RECARO-Johnson Controls Joint Venture
4 April 2000
RECARO-Johnson Controls Joint Venture Delivers Specialty Seats for High-Performance Race Car
Recently launched firm targets North American market,
supplies seats for the 2000 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra R
PLYMOUTH, Mich., April 3 RECARO Johnson Controls LLC may
have the "pole position" in the race to market custom and specialty seat
systems for new vehicles in North America. The company has been tapped to
supply RECARO-brand specialty sports seats for one of the fastest cars on the
road -- the 2000 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra R.
The car, a limited-edition racing model, is billed as one of the most
powerful production Mustangs ever made.
Plymouth, Michigan-based RECARO Johnson Controls LLC is a joint venture
between two highly respected organizations in the automotive interiors
industry -- RECARO and Johnson Controls . The joint-venture
company, formed in 1998, has the exclusive right to market and distribute
RECARO seats for new cars, trucks and vans assembled in North America.
Ford will manufacture a total of 300 SVT Mustang Cobra R vehicles this
spring at the automaker's Dearborn (Michigan) Assembly Plant. The cars feature
5.4-liter, 32-valve V8 engines that generate 385 horsepower and 385 foot-
pounds of torque. The automaker's SVT engineering group eliminated the
vehicles' radios, air conditioners and back seats to save weight and boost
performance.
"Being involved in the SVT Mustang Cobra R program represents a major step
forward in developing the market for RECARO-brand seats in North America,"
said Yoji Komori, president of RECARO Johnson Controls LLC.
Production of front bucket seats for the Cobra R model recently was
completed at Johnson Controls' Center of Excellence facility in Ann Arbor,
Michigan.
"We're excited to be one of the key players supporting the Mustang Cobra
R, a model that promises to create a high-performance benchmark," said Michael
Suman, Johnson Controls' group vice president of advanced sales, marketing,
and business development - worldwide. Suman also serves on the board of
directors for RECARO Johnson Controls LLC.
"With the opportunity to produce RECARO seats in North America, we offer
outstanding value to our customers, the automakers," said Suman. "The brand
evokes passion among drivers worldwide, and the products deliver world-class
performance."
RECARO -- the world's largest supplier of specialty seats -- designs and
manufactures custom and orthopedic seating products for cars, trucks and
racing applications. Johnson Controls -- a leading global supplier of
automotive interior systems -- designs and produces a wide range of products,
including seats; instrument panels; overhead systems; floor consoles; storage
devices; acoustics; electronics; and cargo management systems.
Seating products with the RECARO brand name are known worldwide for their
outstanding performance, comfort, appearance and ergonomic design. RECARO
seats have achieved significant visibility and success in the high-performance
vehicle market. Many high-performance cars in Europe feature RECARO seats as
standard equipment.
"We're aiming for great success in North America's performance-car
segment, and the SVT Mustang Cobra R program gives us a strong foundation on
which to build," said Komori. "With Johnson Controls as our partner, we
believe the opportunities are endless."
The 2000 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra R was formally unveiled last November at
the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas.
According to Ford officials, "race-ready" Cobra R vehicles will be available
to prospective buyers through a special lottery coordinated by the automaker.
The "R" in Cobra R stands for "racing."
Ford built a limited number of Mustang Cobra R vehicles in 1993 and 1995
as competition cars.
The Johnson Controls Center of Excellence plant in Ann Arbor is a unique
facility where the company handles small-volume production runs; develops new
manufacturing processes and technologies; and tests production systems and
layouts prior to their implementation at field sites.
RECARO North America, located in Clawson, Michigan, is a unit of German
seat manufacturer RECARO GmbH & Company. With subsidiaries in the United
States, Japan, the United Kingdom and Malaysia, RECARO GmbH & Company, sells
seats in 45 countries and on every continent. The company currently supplies
seats for 25 passenger vehicles and 19 commercial vehicle manufacturers --
providing RECARO seats for more than 50 models. Foreign and domestic sales of
RECARO products were more than US$200 million for 1999. The company is a
trendsetter for comfort, safety and styling in automotive, light truck, heavy
truck and bus interiors.
The Plymouth, Michigan-based automotive business of Johnson Controls --
which employs more than 65,000 people at 275 facilities worldwide -- achieved
US$12.1 billion in sales for the 1999 fiscal year. In model-year 2000, it will
supply interior products for more than 22 million vehicles.
Johnson Controls, Inc. is a global market leader in automotive systems and
facility management and control. In the automotive market, it is a major
supplier of seating and interior systems, and batteries. For non-residential
facilities, Johnson Controls provides building control systems and services,
energy management and integrated facility management. Johnson Controls
, founded in 1885, has headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its
sales for 1999 totaled US$16.1 billion.
NOTE: For additional information about RECARO, visit the company's web
site at http://www.recaro.com .
For access to Johnson Controls news releases and additional company
information, visit the company's web site at http://www.johnsoncontrols.com .
CONTACT: David Roznowski of Johnson Controls, Inc., 734-254-5632.
Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/473547.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 473547.