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The Best of Toyota vs. The Best of BAT

7 August 1998

August 19th BAT `Supercar Challenge,' The Best of Toyota vs. The Best of BAT

    BURBANK, Calif., Aug. 7 -- BAT International, Inc.
(OTC Bulletin Board: BAAT) invites the public to attend the Super Car
Challenge event to be held at the California Speedway in Fontana, California.
BAT International's Supercar will be running head to head against Toyota's
hybrid vehicle, the "Prius," to compare fuel efficiency and performance.  BAT
has scheduled a verifiable set of tests against the "Prius" on August 19th at
California Speedway that will provide an accurate estimate of fuel economy and
performance in typical highway driving.
    BAT International has achieved 92.5 and 94 mpg in two separate events at
California Speedway in Fontana in 1998.  (See press release 1/16/98.)  The
first demonstration was an answer to an article published about Ford's
President of Operations in which he told a convention of engineers that the
auto industry was in trouble due to the lack of forward technology.  He said
present auto executives were going to go down in history as the ones that lost
the American auto industry unless some drastic changes were made.  He urged
the engineering community to start looking in a new direction.  BAT already
had!
    The BAT Supercar was developed by BAT over the last several years to
improve fuel economy and emissions of internal combustion engines.  BAT offers
a viable technology for meeting U.S. and international fuel economy goals by
using only minor adaptations to current production processes without adding
significantly to costs.  After the first accomplishment of 92 mpg @ 40 mph,
using a four-door production Geo Metro sedan, BAT was confused by General
Motors' claim in press interviews that it was "no big deal."
    After months of searching for one of these "no big deal" competitors, BAT
took a cue from Detroit's and the Clinton administration's acknowledgment that
the Toyota "Prius" was the best green car on the market.  Toyota's "Prius," a
wonderfully engineered but costly to manufacture hybrid electric vehicle, has
estimated fuel economy of 66 mpg in city/highway driving.
    Two California Universities will be part of the certification team
including the University of California Institute of Transportation Studies and
the University of California Riverside College of Engineering.  The third
certification term will be headed by Roger Ward, twice Indianapolis 500 winner
and will include Keith Harper, test driver for General Motors and John Green,
test driver for major auto companies.  Toyota has been invited to monitor
testing or provide separate testing.
    To insure accurate measurement of fuel economy, the cars will be run
simultaneously on a two-mile track for 50-mile segments at constant speeds of
40, 50 and 60 mph.  The test could prove to be a grueling demonstration for
both cars.  The newly built California Speedway is in San Bernardino where mid
August temperatures often exceed 100 degrees F, and track road temperatures
could exceed 130 degrees - 140 degrees F.  Thin hot air would significantly
reduce engine efficiency and tire resistance could be greatly increased over
hot sticky "Mac" surfaces.  Both cars will be exposed to the exact same road
conditions.  No dynamos, no computers or simulated models.  Only real life
driving conditions for a world class competition.

    Come see the future at the duel of the Supercars!

    Where:  California Speedway, 9300 Cherry Avenue (off I-10 Freeway),
            Fontana, California.

    When:   Wednesday, August 19th.  The testing will begin at 7:00 a.m.
            and continue to approximately 1:00 p.m.

    Who:    Officials from B.A.T. International, Inc., certification teams,
            news media, industry representatives and the public.

    This press release contains forward-looking statements that should not be
used to make an investment decision.  Please refer to BAT's web
http://www.baat.com, or call investor relations contact Cheryl Mitchell @
360-384-2730.