Frank Mueller Named President of Behr America

TROY, Mich., Nov. 1, 2004 -- Frank Mueller has been named president of Behr America, a leading supplier of automotive air-conditioning and engine- cooling systems.

Mueller had been the company's chief financial officer and played a key role in Behr's recent acquisition of DaimlerChrysler's Dayton Thermal Products facility and Behr America's expansion into the North American passenger car market.

"Frank Mueller will provide strong leadership for our North American organization and assure that our customers continue to receive the excellent service that we're committed to providing," said Markus Flik, chairman of Behr America and chief executive officer of the Behr Group. "He has played a key role in the rapid growth of Behr America."

A senior consultant and project manager with Roland Berger Strategy Consultants in Germany, Mueller joined the Behr Group, Behr America's parent company, in 1996 as manager of strategic planning. He was promoted to director of corporate finance for Behr America prior to becoming the subsidiary's vice president and CFO in 1999.

Mueller holds graduate degrees in economics from Reutlingen College in Germany and Middlesex University in London.

He succeeds Hans-Joachim Lange, who recently announced plans to leave the company.

"For more than a decade, Hans-Joachim Lange has been an integral part of our management team and his leadership was key to Behr's growth in the North American market," Markus Flik notes. "We at Behr wish Hans Lange the best in his future endeavors and thank him for his most valuable contributions."

Headquartered in Troy, Mich., Behr America has nearly 3,000 employees at facilities in Troy and Webberville, Mich.; Dayton, Ohio; Charleston, S.C., and Fort Worth, Texas.

Behr GmbH & Co. KG, Stuttgart, is a systems partner for the international automobile industry. A specialist for automotive air conditioning and engine cooling systems, the Behr Group is one of the world's leading manufacturers and suppliers of original equipment for passenger and commercial vehicles. Group sales in the 2003 business year came to around $3.6 billion. Currently Behr employs approximately 16,900 staff at 30 development and production sites in Europe, North and South America, South Africa and Asia. Additional information is available on the Internet at http://www.behrgroup.com/ .