Webasto Named 'Best Brand' for Air Conditioning/Heating in Commercial Vehicles

Reader survey of top magazines honors Webasto for fifth consecutive time

FENTON, Mich., Sept. 17 -- For the fifth time in a row the readers of top German magazines have voted Webasto as the best brand for air conditioning and heating systems for commercial vehicles. With 67.3 percent of the votes, Webasto had a clear lead over its competitors in the area of air conditioning/heating.

The Stuttgart-based publishers ETM Verlag carried out the survey on "The Best Brands" for the thirteenth time. About 8,100 readers and decision makers from the commercial vehicle sector - which includes medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses - took part this year and voted for their favorites., Webasto supplies these same solutions across the North America commercial vehicle market, providing in-cab comfort and fuel savings without engine idling. These green technologies are sold and serviced by Webasto Product North America, Inc., (WPNA) through its national distribution partner, WheelTime Network LLC (WheelTime).

"We are very proud to again be voted the best brand in the air conditioning/heating category," said Dr. Joachim Damasky, Member of the Management Board of Webasto AG. "Long distance drivers spend up to 20 hours a day in their vehicles. The fact that they can make their trips comfortably and rested not only means safe delivery for their loads but also they are more alert while driving. With our solutions we ensure that safety is guaranteed both in the heat of the summer and in the cold of winter."

WPNA is the North American subsidiary of the Global Comfort Solutions (GCS) Business Unit of Munich, Germany-based Webasto AG, the world's largest supplier of vehicular parking and auxiliary heating and air-conditioning systems. In 2008 Webasto produced over one million heating systems and has a worldwide market share of nearly 60 percent of these heaters, which are widely fitted to cars, trucks and buses globally. The Webasto Air Top 2000 ST is North America's best-selling air heater for commercial vehicles.

WheelTime promotes, distributes and services Webasto's full line of idle-reducing technologies in the U.S. and part of Canada with the objective of growing idle reduction in the North American transportation market. This includes engine-off heating and cooling systems that can reduce idling while meeting the needs of the vehicle operator. One example is BlueCool Truck, an innovative bunk cooling storage system for sleeper cabs, which won the 2008 Frost and Sullivan Idle Reduction Technology of the Year award. When in use BlueCool Truck does not create any emissions or use any fuel.

About Webasto:

Webasto AG headquartered in Stockdorf near Munich has been a family-run business ever since the company was founded in 1901. It has about 6,500 employees at 50 international locations and is specialized in the Convertible, Roof & Body (CRB) and Global Comfort Solutions (GCS) business segments. With sales of around 1.6 billion euros (2008 business year) Webasto is one of the top 100 automotive suppliers worldwide. The company's core competencies include development and production of convertible, roof and body systems as well as heating, cooling and ventilation systems for passenger cars and commercial vehicles. You will find further information at: www.webasto.com

NOTE TO EDITORS: The following news release is being reissued with a corrected market share figure. Please use this news release to replace that previously issued on September 9.