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Textron Gains Major Recognition With VW Group's Corporate Supplier Award

11 January 2000

Textron Automotive Gains Major Recognition With VW Group's Corporate Supplier Award

    TROY, Mich., Jan. 11 -- Kautex Textron, Bonn, Germany, a
division of Textron Automotive Company Inc., has recently been named one of
Volkswagen (VW) Group's top worldwide suppliers for its 1998 standout
performance, as it captured the automaker's "The Leading Edge 1998" Award for
the fifth year in a row.  A select group of 63 companies among Volkswagen
Group's 10,000 suppliers were recognized in this awards program, which
annually honors suppliers for excellent performance, outstanding quality,
innovation, flexibility, service and competitiveness.
    "We're honored to sustain our 'Corporate Supplier Award' status with
Volkswagen Group," said Sam Licavoli chairman, president and CEO of Textron
Automotive Company.  "This award is a clear indicator of our elite position as
a global supplier with Volkswagen and we're extremely proud of the
achievements of Kautex Textron in performance, quality, service and
innovation.  Kautex Textron has unequivocally proven to be one of the premier
automotive suppliers in the world."
    Kautex Textron supplies the VW Group with fuel systems and blow-molded
functional components in ten countries worldwide.
    With over $2.9 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 in North America, Europe and
Asia.
    Textron Inc. is an $11.5 billion, global, multi-industry
company with market-leading businesses in Aircraft, Automotive, Industrial and
Finance.  Textron has a workforce of over 65,000 employees and major
manufacturing facilities in 27 countries.  Textron is among Fortune magazine's
"Global Most Admired Companies."  Additional information is available at
http://www.textron.com