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General Motors Selects Textron Automotive As Winner of 1999 Supplier of the Year Award

25 May 2000

General Motors Selects Textron Automotive As Winner of 1999 Supplier of the Year Award

        'Best of the best' Among 30,000 Automotive Suppliers Worldwide

    TROY, Mich., May 22 Textron Automotive Company (TAC) -
Trim Division has been selected as one of General Motors' Supplier of the Year
Award winners for the second consecutive year.  Aside from Delphi Automotive
Systems, TAC-Trim is the largest independent supplier of instrument panels to
General Motors Corporation North America including such vehicle lines as the
Pontiac Grand Am, Montana, Sunfire; Chevrolet Corvette, Monte Carlo, Impala,
Venture; Cadillac Eldorado, Seville, Deville; and Oldsmobile Intrigue,
Silhouette.
    "There is no greater reward than having a customer like General Motors
recognize our efforts on their behalf," said William F. Maclean, President of
Textron Automotive Trim.  "The Supplier of the Year Award has become one of
the industry's benchmarks for performance.  It reinforces our proven ability
to innovate, integrate and deliver products that demonstrate our culture of
craftsmanship."
    The 181 companies receiving the 1999 award were selected by GM officials
from an automotive supplier pool of more than 30,000 companies worldwide.  The
1999 award winners represent 29 countries.  Suppliers recognized for this
outstanding achievement were evaluated based on their performance in the areas
of quality, service, technology and price during the 1999 calendar year.
    In acknowledging this award for the second consecutive year, Sam Licavoli,
Chairman, President and CEO of Textron Automotive Company said, "Great
performance like this requires a combination of planning and perseverance.  We
couldn't have achieved this distinction without the Trim Team's dedication to
continuous improvement.  It's strong evidence that the Textron Quality
Management System provides benefits to our customers and to us."
    The GM Supplier of the Year awards are a long-standing tradition at GM.
Established over twenty years ago in Germany, they were expanded to all of
Europe in 1989 and became an international award in 1992.
    With over $2.9 billion in annual revenues and manufacturing locations in
15 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 $11.6 billion, global, multi-industry
company with market-leading businesses in Aircraft, Automotive, Industrial and
Finance.  Textron has a workforce of over 68,000 employees and major
manufacturing facilities in 30 countries.  Textron is among Fortune magazine's
"Global Most Admired Companies."  Additional information is available at
http://www.textron.com