Company’s products help to deliver versatility, enhanced storage and rear-seat accessibility

DETROIT, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ — For more than two decades, Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) has delivered ingenious technology and outstanding value in automotive seat systems and components for its customers. The 2009 Dodge Journey mid-size crossover vehicle features a number of exciting seating innovations designed and manufactured by the company, including new solutions for enhanced versatility, comfort, accessibility and storage.

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For the all-new Journey model, which is being shown off this week at the 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, Johnson Controls is providing seat systems and batteries. The global model, which blends the best attributes of a minivan, sport-utility vehicle and a passenger car in a crossover package, will be available in North American markets in the first quarter of 2008 and in other world markets by mid-2008. Among the seating innovations developed for the Journey by Johnson Controls are the Flip ‘N Stow™ in-seat storage in the front passenger seat; stadium Tip ‘N Slide™ second-row seats for easy third-row access with one-hand, one-motion operation; 5+2, 50/50-split third-row seat with recline feature; fold-flat seating for versatility; a child presentation feature to allow easy access to a child in the second row; integrated child booster seats; and theater seating for enhanced visibility and comfort in the rear rows.

This week at the NAIAS, Johnson Controls officials are showing the company’s seating innovations at its product and technology exhibit in room D2-15 of Cobo Center.

“Innovation is the key to how Johnson Controls adds value and helps our customers’ products to really stand out in the marketplace,” said Jeff Williams, the company’s group vice president and general manager, North America for the Automotive Experience business. “Our seating products feature new technologies that make the Dodge Journey’s interior more versatile, comfortable, family-friendly and simple to use.”

For the Journey’s seating system, Johnson Controls is providing a variety of components, including its Gemini seat tracks, seat frames, DR2K recliners, trim covers and headrests. The front row features two bucket seats, front-seat-mounted side airbags and the available Flip ‘N Stow seating. It makes storing items under the seat easy, with a front passenger seat cushion that flips forward to reveal a large 10.75 by 8.75-inch (273 x 222-millimeter) bin under the cushion. The bin is large enough to store a purse, portable electronics devices, umbrella or headphones with the seat down. The seat cushion is hinged, and when flipped forward, provides access to the storage area that’s integrated into the seat frame. The cushion can remain in the forward position to prevent items from sliding onto the floor. Or when it’s folded flat, it has a table-like surface for added cargo flexibility.

Heated front seats with leather or premium cloth also are available, and can enhance the comfort of the driver and front passenger.

The Journey offers a choice of two seating configurations to balance consumers’ needs for passenger seating and cargo storage. Five-passenger seating is standard on all models, while 5+2-passenger seating is available on the SXT and R/T models.

In the rear rows, the Journey features theater seating, which gives passengers in the second and third row the ability to see outside the vehicle. Additional thoughtful features that make the Dodge Journey more flexible for families include a child presenter seat on all models that makes it easy for the driver or front-row passenger to attend to a small child seated in the second row. The child presenter seat works by allowing the 60/40 fold-flat second row to move forward or rearward a total of 4.7 inches (119.4 mm) to give adults more leg room, bring children closer to the front seats and provide more cargo room behind the seats. With the front passenger seat folded flat option, the driver can easily reach to the back to assist a child in the second row.

The second-row seats move forward and rearward a total of 4.7 inches (120 mm) to give adults more leg room, bring children closer to the front seats and provide more cargo storage room behind the seats. They also have a capability to recline by as much as 19 degrees for added comfort.

Dodge Journey is the first vehicle in the mid-size crossover segment to offer available integrated child booster seats. These seats boost a child seated in the second row 4 inches (102 mm) into the adult belted zone. This also can make it easier for the child seated in the booster seat to see outside the vehicle. The booster seat is designed for children who are as much as 4 foot 9 inches (1.45 m) tall and between 48 and 85 pounds (22 to 39 kilograms). The Journey’s ActivityCenter in the second-row seatback folds forward to provide two cupholders and a bin for storage of small electronics, snacks or other small items.

The optional third-row seat is easy to operate and to access, thanks to Journey’s stadium Tip ‘N Slide second-row seats. With the turn of a single lever on the side of the seat back, the seat cushions easily fold upward and the seat slides forward. It is the first and only stadium-style, tip and slide seating product in the North American market, enabling a large ingress-egress passage space into the third row.

Journey’s available 50/50-split-folding third-row seat provides enough room for two passengers on an as-needed basis. The seatback can be reclined by 6 degrees to make the ride more comfortable.

Folding the second row and the available fold-flat front passenger seat flat creates plenty of room for hauling a variety of cargo. And with the available 5+2 passenger seating, the two rear rows and the front passenger seat can be folded flat, creating space for hauling large items.

The Journey also features three types of seat upholstery: cloth; YES Essentials® stain-resistant, odor-resistant, anti-static seat fabric; and leather.

“Consumers want choices and flexibility in their interiors, and the seating products we developed for the Journey crossover help our customer to meet those expectations with industry-leading innovations,” said Williams. “Johnson Controls is supplying Dodge with the latest technologies that truly differentiate its vehicles in the crossover segment, and the global marketplace.”

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

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

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

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