Delphi Secures $40 Million in New Battery Business During the First Half of 2001

TROY, Mich., July 10 Delphi Automotive Systems today announced approximately $40 million in recently booked business for various battery products. The contracts span one to six years and involve several original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and aftermarket customers globally. "The battery business is extremely competitive," said Guy C. Hachey, vice president, Delphi Automotive Systems and president, Delphi Energy & Chassis Systems. "Companies like Delphi, where we have a long history of manufacturing automotive batteries, must position themselves to remain competitive and productive in today's challenging business environment."

One of the recently announced contracts is a five-year, $4 million agreement to supply Honda Brazil with absorbent glass mat (AGM) motorcycle batteries. The AGM battery is gas-recombinant, meaning the gasses produced when the battery is charging recombine in a sealed setting to create water (H2O). Absorbent glass mat separators trap the gasses where the recombination occurs. Delphi's AGM battery is maintenance-free and spill-proof, providing packaging flexibility to mount the battery in any orientation. This provides new opportunities for vehicle designers to position the battery in various locations in the vehicle.

"Delphi has leveraged decades of automotive battery manufacturing expertise to position the company as a supplier of batteries for new markets and other industries: motorcycle, heavy duty and recreational vehicles," said Craig R. Kellogg, Delphi Energy & Chassis Systems battery product line manager.

Delphi sells batteries in 62 countries. With 11 manufacturing sites and four engineering and product development centers worldwide, Delphi produces batteries for various industries, including OEM and aftermarket automotive, heavy duty, farm and commercial vehicle, marine, motorcycle and recreational vehicles. Included under Delphi's Freedom brand is a maintenance-free flooded lead acid battery and AGM technology.

For additional information about Delphi Automotive Systems visit the virtual press room at http://www.delphiauto.com/vpr .