New Specialty Products Group at Johnson Controls Targets Dealer-accessory and Niche-vehicle Markets
30 October 2000
New Specialty Products Group at Johnson Controls Targets Dealer-accessory and Niche-vehicle Markets
Company to unveil latest product offerings
at SEMA's Las Vegas trade show this week
LAS VEGAS, Oct. 30 Johnson Controls has
created a new business unit within its Automotive Systems Group to develop
unique, "surprise and delight" automotive interior accessories for the dealer-
accessory and specialty-vehicle markets.
Called the Specialty Products Group (SPG), the organization will leverage
Johnson Controls' extensive consumer research and expertise in product
development for vehicle interiors. The unit focuses on the design, manufacture
and marketing of automotive interior lifestyle products as accessory options
and integrated into specialty vehicle applications. Industry officials say the
market for integrated automotive interior accessories is growing at a rate of
more than 10 percent annually and could exceed $8 billion by 2007.
"In recent years, Johnson Controls has made a strategic commitment to
design and develop unique, consumer-focused products for automotive
interiors," said Jeff Steiner, general manager for the company's Specialty
Products Group. "This new group is working closely with our product
development organization to accelerate the introduction and market reach of
high-potential products, using automotive-accessory and specialty-vehicle
channels."
Steiner says the new business unit also allows Johnson Controls to
capitalize on the strong desire of consumers to personalize vehicles to their
individual lifestyles. In addition, Johnson Controls' dealer-accessory and
specialty-vehicle products can enable automakers to add vehicle features,
without adding manufacturing complexity at their assembly plants. These
products will be sold through the auto manufacturer's accessory divisions, new
car dealerships and selective specialty retail outlets that focus on specific
niche markets.
This week, Johnson Controls will participate in the 2000 Specialty
Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas (Booth #13832, Silver
Hall 1). The company's exhibit and related events are being coordinated by the
Specialty Products Group. SEMA is a 3,600-member trade group representing the
specialty automotive aftermarket industry.
Johnson Controls will display a specialty vehicle -- the PT Cruiser RECARO
Edition -- and many other innovative offerings at the SEMA event, which runs
from October 31 to November 3. The PT Cruiser RECARO Edition vehicle was
created by Johnson Controls in cooperation with ASC Incorporated. Johnson
Controls also is sponsoring a private show for its customers, which will be
held from October 30 to November 1 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Other accessory products from Johnson Controls to be highlighted at SEMA
include the company's PSI(TM) tire-pressure monitoring system; the
AutoVision(R) vehicle-integrated DVD entertainment system; seat-back utility
packages; CargoMax(TM) storage systems; and additional, consumer-focused
products.
The CargoMax system from Johnson Controls is available now on a number of
2001 models, including the Ford Econoline e-Traveler; Infiniti I30 and Q45;
Nissan Altima and Maxima; and Saab 9.5 and 9.5 wagon. Several other
introductions are planned in the near future.
Another product from the SPG scheduled to be launched within the next year
is a unique, "hands-free" electronic phone device based on Bluetooth(TM)
technology. As an emerging industry standard, Bluetooth technology is
supported by hundreds of companies. It enables many different kinds of digital
devices to exchange data without wires.
The Plymouth, Michigan-based automotive business of Johnson Controls --
which employs more than 65,000 people at 275 facilities worldwide -- achieved
US$12.7 billion in sales for the 2000 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. Its
sales for 1999 totaled US$17.1 billion.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Photos of the Johnson Controls products mentioned in
this news release can be obtained by calling Debbie Lacey of Johnson Controls
at 734-254-5735. 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: Bill Dawson, 734-254-5925, or Debbie Lacey, 734-254-5735, both
of Johnson Controls, Inc.
Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/473547.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 473547.