Hella Inks Aftermarket Agreement With TI Automotive

ATLANTA, Nov. 3, 2003 -- Hella has signed a multi-million-dollar agreement with TI Automotive to expand its line-up of automotive fuel pumps for the North American aftermarket.

Shown for the first time at the annual SEMA/AAPEX Show, November 4-7 in Las Vegas, Hella's new range of electric fuel pumps is designed for both high- performance and original-equipment replacement applications.

The agreement calls for TI Automotive to supply Hella with pumps for domestic and imported cars and light trucks, according to John Remakis, marketing manager for Hella's North American aftermarket operations. The new line of more than 400 Hella-branded pumps will be produced at TI Automotive facilities in Caro, Michigan.

The program expands Hella's aftermarket range of fuel pumps to include vehicles produced by domestic, Japanese and Korean auto manufacturers. The company currently offers a line of nearly 150 different aftermarket replacement and high-performance pumps designed by German-based Pierburg Inc. for vehicles built by European auto makers.

Remakis noted that Hella had nearly doubled its exhibit space at November's SEMA/AAPEX show, one of the largest automotive specialty equipment and aftermarket shows in the world.

"The decision to increase our presence at SEMA/AAPEX was in part due to the launch of these new products," he said. "Hella has successfully implemented a number of strategic alliances with major auto suppliers around the world such as Behr, Pierburg, Siemens and Stanley, and we believe this new program with TI Automotive will benefit both Hella and TI Automotive."

The Hella executive noted that the company's line-up of aftermarket pumps now produced by both Pierburg and TI Automotive are designed and built to original-equipment quality and engineering specifications.

Earlier this year, TI Automotive purchased electric fuel-pump manufacturing facilities from Kolbenschmidt Pierburg in Neuss, Germany. "The technology acquired from Pierburg combined with TI Automotive's extensive experience in the design and development of OEM fuel-delivery systems will enable us to provide Hella with the world's finest line-up of aftermarket fuel pumps," said Mel Todd, TI Automotive's director of aftermarket operations.

With its North American headquarters for aftermarket sales in suburban Atlanta, Ga., Hella is a leading supplier to the world's automotive, truck, marine, agricultural and construction equipment manufacturers. Lighting, electronics, complete vehicle modules, air conditioning systems, vehicle wiring systems and signal processing for the automobile industry, as well as automotive aftermarket components, are the core fields of competency for automotive supplier Hella KG Hueck & Co.

Sales for the Hella Group are approximately $3.8 billion, placing Hella among Germany's top 100 industrial companies. With its corporate headquarters in Lippstadt, the company employs more than 22,800 people at 61 manufacturing facilities, production subsidiaries and joint-venture companies in 18 countries. More than 1,800 engineers and technicians work in research and development. All of the world's leading automobile and systems manufacturers are Hella customers as well as the automotive components aftermarket. Additional information is available on the Internet at www.hella.com .

TI Automotive is the world's leading supplier of fluid storage, transfer and delivery systems, including brake, fuel and air conditioning applications. Based in Warren, Mich., the company employs more than 21,000 people at more than 130 facilities in 29 countries on six continents. Additional information on the Internet is available at www.tiautomotive.com .