Yazaki North America Realigns Executive Staff To Strengthen Leadership Development And Customer Focus

CANTON, Mich., Oct. 17, 2005 -- Yazaki North America, Inc. (Yazaki), a leading supplier of vehicle power and data solutions to the automotive industry, announced today the appointment and realignment of several top executives. In making the announcement George Perry, YNA president and CEO, said the changes are an important part of the company's executive development program. The changes also foster continuous improvement as the executives bring a fresh perspective to their new posts.

Summary of Position Changes

Bob Crumley is named executive vice president of Product Planning, Purchasing and Logistics. He was previously CEO of SY Systems Technology America. Reporting to Crumley will be Bob McDonald, recently named vice president, Purchasing and David Conrad, vice president-Logistics. Crumley will also oversee the R&D function, along with the Marketing and Product Management functions formerly part of the Development and Planning group.

Colleen Haley is named president of the newly formed Ford Business Unit (FBU). She will also assume the role of Yazaki's Ford World Wide Strategy (WWS) head. Haley had been vice president of Purchasing & Quality. In her new role, Haley is responsible for the overall management of current FBU programs and planning for future growth opportunities important to the continued success of Yazaki as a strategic supplier to Ford.

Bryan Jinnett is named vice president, Quality and New Yazaki System (NYS). He will also chair the company's Quality Directors' Council. Jinnett has played a leadership role in the implementation of NYS, Yazaki's lean production/lean thinking initiative in the America's plants, and has been instrumental in the development of a strong cadre of NYS professionals throughout the organization. He brings a strong quality management background to his new role, having held executive positions in quality at YNA, Bosch and JCI in the past.

Bob McDonald is named vice president, Purchasing. He had been director, EDS, Electronics & Instrumentation Purchasing. In his new role, he will also oversee global coordination of Americas Region activities through membership on Yazaki's Global Purchasing Committee. He joined Yazaki in 1999 beginning as Sales Manager in the Ford Business Unit and taking a position as Sales Director with SY Systems Technology America.

Bill Wilson is named executive vice president, Transplant Business Unit (TBU), positioning him to succeed Tomohiro Nakajima, TBU president, who will return to Japan in February 2006. Over the next six months, Nakajima will assist Wilson in gaining a more thorough understanding of the policies, strategies and competitive strengths and challenges associated with each of the automakers served by the Transplant Business Unit. Wilson had been president of the company's Component Business Unit. In his new role, he will be responsible for directing TBU's operational activities, including branch offices as well as Canton based programs.

Riku Yazaki is named president, Component Business Unit (COMBU). Previously, Yazaki had been president, General Motors Business Unit where he and his global team were recognized by General Motors for their outstanding performance. In his new role, Yazaki will oversee all aspects of COMBU operations including customer programs, product design and development, quality assurance, cost maintenance, and business financials of the company's principal EDS components such as connectors and terminals.

Jim Romine is named president, General Motors Business Unit (GMBU). Romine brings more than 25 years of Chrysler related electrical distribution system (EDS) experience to his new role. He had been president of Yazaki's DaimlerChrysler Business Unit and WWS head for DaimlerChrysler affiliated companies served by Yazaki. He led his team in the development of a model collaborative relationship that has received accolades from the highest levels of DaimlerChrysler-Auburn Hills management. In his new role, Romine is responsible for the overall management of current GMBU programs and planning for future growth opportunities important to the continued success of Yazaki as a strategic supplier to GM.

Barbara Long is named president, DaimlerChrysler Business Unit (DCBU). In addition to having a long history of success in sales and program management leadership positions in DCBU, Long had been vice president of the company's Alpha Group, serving Heavy Vehicle Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM)s and Yazaki's customers that are large tier-one suppliers to car and truck OEMs. She redefined the Alpha business and repositioned it on a path to profitable growth. In her new role, Long is responsible for the overall management of current DCBU programs and planning for future growth opportunities important to the continued success of Yazaki as a strategic supplier to DaimlerChrysler.

Myron Trenne is named vice president, Alpha Group. Trenne was previously vice president of R&D where he led new technology product developments that utilized vehicle power and data network solutions. Trenne came to Yazaki in 1996 with extensive supplier and OEM experience in vehicle electronics for body, powertrain and chassis control systems. He is tasked with continuing to grow YNA's relationship and business with Heavy Vehicle OEMS and large tier- one industry suppliers.

Nigel Thompson is named executive vice president of Strategy, Finance and Business Systems. Thompson had been executive vice president of Development & Planning. In his new capacity, Thompson will retain responsibility for cost planning including affiliate negotiations, strategic planning which includes competitor analysis, alliances, joint ventures, acquisitions and divestitures, as well as the company's business systems. In addition he will oversee the profit planning and associated financial forecasting, target setting and performance measurement activities required to fulfill Yazaki's responsibility as a regional headquarters.

Yazaki Corporation is a global leader in the research, development and delivery of vehicle power and data solutions, as well as advanced electronic technologies for vehicle applications. Yazaki produces electrical distribution systems, fiber optics, instrumentation, solid-state power centers, connection systems and electronics. Worldwide, the company employs over 150,000 people in 37 countries, 1,500 of whom are based in the company's North American headquarters and research center campus in Canton, Michigan. For more information on Yazaki, log onto http://www.yazaki-na.com/ .