Hella Lighting Featured on New 2012 Volkswagen From Puebla

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MEXICO CITY--Nov. 29, 2011: The all-new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle assembled in Puebla, Mexico, features front and rear exterior lighting from Hella.

A major global supplier of automotive lighting and electronics, Hella has lighting production facilities with more than 2,000 employees in Mexico -- two in Guadalajara and one in Mexico City.

Shown for the first time at this year's New York International Auto Show, the new Beetle is equipped with Hella headlamps, fog lamps, front side markers, tail lamps, rear reflex reflectors and a center high-mounted LED stop lamp.

In addition, Hella Electronics' products supplied for the new vehicle from the company's San Jose Iturbide manufacturing plant include daylight-running-lamp printed circuit boards, which are part of an energy-saving module.

"Hella's relationship with Volkswagen and the VW Beetle dates back to the first Beetle prototype in 1935 and the start of mass production in 1945," said Ignacio Moreno, CEO of Hella Lighting for the Americas and president of Hella's Corporate Center Mexico. "Our lighting partnership with Volkswagen has continued on a variety of Beetle models over the years."

Volkswagen officially started production of the new Beetle in July at its Puebla plant during ceremonies attended by Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Hubert Waltl, board member for Production and Logistics at Volkswagen Passenger Cars.

Hella began development of its lighting programs for the new 2012 Beetle in 2009.  To develop the tail lamps, members of Hella's engineering and product development staff in North America  led a core design team located in Lippstadt, Germany.  The headlamps were designed by an engineering team in the Czech Republic.

Hella will be providing halogen and HID versions of the headlamp for use in the Americas and Europe. Hella's halogen headlamp uses a standard reflector system using an HB2/H4 bulb for high and low beams. Daytime running-lamp and position-lamp functions are achieved by using one double filament bulb. Production of the halogen version of the headlamps for the new Beetle started earlier this year at a Hella plant in Mexico City.

Hella's HID headlamp consists of a bi-xenon projector using an innovative 25-watt burner -- an energy-efficient solution that offers savings of 30W when compared to halogen-bulb solutions. Hella also uses LED technology to generate daytime running-lamp and position-light functions. The LED arrangement gives the headlamp a distinctive appearance.

One of many Hella lamps on the new Beetle is a front side-marker single-function lamp. Located in the front fender of the vehicle near the wheels, the side-marker is a single lamp that uses standard bulb technology.

The rear-reflectors are a safety features that reflect light, enabling other motorists to see a parked vehicle or a vehicle driving without the tail lamps on. It is integrated into the rear bumper.

Hella also provides VW with a six-function tail lamp. Stop and tail-lamp functions feature a dual filament 21/5-watt incandescent bulb. The turn signal and backup lights use standard bulbs. The side reflex reflector is incorporated in the lens of the tail lamp. The side marker function (only required for the US market), is achieved by using a single LED. This function assures basic visibility of the vehicle at night.

The 2012 Beetle's center high-mounted stop lamp is comprised of 18 LEDs. It is mounted above the trunk lid in the rear for the vehicle.

Volkswagen's Puebla plant is the largest automotive facility in Mexico and one of the Volkswagen Group's biggest vehicle manufacturing plants. Puebla supplies vehicles for both North and South America, as well as Europe, and has a workforce of more than 15,000.

About Hella:  Hella KGaA Hueck & Co. develops and manufactures lighting and electronics components and systems for the automotive industry. Its joint venture companies also produce complete vehicle modules, air-conditioning systems and vehicle electric systems. In addition, Hella has one of the largest automotive aftermarket organizations in the world, with its own sales companies and partners in more than 100 countries.

Hella Group sales were $4.98 billion in fiscal year 2009-2010. Hella is one of the top 50 automotive parts suppliers in the world and one of the 100 largest industrial companies in Germany. Nearly 23,000 people work at 70 locations in more than 30 countries, including more than 3,500 research and development engineers and technicians. Additional information is available at www.hella.com.

From its three lighting facilities in Mexico, Hella supplies a number of the world's major automakers, including BMW, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Mercedes, Nissan and Volkswagen.