New Detroit-Area Fuel Testing ab Centralizes Siemens VDO's North American Fuel Testing Operations

AUBURN HILLS, Mich.--Oct. 1, 20043, 2004--Siemens VDO Automotive's Powertrain Fuel Supply Systems (FS) division held a ribbon cutting ceremony today to dedicate its new 5,000 square-foot fuel validation test center in Auburn Hills, Mich. Among the invited guests were representatives from state and local government and civic offices, as well as customers, who also attended a Fuel Systems Technical Symposium held in conjunction with the event.

"Siemens VDO Automotive has invested $2 million to transform our Auburn Hills, Mich. machining and tooling shop into a state-of-the-art facility that significantly improves 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. It also allows Siemens VDO Automotive to conduct prototyping and testing at the same location, with access to the company's Powertrain business unit's on-site garage facilities for test vehicle preparation.

The FS division continues to succeed and grow in the North American market as more product development activities are transferred from Germany to the United States to support customer projects and initiatives. The fuel validation test center becomes the latest addition to the division's extension of facilities in Troy, Mich., which includes application and design engineering and business development offices.

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 (EUR 8.375 billion). For more information: www.usa.siemensvdo.com.