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ARLINGTON, Va., April 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The American Trucking Associations’ Share the Road program is in Denver, Colo. today to help educate students at the Colorado Academy on how to drive safely around tractor-trailers.Kent Durant, a professional driver for Roadway, brought his tractor-trailer to the school to demonstrate the blind spots found around a large commercial vehicle and invited students to climb into the cab of his truck to see what a driver can and cannot see. Durant, who has one million accident-free miles, also gave safe driving tips and talked about his experience on the road.”My route is Wichita to Denver and back, so this is a great opportunity to talk to motorists that will soon be on the same roads I travel everyday,” said STR driver Durant. “Safe highway driving is one of my passions and I am glad to share that passion with the students here today.”Today’s event was produced in conjunction with the Colorado Motor Carriers Association. Durant teamed with several other Colorado drivers to talk to the more than 700 students in attendance at the event.Share the Road is a highway safety outreach program of the American Trucking Associations that educates all drivers about sharing the roads safely with large trucks. An elite team of professional truck drivers with millions of accident-free miles deliver life-saving messages to millions of motorists annually. The safety program is sponsored by Mack Trucks, Inc. and Michelin North America, Inc. The American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of other trucking groups, industry-related conferences, and its 50 affiliated state trucking associations, ATA represents more than 37,000 members covering every type of motor carrier in the United States. American Trucking Associations

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BRANDON, S.D., April 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Crimson Fire Aerials has expanded its popular line of vehicles with the introduction of a mid-mount aerial platform at the fire-rescue industry’s biggest trade show.Crimson Fire Aerials, which is a subsidiary of Spartan Motors, Inc. , will display its new 100-foot mid-mount aerial platform at Booth 2433 during the Fire Department Instructors Conference, which opens today. The mid-mount product is the fifth vehicle developed by CFA President Jim Salmi and his team of engineers since Crimson launched its aerial line in 2004.The mid-mount aerial provides fire departments greater visibility, lower overall travel height, a large and technologically innovative bucket and enhanced storage capabilities. As with all of CFA’s aerial products, the new vehicle features the industry’s only “greaseless” ladder, patent-pending X-style outriggers and an exclusive roller assembly system.”This new mid-mount aerial rounds out the CFA line of aerials, which deliver better performance and require less maintenance than those of our competitors,” Salmi explained. “In just four years, CFA has introduced six new aerial products, establishing us as an industry leader in innovation.”The mid-mount aerial features a five-section truss-design ladder with a turntable mounted behind the cab. The mid-mounts are built on the custom Gladiator chassis by Spartan Chassis, Inc., which is also a subsidiary of Spartan Motors. Specific benefits of this new aerial include: — Better visibility: The position of the platform at the rear of the truck gives firefighters greater visibility when responding to emergency calls. — Lower overall travel height: While other aerials may have overall ladder travel heights topping 12 feet, CFA’s new mid-mount product features an overall travel height as low as 10 feet. Departments in the Northeast, where stations are often older, or in historical buildings that cannot be renovated, will find the lower travel height exceptionally advantageous. — Large, innovative bucket: CFA added a cubic foot of space in the platform to provide more space for the operator. Additionally a state-of-the-art hydraulic system provides a smooth operational control for the device. The platform controls are mounted on a slide mechanism allowing the operator to move the controls easily from one side of the bucket to the other, giving greater flexibility and visibility when operating the platform close to obstacles. — Enhanced storage capabilities: Innovative engineering allows the new mid-mount aerial to maximize body compartmentalization throughout the vehicle by offering unique storage options.”More than 24 months of design and engineering went into developing the new mid-mount platform,” Salmi said. “We had extensive discussions with fire departments across the country to identify issues they