Automotive News PACE Award Program Advances Select Suppliers To Final Evaluation Round

Detroit, CA - Automotive News has advanced 23 supplier companies to the final review stage in the 2008 Automotive News PACE Award program. An additional 14 companies have earned honorable mention status.

The Automotive News PACE Award recognizes innovation, technological advancement and business performance of suppliers that contribute products, processes, information technology, materials or services directly to the manufacture of cars or trucks. The prestigious PACE (Premier Automotive Suppliers' Contribution to Excellence) Award is jointly presented by Microsoft, SAP, Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC Inc.) and Automotive News.

Recognized throughout the industry as the "Academy Award for Automotive Innovation," the Automotive News PACE Award honors suppliers who have embraced innovation or adapted and reinvented themselves to keep above the constantly rising expectations of their OEM customers and automotive consumers. The program sets the standard for innovation and has become a significant industry credential.

In its 14th year, the Automotive News PACE Award program evaluates suppliers in specific categories. The standout companies for 2008 are:

Product Category - Innovations in new products or services or in new product and service development and introduction processes that have significant market impact and act as "game changers" in the automotive industry.

Finalists

• Code Systems, Inc. - Troy, Mich. - GM Advanced 2-Way Remote Start System
• Cummins Inc. - Columbus, Ind. - Cummins 6.7-liter Turbo Diesel
• Delphi Corporation / Sirius Satellite Radio - Kokomo, Indiana - Sirius Backseat TV
• Dow Automotive - Auburn Hills, Mich. - IMPAXX
• Eaton Corporation - Marshall, Mich. - CRUTONITE
• Federal-Mogul Ignition Products - Southfield, Mich. - Federal-Mogul SureFire Ceramic Spark Plug Insulator
• Gentex Corporation - Zeeland, Mich. - Rear Camera Display (RCD) Mirror
• Johnson Controls, Inc. - Plymouth, Mich. - riAct Rear Impact Active Head Restraint
• Lear Corp - Southfield, Mich. - ProTec PluS
• Magneti Marelli Sistemas Automotivos S.A - Hortolandia, Brazil - TETRAFUEL
• Mahle Technology, Inc. - Farmington Hills, Mich. - MAHLE CamlnCam
• Remy Inc. - Anderson, Ind. - High Voltage Hairpin
• Takata - Tokyo, Japan - Motorcycle Airbag
• The Timken Company - Canton, Ohio - Timken MPS 160
• Xanavi Informatics Corporation / Sony Corporation - Zama, Japan - Around View Monitor AVM

Honorable Mention

• Cooper-Standard Automotive - Novi, Mich. - Electric Water Valve Assembly
• Federal-Mogul Corporation, Lighting Products - Southfield, Mich. - Federal-Mogul Interior LED POD Lighting
• InterfaceFabric, Inc. - Grand Rapids, Mich. - Recycled Polyester Automotive Bodycloth
• Lear Corp - Southfield, Mich. - SoyFoam
• LUK USA LLC - Wooster, Ohio - Multi-Mode Power Split Hybrid Damper
• Mann+Hummel USA, Inc. - Portage, Mich. - High EfficiencySump Filter for

  Automatic Transmission, Suction Side

• Visteon Corporation - Van Buren Township, Mich. - Light Pipes

Product-Europe Category - As above, but innovations are developed/first commercialized in Europe.

Finalists

• BorgWarner Turbo & Emissions Systems - Kirchheimbolanden, Germany and Auburn Hills, Mich. - RS2
• Siemens VDO - Pisa, Italy and Auburn Hills, Mich. - Pizeo Direct Injection System for Gasoline Applications
• Valeo Switches & Detection Systems - Bietigheim, Germany and Troy, Mich. - Park 4U Semi-Automatic Parallel Parking

Honorable Mention

• Cooper-Standard Automotive - Vitre, France and Novi, Mich. - T7 Thermoplastic Rear Door Glass Seal Assembly
• Hella KGaA Hueck & Co - Lippstadt, Germany and Novi, Mich. - Lane Change Assist

Information Technology and Services Category - Applications in the IT category highlight game-changing innovations in the design and implementation of information systems solutions that enable companies to improve operational performance or delivery of services. Examples of IT innovations include applying information technology to improve product design and product development processes, linking supplier and customer supply chains, developing innovative approaches to connecting employees to company and industry information, the use of information technologies within the vehicle as well as innovations in service offerings. Applicants can be parts suppliers, service suppliers or IT companies.

Finalists

• Siemens PLM Software - Plano, Texas - UGS Synergy
• Tenneco, Inc. - Lake Forest, Ill. - TEN-KBME Tenneco Knowledge Based Manufacturing & Engineering

Honorable Mention

• Auto Auction Services Corporation (AASC) - Atlanta, Ga. – AutoIMS
• Romax Technology Ltd. - Nottingham, United Kingdom – RomaxNVH

Manufacturing Process and Capital Equipment Category - Innovations involving game-changing processes (manufacturing or business) or innovative capital equipment that support the automotive supply chain or manufacturing processes.

Finalists

• Delphi Thermal Systems / Alcoa - Lockport, N.Y. - 5 Layer Aluminum Braze Sheet
• PPG Industries, Inc. - Troy, Mich. - Green Logic
• Webasto AG - Stockdorf, Germany - Polycarbonate Panoramic Roof Module

Honorable Mention

• BASF Coatings - Southfield, Mich. - BASF Eco2 AdBloc
• Cascade Engineering Automotive Solution - Grand Rapids, Mich. - TAP Hybrid
• PPG Industries, Inc. - Troy, Mich. - 100% Esta Bell Waterborne Basecoat

The PACE Award finalist and honorable mention companies were chosen from a thorough review of written submissions. In the coming months a panel of judges - drawn from among industry, academic and business leaders - will conduct a site visit for each finalist to select the winners. Winners will be announced at a gala ceremony in Detroit, Mich. on April 14, 2008.

For more information about the program, visit www.autonews.com/PACE. In addition to Microsoft, SAP and TRC Inc., the Automotive News PACE Award is also sponsored by OESA, Sprint and WCSX 94.7FM.

SOURCE: Automotive News