"Durability alone and simply satisfying customers is not enough for buyers who demand both immediate and long term Value," says Alexander Edwards, President Strategic Vision. "Customers no longer feel constrained to consider only the 'usual suspects.' Because of increased quality, competitive prices and manufacturers fighting for their lives to provide Loveworthy(SM) vehicles, this is truly an exciting time for car buyers, today and in the near future," says Edwards. "Manufacturers are listening and reacting quickly to stay competitive."

Ford Motor Company, the most improved brand and corporation, led many segments with Focus Coupe, Mustang Convertible, Flex, Expedition and F-250. Volkswagen of America delivered the following leaders: CC Sedan, rating the highest TVI score of any model, Tiguan, Jetta and Audi Q7. American Honda continues its strength with Value leaders like Odyssey and Ridgeline, and provided revolutionary leadership with an affordable hybrid, the Insight (Small Car Segment winner). "Insight opens the door, leading to a larger number of hybrid "wanna be's" (a good thing by the way) who will 'do the math,'" says Christopher Chaney, Strategic Vision's Vice President. "People will not buy hybrids in larger numbers until they have all their demands/needs met and "the math" (MPG + 'Eco' + 'I Love This Car' + 'Right Price'= Purchase) makes sense," says Chaney. "Not an easy task, but look at MINI Cooper as having a correct solution to the equation. They have the ratings and sales to back it up," continues Chaney.

General Motors also provides some Value through innovation. Similar to perennial winner Honda Ridgeline, Chevrolet Avalanche is an example of the importance of "True Innovation" influencing Total Value. True Innovation is rich, makes an impact, is intuitive, motivational, in-depth and specific. "Truly Innovated" products are what will motivate fence sitters and initial consideration shoppers to become buyers. The Chevrolet Corvette Coupe continues to lead among Premium Coupe class and although some question Saab's future, the Saab 9-3 Convertible was the leader of Convertibles over $30k which is symbolic of buyers enjoying a sense of Value with unique character as an aspect of luxury.

Buyers rated the following vehicles top in Total Value (TVI) in
their segments:
Small Car                      Honda Insight                                 795
Small Multi-Function           Ford Focus Coupe                              801
Medium Car                     Volkswagen Jetta / Volkswagen Passat (tie)    808/807
Medium Multi-Function          Volkswagen Jetta Wagon                        769
Larger Car                     Volkswagen CC                                 846
Near-Luxury Car                Hyundai Genesis                               838
Luxury Car                     Mercedes S-Class                              828
Luxury Multi-Function          Mercedes R-Class Wagon                        792
Small Specialty ($28,000)      MINI Cooper Hatchback                         827
Premium Coupe (>$28,000)       Chevrolet Corvette Coupe                      840
Mid-Specialty Car              Honda Accord Coupe                            802
Convertible ($30,000)          Ford Mustang Convertible                      799
Convertible (>$30,000)         Saab 9-3 Convertible                          807
Minivan                        Honda Odyssey                                 745
Small SUV                      Volkswagen Tiguan                             801
Medium SUV                     Chrysler Aspen                                766
Medium Crossover               Ford Flex                                     784
Large SUV                      Ford Expedition                               803
Near Luxury SUV                BMW X3                                        806
Luxury SUV                     Audi Q7                                       792
Standard Pickup                Honda Ridgeline                               748
Full-Size Pickup               Chevrolet Avalanche                           787
Heavy Duty Pickup              Ford F-250/350                                709

The Total Value Index(TM) was calculated from 48,228 buyers who bought 2009 models during September 2008 to March 2009. Strategic Vision has presented Total Value Awards(TM) annually since 1995. The calculation of Total Value begins with clear statements that owners make about value (e.g. expected reliability, expected fuel economy, price paid, expected resale value, innovation, etc.). Total Value then incorporates the importance of the variables that make up the ownership experience, and it is here that Strategic Vision finds "True Value" -- the worth of the attribute weighed against the costs.

