METROSTEP PUTS MINORITIES ON FAST TRACK TO AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE TECHNICIAN CAREERS

Atlanta Pilot Program Expands Opportunities

WOODCLIFF LAKE, New Jersey, July 24, 2002... In an effort to encourage
minorities to become automotive service technicians, BMW of North America,
Atlanta Technical College and baseball legend (and BMW dealer) Hank Aaron have
worked together to create and implement a pilot program called MetroSTEP.

Modeled after BMW's successful Service Technician Education Program (STEP), the
pilot program was launched this summer in Atlanta when six students and four
sponsoring BMW dealerships were linked together for a work-study program
designed to generate certified technicians. All the students have part-time
jobs and mentors at the four BMW dealers in the metropolitan Atlanta area -
Chris BMW, Global Imports, United BMW and Hank Aaron BMW. They work from 8
a.m. until 2 p.m. and then attend classes from 4 to 9 p.m. The sponsoring
dealerships have agreed to hire the students as full-time employees once they
successfully complete the program in September. Atlanta Technical College has
provided support and guidance in the pilot development.

"Our hope is to make a difference - not only in the automotive industry, but
also in young peoples' lives," said Tom Purves, Chairman and CEO of BMW (US)
Holding Corp. "Without the support and cooperation of all participants, this
project would not be possible."

"Private post-secondary automotive schools are often out of reach financially,
and a number of public institutions have not updated their curricula to stay
current with advanced automotive technology. As a result, the nationwide
shortage of skilled automotive technicians has become even more acute in less
affluent areas," explained Brian Nelson, BMW's Manager of Technical Service
Training (STEP/AYES). "We're fortunate to have the support of Atlanta
Technical College, one of the better public colleges in the country.

"Our goal is to remove some of the financial barriers faced by minorities so
they receive the education and training needed to become top-flight
technicians," Nelson continued. "The participants are paid for their work at
dealerships and, as with other STEP students, do not pay tuition."

BMW established STEP in order to address the shortage of automotive service
technicians and in the past six years, more than 1,200 technicians have
completed the intensive program. The students pay no tuition for the advanced
training and are assisted in finding a job upon graduation; the placement rate
is consistently 100 percent. While STEP graduates, after some experience, earn
an average annual salary of $55,000, they can make upwards of $75,000 and more
in some parts of the country.

Working in conjunction with the Automotive Youth Education Systems (AYES) - a
partnership of auto manufacturers, dealers and qualified high schools offering
automotive technical training - BMW wants to help provide more career awareness
to students still studying at the secondary level with the objective of
highlighting the automotive repair industry as an attractive career option. At
the post-secondary level, BMW has donated cars, car parts, computers and other
equipment to schools in the Atlanta area to familiarize students with
state-of-the-art BMW technology. There are plans to do the same for approved
high school automotive programs.

BMW Group In America

BMW of North America has been present in the United States since 1975. Since
then, the BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales
and financial service organizations for the BMW and MINI brands; a South
Carolina manufacturing operation; DESIGNWORKS/USA, an industrial design firm in
California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations
throughout the country. The BMW Group is represented in the U.S. through
networks of 340 BMW car, 327 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle, 148 BMW Motorcycle
retailers and 59 MINI car dealers. BMW US Holding Corp., the Group's
headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff
Lake, New Jersey.

Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet
at http://www.bmwusa.com http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com and
http://www.miniusa.com.

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Journalist note: Information about the BMW Group and its products is available
to journalists on-line at the BMW Group PressClub at the following address -
www.press.bmwgroup.com.

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