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Textron Automotive Names Simpson President of Kautex Textron North America

16 September 1999

Textron Automotive Names Simpson President of Kautex Textron North America

    TROY, Mich., Sept. 16 -- Textron Automotive Company Inc.
today announced the appointment of Robert K. Simpson as President of Kautex
Textron, North America.  He will report to Jake Hirsch, President and CEO,
Kautex Textron, Bonn, Germany.  As a division of Textron Automotive Company,
Kautex Textron is the world's leading full-service supplier of advanced fuel
systems, plastic fuel tanks and the manufacturer of blow-molded functional
components and other industrial products with 23 locations in 15 countries.
    Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, Mr. Simpson, 39, will be responsible for
all commercial and manufacturing activities within the Kautex, North America
organization, overseeing facilities in Indiana, Ohio, Canada and Mexico.
    Since 1997, Mr. Simpson has been serving as senior vice president of
operations for Textron Automotive Trim where he was responsible for eight
manufacturing activities with that Division.  Prior to that, he held various
senior level manufacturing positions with TRW Vehicle Safety Systems in Mesa,
Arizona, and Walker Manufacturing, Newark, Ohio.
    "Bob's tremendous manufacturing experience will be an invaluable asset to
our team," said Jake Hirsch, president, Kautex Textron.  "He will continue to
grow our advanced fuel systems and blow-molded components business reinforcing
Kautex's position as a preferred fuel systems supplier in North America."
    Mr. Simpson earned his B.S. degree in Manufacturing Engineering from Miami
University, Oxford, Ohio, and his M.S. in Business Administration from Western
International University, Phoenix, Arizona.
    With over $2.7 billion in annual revenues and manufacturing locations in
16 countries, Textron Automotive Company is a leading global supplier of
instrument panels, cockpit modules, exterior and interior trim, plastic fuel
tanks and automotive systems and components.  Globally recognized for
breakthrough proprietary technologies and quality, Textron Automotive Company
has received more than 50 awards for excellence from OEMs in North America,
Europe and Asia.
    Textron Inc. is a $10 billion, global, multi-industry company
with market-leading businesses in Aircraft, Automotive, Industrial and
Finance.  Textron has a workforce of over 64,000 employees and major
manufacturing facilities in 23 countries.  Textron is among Fortune magazine's
"America's Most Admired Companies."  Additional information is available at
http://www.textron.com