AFCO Plans to Invest Additional $20 Million in Anderson, S.C. Facility; South Carolina Company to Produce Next-Generation DENSO Fuel Pump

ANDERSON, S.C., Aug. 18, 2004 -- Associated Fuel Pump Systems Corporation (AFCO) plans to invest an additional $20 Million in its Anderson, S.C. manufacturing plant.

This investment will bring production of DENSO's newly designed, Grand Half (GH) automotive fuel pump to the United States. Launched in 2003 in Japan, the GH fuel pump achieves a 40 percent reduction in size and a 25 percent reduction in power consumption over conventional automotive fuel pumps. With this investment, AFCO will introduce new manufacturing lines into its plant and start manufacturing this fuel pump in August 2005.

"AFCO plans to produce about 5 million pumps in 2004," said Wolfgang Simon, president of AFCO. "We expect the new fuel pump will further expand our business in the United States."

Established in November 1989, Automotive Fuel Pump Systems is a multinational joint venture between Robert Bosch GmbH of Germany and DENSO International America, Inc. In 1989, Bosch and DENSO entered into an agreement to act as equal partners in a joint venture to produce a high pressure, turbine-type electric pump. AFCO made its first shipment on June 21, 1991, with a total of 85 associates.

"Today, AFCO employs over 350 associates and has a good reputation with such car manufacturers as Toyota, Honda, Ford and Chrysler for supplying a top quality product at a competitive price with excellent delivery performance," Simon said.

Headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, Robert Bosch GmbH designs and produces precision automotive components and systems sold to vehicle and powertrain manufacturers worldwide. These products include gasoline and diesel fuel injection systems, airbag components, ABS and foundation brake systems, as well as electrical equipment and electronic systems. Bosch employs more than 143,000 associates in the automotive industry worldwide and generated more than $26 billion in automotive technology sales in 2003.

DENSO Corporation, headquartered in Kariya, Aichi prefecture, Japan, is the third largest supplier of advanced automotive technology, systems and components in the world. Its customers include all the world's major carmakers. Worldwide, the company employs 95,000 people in 31 countries. Consolidated sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2004 totaled US$24.2 billion. DENSO common stock is traded on the Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya stock exchanges. For more information, go to http://www.globaldenso.com/ . In the Americas, DENSO employs 14,000 associates at 32 locations with consolidated sales for the above fiscal year totaling US$5.3 billion. DENSO International America serves as DENSO's North American headquarters. For more information, see http://www.densocorp-na.com/ .

  Company Profile
  *  Company Name:  Associated Fuel Pump Systems Corporation
  *  Establishment Date:  November 1, 1989
  *  Location:  Scott's Bridge Road, Anderson, S.C., U.S.A.
  *  Initial Investment:  $40 million
  *  Ownership:  50 percent by DENSO International America, Inc.
                 50 percent by Robert Bosch GmbH
  *  President:  Wolfgang Simon
  *  Product lines:  Fuel pumps & Modules
  *  Site area:  29 acres
  *  Building area:  165,600 square feet
  *  Employees:  362

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/608160.html