Delphi Earns $40 Million Seat Belt Contract With GM

6 March 2000
Delphi Earns $40 Million Seat Belt Contract With GM

    DETROIT, Mich., March 6 Delphi Automotive Systems
will supply seat belts to General Motors for a future full-size
van program, company officials announced here at Society of Automotive
Engineers 2000 World Congress.  The 5-year contract is worth more than $8
million annually and is the second contract obtained under Delphi's teaming
agreement with Japanese seat belt manufacturer Ashimori Industry, Ltd.
    "Winning this contract is a big step toward becoming a provider of
comprehensive vehicle occupant protection systems," said Lon Offenbacher,
product line director, occupant protection systems, Delphi Automotive Systems.
"Earlier this year we announced that Delphi had officially reentered the seat
belt business.  Now we have secured a major contract that establishes Delphi
as a credible player in the automotive seat belt market."
    Offenbacher explained that the seat belts will incorporate the latest
Ashimori retractor technology with load-limiting capabilities, a feature that
enhances the level of occupants' safety.  Load-limiters allow for the seat
belt to ease slightly, helping to reduce torso injuries in the event of an
accident.
    Delphi plans to manufacture the seat belts at its award-winning RIMIR
facility in Matamoros, Mexico.  Technical support for the program will come
from Delphi's safety system technical centers in Korea and Vandalia, Ohio, as
well as Ashimori's laboratories in Japan and Delphi's Mexico Technical Center.
    Ashimori Industry Co., Ltd., based in Osaka, Japan was established in
November 1878, and restructured as a public company in December 1935.  The
company celebrated its 120th anniversary last year.  Ashimori is a
manufacturer of airbags, seat belts, fire hoses, and industrial textile
products, including industrial timing belts and rope, and has a unique
technology of pipeline relining systems.  Ashimori's 1998 sales exceeded
US$240 million.  The company has five consolidated subsidiaries, four in Japan
and one in the United Kingdom.
    Delphi Automotive Systems, headquartered in Troy, Mich., USA, is a world
leader in transportation and mobile electronics components and systems
technology.  Delphi's three business sectors -- Dynamics & Propulsion; Safety,
Thermal & Electrical Architecture; and Electronics & Mobile Communication --
provide comprehensive product solutions to complex customer needs.  Delphi has
approximately 213,500 employees, and operates 175 wholly owned manufacturing
sites, 41 joint ventures, 53 customer centers and sales offices and 27
technical centers in 38 countries.  Regional headquarters are located in
Paris, Tokyo and Sao Paulo, Brazil.  Delphi can be found on the Internet at
http://www.delphiauto.com