Amerigon's Heated/Cooled Seat System to be Standard Feature in Cadillac's 2004 Escalade ESV Full-Sized SUV

First Vehicle to Offer CCS(TM) System on Front and Middle Row Seats

DEARBORN, Mich., April 17 -- Amerigon Incorporated announced today that its proprietary heated/cooled seat system will be a standard feature in the 2004 Cadillac Escalade ESV full-sized sports utility vehicle (SUV) expected in showrooms in the Fall. The Escalade is the first application of Amerigon's Climate Control Seat(TM) (CCS(TM)) system for use in the front and middle row seats and is the third Cadillac vehicle to offer CCS.

CCS is the only option on the market that allows the driver and front seat passenger to heat and cool their seats individually for comfort in any weather condition at any time of the year. Four major automotive manufacturers have chosen CCS for use in a range of select vehicles, including full- and mid- sized luxury sedans, full- and mid-sized sports utility vehicles, a luxury roadster, a luxury utility vehicle and a minivan.

"The expanded acceptance of CCS by Cadillac is very encouraging and should bode well for CCS in the future," said Amerigon President and Chief Executive Officer Daniel R. Coker. "Cadillac recognizes the value enhancing benefits of CCS by incorporating CCS as a standard feature in the Escalade ESV on both the front and middle row seats and demonstrates its commitment to delivering to customers the topmost elegance and high performance standards the brand is known for."

About the Climate Control Seat (CCS)

The proprietary CCS system, which is integrated into a vehicle seat, is the first system of its kind. It significantly enhances individual driver and passenger comfort in virtually all climatic conditions by providing cooling and heating to seat occupants, as desired, using a proprietary, solid-state heat pump combined with an active, microprocessor-controlled temperature management system.

Ambient air is drawn into the system from the cabin of the vehicle and, based on seat occupant inputs from individual seat controls, as well as inputs from temperature sensors built into CCS, the system's advanced design heat pump heats or cools the air. The heat pump, which uses no CFCs or other environmentally-sensitive coolants, is built around a highly efficient, solid- state Thermoelectric Device (TED) that rapidly converts electric current into the desired thermal effect (hot or cold). The "conditioned" air is circulated through the seat surfaces by a specially designed, DC fan mounted in the structure of each seat, cooling or heating each seat and its occupant to individually preferred levels of all seasons' comfort.

About Amerigon

Amerigon develops and markets its proprietary Climate Control Seat (TM) (CCS(TM)) products for automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). This product significantly enhances individual driver and passenger comfort in virtually all climatic conditions by providing cooling and heating to seat occupants, as desired, through an active thermoelectric-based temperature management system. Amerigon is engaged in developing other proprietary thermoelectric-based heating and cooling products for automotive and other market applications. Amerigon maintains sales and technical support centers in Los Angeles, Detroit, Japan and Germany.

Certain matters discussed in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may be different. Important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from its expectations in this release are risks that sales may not significantly increase, that necessary additional financing may be unavailable, and that adverse conditions in the automotive industry may adversely affect its results. The liquidity and trading price of its common stock may be negatively affected by these and other factors. Please also refer to the Amerigon's Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including but not limited to its Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2002, and its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002.

For further information please contact investors, Jill Bertotti, jill@allencaron.com , or media, Len Hall, len@allencaron.com , both of Allen & Caron Inc, +1-949-474-4300, for Amerigon Incorporated.