face on the job, then designed a vehicle that meets those specific needs.”Additionally, as with all Crimson Fire Aerials, the new mid-mount vehicle features: — Greaseless ladder and roller assembly system: CFA’s exclusive patent-pending roller assembly system provides for exceptionally smooth ladder extension and retraction. By reducing friction, on the ladder, vehicles enjoy longer — and better — operational life. The system eliminates slide pads and grease, which makes maintenance much easier. — X-style outrigger leveling system: The patent-pending X-style outriggers allows departments to level the apparatus on slopes of up to 15 degrees, more than just about any other manufacturer in the industry. Departments can now handle truck set-up on severe terrain, improving the safety of their team. — Ladder lift cradle: The patent-pending lift cradle allows departments to position the ladder close to the ground, making it easier and safer to add or exchange equipment at its tip. CFA has also built in more standing room and better visibility for the turntable operator. Additionally, the lift cradle operates 10 degrees below the horizontal, making it perfect for river rescues and other low-angle situations. — Travel and rest cradle: CFA utilizes an exclusive Vibra-Torque(R) mounting system for the travel and rest cradle, which allows the body to “float” above the chassis. By adding engineered spring and rubber assemblies before mounting the body to the chassis, vibration and stress on the cradle and ladder structures are reduced. — Smart hose loader: CFA’s exclusive side storage bed accommodates up to 1,000 feet of five-inch hose while our rear-storage bed can handle up to 400 feet of three-inch hose. Both are easily accessible from the ground, which makes it safer, easier, faster and more comfortable to load hoses. — Pumping system: CFA has effectively integrated a 2000 gpm pump with an ergonomically designed control panel and operator’s stand.The mid-mount aerial joins four other aerial vehicles to complete the Crimson Fire Aerials product line, including a 75-foot rear mount, a 103-foot straight ladder, a 103-foot tractor-drawn and a 100-foot rear-mount platform.About Crimson Fire AerialsCrimson Fire is a leading manufacturer of custom fire truck aerials. A subsidiary of Spartan Motors, Inc. , Crimson Fire Aerials is committed to quality, value and innovation. Drawing on one of the industry’s most experienced engineering, design and manufacturing teams, Crimson Fire manufactures a full line of aerial vehicles from its facilities in Pennsylvania and South Dakota. For more information, visit . Spartan Motors, Inc.

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SAN FRANCISCO, April 9 /PRNewswire/ — The 150 MPG Extreme Hybrid SUV, the XH-150 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle introduced in January by AFS Trinity Power Corporation, starts a cross country tour here to give Americans their first on-road look at what CNN and others suggested may be “the car of the future” as the XH-150 works its way to Earth Day on the Capitol Mall in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, April 20, 2008.(Photo: )Halfway through the cross country trip, the XH-150 will be demonstrated on April 11 for Austin Energy, a large municipal utility, as well as for the leadership of Plug-in Partners, an Austin-headquartered consortium of electric utilities and others supporting the development and introduction of new plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) technologies.AFS Trinity intends to make the XH-150, which was developed in cooperation with technology development partner, Ricardo, available for ride-and-drive demonstrations in several communities from coast to coast.According to tests recently conducted at the Michelin Proving Grounds in South Carolina, proprietary new power and control electronics and other advances allow the Extreme Hybrid to plug into house current and store sufficient power to run a 200 horsepower electric motor that propels the XH-150 for up to 40 miles in EV-only mode and at speeds up to 87 miles per hour without burning a drop of gasoline. Run in full hybrid mode the combined electric and gasoline power systems provide 370 HP, allowing 0-60 acceleration in 6.9 seconds.Road test data, schematics of the drive train and extensive technical detail are available at HYPERLINK “”.AFS Trinity CEO Edward W. Furia said the company is now in discussions with carmakers regarding licensing of the technology and with investment bankers regarding possible direct manufacturing. He said he expects the first Extreme Hybrid SUV drive trains to be available for purchase in two to three years.ABOUT AFS TRINITYAFS Trinity is a privately-owned Delaware corporation headquartered in Bellevue, WA, that