AMI Semiconductor Joins FlexRay Consortium; Associate Membership Supports Strategic Focus on Mixed-Signal Solutions for Automotive In-Vehicle Networking

POCATELLO, Idaho--Jan. 1, 20044, 2004--AMI Semiconductor , a designer and manufacturer of state-of-the-art integrated mixed-signal products and structured digital products for the automotive, medical and industrial sectors, today announced its associate membership to the FlexRay Consortium(TM) -- a move that will further strengthen the company's support for in-vehicle networking (IVN) applications.

By becoming a member of the Consortium, AMIS has access to the FlexRay technology, with a free-of-charge, royalty-free license for automotive applications. In addition, the company will have access to early industry information and the results of FlexRay developments, along with the FlexRay-related IP of all other FlexRay members.

"Becoming an Associate Member of the FlexRay Consortium supports our objectives to continually strengthen our portfolio of IVN products and will enable us to design custom SoC solutions that are optimized to the requirements of the growing X-by-wire and safety critical applications market," said Herve Branquart, AMI Semiconductor's worldwide marketing manager of integrated mixed-signal products for the automotive market.

Formed in September 2000, the FlexRay Consortium is responsible for driving the adoption of an open standard for high-speed bus systems for X-by-wire and other distributed control vehicle applications. As a manufacturer of IVN ASSPs and advanced, system on chip (SoC) solutions based on mixed-signal technologies for the automotive sector, the applications that the FlexRay standard is enabling are key strategic targets for AMIS.

AMI Semiconductor's transceiver products portfolio, including VAN, CAN (high speed and fault tolerant) and LIN components, has supplied the automotive IVN market for more than a decade. The automotive industry is a key market focus for AMIS, where the company has a share exceeding 25 percent of its 2002 revenue.

About AMI Semiconductor

AMI Semiconductor (AMIS) is a leader in the design and manufacture of silicon solutions for the real world. As a widely recognized innovator in state-of-the-art integrated mixed-signal products, mixed-signal foundry services and structured digital products, AMIS is committed to providing customers with the optimal value, quickest time-to-market semiconductor solutions. Offering unparalleled manufacturing flexibility and dedication to customer service, AMI Semiconductor operates globally with headquarters in Pocatello, Idaho, European corporate offices in Oudenaarde, Belgium, and a network of sales and design centers located in the key markets of the United States, Europe and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, please visit the AMIS Web site at www.amis.com.

About the FlexRay Consortium

The FlexRay Consortium is an organization formed to drive the adoption of an open Standard for high-speed bus systems for distributed control applications in automobiles, such as x-by-wire. Since forming in September 2000, the Consortium has grown to include the automotive industry's largest and most influential players. FlexRay development is being driven by the core member companies, BMW, DaimlerChrysler, General Motors, Motorola, Philips and Robert Bosch GmbH. Various membership levels provide the ability to interact with the FlexRay Consortium working groups, propose ideas, participate in review meetings, and have early access to the specifications, as well as the opportunity to actively participate in the adoption of this global standard. A complete list of member companies and other information is available at the Consortium Web site, http://www.flexray.com.