Behr Earns GM 2003 Supplier of the Year Award

TROY, Mich., May 3, 2004 -- Behr GmbH has received a General Motors Supplier of the Year award for its overall business performance in providing GM with parts and services.

"Behr is representative of the type of company we want to grow with as we drive to be the best worldwide," said Bo Andersson, vice president, GM Worldwide Purchasing Production Control & Logistics. "These companies have a balanced focus on performance and behavior that supports GM's priorities. It is a role model for all of our suppliers."

The award was given during recent ceremonies at the Hilton Prague Hotel in Prague, Czech Republic.

Behr received its award in recognition of cost reduction in the current series, the conceptual design of the HVAC and engine cooling for an upcoming GM vehicle platform, and project planning in connection with the engine cooling module of a new Fiat vehicle program.

"This award from GM only goes to show that our goal to provide customers with the best price/performance ratio leads to more success," said Behr Group CEO Markus Flik. "We have offered our customer the highest quality at competitive prices and provided him with even more during the project and serial production phases with an excellent level of customer support."

The GM Supplier of the Year award began as a worldwide program in 1992. Award-winners are selected by a global team of executives from purchasing, engineering, manufacturing and logistics who base their decisions on supplier performance in quality, service, technology and price. This year, General Motors honored 77 suppliers for their excellence throughout 2003; in the HVAC and engine cooling category, however, Behr was the only supplier to receive this accolade.

With headquarters in Troy, Michigan, Behr America is a leading supplier of engine cooling and air conditioning systems to the automobile industry. The company has 2,700 employees at facilities in Troy and Webberville, Michigan; Dayton, Ohio; Charleston, South Carolina, and Fort Worth, Texas.

Behr America's parent company, Behr GmbH & Co. KG, based in Germany, has been supplying automobile makers for nearly 100 years. Group sales in the 2003 business year came to approximately $3.5 billion. Currently Behr employs over 16,000 people in 30 development and production facilities in Europe, North and South America, South Africa and India.

Additional information is at www.behrgroup.com .