is developing Fast Energy Storage(TM) and power systems for vehicular, spacecraft and stationary power systems utilizing batteries, ultracapacitors, and flywheels. The Company has conducted programs with private and government organizations including DARPA, NASA, the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, U.S. DOT, California Energy Commission, Oak Ridge National Laboratories, Lawrence Livermore National Labs, Lockheed, Honeywell and Ricardo. Although AFS Trinity is not currently using flywheels in systems that are designed for consumer cars, it is actively engaged in developing flywheel power systems for Formula One Racing (F1) and is currently also engaged in developing such a system for one of the world’s top F1 teams. American Flywheel Systems, Inc. (AFS) received the first patent ever given for a flywheel battery in 1992 and merged with Trinity Flywheel Power to create AFS Trinity Power in 2000. AFS Trinity and Ricardo, Inc. have a Technology Partnership Agreement by which Ricardo is assisting AFS Trinity as a preferred customer and is installing into passenger vehicles AFS Trinity’s Extreme Hybrid(TM) drive train technology, technology which is the subject of ongoing AFS Trinity U.S. and international patent filings. For more information, see .ABOUT RICARDOWith technical centers and offices throughout Europe, the US and Asia, Ricardo is a leading independent technology provider and deep-content strategic management consultant to the world’s transportation sector industries. The company’s engineering expertise ranges from vehicle systems integration, controls, electronics and software development, to the latest driveline and transmission systems and gasoline, diesel, hybrid and fuel cell powertrain technologies. Its customers include the world’s major automakers, tier 1 suppliers and leading motorsport teams. The headquarters of Ricardo’s US operations, Ricardo, Inc., is located at Van Buren Township, Michigan. The company’s skill base represents the state-of-the-art in low emissions and fuel-efficient powertrain technology, and can be best summarized: “Ricardo is Fuel Economy.” Ricardo plc posted sales of $344 million in financial year 2007 and is a constituent of the FTSE techMark 100 index — a group of innovative technology companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. For more information visit .Some statements in this news release are forward-looking. These statements may be identified by the use of words such as “will,”"expects,”"believes,”"targets,”"intends,” and words of similar import. Actual results may vary depending on circumstances both within and outside the control of the Company including market acceptance of products, technology development cycles and other risk factors. AFS Trinity Power Corporation takes no responsibility for updating any forward-looking statements made in this release.Extreme Hybrid(TM), XH(TM), XH-150(TM), XH-250(TM), Fast Energy(TM), Fast Energy Storage(TM), Just Plug It In(TM), Powered by XH(TM)are trademarks pending of AFS Trinity Power Corporation Patents Pending — All Rights Reserved (C) 2007 AFS Trinity Power Corporation. AFS Trinity Power Corporation

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DETROIT, April 9, 2008 /PRNewswire/ — The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) today introduced the new Bar Steel Machinability Estimator, a tool for automotive engineers to complete calculations on the machining productivity of carbon and alloy steels in carbide tooling applications. The machining productivities of different steel grades can be compared and used in designing parts to lower overall manufacturing costs.The new Machinability Estimator is an online tool developed from 10 years of automotive steel data using the most up-to-date machining methodology, steels and technology. Design, materials and manufacturing engineers can estimate the machining productivity of carbon and alloy steels prior to production for maximum manufacturing impact.”Machining costs are 20 to 70 percent of the overall value of automotive parts,” said David Anderson, director, Long Products Market Development Group. “The Bar Steel Machinability Estimator offers OEMs and suppliers the ability to select optimal process parameters, which can assist in designing cost- effective parts.”Users can input a steel composition and receive a relative machinability number or an estimated cutting speed for 30 minutes of tool life in surface feet per minute. To access the Machinability Estimator, visit: .The Machinability Estimator builds on the Bar Steel Machinability Database, which is a detailed record of automotive bar steel machinability under single point carbide turning conditions. It was developed from several years of controlled testing at eight different