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Delphi and Ashimori Announce Joint Venture To Expand Seat Belt Business

20 September 2000

Delphi and Ashimori Announce Joint Venture To Expand Seat Belt Business

    TROY, Mich., Sept. 20 Delphi Automotive Systems
and Ashimori Industry Co., Ltd. (Osaka Stock Exchange: 1st Section
3526) have formed a joint venture agreement to pursue seat belt business in
the United States and other global seat belt markets.  In the joint venture,
majority owner Delphi holds 51 percent, Ashimori holds 49 percent.
    Under the terms of the agreement, the new joint venture, named Delphi
Automotive Systems - Ashimori LLC, will focus on new and existing
opportunities in the North American, South American and European seat belt
systems markets.
    "We are delighted with our association with Ashimori," said James A.
Bertrand, vice president of Delphi Automotive Systems and president of Delphi
Interior Systems, the division responsible for management of the joint
venture.  "Ashimori's seat belt technology coupled with our airbags and
electronic capabilities makes Delphi a full-systems supplier, enabling us to
better serve our customers worldwide."
    "I am honored that my company has progressed into a joint venture with a
global automotive occupant protection systems supplier such as Delphi," said
Shigeo Ashimori, chairman of Ashimori Industry Co., Ltd.  "I have every
expectation that the joint venture will be a successful player in this
increasingly competitive market."
    Seat belts to be sold by the joint venture will be manufactured under
contract with the joint venture at Delphi's award-winning RIMIR facility,
located in Matamoros, Mexico.  Technical support for programs will come from
Delphi's safety system technical centers in Korea; Mexico; and Vandalia, Ohio,
as well as from Ashimori's engineering center in Japan.