Siemens VDO Automotive Expands Detroit-Area Testing Facility

New Lab Centralizes North American Fuel Testing Operations

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Jan. 28 -- Siemens VDO Automotive's Powertrain Fuel Supply Systems (FS) division today announced a $2 million investment to transform the supplier's former machining and tooling shop in Auburn Hills, Mich. into a 5,000 square-foot fuel validation test center. The project is scheduled for completion by May 2004.

"This capital investment will significantly improve on our local ability to develop products, such as fuel pump modules, that meet the unique and specific North American customer and regulatory performance requirements," said Siemens VDO Automotive North American Fuel Supply System division leader Hugo Ritzenthaler.

The new Auburn Hills fuel validation laboratory brings product testing and validation closer to local development engineers and Detroit-based customers. In addition, prototyping and testing will be done at the same location, with access to the company's Powertrain business unit's on-site garage facilities for test vehicle preparation. Earlier in 2003, the machine and tooling shop was incorporated into the location's vehicle testing and validation center for improved access to prototyping and fabrication services.

The new laboratory will house a variety of highly specialized testing equipment compatible with various fuels and will have strictly regulated safety systems. From fuel level sensor performance to hot fuel durability, the lab will enable a wide range of testing to be done at a single location.

The FS division continues to succeed and grow in the North American market as more product development activities are being transferred from Germany to the United States to support customer projects and initiatives. The lab will be the newest addition to the division's extension of facilities, which also has application and design engineering and business development offices in Troy, Mich.

The Siemens VDO Automotive's Fuel Supply Systems division was originally established in North America in 1997 and has grown to become a global resource for North American fuel supply systems solutions. Its fuel management synergies and expertise provides customers with a variety of benefits and innovations, such as modular supply units, fuel level sensors and demand- regulated fuel pumps. Currently, the division is a market leader for fuel delivery modules with a 25 percent global market share.

Siemens VDO Automotive is a tier-one supplier of automotive electronic/electrical systems and components with applications covering gasoline and diesel powertrain technologies, safety and chassis systems, body electronics, plus interior products including infotainment systems. Worldwide sales reflecting fiscal year 2002/2003 totaled $9.5 billion (euro 8.4 billion). For more information: www.usa.siemensvdo.com .

Siemens AG , headquartered in Munich, is a leading global electronics and engineering company. Siemens and its subsidiaries employ 417,000 people in 192 countries and reported worldwide sales of $80.3 billion in fiscal 2003 (10/1/02 - 9/30/03).

The United States is Siemens' largest single market in the world, with 11 of Siemens' worldwide businesses headquartered here and annual sales of $16.6 billion in fiscal 2003. The Siemens companies in the U.S. employ approximately 65,000 people in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Corporate headquarters for Siemens' U.S. businesses are located in New York City. For more information: www.usa.siemens.com .