Dassault Systèmes Co-Sponsors Third Annual EyesOn Design Competition

Program Celebrates Automotive Design and Benefits Visually Impaired

Auburn Hills, Mich., January 14, 2008 ─ Dassault Systèmes (DS) (Nasdaq: DASTY; Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), today announced that it will sponsor, along with the Society of Automotive Engineers, the third annual EyesOn Design competition to be held prior to the public opening of the 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) on Tuesday, January 15, 2008.

EyesOn Design is a Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology (DIO) fundraising event, which honors and recognizes the most significant new automotive designs on display at the Auto Show. Unique among automotive design awards, the EyesOn Design Awards are the only automotive design awards to be judged solely by designers themselves, as well as the only awards presented to both production and concept vehicles being introduced at the Auto Show.

“Nearly 75 percent* of the new vehicles being launched at the 2008 North American International Auto Show were designed using Dassault Systèmes software, so it makes sense for us to sponsor this prestigious DIO event,” said Anne Asensio, vice president of design experience, Dassault Systèmes, and an award-winning auto design executive.

Cars and trucks will be judged in two categories: Best Production Vehicles and Best Concept Vehicles.  Awards for the winning car and truck in each category will be presented by Asensio, who, prior to joining Dassault Systèmes in the fall of 2007, was General Motors’ executive director of design, advanced design.

“Automotive design is entering a new, exciting era. In order to connect with consumers, the industry must think differently,” Asensio noted. “Dassault Systèmes provides solutions that enable innovation throughout the design and manufacturing cycles, helping the automotive industry produce high-quality vehicles, using unique approaches to the human/machine interface.”

“We purposely set the bar high for ourselves,” said Tom Gale, founding chairman for the EyesOn Design Awards and former head of design for Chrysler.  "We are committed to staging a design event that is a ‘must attend’ for the top design executives around the globe.”

The EyesOn Design Award at the NAIAS is an extension of the celebration of automotive design that occurs each June when the DIO hosts the annual EyesOn Design car show, which honors the past, present and future of automotive design. In addition to being recognized as major design achievement awards in the automotive design community, both EyesOn Design events raise funds to provide educational programs and to support leading-edge research and other programs to enhance the lives of the blind and visually impaired. More than 6,000 people directly benefit from these programs each year.