Delphi Aftermarket Prepared for Future Vehicle Repairs

Release Date: March 27, 2002

TROY, Mich. - Building on its strong, century-old original equipment (OE) heritage, Delphi Aftermarket Operations is expanding its portfolio to offer new electronics products and services to customers around the globe as vehicles become increasingly complex.

Since 1999, Delphi's global aftermarket operation has grown to include more than 1,500 employees, serving more than 6,000 customers. Leveraging its electronics expertise, Delphi Aftermarket Operations is focusing on vehicle repair with a systems solution approach. Delphi understands the complexity of maintaining electronic systems because it develops such systems daily for new vehicles, and can provide top-of-the-line service and Original Equipment technologies and quality to meet changing vehicle maintenance needs. By 2010, the electronic content on an average passenger vehicle is expected to reach 40 percent, according to Automotive Industries magazine.

Delphi has expanded its product portfolio from traditional replacement parts to include new electronics products and service technologies and solutions to meet the needs of technicians and customers. Products include electric fuel pumps, modular reservoir assemblies, fuel injectors and oxygen sensors. Delphi's fuel pumps, oxygen sensors and fuel injectors are all makes and offer full-line coverage in domestic and import applications. Throughout 2002, Delphi will introduce a full line of sensors and actuators, fuel pressure regulators and linear EGR valves, complementing the above products.

Delphi has also expanded it thermal HVAC components to include air conditioning compressors, condensers, radiators, heaters, evaporators, accumulators and receiver dehydrators.

In addition, Delphi recently launched its new Delphi Freedom® battery for vehicle and heavy-duty truck applications. Delphi Freedom will also offer a full line of lawn & garden, marine and automotive absorbent glass mat (AGM) batteries this spring in North America. The long-life Delphi Freedom battery line is maintenance free and offers extensive durability within a factory-sealed case.

"Delphi Aftermarket Operations is up and running to provide the best products and advanced services to our global customers," said Ted Thacker, general director sales & marketing, Delphi Aftermarket Operations. "Because we have a history as vehicle integrators with 100 years of OE experience, we understand the individual components as well as the complexity of today's vehicle systems. And, as vehicle electronics content increases, our strategy is to provide electronics and electronically-enhanced products to the market and to support them with leading edge service technologies and solutions," he said.

In addition to providing products and technologies, Delphi's advanced service offerings help technicians meet the increasingly complex service issues surrounding automotive and consumer electronics.

"New diagnostic and service options must be created to maintain and repair increasingly complex vehicles," said Mark Theriot, director, global service technology, Delphi Aftermarket Operations. "Delphi is combining our understanding of complex systems, telematics and our vehicle electronics products to provide complete service solutions to our customers."

Advanced technical hotline support, wireless information, diagnostic systems and Web-based information management are a sample of the services Delphi will be offering. On-board diagnostics (OBD) and engine management systems solutions for both diesel and gas engines will be a key focus of Delphi's service strategy, as well as other electronically controlled systems and mobile multimedia products.

"The shift in the automotive industry from mechanical to electrical and electronic systems offers tremendous opportunity in the aftermarket," said Thacker. "This transition is driving growth for replacement products and new service technologies and solutions. Delphi's total systems expertise will enable us to become our customers' partner of choice in the aftermarket."