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Budd to Produce Stampings for BMW Sports Activity Vehicle

18 May 1998

Budd to Produce Stampings for BMW Sports Activity Vehicle

    TROY, Mich., May 18 -- The Budd Company announced today that
it has been selected as the primary supplier of exterior sheet metal body
panels and assemblies for BMW's newly announced sports activity vehicle.
    The vehicle will be produced at BMW Manufacturing Corp.'s Spartanburg,
S.C., vehicle assembly plant with parts supplied by Budd's Shelbyville, Ky.,
stamping and assembly plant near Louisville.
    "This is very exciting news for Budd and our associates at our Shelbyville
Plant," said Siegfried Buschmann, Budd chairman and chief executive officer.
"BMW is recognized worldwide for its high quality vehicles.  As part of
Thyssen Budd Automotive Company, Budd is a global supplier with international
resources, and we are known for our quality, delivery reputation and price
competitiveness.  We are proud of the confidence BMW has shown in Budd and
look forward to our new relationship."
    Budd said it will produce most of the SAV's external sheet metal parts
like doors, hoods, fenders, bodysides, and roofs.  "Just-in-time" delivery for
BMW production is expected by the year 2000.
    Budd said it will rearrange its Shelbyville plant in order to accommodate
BMW's business, as well as other work.  As part of its commitment to BMW, the
tryout area will be enlarged and four additional tryout presses will be added
in the die shop.
    Budd, headquartered in Troy, MI, produces components such as doors,
fenders, roofs, hoods, and decklids in sheet metal as well as in sheet molded
composite (SMC), and gray iron and ductile iron castings for about 100 current
vehicle models.  Budd also makes prototypes, chassis frames and subframes
bumpers and bumper reinforcements, cold weather starting and heating products,
and air bag components for the automotive industry.
    Budd is part of Thyssen Budd Automotive Company, a $3.5 billion supplier
providing body systems, chassis and suspension parts and powertrain components
to the automotive industry worldwide.  Budd operates 27 facilities with about
9,500 employees in North America.  In addition, the company has offices in
Stuttgart, Germany, and Tokyo, Japan.