Intier Automotive Closures Group Expands in Japan

NEWMARKET, Ontario, June 12 -- Intier Automotive Inc. today announced its Closures group has expanded operations within the Asia-Pacific region by opening a Japan Customer Service Center in Tokyo. Citing the ongoing strength of the Asia-Pacific market and the desire to grow in the region, Intier has opened the center with a concentration on engineering, sales and distribution support.

Joining the Intier Automotive Closures team and heading up this operation is Hidetaka Shimizu in the position of representative director. Mr. Shimizu, who brings significant depth of experience in closures and mechanisms, will lead the growth strategy as well as target product opportunities with key Japanese customers.

"The Asia-Pacific basin is a key business priority for us and the establishment of this Customer Service Center will enable us to service our customers with engineering, program management and ultimately manufacturing services," states John Farrell, president of the Closures group. "This is an exciting time for us as we focus on the opportunity to strengthen our relationships in the Asia-Pacific basin and extend our global reach with a critical customer base. Ultimately it will position us to realize strong growth in this region."

"We have enjoyed strong business growth with Japanese-based customers in North America, but these same customers demand a global engineering response as they source global platforms and modules," states Dale Karolak, Closures' vice president, Product Engineering. "We see the Japan Customer Service Center as a direct response to specific customer demands."

Intier Automotive is an innovative leader in the development and manufacture of vehicle interior and closure components and systems for the global automotive industry. The Company's capabilities are among the most diversified in the industry, ranging from the understanding of end consumers' needs and wants, through market and consumer research, concept development, design and engineering, testing and validation and finally the manufacture of interior and closure systems. Intier is also a leader in vehicle interior integration and program management. Product expertise includes cockpit modules, modular doors and panels, complete seat systems and liftgates and electro-mechanical systems. Intier has approximately 22,500 employees at 65 manufacturing facilities, 17 product development, engineering and testing centers and 13 sales offices throughout North America, Europe, Brazil and Asia Pacific.