Valeo Wins Record Order for Park Assist Systems

    PARIS--September 14, 2001-–Valeo (Paris: FR; OTC: VLEEY) announces that it has received an order, valued at several hundred million euro, for its Ultrasonic Park Assist System from the Ford Group.
    The order reflects demand from Ford for a substantial annual volume of Ultrasonic Park Assist units and is believed to be the largest single order for Utrasonic Park Assist systems ever placed with a Tier One supplier. Valeo's Ultrasonic Park Assist system will be specified on two new future vehicle platforms.
    Commenting on the market success of the new generation of Park Assist Systems, Thierry Morin, Chairman of Valeo's Management Board, said, "the Ford Group is a valued customer for our Park Assist technology. Confirmation of this major order underlines the continuing strength of our partnership and also recognizes the technical expertise which has made Valeo the world's number one supplier of Park Assist Systems. By 2005, we expect to produce large volumes of Utrasonic Park Assist systems annually for both Ford and the Premier Automotive Group."
    Since Valeo first introduced Park Assist sensors in 1991, pioneering work to further develop this technology has continued at its Branch, Valeo Switches & Detection Systems. The Branch was recently awarded "Full Service Supplier" status by Ford in recognition of its global engineering competence and the excellence of its global production facilities at Wemding, Germany, and Rio Bravo, Mexico. As a Full Service Supplier, the Valeo Branch will collaborate closely with Ford in the design engineering, testing and manufacturing of best-in-class Utrasonic Park Assist Systems.
    The Valeo Ultrasonic Park Assist system offers consumers a range of benefits that enhance both driver safety and convenience in the Valeo "Seeing and Being Seen" Domain, which addresses the consumer need for enhanced all-round visibility both from within and from outside the vehicle.
    When a vehicle is placed in reverse gear, the Ultrasonic Park Assist system automatically detects obstacles, which may be outside the driver's rear field of vision, and sounds an alert to warn the driver of impending contact. This feature increases driver confidence when conducting reversing maneuvers and may help avoid costly damage to vehicle bodywork, for example when reversing into awkward parking spaces.
    The Ultrasonic Park Assist system is available to vehicle manufacturers as either a rear-only system using four sensors, or a front and rear system with eight sensors. With measuring ranges of 25 cm up to 1.8 meters, the Ultrasonic Park Assist system also includes an electronic control unit, wiring, display and switch as specified by the customer.
    Valeo is exhibiting at the IAA International Motor Show on stand E02 in Hall 8.
    Valeo is an independent industrial group fully focused on the design, production and sale of components, integrated systems and modules for cars and trucks and ranks among the world's top automotive suppliers. The Group has 162 plants, 49 R&D centers, 10 distribution centers and employs 78,000 people in 25 countries worldwide.
    Illustrations can be downloaded from the Valeo Internet site, www.valeo.com, which features a special section on Valeo's participation in the IAA International Motor Show 2001.
    For more information on the Group and its businesses, please consult our Web site: www.valeo.com