2011 Hyundai i40 to Feature Amerigon Heated and Ventilated Seat System as Option in Europe

FYI: Hyundai Buyer's Guide

NORTHVILLE, MI--Oct. 25, 2011: Amerigon Incorporated , a global developer and marketer of innovative thermal management technologies for a broad range of heating and cooling and temperature control applications, today announced that its proprietary heated and ventilated seat system will be offered in Europe as a front-seat option in the all-new, mid-size 2011 Hyundai i40.  The Hyundai i40 was designed for the European market and shares its platform with the Hyundai Sonata.

Amerigon's heated and ventilated seat system is offered in the 2011 Hyundai Sonata sold in China and Korea, and today's announcement further expands Amerigon's opportunity for sales of its seat system in the European market.

Amerigon President and Chief Executive Officer Daniel R. Coker said, "We continue to make progress with the major Korean automobile manufacturers, and in Europe, which are both major strategic initiatives for Amerigon.  This further expands our strong relationship with Hyundai, a company that has been very receptive to our seat systems in a variety of its vehicles."

In addition to the Hyundai i40 and Hyundai Sonata, the Hyundai Tucson and the Hyundai Azera also offer Amerigon's heated and ventilated seat system.  Hyundai vehicles featuring Amerigon's proprietary Climate Control Seat (CCS) system, which delivers active, individually controlled heated or cooled air to seat occupants, include the Hyundai Equus (Korea) and Hyundai Genesis.

About the Amerigon Heated and Ventilated Seat System

The Amerigon heated and ventilated seat system combines passive cooling or ventilation with active heating.  For cooler environments or more economical vehicle lines, a ventilated seat may be a viable solution, bringing ambient cabin air to the surface instead of the "cooled" air produced by the thermoelectric technology.  In the cooling mode, the heater is turned off and the fan provides ambient cabin air to the seat surface.  In the heating mode, the vent only system is supplemented with more traditional resistive heating elements.  Amerigon's heated and ventilated seat system fits within the same envelope as the active CCS system, so multiple Amerigon applications can be installed within or across various vehicle platforms.

About Amerigon

Amerigon is a global developer and marketer of innovative thermal management technologies for a broad range of heating and cooling and temperature control applications. Automotive products based on Amerigon technologies include actively heated and cooled seat systems and cup holders, heated and ventilated seat systems, heated seat and steering wheel systems, cable systems and other electronic devices. Its advanced technology team is developing more efficient materials for thermoelectrics and systems for waste heat recovery and electrical power generation for the automotive market that also have far-reaching applications for consumer products as well as industrial and technology markets. Amerigon has $500 million in annual revenues and 5,000 employees in facilities in the U.S., Germany, Mexico, China, Canada, Japan, England, Korea and the Ukraine.