Aisin World Corp. of America is 300th Member of OESA

TROY, Mich., Feb. 13 -- Today, Aisin World Corp. of America (AWA) became the 300th company to join the Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA).

AWA is the North American operating company of the Aisin Group, a $10 billion global automotive supplier with headquarters in Japan.

OESA is a trade association representing the interests of automotive Original Equipment suppliers. OESA provides a forum for suppliers to address issues of common interest and serves as a resource and a voice for the industry.

"This is a historic milestone for OESA," said Neil De Koker, President of OESA. "OESA has a strong value proposition for OE Suppliers because our members actively participate in association activities; OESA can accelerate positive change in the industry through meaningful dialogue among industry members," he added.

OESA member companies come from all over the globe. "If OE Suppliers have a manufacturing base in North America, companies may join OESA as a regular member regardless of their national origin," stated De Koker. The OESA Board of Directors consists of top executives from automotive supplier companies from the United States, Canada, France, Germany, and Japan.

"OESA reached our 100th member milestone 9 months after the organization's founding in April, 1999 when Dow Automotive, a U.S. based global materials supplier, joined OESA. And, now, we have our 300th member, AWA, the North American unit of a respected global supplier based in Japan," he added.

"We are pleased to join such a distinguished association as OESA," Junichi Nishimura, President and CEO of AWA stated. "OESA recently participated in a Trilateral Meeting including CLEPA and JAPIA, the counterparts from Europe and Japan. It became clear at the meeting that much could be accomplished to strengthen the automotive supplier industry through collaboration on a global basis," Nishimura added. "I was impressed with the positive and active role OESA has taken to address issues of importance to automotive suppliers, and thus ultimately improving the relationships between suppliers and vehicle makers. We believe that issues of mutual benefit must be achieved, and that it is important to support such collaborative efforts by being a part of the industry trade associations wherever the Aisin Group has operations. We are also pleased to be the 300th member of OESA; this is a significant achievement for the association and an honor for AWA," he concluded.

The Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA) provides a strategic forum for the automotive industry's original equipment suppliers. Membership encompasses suppliers of components, modules, systems, materials, and equipment used by the original equipment automotive industry.

Formed in August of 1998, OESA provides a forum for automotive suppliers by addressing issues of common concern through peer group councils; serving as a reliable source of information and analysis; and providing an industry voice, when appropriate, on issues of interest.

With 300 members having global automotive sales exceeding $280 billion, OESA represents over 60% of North America's automotive supplier sales.

OESA is a market segment association of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA).