Three Top North American Companies Receive the Invest in France Automotive Award in Detroit

CHICAGO--April 5, 2006--Three top North American automotive companies were honored last night by the French government at the tenth annual Invest in France Automotive Awards ceremony held at the Detroit Institute of Arts during the 2006 SAE World Congress.

The three companies honored this year were BorgWarner Inc., Cooper-Standard Automotive Inc., and Mark IV Automotive Inc. The Invest in France Automotive Awards are presented annually by the Invest in France Agency to recognize leading North American automotive companies that have made a significant investment in new or expanded facilities in France.

The French government presents these awards because of the importance of the automotive industry in France. With 19 auto manufacturing plants producing over 3.6 million vehicles annually, the country is Europe's second largest automotive manufacturing center. France is also home to nearly 600 tier-one and more than 3,000 tier-two suppliers. And, like Detroit, Paris is the leading automotive purchasing center for the continent, with its purchasing decisions affecting nearly 14 percent of global vehicle production.

Each of the three companies received a highly prized, limited-edition crystal automobile designed and cast by the world-renowned glasswork manufacturer Compagnie Francaise du Cristal Daum. Founded in 1887 by master craftsman Jean Daum and his descendants, Daum Crystal represents the glassmaker's highest achievement in the world of decorative arts.

Presenting the crystal awards to executives representing the three awardees were Laurent Trupin, CEO of the Invest in France Agency; The Honorable Richard Barbeyron, Consul General of France in Chicago; and Michel Viger, President of the Invest in France Agency North America.

Receiving the awards on behalf of their companies were Tim Manganello, CEO, BorgWarner Inc.; Jim McElya, CEO, Cooper-Standard Automotive Inc.; and Bill Montague, CEO, Mark IV Automotive Inc.

BorgWarner was recognized for its most recent investment in a new 160,000-square- foot facility located in Eyrein, a town in the French region of Limousin. The new facility will be a key step in meeting increasing demand for BorgWarner DualTronic(TM) transmission technology in Europe as well as additional new business in transmission controls systems. Areas of operation will include application engineering, testing and manufacturing capabilities for these systems. BorgWarner currently manufactures solenoids and transmission control modules at a plant in Tulle, and plans to move that operation's employees and production to the new facility when it is completed in the summer of 2006. BorgWarner first arrived in France in 1996 with its first European acquisition in Tulle. Since then, it has expanded its presence in France with additional facilities in Chazelles-sur-Lyon (Rhone-Alpes), La Ferte-Mace (Normandy), and the Paris area.

Cooper-Standard Automotive Inc. received an award for the recent $6 million expansion of its plant in Vitre (Brittany) to accommodate the introduction of a new product line. The facility currently employs 720 people, and produces sealing systems and windows, particularly for the new Peugeot 407 model. Cooper-Standard Automotive specializes in the manufacturing and marketing of systems and components for the global automotive industry, and also has facilites in Argenteuil (Ile-de-France), Creutzwald (Lorraine), Lillebonne, and Bolbec (both in Normandy).

Mark IV Automotive, of Mark IV Industries Inc., was recognized for the recent $8 million expansion of its facility in Fraize (Lorraine). The factory specializes in motor air admission systems and has experienced such overwhelming business growth - its revenues tripled over three years - they were spurred to follow up their recent expansion in 2003 with further expansion. The recent investment includes the addition of 150 employees (doubling their workforce) and adding greater production capacity. Mark IV Automotive also has operations in Orbey (Alsace) and Chateauroux (Center).

Sponsors:

The 2005 Invest in France Automotive Awards ceremony was sponsored by Ward's AutoWorld, the automotive OEM industry's preferred magazine, which puts news, trends and technology into perspective for today's automotive professional; RSM International (RSMi), the sixth largest professional service accounting and consulting organization in the world, operating in over 70 countries and bringing together the talents of over 20,000 individuals in over 600 offices; and Butzel Long, a leading law firm with over 215 lawyers and offices throughout Michigan and in strategic locations in Florida and China.

Previous Recipients:

Including this year's three corporate recipients, the Invest in France Automotive Award has been bestowed on a total of thirty-six leading North American corporations. Previous winners are:

2005:    GM Powertrain, Magna International, and Spartech Corporation

2004:    AxleTech International, Cignet LLC, and Johnson Control, Inc.

2003:    Advanced Accessory Systems LLC, Burgess-Norton Mfg Co., Dow
         Automotive, L&L Products, Inc., Visteon Corporation

2002:    ArvinMeritor, Lear Corporation, Altair Engineering

2001:    Delphi Energy & Chassis Systems, Harman International, Moll
         Industries, The Timken Co.

2000:    Visteon, Act Laboratories, Honeywell Turbocharging Systems

1999:    Dana Corporation, Oxford Automotive

1998:    ITT Automotive, Standard Products, Tenneco Automotive

1997:    Eaton Corporation, Ogura Corporation, Rockwell 
         International, TRW

1996:    BorgWarner, Donnelly Corp., Ford Motor Co., Gates Rubber, 
         Delphi Thermal Systems

About the Invest in France Agency (IFA) The Invest in France Agency is the French government agency for international investment. Invest in France Agency North America provides US, Canadian and Mexican executives with customized, confidential, complimentary services including financial and fiscal incentives, key industry contacts and site selection studies. Its mission is to help North American companies find the most profitable and competitive solution in France for their business in Europe.