Richard Johnson
Automotive News Europe Editor

LONDON -- Europe's greatest automotive innovators and empire builders have long needed a permanent place of honor.

Now there is one. With immense pride we announce the European Automotive Hall of Fame -- and the names of its 13 charter members.

These immortals of the car business will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Geneva auto show in February 2001.

Commemorative plaques will be on display permanently at the Palexpo, home of the annual Geneva show. Newly elected members will be announced each December and inducted at the following Geneva show.

The Hall of Fame honors technical, managerial and entrepreneurial achievements in the automotive industry. It is a tribute to dreamers who also were do-ers -- extraordinary individuals who built the biggest and most fascinating business in Europe through a combination of vision, courage, determination and genius.

The charter members of the European Automotive Hall of Fame are: Gianni Agnelli, Karl Benz, Robert Bosch, Ettore Bugatti, AndrŽ Citroen, Gottlieb Daimler, Rudolf Diesel, Giorgetto Giugiaro, Enzo Ferrari, Alec Issigonis, William Lyons, Ferdinand Porsche and Louis Renault.

The names to the right are linked to profiles of these marvelous men.

The charter members of the Hall of Fame were chosen by a distinguished committee of industry leaders: