Karmann USA Breaks Ground With DeMattia Group

PLYMOUTH, Mich.--July 8, 2004--Karmann USA held a groundbreaking ceremony on July 6 to mark the start of construction of Karmann Manufacturing LLC's new 144,250 SF facility, which is scheduled to be completed in January 2005. This will bring the Karmann USA campus to more than 180,000 SF on 10 acres, and will generate up to 250 new manufacturing jobs. Worldwide, Karmann employs more than 10,000 people in Germany, Portugal, Brazil, Mexico and the USA.

Karmann USA and Karmann Manufacturing, LLC. are wholly owned subsidiaries of the Wilhelm Karmann GmbH, of Osnabrueck, Germany, a 103 year old German based full service automotive supplier . Karmann USA, founded in Livonia Michigan in 1996, moved to its new Plymouth Technical Center in December 2002. Karmann is well known for its vehicle engineering, tooling, convertible roof systems and niche vehicle production. Karmann's current customer list includes DaimlerChrysler, General Motors, Ford Motor Company (Jaguar), Volkswagen, Audi and Renault. Karmann currently builds the Mercedes CLK Convertible, the Audi A4 Cabriolet and the Chrysler Crossfire coupe and convertible.

Karmann's new manufacturing facility will produce convertible roof systems for various automotive companies including DaimlerChrysler Corporation, General Motors Corporation, and Ford Motor Company. Major areas of the plant will include sub-assembly areas, general assembly areas, warehousing, maintenance, a sequencing center, employee support areas and office space. Much of the production tooling and equipment for the assembly operations will be custom made by Wilhelm Karmann GmbH in Osnabrueck.

Tim Olind, Karmann USA's Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, introduced dignitaries at today's event which included board members from Wilhelm Karmann GmbH including Mr. Wilhelm Dietrich Karmann, Dr. Hans-Joachim Emmelmann and Mr. Wolfgang Hoenen. Mr. Volker Rodeck is the newly appointed Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Karmann Manufacturing, LLC and he will manage the operations at the new facility. He has been with Karmann since 1991 and was most recently the production manager for the Audi 4 convertible manufactured at Karmann's Rheine facility in Germany.

DeMattia Group, one of the Midwest's leading architecture, construction management and real estate development firms, is happy to be providing design/build services once more for Karmann USA. The new Karmann Manufacturing facility is located across the street from Karmann's US headquarters, which DeMattia completed last winter, serving the North American market. Both facilities are located in Plymouth, Michigan near Beck Road and M-14 giving Karmann and their clients easy access to the I-275/I-96 corridor and beyond. For more information on Karmann USA and DeMattia Group, please visit them at www.karmann.com and www.demattia.com.