VW Cockpit Beams to Bring Further Growth to Alcan

GOTTMADINGEN, Germany, Nov. 22, 2004 -- Alcan announced today that it will supply cockpit carrier modules for Volkswagen's Golf Plus and Seat Altea models. The VW contract for both current and future model cockpit carriers will be fulfilled at Alcan's dedicated automotive structure plant in Gottmadingen.

"The new instrument panel cross member is further proof of Alcan's innovative development in both product design and manufacturing," said Urs Fischer, president of Alcan Automotive Structures. "This multifunctional platform is the optimal solution for several Volkswagen Group vehicles," he added.

The new instrument panel support grew out of development of the module carrier for Volkswagen's PQ24 platform (VW Polo, Seat Ibiza, and Skoda Fabia). Further innovations of the new MPV 359 project for the Golf Plus and Seat Altea include higher stiffness and enhanced resonance frequency, along with weight savings that come by deploying different wall thicknesses on the driver and front-seat passenger sides.

The new contract for the Golf Plus and Seat Altea modules required the construction of a new welding facility at Alcan Automotive's Gottmadingen site. This new business is the latest of a number of new product launches at Gottmadingen. In addition to serving as a center for crash management expertise, the plant produces cockpit module carriers in a number of highly automated processes.

The plant celebrated the production of its 2.5 millionth module carrier for the PQ24 platform at the end of 2003. Previously, the plant employed two highly automated and inter-linked systems for the production of module carriers for both left- and right-hand drive models for the Skoda Fabia, Seat Ibiza and VW Polo brands.

Since opening in 1999, Alcan's Gottmadingen site has enjoyed rapid expansion. In 2003, Alcan produced more than two million bumper systems, six million side-impact beams, and more than one million instrument panel supports. Customers served from Gottmadingen include Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Jaguar, Opel and PSA.

Alcan is a multinational, market-driven company and a global leader in aluminum and packaging, as well as aluminum recycling. With world-class operations in primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum as well as flexible and specialty packaging, aerospace applications, bauxite mining and alumina processing, today's Alcan is well positioned to meet and exceed its customers' needs for innovative solutions and service. Alcan employs 88,000 people and has operating facilities in 58 countries and regions. Further information is available at http://www.alcanautomotive.com/ .