Climate Controlled Seating Now Available for the Medium Vehicle Segment

BURSCHEID, Germany, September 12 --

- Johnson Controls Expands its Portfolio of Climatic Seats

Johnson Controls, one of the world's leading suppliers of automotive interior systems, electronics and batteries, has developed a new, comfortable climate control solution for seats. After offering a wide range of active ventilation systems for the upper segment, as well as passive climate systems, the company has now extended its portfolio to include a prototype for active seat ventilation in the medium vehicle segment. This patent pending technology could be available as early as model year 2007.

Ideal climate conditions in the vehicle interior do more than improve comfort. They also reduce the stress of driving, therefore increasing driver alertness and contributing to road safety. Both the vehicle's air-conditioning system and the climate-controlled seats which were previously exclusive to the upper vehicle segment offer these benefits. Johnson Controls wants to close the gap by introducing actively ventilated seats for vehicles in the medium segments.

High-performance climate control built into basic system The basic system, which is equipped with only one fan, offers climate control performance comparable to the best systems already available on the market. Despite its simplicity, this new solution is also quieter and more economical than previous ventilation systems.

A fan is built into the central lateral section of the backrest to achieve these results. This positioning is right in the catchment zone for the central outlet jets of the air-conditioning system, thus ensuring high efficiency. Air channels integrated into the seatbacks and the seat cushion transmit the cool air along predetermined routes into the interior of the seat.

A fleece with predefined perforations covers these channels and controls the distribution of air. Additional wide-meshed spacers on the fleece ensure horizontal air distribution before the cool air passes through the perforated leather.

Modular structure allows for variations

The seat ventilation system has a modular structure that enables it to be fitted with additional fans to suit automakers' needs. The seat surface and the backrest can be ventilated separately with air flows of different strengths, while temperatures can also be pre-set.

In developing its new seat ventilation system, Johnson Controls was able to apply several core competencies from various areas of the company in engineering a new product. This includes the all-round expertise it has acquired over the years in seat comfort, the use of new materials, air-conditioning solutions and electronics integration. For Yaniv Oren, Director Product and Business Development Seating at Johnson Controls, this combination also provides a basis for many potential innovations in the future: "Our new seat ventilation system is a further example of how our specialists from various divisions work together as a team to implement solutions of significant benefit to our customers."

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Johnson Controls, Inc., is a global market leader in automotive systems and facility management and control. In the automotive market, it is a major supplier of integrated seating and interior systems, and batteries. For non-residential facilities, Johnson Controls provides control systems and services including comfort, energy and security management.

Johnson Controls (New York Stock Exchange: JCI), founded in 1885, has its headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. The company's sales for 2004 totalled US$25.4 billion, the Automotive Group worldwide generating US$20 billion of this figure. The European headquarters is in Burscheid, Germany. The company's product portfolio also includes instrument panels/cockpits, door systems, overhead systems, interior electronics and electrical energy management.

Johnson Controls, GmbHAutomotive Group, Industriestr. 20-30 51399 Burscheid, Germany, Astrid Schafmeister, Tel.: +49-2174-65-3189, Fax: +49-2174-65-3219, E-mail: astrid.schafmeister@jci.com; Ina Longwitz Tel.: +49-2174-65-4343 Fax: +49-2174-65-3219 E-mail: ina.longwitz@jci.com