Siemens VDO Automotive/Goodyear Tire IQ Systems Debuts on Ford Shelby GR-1 Concept

DETROIT--Jan. 1, 20051, 2005--Siemens VDO Automotive and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.'s jointly developed Tire IQ(TM) tire information system helped Ford Motor Co.'s Shelby GR-1 turn heads during the automaker's press reveal on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2004 at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) held at Cobo Center in Detroit. The two companies, who have been working together on advanced tire pressure monitoring and information system solutions since 2001, equipped the high-performance concept coupe with their most advanced version of the Tire IQ system.

"We believe the Ford Shelby GR-1 has the most advanced tire monitoring system developed to date," said Siemens VDO Automotive Body Chassis Electronics Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Helmut Matschi. "This innovative solution allows the driver to easily monitor tire temperature and pressure through an intuitive, color display helping to enable a greater level of vehicle performance monitoring."

The Ford Shelby GR-1 system consists of the jointly developed Tire IQ passive sensor tag and miniature antenna molded inside each Goodyear tire. This permanently embedded-sensor approach allows tire-specific data to be stored and used to adapt the vehicle's suspension and chassis systems. A corresponding transceiver is mounted in each wheel well of the vehicle, which sends an energy signal powering and operating the corresponding battery-less sensor tag. The sensor-transceiver combination also enables bi-directional communication, so wear and use information can be stored in the tire itself. Siemens VDO Automotive has provided the electronic control unit (ECU) and innovative software that processes temperature and pressure data, as well as the graphic user interface that displays the status of all four tires on the Ford Shelby GR-1.

"For the past 100 years, a vehicle's performance was based solely on the mechanical properties of tires," said Joe Gingo, Goodyear's Chief Technical Officer. "By extending the vehicle electronics to the tire with a system such as Tire IQ, we can now add an advanced level of performance monitoring and control."

In addition to displaying temperature and pressure information, sensors placed on the car body measure "g-force" to quantify cornering and braking performance. While the Ford Shelby GR-1 at the North American International Auto Show features a fully functioning prototype Tire IQ system, production timing for the first original equipment application of this technology on new vehicle platforms is slated for 2008.

The Tire IQ system will be designed to fulfill the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Tread Act requirement for tire pressure monitoring. Tire pressure monitoring systems will be required on all vehicles made in North America beginning with the 2006 model year.

Additional information on the Ford Shelby GR-1 high-performance concept coupe can be found at www.media.ford.com. Further details and artwork on Tire IQ can be found at Siemens VDO Automotive's on-line Media Center at www.usa.siemensvdo.com or at Goodyear's virtual News Room at www.goodyear.com.

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 2003/2004 totaled $11.6 billion (EUR 9.0 billion). For more information: www.usa.siemensvdo.com.

Siemens AG is one of the largest global electronics and engineering companies with reported worldwide sales of $91.3 billion in fiscal 2004. Founded more than 150 years ago, the company is a leader in the areas of Automation and Control, Information and Communications, Lighting, Medical, Power and Transportation.

With its U.S. corporate headquarters in New York City, Siemens in the USA has sales of $16.6 billion and employs 70,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Eleven of Siemens' worldwide businesses are based in the United States. With its global headquarters in Munich, Siemens AG and its subsidiaries employ 430,000 people in 192 countries. For more information on Siemens in the United States: www.usa.siemens.com.

Further information about Goodyear products can be found at www.goodyear.com. Goodyear is the world's largest tire company. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, the company manufactures tires, engineered rubber products and chemicals in more than 80 facilities in 28 countries. It has marketing operations in almost every country around the world. Goodyear employs about 85,000 people worldwide.