2011 KIA OPTIMA to Offer Amerigon Heated and Ventilated Seat System as Option

NORTHVILLE, Mich., August 10, 2010: Amerigon Incorporated , a leader in developing and marketing products based on advanced thermoelectric (TE) technologies, announced today that its proprietary heated and ventilated seat system will be offered as an option on the front seats of the all-new 2011 KIA Optima, a mid-size sedan now being sold in showrooms.

The new KIA Optima has been re-designed and re-engineered for 2011 and includes a variety of technology features and interior amenities including the Amerigon heated and ventilated seat system.

"We are pleased that KIA has included our new heated and ventilated seat system for its newly designed and much anticipated Optima," said Amerigon President and Chief Executive Officer Daniel R. Coker. "We believe that underscores the success our two companies have enjoyed working together and the value our technology provides for the KIA vehicles lines. We look forward to continuing to work closely with KIA."

In addition to the all-new 2011 KIA Optima, the 2011 KIA Sportage, the KIA Mohave and the KIA Borrego also offer Amerigon's heated and ventilated seat system. KIA vehicles featuring Amerigon's proprietary Climate Control Seat® (CCS®) system, which delivers active, individually controlled heated or cooled air to seat occupants, include the KIA Opirus full-size sedan.

About the Amerigon Heated and Ventilated Seat System
The Amerigon heated and ventilated seat system combines passive cooling or ventilation with active heating. For cooler environments or more economical vehicle lines, a ventilated seat may be a viable solution, bringing ambient cabin air to the surface instead of the "cooled" air produced by the thermoelectric technology. In the cooling mode, the heater is turned off and the fan provides ambient cabin air to the seat surface. Amerigon's heated and ventilated seat system fits within the same envelope as the active CCS system, so multiple Amerigon applications can be installed within or across various vehicle platforms.

About Amerigon
Amerigon develops products based on its advanced, proprietary, efficient thermoelectric (TE) technologies for a wide range of global markets and heating and cooling applications. The Company's current principal product is its proprietary Climate Control Seat® (CCS®) system, a solid-state, TE-based system that permits drivers and passengers of vehicles to individually and actively control the heating and cooling of their respective seats to ensure maximum year-round comfort. CCS, which is the only system of its type on the market today, uses no CFCs or other environmentally sensitive coolants. Amerigon maintains sales and technical support centers in Southern California, Detroit, Japan, Germany, England and Korea. For more information, visit www.amerigon.com.