New Johnson Unit For Interior Specialties New Johnson Unit For Interior Specialties

PLYMOUTH, Mich.--Johnson Controls has created a new business unit within its Automotive Systems Group to develop automotive interior accessories.

Called the Specialty Products Group (SPG), the unit focuses on the design, manufacture and marketing of automotive interior lifestyle products as accessory options and integrated into specialty vehicle applications. Industry officials say the market for integrated automotive interior accessories is growing at a rate of more than 10 percent annually and could exceed $8 billion by 2007.

“In recent years, Johnson Controls has made a strategic commitment to design and develop unique, consumer-focused products for automotive interiors,” said Jeff Steiner, general manager for the company’s Specialty Products Group. “This new group is working closely with our product development organization to accelerate the introduction and market reach of high-potential products, using automotive-accessory and specialty-vehicle channels.”

Steiner says the new business unit also allows the company to capitalize on the strong desire of consumers to personalize vehicles to their individual lifestyles. In addition, Johnson Controls’ dealer-accessory and specialty-vehicle products can enable automakers to add vehicle features, without adding manufacturing complexity at the assembly plants. These products will be sold through the auto manufacturer’s accessory divisions, new car dealerships and selective specialty retail outlets that focus on specific niche markets.

One product from SPG scheduled to be launched within the next year is a “hands-free” electronic phone device based on Bluetooth technology. “As an emerging industry standard, Bluetooth technology is supported by hundreds of companies. It enables many different kinds of digital devices to exchange data without wires,” according to the company.

For more information, contact www.johnsoncontrols.com.