---

Donnelly Welcomes Simon Abbott as New Marketing Director for Outside Mirrors

20 June 2000

Donnelly Welcomes Simon Abbott as New Marketing Director for Outside Mirrors

    HOLLAND, Mich., June 20 Simon Abbott has joined Donnelly
Corporation as marketing director for outside mirrors, the company
announced today.  Abbott, 39, comes to Donnelly with more than 17 years of
experience in the automotive industry.

    In this newly created position, Abbott will be responsible for developing
and implementing marketing strategies to expand Donnelly's business in outside
mirrors and handle systems worldwide.  He will report to Mark Stidham, general
manager of the outside mirrors/handles business unit and vice president of
engineering.

    "I am excited we have added someone with Simon's knowledge and enthusiasm
to our team," Stidham said.  "Simon has extensive automotive mirror-specific
experience and has proven his good business sense by being able to
successfully work in a number of cultures.  Those skills will play an
increasingly important role as Donnelly continues to grow as a global
automotive supplier."

    Before joining Donnelly, Abbott worked as the director and general manager
of the engine controls division and vice president of engineering, quality,
sales and marketing for Dura Automotive Systems (formerly Adwest Automotive).
Prior to Dura, Abbott was the vice president of engineering and market
development for Britax International plc, in New Delhi, India.  Over the
course of his career, he has held positions in North America, Europe, Asia and
Australia.

    Abbott joins Donnelly during a time of record growth in its outside mirror
and handle systems product lines.  Donnelly has seen its market share in
outside mirrors grow significantly over the past five years.

    The company now offers technologically advanced added features such as
electrochromic dimming, turn signal indicators, ground illumination lighting
and body-colored housings.

    Donnelly has also experienced tremendous growth in its sale of automotive
handle systems.  Since entering that market, Donnelly has become one of the
largest suppliers of door handles worldwide, and supplies some of the most
innovative handle solutions on the market, including manual trunk release
handles and the SmartRelease(TM) trunk release system.

    A native of England, Abbott has a mechanical engineering degree from the
East Ham College of Technology in London, England, and a business degree from
the Clements School of Management in Adelaide, South Australia.

    Donnelly is a technology-driven, customer-focused automotive supplier that
has been based in Holland, Michigan, since 1905.  Through its various product
lines, Donnelly serves every major automotive manufacturer in the world.  The
company 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.