Behr Will Build New Production Facility in State of Coahuila, Mexico

SALTILLO, Mexico, May 15, 2006 -- Saltillo, the state capital of Coahuila, Mexico, has been selected by Behr America as the site for a new $13- million automotive manufacturing plant.

A global supplier of automotive air-conditioning and engine-cooling systems, Behr plans to begin construction on the 130,000-square-foot manufacturing plant within the next two months, according to Frank Mueller, Behr America president and chief executive officer.

The facility is expected to begin operations in early 2007 and initially will provide jobs for approximately 250 hourly and salaried employees. It will supply engine-cooling units to nearby auto assembly plants in Mexico, export some components to the United States and generate annual sales of about $110 million.

"The plant is designed to allow for future expansion in size and product mix if future business conditions warrant," Mueller said. "We look forward to a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship with the state of Coahuila and the city of Saltillo."

The new plant will be built near customer assembly plants in Mexico and will not impact other Behr America plant operations in the NAFTA region, he noted.

Saltillo is Mexico's number one producer of coal and has thriving automotive, steel and textile industries with major manufacturing plants for Cifunsa Co., which produces 1.7 million cast-iron engine blocks per year. John Deere, General Motors and DaimlerChrysler also have production facilities there.

Nicknamed "The City of Flowers and Health," Saltillo has a population of 550,000 and is located 540 miles northwest of Mexico City and about 430 miles from Austin, Texas.

Headquartered in Troy, Mich., Behr America has nearly 3,000 employees at facilities in Troy, Mich.; Dayton, Ohio; Charleston, S.C., and Fort Worth, Texas.

Behr GmbH & Co. KG, Stuttgart, is a systems partner for the international automobile industry. A specialist for automotive air-conditioning and engine- cooling systems, the Behr Group is one of the world's leading manufacturers and suppliers of original equipment for passenger and commercial vehicles. Group sales in the 2005 business year were approximately $3.8 billion. Currently Behr employs more than 18,000 people at 10 development and 30 production sites in Europe, North and South America, Asia and South Africa.