steel and automotive companies. Machinability tests were conducted on more than 30 significant industrial carbon, alloy, resulfurized and microalloyed steel grades using carbide tools in a standardized single point turning test. To access the Machinability Database, visit: .”The Machinability Estimator is the most progressive online resource available for machining productivity,” said Roger Joseph, project manager, Machinability Estimator and Machinability Database. “This online resource moves technology and information forward for today’s automotive industry. Tests are currently underway using coated carbide tools, and those test results will be incorporated into the Machinability Estimator upon completion.”Through the support of the American Iron and Steel Institute, the Long Products Market Development Group is growing the market for value-added steel bar and rod products. With seven member companies and two task forces - Automotive/Heavy Equipment and Construction/Infrastructure - the group is committed to developing innovative solutions to the challenges facing their clients and the steel industry. For more news or information, visit . AISI Long Products Market Development Group Member Companies: — ArcelorMittal — Gerdau Ameristeel — MACSTEEL — Nucor Corporation — Republic Engineered Products — Steel Dynamics, Inc. — The Timken CompanyAmerican Iron and Steel Institute

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WASHINGTON, April 9, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — A first-ever analysis from AAA finds that crashes involving teen drivers ages 15 to 17 cost American society more than $34 billion annually in medical expenses, lost work, property damage, quality of life loss and other related costs in 2006.(Logo: )”The impact of a teen crash extends beyond the emotional tragedies and physical injury at the crash scene, with costs that can extend to employers, families, the government and society overall,” said AAA President and CEO Robert L. Darbelnet. “These economic figures provide one more reason for legislators to improve graduated driver licensing in their states - a proven measure governments can take to reduce the deadly toll of teen driver crashes.”Comprehensive graduated driver licensing (GDL) systems ease teens into driving through a combination of mandatory practice and limited driving at night and with peer passengers. Comprehensive GDL systems have been shown to reduce fatal crashes involving teen drivers by an average of 38 percent. AAA is a leading advocate for teen driver safety issues and remains committed to encouraging states to improve upon their graduated driver licensing (GDL) systems.According to the analysis conducted by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation for AAA, drivers ages 15 to 17 in 2006 were involved in about 974,000 crashes, injuring 406,427 people and killing 2,541.The $34.4 billion cost in 2006 included $9.8 billion in cost from fatal crashes, with an average cost of $3.841 million per fatality. Injury crashes averaged $50,512, with their large numbers producing a total cost of $20.5 billion - more than twice the cost of fatal crashes. Property damage crashes accounted for the remaining $4.1 billion in cost.”Some of these costs are paid directly by government through Medicaid, police, paramedics and courts. Many other costs - like lost wages, traffic delay and reduced quality of life - don’t show up directly, but also reflect the very large, very real cost of crashes involving teen drivers,” said Darbelnet. “States that improve their graduated driver licensing programs will reduce crashes, injuries, and deaths for road users of all ages and reduce crash-related costs that are paid by the state, too.”The cost of teen crashes was calculated using modeling that researchers at PIRE have used for economic analysis for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The analysis draws upon a broad range of databases and research involving crashes, injury types, medical costs by state and more.As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at . AAA

