Johnson Controls presents new "Open Seating" concept at North American International Auto Show 2004 in Detroit / More comfort and functionality in vehicle rea

Burscheid, Germany/Detroit, Michigan 8. 1. 2004 (PROTEXT/ots)- This week at the 2004 North American International Auto Showin Detroit, Johnson Controls, one of the world's leadingsuppliers of automotive interior systems and electronics, willbe presenting its new and innovative "Open Seating" concept. The"Open Seating" complete seating system enhances comfort andfunctionality in the second and third rows of cars, trucks andminivans. "Open Seating" offers the comfort and styling ofindustry-leading front-row seats for rear compartments ofvehicles. When stowed away, it has a much smaller footprint,enhancing a vehicle's cargo capacity.

Variable seating concept enhances comfort, cargo space, andutility

This new seating system features side bolsters that providecomfort similar to the front row when the seat is deployed, andfold completely flat when it is stowed. "Open Seating" deploysor stows away with ease in one fluid motion to create a truezero-degree, fold-flat load floor, freeing up maximum cargocapacity. When stowed, the seat is just 135 millimeters thick.The product is available for integration into 2007 model-yearvehicles. One of the keys to the "Open Seating" concept is the"WingBack" contour presentation technology, which enables theseat to provide contour and lateral support when deployed. Thetechnology delivers a seat that is comfortable, thin andoptically appealing. In the past, it has been difficult todeliver a true, fold-flat seat without compromising on comfortand design. "Open Seating" now makes this possible. It providesan improved distribution of back pressure for enhanced comfort,as well as a level of lateral support comparable to front-rowbucket seats. The technology can be applied to all vehiclesegments, and all rows with folding seat backs. It also enablesa vehicle's styling theme and trim outline to be carried fromthe front row to the second- and third-row areas.

New seating concept is versatile and functional

"The 'Open Seating' concept is unique for a folding orstowable seat and a first for the industry," said John Gorton,Vice President and General Manager, Product and BusinessDevelopment for Johnson Controls. "Consumers want moreversatility and functionality from the rear areas of theirvehicle cabins, and this product provides such traits in a veryinnovative way." Consumers no longer need to remove third-rowseats to gain additional cargo capacity. Instead of removing theseats, they can be folded flat. In addition, "Open Seating" isdesigned to be user-friendly, since it can be operated easilyfrom either a vehicle's second-row or tailgate areas. The"WingBack" technology was jointly developed by Johnson Controlsand Schukra/Leggett & Platt, a leading lumbar and seatingcomfort technology firm based in Lakeshore, Ontario, Canada.

Johnson Controls, Inc. is one of the world's leadingsuppliers of automo-tive interior systems and interiorelectronics, as well as in the areas of facility management andcontrol. In the automotive market, the company is a majorsupplier of vehicle seating and interior systems and batteries.For non- residential facilities, Johnson Controls is one of theleading providers of building control components and systems aswell as energy management and facility management services.Johnson Controls (New York Stock Exchange: JCI), founded in1885, has its headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Europeanheadquarters is in Burscheid, Germany. The company's worldwidesales for 2003 totaled US$22.6 billion, the Automotive Groupalone accounting for US$17 billion of this figure. In thecurrent "Industry Week" business magazine rankings, JohnsonControls has been listed as one of the top 100 best-run companiesin the world for the sixth time in succession.

ots Original Text Service: Johnson Controls GmbH Internet:http://www.presseportal.de

Further information is available from: Johnson Controls GmbHAutomotive Group Astrid Schafmeister Industriestr. 20-30 51399Burscheid Germany

Tel.: +49 2174 65-3189 Fax: +49 2174 65-3219 E-mail:astrid.schafmeister@jci.com

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