AUBURN HILLS, Mich., January 8, 2010 ─ Dassault Systèmes (DS) (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), announced that it is sponsoring the annual EyesOn Design Awards competition to be held prior to the public opening of the 2010 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) on January 12, 2010. Additionally, Anne Asensio, Dassault Systèmes vice president of Design Experience and head of the company’s Design Studio has been invited to participate as one of the Chief Judges reviewing the vehicles.

About 80 percent of the vehicles at the 2010 NAIAS have been designed using Dassault Systèmes’ CATIA software. “With our solution as the design tool of choice in the automotive industry, we see an event such as EyesOn Design to be a perfect venue to participate in,” said Asensio. “It gives us a chance to support the business community while benefitting the visually impaired.”

Dassault Systèmes has been a long-time supporter of the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology (DIO) EyesOn Design fundraising event, which honors and recognizes the most significant new automotive designs on display at the International Auto Show. EyesOn Design is the only automotive design contest that is judged solely by leading designers both from inside and outside the automotive world. They are also the only awards that recognize both production and concept vehicles being introduced at the Auto Show.

New vehicles inclusive of cars, trucks, and crossovers are judged in two categories: Production Vehicle and Best Concept Vehicle. Asensio who, prior to joining Dassault Systèmes, spent many years as head of design at both General Motors and Renault, will be presenting both of these awards.

Asensio added that Dassault Systèmes is focused on continually adding efficiency and innovation to the vehicle development process to enable automakers to bring product to market more quickly, at lower cost and at higher quality. The company’s V6 platform is configured to close the gap between consumer demand and product delivery by providing an environment that allows real-time collaboration and online-enabled design.

The EyesOn Design Competition 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. Both EyesOn Design events raise funds to provide educational programs and to support leading-edge research programs to enhance the lives of the blind and visually impaired. More than 6,000 people directly benefit from these programs each year.
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About Dassault Systèmes
As a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, Dassault Systèmes brings value to more than 100,000 customers in 80 countries. A pioneer in the 3D software market since 1981, Dassault Systèmes develops and markets PLM application software and services that support industrial processes and provide a 3D vision of the entire lifecycle of products from conception to maintenance to recycling. The Dassault Systèmes portfolio consists of CATIA for designing the virtual product - SolidWorks for 3D mechanical design - DELMIA for virtual production - SIMULIA for virtual testing - ENOVIA for global collaborative lifecycle management, and 3DVIA for online 3D lifelike experiences. Dassault Systèmes’ shares are listed on Euronext Paris (#13065, DSY.PA) and Dassault Systèmes’ ADRs may be traded on the US Over-The-Counter (OTC) market (DASTY). For more information, visit http://www.3ds.com.

CATIA, DELMIA, ENOVIA, SIMULIA, SolidWorks and 3D VIA are registered trademarks of Dassault Systèmes or its subsidiaries in the US and/or other countries.