Tecstar Earns GM 1999 Supplier of the Year Award; Enhancements and Upgrades to GM SUVs From Starcraft's Tecstar Venture Recognized for Superior Quality and Retail Appeal

24 May 2000

Tecstar Earns GM 1999 Supplier of the Year Award; Enhancements and Upgrades to GM SUVs From Starcraft's Tecstar Venture Recognized for Superior Quality and Retail Appeal

    GOSHEN, Ind.--May 24, 2000--Tecstar, jointly owned by Starcraft Corporation of Goshen, Indiana, and Wheel To Wheel, Inc., of Troy, Michigan, has been named a 1999 Supplier of the Year by General Motors Corp., for its design, engineering and assembly work upfitting GM Tahoes, and S10 pickup trucks with enhanced interiors and exterior styling upgrades.
    GM presented Tecstar with the international award during a ceremony at the PrinzRegenten Theatre in Munich, Germany. The award is given annually to GM's best global suppliers in recognition of their superior performance during the previous calendar year.
    "Tecstar is one of our best and brightest suppliers," said Harold R. Kutner, Group Vice President, GM Worldwide Purchasing and North American Production Control & Logistics. "It is an honor to have them working with us. Their contributions to General Motors' overall success are immeasurable. We look upon the Supplier of the Year award as an important recognition of their value as an automotive industry supplier."
    With its award, GM is recognizing the work done by Tecstar in Arlington, Texas and Shreveport, Louisiana, where Tecstar operates QS9000 facilities adjacent to General Motors Truck plants, installing upfit packages for popular "Limited" and "Z71" Tahoes, and "Xtreme" S10 pickup trucks. Features like body cladding, custom wheels, interior enhancements, and unique graphics are added by Tecstar to production line vehicles before they are delivered to dealers throughout the GM sales network.
    Tecstar was formed in 1998 when Starcraft Corporation, a major producer of luxury conversion vans, shuttle buses, and wheelchair-accessible vehicles, partnered with Wheel To Wheel, Inc., a Detroit engineering company, in an effort to diversify its business opportunities. Since that time, Tecstar has earned production contracts from General Motors estimated over $200 million, including a contract to provide upfit packages for the MY2001 Chevrolet Blazer at a new facility in New Jersey.
    "It is a distinct honor to be recognized with the Supplier of the Year Award from General Motors," said Kelly L. Rose, Chairman of the Board of Starcraft Corporation and Tecstar. "We consider it a confirmation of our commitment to excellence, both in technology and personnel, and look forward to building our relationship with General Motors through similar ventures in the future."
    GM's Supplier of the Year award began in 1992. A global team of GM executives from purchasing, engineering, manufacturing and logistics selects award winners based on supplier's quality, service, technology and price performance during 1999. This year, GM honored 181 suppliers from 22 countries with its highest recognition. Less than one percent of GM's total supply base (30,000-plus suppliers) was recognized, GM officials said.
    More information on Starcraft Corporation and Tecstar is available by calling Michael Schoeffler, at 219-533-1105 x 257, or visiting www.starcraftcorp.com on the world wide web.