Donnelly Corporation Five-Time Winner at GM

22 May 2000
Donnelly Corporation Five-Time Winner at GM
    HOLLAND, Mich., May 22 Donnelly Corporation
has been named a General Motors Supplier of the Year for 1999, the company
announced today, making it one of only 20 suppliers, from a field of 30,000
companies, to earn the award five consecutive years.
    "Our goal at Donnelly is to satisfy customers with products so innovative,
performance so superior and features so compelling, that we will always be
their first choice," said Dwane Baumgardner, Donnelly chairman and CEO.
"While achieving this level of customer satisfaction involves a never-ending
effort, winning an award as distinctive as the GM Supplier of the Year for
five consecutive years is a good sign that we are on the right track.  It is
great recognition for the work our employees have already done and added
motivation to continue to do our best in the years to come."
    "It is an honor to have Donnelly working with us," said Harold R. Kutner,
group vice president, Worldwide Purchasing and North American Production
Control & Logistics.  "Their contributions to General Motors' overall success
are immeasurable."
    One way Donnelly is working to keep its name on the list of top suppliers
is by stepping up GM's challenge to bring to the automaker a steady stream of
new technology.
    According to Baumgardner, Donnelly has been relentless in its work to
bring new ideas and technological energy to the industry.  Some of Donnelly's
innovations and accomplishments at GM include:
    *  Developing and producing a trunk release handle system
    *  Inventing and developing the SmartRelease automatic trunk release
system, which activates automatically when its sensors detect heat and motion
in the trunk
    *  Launching six key inside and outside mirror programs, in a mix of
electrochromic and prismatic mirrors, for several new GM vehicles scheduled to
debut over the next 12 months

    GM presented the awards Saturday, May 20, during ceremonies in Munich,
Germany.  Winners were selected by a global team of executives from GM
purchasing, engineering, manufacturing and logistics who based their decision
on supplier performance in Quality, Service, Technology and Price.  From a
list of 30,000 suppliers, GM honored 181 companies from 22 countries for their
excellence throughout 1999.
    Through its various product lines, Donnelly is a technology-driven,
customer-focused supplier to every major automotive manufacturer in the world.
The company has been based in Holland, Michigan, since 1905 and today has
approximately 6,100 employees in 12 countries worldwide.  Donnelly has been
named by the Society of Automotive Engineers as a model company in lean
manufacturing practices.  In addition, Donnelly is nationally recognized as a
leader in the application of participative management principles and systems.
More information on Donnelly is available at the company's site on the World
Wide Web, at http://www.donnelly.com