Mannesmann VDO Commences Major Push in North America
19 February 1998
Mannesmann VDO Commences Major Push in North America
TROY, Mich., Feb. 19 -- Mannesmann VDO has realigned its
several divisions in North America to fully optimize the recently acquired
business of Philips Car Systems and Philips Automotive Electronics. The move
will strengthen VDO's position as a leading supplier of total information and
entertainment systems, and will add to its capabilities and products in fuel
supply, engine management and chassis control applications for the North
American automotive industry. The announcement was made by Dr. Peter
Grafoner, chairman and CEO of Mannesmann VDO AG, and Herb Everss, president
and CEO of Mannesmann VDO North America.
In acquiring Philips Car Systems, Mannesmann VDO supplements its existing
instrumentation systems to offer complete cockpit systems featuring in-car
entertainment, communications and navigation products, as well as
instrumentation.
The acquisition of Philips Automotive Electronics will strengthen
Mannesmann VDO's product offerings for engine management and body and chassis
control by adding actuator, sensor and electronic module component products to
VDO control systems products. This acquisition also will significantly
enhance Mannesmann VDO's development and production capabilities in North
America.
As a result, Mannesmann VDO has restructured its business areas. The
information systems business area has been extended to include a new division
called VDO Car Communication, formerly Philips Car Systems. VDO Car
Communication becomes a part of the VDO North America company, which is led by
Mr. Everss. It also includes the information systems, fuel systems, cockpit
systems and after market activities.
Mannesmann VDO has also created VDO Control Systems, Inc., formerly
Philips Automotive Electronics. VDO Control Systems becomes a unit of the
global Mannesmann VDO Control Systems business area and is led by Ron
Marsiglio, president and CEO. He formerly held this position with Philips
Automotive Electronics.
"Mannesmann VDO's acquisition of the Philips divisions strengthens our
core product base and gives us crucial components, enabling us to develop
entire cockpit systems that include amenities by navigation and
entertainment," said Everss. "And the realignment will allow us to maximize
our new capabilities."
Mannesmann VDO North America employs more that 500 people in state-of-the-
art engineering and manufacturing facilities. An advanced engineering and OEM
sales center, soon to be located in Rochester Hills, Mich., will serve the
research, design and testing needs of major North American automotive OEMs.
Manufacturing is located in Winchester, VA.
VDO Control Systems, Inc. is a global supplier of actuators, sensors and
electronic modules for powertrain and body and chassis applications. It
employs approximately 1,500 people at its operations in Auburn, Indiana,
Cheshire, Connecticut, and Juarez and Matamoros, Mexico. Of these, more than
100 are engineers and technical support personnel engaged in product
development and process improvement. In addition, VDO Control Systems serves
OEM and Tier 1 customers from sales and applications centers in Farmington
Hills, Michigan, Brussels, Belgium and Tokyo, Japan.
VDO North America and VDO Control Systems, Inc. are subsidiaries of the
VDO Group based in Schwalbach, Germany, operating as a division of the
Mannesmann Automotive Group. VDO has more than 30 manufacturing plants
worldwide and annual sales of more that $2.3 billion.
SOURCE Mannesmann VDO