HomeLink Integrated Garage Door Opener for the New Volkswagen Golf

BURSCHEID, Germany, February 23 --

- No More Searching for That Handheld Remote - Even in Medium Segment Cars

Who wouldn't prefer to drive straight into the garage without getting wet when it's pouring rain outside, or to be able to turn on the path lighting to the house from the comfort of their vehicle when it's dark? For a long time this luxury was confined to drivers of vehicles in the upper segments, but more recently the option of having a second-generation integrated garage door opener permanently built into your automotive interior has become a reality in the new Volkswagen Golf. This advanced edition of HomeLink is compatible with almost all garage door-opening mechanisms, including systems that work on the interference-free 868 Mhz frequency. HomeLink is engineered and produced by Johnson Controls, one of the world's leading suppliers of automotive interior systems, electronics and batteries.

In luxury vehicles like the Maybach and Mercedes-Benz CL 600 or the Rolls-Royce Phantom and Chrysler Crossfire, an integrated garage door opener is already one of the standard features. Automakers like Audi, Bentley, BMW, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, Opel, Porsche and Volkswagen already offer the system fitted by Johnson Controls as an optional extra in numerous models. Now HomeLink is also available as an optional extra in the new Volkswagen Golf.

The great advantage of this system is that the remote control is permanently integrated into the vehicle. Depending on the interior design, it is fitted into the rearview mirror, the sun visor - as in the Volkswagen Golf - or in the overhead console. No more hunting around for the remote control or worrying about the danger of your handheld transmitter being stolen. HomeLink also eliminates the need to keep changing the battery of the handheld control since the power supply runs through the on-board electronics.

This innovative product earns additional bonus points for being easy to program and simple to operate. HomeLink can learn the frequency of almost any remote operated handheld transmitter, allowing you to control up to three different functions, like your property gate and garage doors, or your lighting and alarm systems - all at the touch of a button and from the comfort of your vehicle. What's more, HomeLink is the first universal receiver that can store the frequencies of handsets made by different remote control unit manufacturers in one single system.

"According to our consumer research, over 90 percent of all users would order the product again for their next vehicle," said Rainer Schulze, Director Product Business Management at Johnson Controls. HomeLink is gaining popularity among car drivers as a desirable convenience product, which is why its integration into further vehicle models is already planned for cars like the Volkswagen Passat from March 2005.