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Johnson Controls Launches New Vehicle Door Panel Plant in Warren, Michigan

1 June 2000

Johnson Controls Launches New Vehicle Door Panel Plant in Warren, Michigan 
Automotive interior supplier launches
Newest interiors facility at former tank plant site

    WARREN, Mich., June 1 Johnson Controls today
officially opened its newest interiors facility, a 265,000-square-foot
facility, located on the grounds of the former Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant in
Warren, Michigan. The facility will manufacture door trim panels for several
DaimlerChrysler Corporation cars and trucks.
    Becker Group L.L.C., a key supplier to Johnson Controls, will occupy a
70,000-square-foot area of the facility where employees will manufacture
injection-molded plastic door trim panels for the company. The parts will flow
directly to Johnson Controls employees for final assembly and sequencing for
delivery to DaimlerChrysler plants in Michigan and Ohio.
    "This facility represents a major innovation in strategic partnering for
manufacturing for Johnson Controls and the auto industry overall," said Rande
Somma, president of North America for Johnson Controls. "The plant, with team
members from two companies, operates seamlessly as a single team -- providing
great benefits in cost, timing, delivery and quality."
    More than 100 people currently are employed at the new, "just-in-time"
manufacturing facility. The Warren site's workforce is comprised of Johnson
Controls and Becker Group employees. At full production later this summer, the
plant's workforce is expected to reach 335 people.
    In addition to pioneering unique approaches in supply chain partnerships,
the plant "breaks new ground" in other areas as well. It is the first
automotive supplier facility located on the grounds of the Detroit Arsenal
Tank Plant, which shut down in 1996. The property is designated as one of the
state's 11 Renaissance Zones -- tax-free districts designed to encourage
business development in distressed urban and rural areas.
    "We're pleased to contribute to the health of Michigan's economy, and to
the revitalization of Warren," said Somma.
    Johnson Controls was presented with an award this year from Michigan
Governor John Engler for its $35 million investment in the new Warren
facility. The investment represents the largest investment made by a single
company in a Michigan Renaissance Zone.
    The Johnson Controls Warren facility is located at 7500 Tank Avenue, off
Van Dyke between 11 and 12 Mile Roads.
    Last month, Johnson Controls closed its Auburn Hills, Michigan door-panel
plant -- which had been producing door panels for model-year 2000 Jeep(R)
Cherokee vehicles. This manufacturing program has been shifted to the new
Warren facility. John Chase, plant manager for the Auburn Hills site, and the
facility's 80 employees, were relocated to the new site in Warren. Finished
products are supplied to DaimlerChrysler's Jeep(R) Assembly Plant in Toledo,
Ohio.
    Later this month, Johnson Controls will begin producing door panels for
several other DaimlerChrysler vehicle programs.
    Johnson Controls and Becker Group have had a long-term business
relationship. In 1998, Johnson Controls purchased operations of the Becker
Group in the United States and Europe. Last year, Charles Becker -- original
owner of the Becker Group -- bought several of the acquired facilities back,
including eight injection-molding plants, a stake in minority supplier
Engineered Plastic Products of Ypsilanti, Michigan and a tooling facility in
Sterling Heights, Michigan.
    Sterling Heights, Michigan-based Becker Group L.L.C. is a tier-two
supplier of plastic molded trim and substrates to the automotive industry.
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 23 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, (U.S.A.). Its sales
for 1999 totaled US$16.1 billion.

    NOTE TO EDITORS:  For access to other Johnson Controls news releases and
additional company information, visit the company's site on the World Wide Web
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.