Strategic Vision is a research-based consultancy with thirty-five years of experience in understanding the consumers' and constituents' decision-making systems for a variety of clients, including most automotive manufacturers, American Airlines and Procter & Gamble. Its unique expertise is in identifying consumers' comprehensive motivational hierarchies, including the product attributes, personal benefits, value/emotions and images that drive perceptions and behaviors. J. Susan Johnson, CEO of Strategic Vision, coined the phrase "True Innovators" and we measure this construct in the detailed Total Value Index report. The ValueCentered(R) psychology and research methods were defined by Dr. Darrel Edwards in 1968, and enhanced by co-founders J. Susan Johnson (1972) and Sharon Shedroff (1975).

SOURCE: Strategic Vision Inc.

Strategic Vision 
Alexander Edwards or Christopher Chaney 
858-576-7141 
www.strategicvision.com

The company has begun shipping lead-acid starting batteries for the Toyota Highlander, a midsize crossover sport utility vehicle. Production of the Highlander, Toyota's twelfth North American-built model, began in October at the company's facility in Princeton, Indiana.

According to the terms of the supply agreement, Exide is providing TEMA up to 105,000 units of group size 24 starting batteries annually for the U.S.-produced passenger vehicles. The batteries are manufactured at Exide's Bristol, Tennessee facility and shipped directly to the Toyota manufacturing facility in Indiana.

Exide also supplies Toyota with batteries for its North American-produced Avalon, Camry, Corolla, and Matrix cars, Venza crossover sedans, and Sequoia sport-utility vehicles and Tundra trucks. The new supply agreement continues a successful relationship between Exide Technologies and Toyota that began in 1988.

FinancialWire(tm) is a fully independent, proprietary news wire service. FinancialWire(tm) is not a press release service, and receives no compensation for its news, opinions or distributions. Further disclosure is at the FinancialWire(tm) web site (http://www.financialwire.net/disclosures.php). Contact FinancialWire(tm) directly via inquiries@financialwire.net.

Free annual reports for companies mentioned in the news are available through the Free Annual Reports Service (http://investrend.ar.wilink.com/?level=279).

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The TogetherGreen Fellowship program invests in high-potential environmentalists, providing them with the tools, resources, visibility and a peer network to help them lead the conservation actions needed to shape a greener, healthier future. Audubon and Toyota launched the five-year TogetherGreen initiative in 2008 to fund conservation projects, train environmental leaders, and offer opportunities to volunteer to significantly benefit the environment.

"We are pleased to usher in another extremely gifted group of TogetherGreen Fellows who have tremendous potential to inspire and lead others," said Audubon President John Flicker. "They have the talent and the passion to help tackle the huge environmental challenges and opportunities we face in the years to come."

Every year, 40 fellows (half from within Audubon and half from outside groups) are chosen for their leadership potential, skills and commitment to engaging diverse communities in conserving land, water and/or energy. Fellows receive a $10,000 stipend, assistance launching a conservation action project, all-expenses paid specialized training and they become part of an exciting alumni network of conservation professionals.

Fellows participate in a week-long, kick-off training at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife's National Conservation Training Center focused on enhancing conservation skills and sharing the latest thinking on achieving sustainable conservation success. Near the completion of their fellowship, fellows return for a three-day follow up retreat focused on fundraising, diversity, evaluation, and strategies to sustain their conservation action projects over the long term.

Sample 2009 conservation action projects that will be funded this year include:

    --  Greening city government and implementing the US Mayors Climate
        Protection Agreement in South Florida;
    --  Empowering more young people in Denver to reduce energy use at their
        schools and homes;
    --  Teaching Brooklyn teens to connect the dots between food and energy
        conservation;
    --  Hosting a learning institute on clean technology and green jobs in the
        Bronx;
    --  Working with local governments in western Montana on stream and wetland
        protection measures;
    --  Preserving undeveloped barrier islands in North Carolina; and

    --  Establishing a town's one and only recycling center in Fairbanks,
        Alaska.

