Hella Electronics Unit Receives Ford World Excellence Award

PLYMOUTH, Mich., June 5 -- Hella Electronics' Flora, Ill., plant was one of 32 automotive supplier facilities that recently received Ford Motor Company's silver World Excellence Award for exemplary performance during 2005.

The Hella plant, which produces vacuum motor assemblies for Ford, excelled in areas of product quality, cost and deliveries.

Held at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich., the eighth annual World Excellence Awards drew more than 150 of Ford's largest production and non- production suppliers from 17 countries.

"Our World Excellence Award-winning suppliers are integral in our ability to address the needs of our customers today and tomorrow," said Thomas K. Brown, Ford senior vice president of global purchasing. "We are grateful for their ceaseless concentration on delivering value."

The keynote speaker, Ford Group Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Richard Parry-Jones, added that the automaker and its suppliers share a vision and strive for many of the same goals.

"You come from all over the world, speak many different languages and represent many different cultures," Parry-Jones said. "But you share this in common -- you are all a most valued part of the extended Ford family."

Steve Widdett, Hella's executive vice president of sales and marketing, accepted the award on behalf of the company.

"We are proud that our Flora plant received one of Ford's silver awards," added Steve Hubble, president of Hella Electronics Corporation. "The fine efforts of Flora's workforce are representative of the winning team spirit of all Hella employees and our desire to provide our customers with the best possible products and services."

Hella, a global supplier, develops and manufactures components and systems for lighting and electronics for the automotive industry. In addition, joint venture companies produce complete vehicle modules, air-conditioning systems and vehicle-electric systems. Hella is one of the world's largest companies selling automotive parts and accessories, with its own sales companies and partners in more than 100 countries. Annual consolidated sales for the Hella Group total $3.8 billion.

Hella is one of the 100 largest industrial companies in Germany. A total of 24,000 people are employed in 65 production facilities, production subsidiaries and joint venture companies. More than 2,900 Hella engineers and technicians work in research and development across the Group. Customers include all leading automakers and system manufacturers, as well as the automotive aftermarket.

Additional information is available at http://www.hella.com/ .