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PLYMOUTH, Mich., April 8, 2008 /PRNewswire/ — To demonstrate AVL’s commitment to technology development and automotive industry excellence, AVL is again sponsoring the AVL Technology Cafe at SAE World Congress, directly adjacent to the AVL Technology Theater in booth #1387.The AVL Technology Cafe will host intimate forums of focused, professional dialogue. These specially scheduled sessions will be lead by industry experts covering a selection of technical and industry topics. Participation will be limited to six attendees per one-hour session to keep a keen focus on quality interaction between the Discussion Host and guests. There will be 26 sessions across the congress. The AVL Technology Cafe schedule: Monday, April 14 11 AM - 12 PM 1. Engine Downsizing with Boosting, Thomas Grissom, Borg Warner Turbo 2. Increased Complexity in ECU Calibration Increases the Risk of Vehicle Recalls - true or false?; Rainer Pientsch and Thomas Guntschnig, AVL 1:30 - 2:30 PM 3. Advanced Combustion Technology for Compression Ignition Engines; Dr. Rolf Reitz, University of Wisconsin Madison 4. AVL DRIVE Applications; Gernot Leitner, AVL 3 - 4 PM 5. Low Cost Dynamic Testing for Performance and Race Engines; Lee Carducci, Power-Tec Engineering 6. AVL California Technical Center; Bruce Falls, AVL Tuesday, April 15 9:30 - 10:30 AM 7. Globalization of Test Systems; Thomas Herold, Cummins 8. EPA 1065 Application on Test Systems; Johannes Kregar, AVL 11 AM - 12 PM 9. Employ the Strengths of Model-based Design with Code Generation; Rich Swortzel, MotoTron Corporation 10. Opportunity Assessment for Clean Diesels in the North American Light Duty Market; Kevin McMahon, Martec 1:30 - 2:30 PM 11. Advanced Transmission Development; Dr. Burkhard Pollak, AVL 12. Considerations for Balancing Powertrain-Related Performance Attributes During Initial Design Concepting; Tom Mitchell and Wendell Creps, LMS Engineering Services 3 - 4 PM 13. Advanced Fuel Economy Simulation to Address EPA 5-Cycle Test Requirement; Sadek Rahmen, Chrysler 14. Single Sequential Turbo Concept; Steve Arnold, Honeywell Turbo Wednesday, April 16 9:30 - 10:30 AM 15. Reliability Demonstration of Complex Systems; Shawn Casper, AVL 16. Power, Energy, Mobility and Fuels: the Military Partners with Industry to Move Forward in the 21st Century; Paul Skalny, US Army TARDEC 11 AM - 12 PM 17. Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles - The Impact of Realistic Driving Conditions; Dr. Zoran Filipi, University of Michigan 18. Critical Pre-engineering Requirements for Establishing a Test Lab Facility; Chuck Fulk, AVL 1:30 - 2:30 PM 19. Full-toroidal Traction Drive Technology in a CVT Application for a Mechanical Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS); Chris Brockbank, Torotrack 20. Syngas as a Platform for Engine and Emission Systems Optimization, Erik Johannes, Nxtgen 3 - 4 PM 21. Operational Characteristics of Catalyzed Diesel Particulate Filters Including Delta Pressure to PM Mass Correlations; Drs. Jeffrey Naber and John Johnson, Michigan Tech University 22. Advanced Hybrid Powertrain Development Methods & Technologies; Chris Hennessy, AVL Thursday, April 17 9:30 - 10:30 AM 23. Turbo Technologies for new Global Emissions Standards; Dennis Brookshire, Honeywell Turbo 24. AVL California Technical Center; Bruce Falls, AVL 11 AM - 12 PM 25. A New Class of Vehicle Crafting Environmental Responsibility with Exhilarating Driving Experience; Stephen Duffy, Venture Vehicles 26. Dynamic Design of Experiments for Customer-Representative Reliability Validation, Dr. Nikolaus Haselgruber, AVLSAE World Congress attendees wishing to participate in the AVL Technology Cafe should contact Amy Rauser at or 734.414.9608.AVL is the world’s largest privately owned and independent company for the development of gasoline, diesel and alternative fuel powertrain systems, as well as fuel cell and hybrid technologies. The company offers combined solutions of powertrain engineering, simulation software and testing and instrumentation systems. AVL’s North American Headquarters is located in the Detroit suburb of Plymouth, Michigan. For more information, AVL can be found at . AVL

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SAN FRANCISCO, April 8, 2008 /PRNewswire/ — The 150 MPG Extreme Hybrid SUV, the XH-150 introduced in January by AFS Trinity Power Corporation, starts a cross country tour here today to give Americans their first on-road look at what CNN and others suggested may be “the car of the future” as the XH-150 works its way to Earth Day on the Capitol Mall in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, April 20, 2008.(Photo: )Halfway through the cross country trip, the XH-150 will be demonstrated on April 11 for Austin Energy, a large municipal utility as well as for the leadership of Plug-in Partners, an Austin headquartered consortium of electric utilities and others supporting the development and introduction of new plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) technologies.AFS Trinity intends to make the XH-150 available for selected test drives in several communities from coast to coast.According to tests recently conducted at the Michelin Proving Grounds in South Carolina, proprietary new power and control electronics and other advances allow the Extreme Hybrid to plug into house current and store sufficient power to run a 200 horsepower electric motor at speeds up to 86 miles per hour. Mileage