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Lear Corporation Receives Ford Motor Company Corporate Citizen Award

21 July 1997

Lear Corporation Receives Ford Motor Company Corporate Citizen Award - Leads Tier One Suppliers in Minority Sourcing Buys

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 21 /PRNewswire -- Lear Corporation led
all automotive Tier 1 original equipment suppliers (OEM's) in 1996 procurement
dollars spent with minority sources, according to figures obtained from the
Michigan Minority Business Development Council.  The Southfield based leader
in automotive interior trim systems spent $76.3 million with minority sources,
33% more than the next Tier 1 on the Council's list.  For 1997, Lear is
forecasting minority sourcing buys to exceed $100 million, an increase of more
than 40% over 1996.
    Lear's leadership in minority sourcing was recognized when the Ford Motor
Company selected Lear Corporation as the first recipient of its Corporate
Citizenship Award in 1996, presented at an inaugural Minority Supplier
Recognition Dinner held at Ford's World Headquarters.  The Award was created
by Ford to recognize one Ford Tier 1 supplier that has established a
successful minority supplier development program of its own.  Carlos Mazzorin,
Ford Purchasing Vice President, in making the award presentation stated, "Lear
Corporation is dedicated to strong partnerships that will strengthen the
nation's minority supply base."  He added, "Lear is making outstanding
contributions to Ford and its customers, to the minority supply base as a
whole, and to its own community."
    Kenneth L. Way, Chairman and CEO of Lear Corporation, commenting on the
Ford award said,  "We are extremely pleased to be selected the first recipient
of Ford Motor Company's Corporate Citizenship Award.  Lear Corporation has had
an aggressive minority supplier development program in place since the late
1980's.  We are determined to continue to be the industry leader in minority
sourcing buys.  We need top quality at the best possible prices in our
purchasing to remain competitive and give our customers the best possible
value."  He added, "Lear Corporation buys from the best sources it can find to
meet its customer requirements.  The minority suppliers we deal with meet
or exceed those requirements."
    A Fortune 250 Company, Lear Corporation is one of the world's largest
automotive suppliers, with 1996 sales of over $6.2 billion.  The Company's
world-class products are manufactured by more than 45,000 employees in over
140 facilities located in 22 countries.
    Information about Lear and its products is available on the Internet at
 http://www.lear.com.

SOURCE  Lear Corporation