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Ecia North America Inc. Aims at U.S. Automakers

24 February 1998

Ecia North America Inc. Aims at U.S. Automakers

    French Automotive Systems Supplier to Open Product Development Center
                               In Detroit Area

    DETROIT, Feb. 24 -- French automotive systems manufacturer
Ecia today announced the forming of a U.S. subsidiary based in the Detroit
suburb of Troy, Mich.
    Called Ecia North America Inc., the company will develop and supply
exhaust systems for U.S. vehicle manufacturers including Ford Motor Co. and
General Motors.
    "The decision to enter the U.S. is based on our strategy of partnering as
a Tier 1 automotive systems supplier with major car manufacturers worldwide,"
said Michel Clerc, Ecia vice president for exhaust systems.  "Our philosophy
is to develop products tailored to customer requirements.  This means working
closely with the automakers' project teams in designing components and
systems."
    Clerc added, "Engineering teams at our U.S. product development center
will be dedicated exclusively to American customers."  It will open March 20.
    The new company will be headed by Tahar Mouslim, executive vice president,
sales and business development, Ecia North America Inc.  "What's really
exciting is that coming to the U.S. means Ecia is now a truly global
automotive player," he said.
    Ecia has operations in more than 10 countries, employing 11,000 people in
31 manufacturing facilities and five R&D centers.
    As Europe's leading producer of automotive exhaust systems, Ecia's major
customers include Peugeot Group, Renault, Mercedes, Volkswagen Group and GM
Opel.  The company is also a major supplier in South America with plants in
Argentina (where it has a 50 percent share of the exhaust system market) and
in Brazil; it also has a large presence in Asia.
    Ecia takes a unique approach to exhaust system development.  "Designing
and manufacturing high-quality components is not enough," said Clerc.  "We
focus on integrating and interfacing the exhaust system and the vehicle body.
That is the core competence that we offer customers."
    Currently, Ecia is optimizing emission control systems by working in
partnership with automakers, engine-management experts and coating suppliers.
"The goal is to reduce overall cost of the system," said Clerc.  "Ecia has
been investing as much as 6 percent of net sales in R&D.  The results are
excellent."
    Clerc noted, "We have introduced a number of innovations such as the
bypass catalyst, the lightweight muffler and variable silencer.  Our recent
R&D efforts are especially intensive in emission control products and diesel
engine exhaust systems."
    Recently, Ecia acquired French seat manufacturer Bertrand Faure.  The
result will be a world-class automotive supplier company with 29,000 employees
and more than $4 billion annual sales.
    The expanded company is focused on integrating safety, comfort,
performance and environmental systems.  These include vehicle interior systems
comprised of driver cockpits, seats and interior trim modules; exhaust systems
and components including exhaust manifolds, catalysts and muffler modules; and
front-end systems comprised of bumper, radiator, grille, engine cooling and
lighting modules.
    Based in Levallois-Perret Cedex, France, Ecia is listed on the Paris Stock
Exchange.

    Biography:  Tahar Mouslim is executive vice president, sales & business
development, Ecia North America Inc.  He is a graduate of HEC, a well-known
French business and management university.  Following graduation, he joined
GIAT Industries, developing new business as part of the company's
diversification strategy.  Prior to joining Ecia, Mouslim was a consultant
with A.T. Kearney in Paris.

SOURCE  Ecia North America Inc.