Amerigon Climate Control Seat System(TM) (CCS(TM)) Selected as Option for Nissan Cima Luxury Sedan for Japanese Market

Cima Is First Vehicle Manufactured by Nissan Motor Co. to Offer CCS in Japan

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 14 -- Amerigon Incorporated today announced that its proprietary Climate Control Seat(TM) (CCS(TM)) has been selected as an option for the new Nissan Cima luxury sedan sold in Japan. The Cima shares the same features as the Infiniti Q45, which is sold in the U.S., and is the third vehicle manufactured by the Nissan Motor Co. to offer CCS, the only system on the market that allows the driver and passengers to heat and cool their seats individually for comfort in any weather condition at any time of the year.

Norio Matsumura, Executive Vice President of Nissan commented, "We are always looking for innovative and reliable features that add to the driving experience for buyers of Nissan vehicles and we believe the Climate Control Seat fits those qualifications. We already know from our experience with Infiniti that CCS is a valuable asset and we are certain that car buyers in Japan will appreciate this addition to the package of luxury amenities available for the Cima."

Amerigon is in its fourth year of producing and selling CCS and has shipped more than 700,000 seat systems to-date. With the addition of the Nissan Cima, there are now a total of 14 vehicles and five automotive companies that offer the CCS system. The other Nissan vehicles that offer the CCS are the Infiniti Q45 and M45 models, which are sold in the U.S. market.

Amerigon President and Chief Executive Officer Daniel R. Coker commented, "The Japanese market is one of the most important automobile markets in the world and we are very pleased to build our presence there, especially with a prominent market leader such as Nissan. Japanese automobile manufacturers, like others around the world, recognize that luxury interior features such as CCS add significant value to their products, particularly to the discriminating buyers who purchase top-of-the-line sedans like the Cima. This addition of another Nissan vehicle underscores Nissan's commitment to the value-enhancing qualities of CCS and is a strong testament to the positive relationship we have established between our two companies."

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 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 into the structure of each seat, cooling or heating each seat and its occupant to individually preferred levels of all seasons' comfort.

About Amerigon

Amerigon designs, develops and markets its proprietary Climate Control Seat(TM) (CCS(TM)) products for sale to automotive and truck original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). CCS 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 more efficient thermoelectric devices and products for automotive and other market applications. Amerigon maintains sales and technical support centers in Los Angeles, Detroit, Japan, Germany and England.