PLYMOUTH, Mich., March 14 /PRNewswire/ — Last week, Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America, Inc. (TEMA) recognized automotive supplier Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) — and one of its U.S. joint-venture operations — for outstanding performance during the past year.

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Toyota honored its top suppliers in North America for their 2007 achievements during its Annual Business Meeting and Awards Ceremony in Covington, Kentucky on March 3. The awards acknowledge those suppliers who exceeded Toyota’s expectations in launch performance, technology, supplier diversity, value improvement and quality. Approximately 500 North American suppliers met to hear Toyota’s objectives for the coming year, for recognition of outstanding performance among the firm’s supply base, and to enhance relationships.

Johnson Controls and its Intertec Systems joint venture gained three awards from Toyota for outstanding performance during 2007. Troy, Michigan-based Intertec Systems is a joint venture between Johnson Controls and Inoac Corporation of Nagoya, Japan. The company, which was founded in 1996, is a leading provider of vehicle instrument panels, instrument panel trim components and floor consoles to major automakers in North America.

At the event, Johnson Controls gained a Superior Award in the Supplier Diversity category. It was the fourth consecutive year the company has received this recognition. Toyota’s presentation of awards in the area of Supplier Diversity recognized supply companies’ initiatives and outstanding efforts that helped the automaker meet its minority procurement targets. Johnson Controls supplies a variety of products for Toyota vehicles, including seats, interior trim, electronics and batteries.

In addition, Johnson Controls’ Livermore, California seat-manufacturing plant was recognized by Toyota with an Excellent Award in the Quality category. The facility supplies seats, and overhead consoles to the automaker.

Toyota also honored the Intertec Systems interior parts-manufacturing plant in San Leandro, California with an Excellent Award in the Quality category. Intertec manufactures floor consoles and instrument panel trim for Toyota models.

Beda Bolzenius, president of the Automotive Experience business for Johnson Controls, said that the company and its Intertec Systems joint venture exceeded Toyota’s expectations while continuing to provide world-class products and services.

“This is important recognition from Toyota, and it truly is an outstanding tribute to the dedicated people working at our facilities, as well as those of our suppliers,” he said. “We look forward to continued success with Toyota in the future.”

Among the performance measures that enabled Johnson Controls and its affiliate to receive recognition from Toyota was meeting the automaker’s highest standards for quality; supplier diversity; and overall excellence for work done during 2007, in supplying various automotive seating and interior products.

“TEMA works closely with our North American suppliers in order to build our top quality vehicles; therefore, we take this opportunity to recognize outstanding performance of our top suppliers,” stated Atsushi “Art” Kume, senior vice president of TEMA. “Suppliers’ commitment to continuous improvement is key to achieving Toyota’s long term focus on quality and value.”

Johnson Controls 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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