Consumers Want HotShot(R) Heated Washing System on New Vehicles

             Survey Cites Safety and Convenience as Key Benefits

    FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., Feb. 6 -- HotShot(R), a heated
washing system for windshields, should be offered by automotive manufacturers
on new vehicles, according to 95% of the respondents to a survey conducted at
the 2003 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).  Almost 50% of 995
individuals surveyed consider it a safety feature; while 75% see it as a
convenience (23% consider it both).  Microheat Inc., manufacturer of HotShot,
conducted the survey.
    Microheat is the first company to bring an intelligent hot wash windshield
cleaning system to market.  HotShot integrates into any vehicle's wiper/washer
system to heat standard washer fluid to 145 degrees F in seconds.  With
HotShot, drivers can sit in the comfort and safety of their vehicles and, at
the touch of a button, clear their windshields of ice and snow.
    The survey found that the majority of drivers (79%) use a scraper to
remove ice and snow from their windshields, while 13% turn on their defroster
and wait for the snow to melt.  Of those who use scrapers, 53% said they spend
up to 15 minutes completely scraping their windshield, while 26% admitted that
they only scrape "just enough" to be able to see through a section of the
window.  Those who only partially clear their windshield acknowledge that it
is not safe to drive under such conditions.
    "I like the no more scraping feature," said one respondent.  "I'm always
in a hurry and don't clear my windshield as well as I should.  That's not
safe."
    "The survey results support what we hear from consumers every day," said
Emanuel Rosenzweig, vice president of marketing for Microheat.  "Repeatedly we
heard from auto show attendees how impressed they were that the HotShot system
served two purposes: convenience, by drastically reducing the need to scrape
the windshield; and safety as a result of increased visibility."
    While driving, HotShot maintains hot fluid in its heating chamber,
allowing drivers to instantly clear ice and snow buildup on the glass or wiper
blades.  Since hot fluid cleans better than cold, warm-weather streaking
caused by bug gunk and road grime is quickly removed for maximized safe vision
year-round.
    HotShot is expected to be available on new vehicles in 2005.  "In the
meantime, we have developed an aftermarket version that can be installed on
virtually any model, any make, any year vehicle," said Rosenzweig.  "We are
responding to consumer needs today."  HotShot is easy to install and can be
done by drivers with some do-it-yourself mechanical ability or by any licensed
mechanic.
    Microheat is a privately held company incorporated in 1998.  Its worldwide
headquarters and manufacturing facilities are located in Farmington Hills,
Michigan, with support facilities in Israel and Russia.  For more information
visit http://www.microheat.com .