estimates are based on average driving patterns set by USEPA and will vary depending on how people drive.”With the XH-150, most Americans would use no gasoline at all most days and electricity is a small fraction of the cost of gasoline,” said AFS Trinity CEO Edward W. Furia. “We expect the fuel cost savings will pay back the additional cost of the Extreme Hybrid system in 2 to 3 years . . . or much faster with government incentives.”The new, patent pending AFS Trinity system gives the driver a choice of Extreme Hybrid, all-electric mode at 200 horsepower where no gasoline is used for the first 40 miles — more than the great majority of Americans drive most days — or, with a push of a single button, access to all 370 horsepower by empowering both the electric and gasoline engines in parallel for towing or emergency vehicle applications.Road test data, schematics of the drive train and extensive technical detail are available at HYPERLINK “”.AFS Trinity CEO Edward W. Furia said the company is now in discussions with carmakers regarding licensing of the technology and with investment bankers regarding possible direct manufacturing. He said he expects the first Extreme Hybrid SUV drive trains to be available for purchase in two to three years.ABOUT AFS TRINITYAFS Trinity is a privately-owned Delaware corporation headquartered in Bellevue, WA, that is developing Fast Energy Storage(TM) and power systems for vehicular, spacecraft and stationary power systems utilizing batteries, ultracapacitors, and flywheels. The Company has conducted programs with private and government organizations including DARPA, NASA, the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, U.S. DOT, California Energy Commission, Oak Ridge National Laboratories, Lawrence Livermore National Labs, Lockheed, Honeywell and Ricardo. Although AFS Trinity is not currently using flywheels in systems that are designed for consumer cars, it is actively engaged in developing flywheel power systems for Formula One Racing (F1) and is currently also engaged in developing such a system for one of the world’s top F1 teams. American Flywheel Systems, Inc. (AFS) received the first patent ever given for a flywheel battery in 1992 and merged with Trinity Flywheel Power to create AFS Trinity Power in 2000. AFS Trinity and Ricardo, Inc. have a Technology Partnership Agreement by which Ricardo is assisting AFS Trinity as a preferred customer and is installing into passenger vehicles AFS Trinity’s Extreme Hybrid(TM) drive train technology, technology which is the subject of ongoing AFS Trinity U.S. and international patent filings. For more information, see .Some statements in this news release are forward-looking. These statements may be identified by the use of words such as “will,”"expects,”"believes,”"targets,”"intends,” and words of similar import. Actual results may vary depending on circumstances both within and outside the control of the Company including market acceptance of products, technology development cycles and other risk factors. AFS Trinity Power Corporation takes no responsibility for updating any forward-looking statements made in this release.Extreme Hybrid(TM), XH(TM), XH-150(TM), XH-250(TM), Fast Energy(TM), Fast Energy Storage(TM), Just Plug It In(TM), Powered by XH(TM)are trademarks pending of AFS Trinity Power Corporation Patents Pending — All Rights Reserved (C) 2007 AFS Trinity Power Corporation. AFS Trinity Power Corporation

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PHOENIX, April 7, 2008 /PRNewswire/ — More than 1,000 Best Western hotels in the United States and Canada have been identified as “rider-friendly,” the company announced today, offering motorcycle riders wipe-down towels at check in and access to a wash station at no additional cost. In addition, some properties offer designated parking, tar remover, sunscreen and lip balm.(Logo: )The hotel chain’s commitment to designating participating hotels as “rider-friendly” is part of a multi-year agreement between Best Western and the Harley-Davidson Motor Company to bring travel benefits to Harley-Davidson enthusiasts.”Best Western recognizes that Harley-Davidson and motorcycle enthusiasts have unique needs when on the road, and we’re committed to providing them with amenities that make their rides more enjoyable,” said Dorothy Dowling, Best Western’s senior vice president of marketing and sales. “We’re thrilled that more than 1,000 Best Western hotels are ‘rider-friendly,’ and we will add to this total throughout the year.”Harley(R) riders can also register for the Gold Crown Club International Ride Rewards(TM) program, a free, specially-themed rewards program for Harley-Davidson enthusiasts. Harley-Davidson(R) owners or enthusiasts can register by going to . Once registered online as Ride Rewards members, Harley-Davidson(R) riders will earn 10 points for every U.S. dollar (or Canadian equivalent) spent on qualified room rates, or 250 airline miles per qualified stay, at any of the 4,000 Best Western hotels worldwide, including the 1,000 “rider-friendly” properties in North America. By joining Best Western’s Gold Crown Club International Ride Rewards loyalty program online, Harley-Davidson enthusiasts will automatically receive Gold Elite status, which includes 10 percent bonus points on every Best Western stay and the ability to purchase points for award redemption, along with other signature benefits.As a complement to Ride Rewards, Best Western will also serve as a preferred hotel chain for Harley-Davidson’s interactive Web application “Ride Planner,” found at . Using Microsoft(R) Virtual Earth(TM) technology, the application maps out a variety of picturesque U.S. “Great Roads” and shows Best Western hotels and Harley-Davidson(R) dealerships along the way. Each property listing features hotel descriptions along with a directory of services and amenities. A 10 percent savings is available to customers who book their Best Western reservations through this Web site, or by calling 1-888-224-BIKE.For more information on the Ride Rewards(TM) program, or to search for Best Western’s “rider-friendly” hotels, visit or .ABOUT BEST WESTERN INTERNATIONALBest Western International is THE WORLD’S LARGEST HOTEL CHAIN(R), providing marketing, reservations and operational support to over 4,000* independently owned and operated member hotels in 80* countries and territories worldwide. An industry pioneer since 1946, Best Western has grown into an iconic brand that hosts 400,000* worldwide guests each night. Best Western’s diverse property portfolio, its greatest strength, stems from a business model designed to give owners maximum flexibility to address market-specific needs. Equally committed to the business and leisure traveler, Best Western recently embarked on a five-year mission to lead the hotel industry in customer care. Since 2004, Best Western has served as the Official Hotel of NASCAR(R). For more information or to make a reservation, please visit . *Numbers are approximate and can fluctuate. CONTACT: Heather Wright Marcus Gamo Best Western International Allison & Partners (602) 957-5752 (415) 277-4925Best Western International

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MILWAUKEE, April 4, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — All three unions representing Harley-Davidson employees in Wisconsin voted today to ratify new collective bargaining agreements with the Company. The new four-year agreements, which cover approximately 2,210 employees, became effective retroactive to April 1.The Company has individual labor agreements with United Steelworkers (USW) Local 2-209, representing about 1,700 employees and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Lodge 78, representing about 150 employees, in the Milwaukee area; and with USW Local 460 in Tomahawk, Wis., which represents about 360 employees.”Harley-Davidson has a long history of working with our union partners to manage the business. We thank our employees and the union leaders for their important contributions to the success of these negotiations and to the success of Harley-Davidson,” said Harold Scott, Harley-Davidson Vice President, Human Resources.”The new contracts balance Harley Davidson’s need to responsibly manage our business for the long term in a competitive global market with our desire to continue to provide a strong wage and benefits package for employees,” Scott said.In addition to improvements in wages, the new contracts provide for the establishment of Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA) for bargaining unit employees, under which they can use HRA dollars to help pay for out of pocket health care costs. Other health care plan provisions are designed to moderate the rise in plan costs yet maintain Harley-Davidson’s position as a provider of top-tier health care benefits.Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company for the group of companies doing business as Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Buell Motorcycle Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc. Harley-Davidson Motor Company, the only major U.S.-based motorcycle manufacturer, produces heavyweight motorcycles and offers a complete line of motorcycle parts, accessories, apparel, and general merchandise. Buell Motorcycle Company produces sport motorcycles in addition to motorcycle parts, accessories and apparel. Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc. provides wholesale and retail financing and insurance programs to Harley-Davidson dealers and customers. Harley-Davidson, Inc.

