HUAL AS Honored by GM

HUAL AS was named as a General Motors Supplier of the Year for its overall business performance in providing GM with parts and services. The award was given during ceremonies Saturday, April 3 in Prague at the Hilton Prague Hotel's Congress Hall.

"HUAL is representative of the type of company we want to grow with as we drive to be the best worldwide," said Bo Andersson, vice president, GM Worldwide Purchasing Production Control & Logistics. "The company has a balanced focus on performance and behaviour that supports GM's priorities. They are a role model for all of our suppliers." "HUAL is very honoured to have been selected by GM as 2003 Supplier of the Year for Ocean Carrier Services, " said Karl A. Terjesen, HUAL's president. "Receiving this important and prestigious award from the world's No. 1 auto maker is a significant recognition of the work we are doing for the global automotive industry, and serves as a great inspiration and motivating force for HUAL's continued focus on delivering world-class service and quality to GM also in the years ahead."

The GM Supplier of the Year award began as a global program in 1992. Award-winners are selected by a global team of executives from purchasing, engineering, manufacturing and logistics who base their decisions on supplier performance in quality, service, technology and price. This year, General Motors honored 77 suppliers for their excellence throughout 2003.

HUAL AS, the vehicle carrying unit of Norwegian shipping company Leif Hoegh & Co., operates a fleet of close to 50 PCTCs (Pure Car/Truck Carriers) and carries more than 1.2 million vehicles annually on deep sea routes worldwide. The company has supplied shipping services to GM for more than 30 years, and is today among others involved in carrying GM vehicles from the US to the Middle East and GMDAT vehicles from Korea to Europe and the US. HUAL has recently embarked upon a fleet expansion program that includes 14 new vessels with a capacity of 6,100 standard-size cars each with delivery 2003-2007.