SiemensVDO Sells Wiring Harness Plants to Alcoa

    REGENSBURG, Germany & FRANKLIN, Tenn.--July 18, 2001--SiemensVDO Automotive AG, Regensburg (Germany) and Alcoa Fujikura Ltd. (AFL), Franklin, (USA) announce today that Siemens completed the sale of four SiemensVDO wiring harness plants to AFL. The four plants are located in Stribro, Czech Republic; Seixal, Portugal; Brussels, Belgium; and Puebla, Mexico. These plants have a combined workforce of approximately 5,600 people. For the most recent fiscal year, they recorded total sales of around 200 million EURO. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
    With this transaction SiemensVDO follows the strategy to concentrate on the core electronic components and systems design of vehicle electrical systems. For AFL it creates the opportunity to expand its customer base for electrical distribution systems.
    Alcoa is the world's leading producer of primary aluminium, fabricated aluminium, and alumina. Among its related businesses are precision castings, fiber optic cables, and electrical distribution systems for cars and trucks. It has 142,000 employees in 37 countries.
    AFL is a joint venture between Alcoa Inc. and Fujikura Ltd. of Japan. It is a global full service supplier of electrical/electronic distribution systems and electronic components in North America and Europe. AFL employs approximately 35,000 people in its worldwide Automotive business. For additional information, visit www.AFLauto.com.
    SiemensVDO Automotive is one of the world's leading suppliers of electronics, electrics and mechatronics to the automotive industry. As development partner of the automotive industry, the company manufactures products for powertrain, engine control electronics and fuel injection technology which improve engine performance and reduce emissions. Information and car communication systems with instrumentation, audio and navigation systems, telematics and multimedia applications right through to complete cockpits provide increased ride comfort and ease of operation. SiemensVDO products for chassis and carbody such as airbag, ABS and fuel systems or access control systems contribute to greater safety and security. A separate Trading division markets products for retrofitting in cars and commercial vehicles. The company was created in April 2001 as a result of the merger between Siemens Automotive and Mannesmann VDO. It has 50,000 employees who generate cumulated sales of more than 7 billion Euro.

    www.alcoa.com