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UT Automotive, Farmer Group Form Minority Joint Venture

19 March 1999

UT Automotive, Farmer Group Form Minority Joint Venture

    DETROIT, March 18 -- UT Automotive and the Farmer Group today
announced they have established a minority joint-venture company, North
American Interiors, to manufacture and assemble interior trim components.
    UT Automotive President Scott Greer made the announcement at the Michigan
Minority Business Development Council's 13th Annual Buyer/Supplier Luncheon at
the Detroit Marriott.  Greer said UT Automotive welcomed the opportunity to
partner with a proven minority company such as the Farmer Group.
    "We look forward to providing our customers world-class interior trim
components through North American Interiors," Greer said.  "It is a real
advantage for a small company to partner with a company the size of UT
Automotive because we can provide technical and global assistance, a supplier
development organization and a sharing infrastructure, as well as access to
talent, expertise and technologies that they may not be able to obtain
otherwise.
    "This joint venture also demonstrates our commitment to promoting minority
businesses.  Our values for partnering include dedicating resources,
mentoring, training and assessment programs.  Our goal is to support our
minority partners so they can compete in quality, cost and delivery, as well
as provide our customers with the highest level of satisfaction."
    Farmer Group Chairman and CEO Forest Farmer, who will serve as president
and CEO of North American Interiors, said the joint venture also will add
value to UT Automotive.
    "We have a lot of experience and knowledge of the automotive business,
which will help us be competitive and grow into one of the best suppliers in
the industry," Farmer said.
    Farmer began his career at Chrysler Corp. in 1968.  He served in various
senior level positions with Chrysler, including president of its former
Acustar subsidiary, until his early retirement in 1994, when he established
the Farmer Group.
    The Farmer Group's holdings include:
    *  Trillium Teamologies, a premier provider of technology solutions and
services to auto companies;
    *  Lexington Colloidal Formulations, a distributor of specialty paint shop
non-fit and finish products, coatings and lubricants;
    *  Manufacturing Technologies, a premier provider of material utilization
improvements, plant process improvements and process re-engineering,
manufacturing and tooling engineering and design; and,
    *  KelChem Technologies, a reseller and recycler of plastic products,
resins and compounds.

    UT Automotive is a leading tier-one supplier of electrical distribution
systems, electronic controls, fractional horsepower motors, engine cooling
modules and interior trim systems.
    UT Automotive offers integrated systems, modules, components and a wide
variety of products and services to car and light truck manufacturers around
the world.  Based in Dearborn, Mich., UT Automotive has more than 40,000
employees and 90 manufacturing, engineering, sales and marketing facilities in
19 countries in North America, Europe, Asia, South America and Africa.
    The UT Automotive group of companies is part of Hartford, Conn.-based
United Technologies Corp. , which provides a broad range of
high-technology products and services to the aerospace, building systems and
automotive industries.

    More information about UT Automotive, its people and products is available
on the Internet's World Wide Web at http://www.uta.com.