WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 12) — Nine automobile manufacturers have created a new association promising a global mandate following last year’s demise of the American Automobile Manufacturers Association.

The association, called the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, will include foreign-based companies as well as General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co.

The AAMA, a longstanding trade group that represented Ford, GM, and the former Chrysler Corp., dissolved after Germany’s Daimler-Benz bought Chrysler last year. AAMA bylaws did not allow foreign control or ownership of its members.

The new group is comprised of Ford, GM, DaimlerChrysler AG, Nissan Motor Co., Toyota Motor Corp., Volkswagen AG, BMW AG, Mazda Motor Corp., and Volvo.

Ford vice-chairman Peter Pestillo will be the first chairman.

“The Alliance provides our companies a forum to work together on public policy matters of common interest to develop constructive approaches and to work with government and other stakeholders to find sensible and effective solutions,” said Pestillo.

He said the association will initially focus on environmental and motor vehicle safety issues.

Alliance member companies have 255 manufacturing facilities in 33 states and represent about 90% of all vehicles sold in the U.S.

It will rival the Association for International Automobile Manufacturers, which represents 18 foreign-based automakers, including most members of the new association.