Grammer Wins Volkswagen Best Supplier Award

TROY, Mich., Dec. 29, 2004 -- Grammer AG - Automotive, a leading supplier of specialty automotive seating systems, has received a 2003 Best Supplier Award from Volkswagen's Truck and Bus Division.

Grammer's Atibaia, Brazil operations produce 100 percent of all Volkswagen bus and truck seats manufactured in Brazil. Four companies out of Volkswagen's more than 350 suppliers were selected for the recognition.

"Grammer's product teams in Brazil and Germany share this honor," says Juergen Huertgen, Grammer's vice president, sales and marketing, Americas. "Together, they worked hard to support Volkswagen's manufacturing operations."

The Atibaia facility also produces fully trimmed head restraints for the Golf A4, Polo and the Audi A3, all built by Volkswagen in Curitiba and Sao Paolo, Brazil.

The 215,000-square-foot Grammer plant in Atibaia has supplied Volkswagen in Brazil since 1989. It is ISO/TS 16949 certified and its 450 employees operate under strict lean principles. Cut and sew, stamping and assembly, banding, welding, painting and foaming operations are supported by a small prototype shop.

Grammer do Brasil LTDA's bus and tractor seating customers in Brazil also include Komatsu, AGCO, Case New Holland, John Deere, DaimlerChrysler, Navistar, Scania, Ford, Marcopolo, Valtra and Agrale.

Grammer AG is a world leader in the development and manufacture of innovative components and systems for automobile interiors. Wherever people use vehicles, Grammer, based in Amberg, Germany, sets the standards for security, comfort and ergonomics. Automotive is the company's largest division and supplies headrests, armrests, center consoles and integrated child booster seats to vehicle manufacturers and their tier 1 systems suppliers. The company's second division, Seating Systems, provides driver seats for heavy trucks and off-road vehicles (tractors, construction machinery, fork-lifts) as well as passenger seats for trains and buses. Grammer Seating Systems is active both as a first-time supplier and as a retrofitter.

As a global player, the Grammer Group operates with a strong customer focus that includes location of development and production facilities close to clients and relies on an international network of partners. In fiscal 2003, Grammer Group sales were $992 million; North American sales totaled $145 million. With over 7,500 employees, Grammer and its 20 consolidated companies operate in 13 different countries worldwide.

Additional information is available on the Internet at http://www.grammer.com/ .