The 2009 class was selected from a competitive pool of highly qualified individuals by an advisory board of conservation and education leaders. Fellows must have at least six years experience in conservation, a passion for conservation, the desire to learn and grow, and demonstrate a proven ability in reaching previously unengaged audiences. In all, the 2009 fellows will help engage thousands of people to protect habitat, wildlife and water and save energy in 37 cities in 20 different states and one U.S. territory.

"We must engage the best and brightest leaders representing the broadest and most diverse communities in this country to solve our ever more complex conservation challenges," said Diane Wood, President, National Environmental Education Foundation, and TogetherGreen Advisory Board Member. "TogetherGreen is a creative program that uncovers such leaders, nurtures their talents, supports their dedication to conservation and holds them up to inspire others to follow."

"The results from the first year of the Fellows program brought to life everything that TogetherGreen sought to accomplish," added Patricia Salas Pineda, Group Vice President, Toyota Motor North America. "The next group of 40 Fellows will continue that success and make a difference for years to come."

The inaugural class of TogetherGreen Fellows was named in 2008 and in less than one year recruited more than 3,400 participants for their conservation projects and contributed a combined 37,000 hours to their conservation action projects. One 2008 fellow leveraged her $10,000 grant to raise an additional $180,000 in matched funds.

If you have a creative environmental project and would like to apply for a 2010 TogetherGreen Fellowship, applications will be available online beginning in early 2010 at http://www.togethergreen.org/fellows.

A complete list of the 2009 TogetherGreen Fellows and details about their conservation projects can be found at http://www.togethergreen.org/fellows.

About TogetherGreen

Audubon and Toyota launched the five-year TogetherGreen initiative in 2008 to build the promise of a greener, healthier future through innovation, leadership and volunteerism. To date, 80 environmental leaders -- half from within Audubon and half from outside organizations -- have received TogetherGreen Fellowships to protect land, water, and energy resources nationwide. For more information, visit www.togethergreen.org.

About Audubon

Now in its second century, Audubon connects people with birds, nature and the environment that supports us all. Our national network of community-based nature centers, chapters, scientific, education, and advocacy programs engages millions of people from all walks of life in conservation action to protect and restore the natural world. Visit Audubon online at www.audubon.org.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE: TM) established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants. Toyota is committed to being a good corporate citizen in the communities where it does business and believes in supporting programs with long-term sustainable results. Toyota supports numerous organizations across the country, focusing on education, the environment and safety. Since 1991, Toyota has contributed more than $464 million to philanthropic programs in the U.S. For more information on Toyota's commitment to improving communities nationwide, visit www.toyota.com/community.

SOURCE National Audubon Society

http://www.audubon.org

The fitment for the popular Prius will be Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max tires in size P195/65R15. The 2010 Toyota Prius is recognized as one of the top fuel-saving automobiles available in North America.

The Assurance Fuel Max features a fuel-saving tread compound that helps reduce energy loss as the tire rolls. In addition, Wet and Dry Tread Zones enhance all-season traction. The Wet Tread Zone features dual Aquachannel grooves to help evacuate water away from the treadface when driving on wet roads. The Dry Tread Zone helps enhance handling and grip for confident maneuvering on dry pavement.

Assurance Fuel Max also is available as a replacement tire choice for many popular vehicles.

The selection of the new Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max as a standard tire for the 2010 Toyota Prius follows earlier announcements of the tire also being chosen for the 2010 Ford Fusion S and the exclusive fitment for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt.

Goodyear tires are original equipment on many vehicles from Acura, Audi, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Hummer, Infiniti, Isuzu, Jeep, Land Rover, Lexus, Mazda, Mercury, Nissan and Toyota. Traditionally, more new vehicles in North America are equipped with Goodyear tires than any other brand.

For more information about Goodyear's broad selection of tires for cars, light trucks, SUVs, and more, visit www.goodyeartires.com.

SOURCE The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

http://www.goodyeartires.com