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Delphi Launches New Compact Delco Freedom Battery

11 November 1997

Delphi Launches New Compact Delco Freedom Battery

    PIRACICABA, Brazil, Nov. 11 -- Delphi Energy & Engine
Management Systems announced today that it will produce a new compact Delco
Freedom battery for the Brazilian market.  The battery, designed for popular
cars of the region, will be 15 percent smaller, 20 percent lighter and priced
about 10 percent lower than passenger vehicle batteries currently available in
the Brazilian aftermarket.  The new battery was presented to the public
Tuesday at AutomecAutoparts Industry International Exhibition.  Automec runs
from Nov. 11 through Nov. 15 at the Pavilhao de Exposicao of Parque Anhembi,
in Sao Paulo.
    The compact battery, which is 7 inches in width, height, and length, will
be available in 12 volt, 32, 36 and 40 amperage hour versions.
    "This announcement is key for Delphi," said Daniel Roberts, director of
Delphi Energy's Sales, Marketing and Ventures Planning organization in Brazil,
"as we recognize that the current vehicle market accounts for 65 percent of
industry's sales."
    It is anticipated that by the end of the year, the  1.0-liter engine car
fleet could reach 3 million units -- and perhaps as many as 8 million units by
2002.  Delphi's new compact battery offers other potential applications for
markets if used, at no loss of output, in more powerful vehicles.
    The battery, which will be built in the Delphi's Piracicaba industrial
park, will meet automotive industry requirements.  It offers customers an
alternative power source in a smaller package.  The new, compact model, which
is part of the Delco Freedom battery family, offers the same high quality and
durability as the first Delco Freedom battery sold in Brazil in 1991.  Delco
Freedom is a sealed battery concept which requires no maintenance -- doing
away with water addition.
    The Delco Freedom brand currently captures about 25 percent of the annual
8-million-unit Brazilian automotive battery market.  The Freedom line of
products, now complete with the announcement of the new compact model, can be
used in passenger vehicles, utilities, trucks, buses, tractors, forklift
trucks and farm machines.

    MORE THAN JUST BATTERIES

    Delphi Energy & Engine will have an extensive display of aftermarket
products at Automec including a full line of fuel filters for electronic fuel
injection equipped vehicles.  The filters offer technical differentials which
maximize performance compared to other components currently in the
marketplace.  Manufactured of stainless steel, the filters are laser welded
and have superior filtering capacity.
    Another feature of the filter is that they are more resistant to high
pressures and provide greater performance and durability, therefore, they can
be used in gasoline- or alcohol-powered vehicles.  The filter line is
currently available on vehicles sold by original equipment manufacturers and
will now be available through aftermarket suppliers.
    Delphi Energy & Engine also produces a complete line of fuel pumps, fuel
injectors, sensors, catalytic converters, generators, air filters, oil
filters, and spark plugs for aftermarket suppliers.  These components offer
vehicle manufacturers and aftermarket customers with enhanced electronic fuel
injection systems.
    Delphi Energy & Engine Management Systems, a division of Delphi Automotive
Systems, a North American company, is the largest and most diverse components
and automotive systems supplier in the world.  The company's annual revenues
exceed US$ 27 billion.  Delphi Automotive Systems has operations in 35
countries, with 198 manufacturing plants and 17 technical centers, and employs
some 172,000 persons.
    Delphi can be found on the Internet at http://www.delphiauto.com.

SOURCE  Delphi Energy & Engine Management Systems