At this year’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit, supplier displays its strengths in ‘Creating Smart Environments’

DETROIT, Jan. 2 /PRNewswire/ — Johnson Controls is “Creating Smart Environments” — intelligently developed vehicle interiors that make the world more comfortable, safe and sustainable. Smart products, systems, technologies and future concepts from Johnson Controls will be the focal point of the company’s participation at the 2008 North American International Show (NAIAS) at Cobo Center in Detroit.

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The event — one of the world’s premier automotive exhibitions — opens to the media and invited guests on Sunday, January 13, 2008. It will be open to the public from Saturday, January 19 through Sunday, January 27, 2008.

This year marks the 14th consecutive year in which Johnson Controls will have a major NAIAS presence, serving as both an event sponsor and exhibitor. The company is a leading global supplier of automotive seating, interiors, electronics and batteries. A wide range of its current and future products and technologies will be showcased at the supplier’s 9,000-square-foot exhibit in room D2-15 of Cobo Center. Johnson Controls also will convene two press conferences — one on Sunday, January 13, 2008 and the other on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 — and serve as the host sponsor of the AutoWeek Design Forum, which will be held on Wednesday, January 16, 2008.

At the first press conference — scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on January 13, 2008 — officials from Johnson Controls will unveil the company’s latest innovations in seating; electronics; human-machine-interaction technology; interior safety and comfort; “earth-friendly” products; interior craftsmanship and advanced battery solutions. The second press conference — to be held at 9:05 a.m. on January 15, 2008 — will focus on the company’s latest business and technology news relating to interior sourcing; advanced batteries for hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs); and systems targeting sustainability.

“In the global auto industry, demand for systems and products that reflect innovation, ingenuity and smart design has never been greater than it is today,” said Jeff Williams, group vice president and general manager, North America for the Automotive Experience business of Johnson Controls. “With a commitment to ‘Creating Smart Environments,’ we acknowledge the importance of delivering products with features, functions and performance that are intelligently-crafted and well-integrated,” he said. “The ultimate goal is to provide innovative products and technology to our customers that enrich the experience of automotive consumers.”

Here’s a look at some of the products, technologies and concepts that Johnson Controls will showcase at the 2008 NAIAS event:

  -- The I3 Concept Vehicle, a medium-size crossover plug-in electric
     vehicle, with a full-featured interior reflecting the themes of
     "Ingenuity, Integration and Interface." It's packed with the latest
     innovations from Johnson Controls in seating, safety, storage, comfort
     and convenience -- and integrates a fuel-efficient, lithium-ion hybrid
     battery produced by the company.
  -- The CrafTec ™ interior, which features finely crafted products
     manufactured using a portfolio of advanced, single-step production
     processes created by Johnson Controls.
  -- An all-new, "earth-friendly" headliner that features biomaterials, and
     requires no VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
  -- Current- and future-generation batteries and other power solutions for
     conventional vehicles, as well as hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) and
     plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles (PHEVs).
  -- Other industry innovations in electronics, instrument panels, door
     panels, floor consoles, overhead consoles -- and more.

For the 12th year in a row, Johnson Controls will serve as the host sponsor of the AutoWeek Design Forum. The one-day event, to be held on January 16, 2008 at Cobo Center, brings together people from various backgrounds and disciplines who embrace design as the ultimate factor that distinguishes products. Last year’s AutoWeek Design Forum attracted hundreds of participants, including students, car design professionals, and designers from other industries.

Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) is the global leader that brings ingenuity to the places where people live, work and travel. By integrating technologies, products and services, we create smart environments that redefine the relationships between people and their surroundings. Our team of 140,000 employees creates a more comfortable, safe and sustainable world through our products and services for more than 200 million vehicles, 12 million homes and one million commercial buildings. Our commitment to sustainability drives our environmental stewardship, good corporate citizenship in our workplaces and communities, and the products and services we provide to customers. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/.

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SOURCE: Johnson Controls, Inc.

CONTACT: Debra Lacey of Johnson Controls, +1-734-254-5735

Web site: http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/

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