Würzburg, March 1, 2006

Entrepreneurs in the automotive industry remain optimistic for 2006. This is shown by the industry index (BIX) of the trade magazine "kfz-betrieb" issue 9, which will be published on March 2. At 112 points, the index for brand-bound car dealerships was significantly higher than last year (97). The index value for service companies even rose by 22 points to 108. The industry indices are based on the economic trends and expectations of 200 sales and service companies, which are surveyed monthly by Cologne-based BBE-Unternehmensberatung on behalf of CC-Bank and the "kfz-betrieb" editorial team.

The new car business proved to be stable in the first two months of 2006. Two thirds of car dealerships sold a similar number or more new vehicles than in the previous year. More than two thirds of brand-bound car dealerships expect sales of new cars to remain the same or increase in the coming month.

As many companies are still confronted with high discounts in the new car business, they want to achieve respectable growth rates in used car sales. For example, 37 percent of car dealerships are already expecting higher sales in this area in the third month of the current year.

Commentary Chart: The index values remained at a relatively high level in February. They reflect the satisfaction of the car dealership and service company owners surveyed.

"kfz-betrieb" is a trade magazine published by Vogel Auto Medien, Würzburg. The most widely read trade magazine in the automotive industry celebrates its 95th anniversary in 2005 and is the official organ of the German Motor Trade (ZDK), the professional lobby for over 40,000 car dealerships and garages.

If you have any questions, please contact

Norbert Rubbel

Editor Economy / Management

Editorial office "kfz-betrieb" weekly journal & online

Vogel Auto Media

97064 Würzburg

Phone +49 931/418-26 34

Fax +49 931/418-20 60

E-mail: norbert_rubbel@vogel-automedien.de