Delphi Electric Power Steering Now Featured On Seven Production Vehicles

TROY, Mich., Jan. 5, 2004 -- Delphi Corp.'s Electric Power Steering (EPS) business continues to grow with seven production programs, including the new Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx. Delphi has extensive design and production experience with nearly 2.5 million units in production since 1999. Delphi's EPS system is currently available on five European models, including the European Car of the Year, the Fiat Panda. Delphi has also secured new EPS contracts during 2003 valued at more than $1 billion over the life of the contracts.

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Delphi EPS system's unique combination of a compact, modular design with flexible tuning capability enables Delphi to reduce the number of variations required for various models within a given platform. Therefore, using a single, common EPS component set, very specific vehicle or brand characteristics can be achieved via rapid laptop tuning.

"The flexibility of tuning our electric power steering systems provides a unique and cost effective opportunity to help distinguish steering feel as it relates to brand character," said Robert J. Remenar, president, Delphi Steering. "Within minutes our engineers can tune the system on a laptop computer for a different feel. The result is specific brand differentiation through steering feel for vehicles equipped with Delphi EPS."

The system offers consumers value on many levels including helping to increase fuel economy by up to 4%, increased safety with power assist even with the engine off, and overall improved steering performance with variable effort assist for easier parking and comfortable, taut, highway driving.

Delphi EPS uses an electronic control module that analyzes data -- at a rate of 500 times per second -- from the vehicle's electronic speed sensor and other sensors measuring torque and steering wheel position on the steering shaft. Using intricate control algorithms, the control module decides the direction and amount of steering assist required.

Once the control module determines the level of assistance needed, it sends a command to the variable speed, brushless motor. The motor then drives a gear mechanism to provide the necessary steering assist.

The active system continuously adapts giving the driver the optimal steering assist at all times and in all conditions. At low speeds it provides more steering assistance for easy turning and parking while at high speeds the assistance is lessened for tight steering responsiveness.

Some of the advanced features of Delphi EPS help enhance the returnability characteristics of the vehicle with its assisted return-to-center feature. In a traditional steering system, when the steering wheel is turned and then released, the driver typically must help it back to center. EPS uses motorized assistance to automatically bring the steering wheel back to center. This feature helps give the driver greater vehicle control. Assisted return- to-center also allows the suspension designer more latitude in setting parameters -- no longer does the designer have to make suspension trade-offs to achieve the necessary returnability characteristics.

Another advanced feature available is active damping. Delphi EPS uses control algorithms (mathematical formulas) to eliminate possible overshoot, going beyond center, when the steering wheel returns to center. Active damping helps give the driver greater vehicle control by returning to center more quickly and dependably.

"State-of-the-art electronics, including sensor and controller technologies, have dramatically improved our ability to enhance the performance of our steering systems," said Remenar. "The expertise we have gained from engineering and manufacturing EPS will allow Delphi to aggressively move forward in the development of future advanced steering and electronics-based, integrated chassis systems."

For more information or for a picture of Delphi's EPS, visit Delphi's Media Room at www.delphi.com/media .

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