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AUBURN HILLS, Mich., April 2, 2008 /PRNewswire/ — Plexus Systems, Inc. proudly designates the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as the beneficiary of its fundraising activities during PowerPlex 2008. The company’s user conference will take place May 19-21, 2008 at the new JW Marriott Hotel in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan.(Logo: )The main fundraiser is Plexus Systems’ first annual charity golf tournament on May 19 at the Thousand Oaks Golf Club in Grand Rapids. Sponsorship funding and golfer entry fees will go toward the charity, and Plexus Systems will match the funds raised at the tournament. A raffle also will help raise donations.”Our employees selected this charity, because they are aware of the great need to find a cure for cystic fibrosis. Some of our fellow employees are caring for children affected by this disease. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has assists these families. We are grateful for these services and our company wants to give back with full support,” said Mark Symonds, chief executive officer of Plexus Systems, Inc.Representatives from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will be at PowerPlex 2008 to inform more than 200 attendees about research, therapy and services provided to people affected by the disease.”Because we receive no federal funding, we depend on the generosity of corporations. We remain committed to enhancing the lives of those with cystic fibrosis and ultimately to finding a cure,” said Pam Ogg, executive director of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Metro Detroit-Northwest Ohio Chapter.Plexus Systems welcomes technology and manufacturing professionals to attend the conference, as well as participate in the charity golf tournament. A detailed agenda and other information are available online at: .Plexus Online is an on-demand software for the manufacturing enterprise. It is built on the “Software as a Service” (SaaS) model pioneered by Salesforce.com and NetSuite. Plexus Online offers over 350 functional modules, providing companies instant access to vital information and management functions using a simple web browser.The on-demand solution features enterprise resource planning (ERP) functions such as accounting and finance modules, customer relationship management (CRM) features such as order entry and tracking, manufacturing execution systems (MES) functions such as production scheduling and machine integration, and supply chain management (SCM) functions such as supplier quality and traceability.About the Cystic Fibrosis FoundationThe Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is the leading organization devoted to curing and controlling cystic fibrosis. Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., the Foundation funds CF research, has 80 chapter and branch offices throughout the country, and accredits a nationwide network of 115 CF care centers, which provide vital treatments and other CF resources to patients and families. To advance the search for a cure, CFF has invested nearly $300 million in promising scientific research in the biotechnology industry since 1998. As a result, the Foundation has more than 30 potential therapies in its drug discovery and development pipeline. Virtually every approved CF drug available today was made possible because of Cystic Fibrosis Foundation support. For more information visit .About Plexus Systems, Inc.Since 1995, Plexus Systems, Inc. (Auburn Hills, Mich.) has maintained a singular vision — to drive significant cost, quality and productivity improvements for manufacturers, from the shop floor to the top floor. Plexus Online(TM) is an on-demand software for the manufacturing enterprise. Plexus Systems originated as an internal solution at a manufacturing company, designed to resolve quality challenges, including production, distribution and global supply chains management issues. Today, Plexus Online enables businesses to manage accounting, financials, compliance and human resources and other critical priorities. Plexus Systems serves a global cross section of manufacturing industries (OEM and suppliers), particularly automotive, defense, medical device and aerospace companies. In 2006, Apax Partners () made a strategic investment in Plexus Systems, joining the founding investment group as stakeholders in Plexus. For more information, visit . Plexus Systems, Inc.

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