelley Blue Book. "Chrysler can claim a victory with multiple well-styled new products."

The top five were determined using a compilation of survey data collected among in-market new vehicle shoppers (within 12 months from a new purchase or lease) during July 2004. Factors that were taken into account were the awareness, favorability, consideration and attribute ratings associated with each vehicle. All vehicles tracked in AutoVIBES are 'new' nameplates. Redesigned models were not considered.

"The buzz associated with these new launches is having a profound effect on the overall interest in these domestic brands," said Rick Wainschel, director of Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research. "Consideration of the Chrysler brand in AutoVIBES, for example, has almost doubled since the beginning of the year. The success of the 300 here and in the marketplace follows a similarly positive reaction to the Chrysler Crossfire, which held a top five spot in the study late last year."

AutoVIBES is a monthly omnibus survey of approximately 2,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and over who plan to purchase or lease a new vehicle within the next 12 months. The survey, administered online by Harris Interactive, is conducted the third or fourth week of each month for five days by recruiting active car shoppers from the Kelley Blue Book Web site (www.kbb.com), the most visited Web site among in-market vehicle buyers. The study was designed and analyzed jointly by Harris Interactive and Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research.

The data were weighted by demographics and propensity to reflect the general U.S. adult population of in-market vehicle buyers. Though this sample is not a probability sample, in theory, with probability samples of this size, one could say with 95 percent certainty that the results have a statistical precision of plus or minus 3 percentage points of what they would be if the entire adult population had been polled with complete accuracy.

For more information about this study, a list of all nameplates tracked or how additional new nameplates fared among car shoppers, please contact Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research at 949-268-3074 or Harris Interactive at 877-919-4765.

About Harris Interactive®

Harris Interactive (www.harrisinteractive.com) is a worldwide market research and consulting firm best known for The Harris Poll®, and for pioneering the Internet method to conduct scientifically accurate market research. Headquartered in Rochester, New York, Harris Interactive combines proprietary methodologies and technology with expertise in predictive, custom and strategic research. The Company conducts international research from its U.S. offices and through wholly owned subsidiaries-London-based HI Europe (www.hieurope.com), Paris-based Novatris and Tokyo-based Harris Interactive Japan -- as well as through the Harris Interactive Global Network of independent market -- and opinion-research firms. EOE M/F/D/V

To become a member of the Harris Poll Online(SM) and be invited to participate in future online surveys, visit www.harrispollonline.com.

About Kelley Blue Book

Kelley Blue Book is the most trusted vehicle information resource by both consumers and the auto industry, providing research tools and up-to-date pricing on thousands of new and used vehicles, including the company's New Car Blue Book Value, which reveals what a new car is actually selling for. Since 1926, car buyers and sellers have relied upon Kelley Blue Book for authoritative and unbiased information to make well-informed automotive decisions. The company reports vehicle prices and values via products and services including the famous Blue Book Official Guide™, software and Internet site, kbb.com. Kbb.com has been rated the No. 1 automotive information site as well as No. 1 and first visited automotive site six years running. No other medium reaches more in-market car-buyers than kbb.com; one in every four American car-buyers completes their research on kbb.com.

SOURCE: Kelley Blue Book

CONTACT: Robyn Eckard of Kelley Blue Book, +1-949-268-3049,
reckard@kbb.com; or Nancy Wong of Harris Interactive, +1-585-214-7316,
nwong@harrisinteractive.com

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Web site: http://www.kbb.com/