BorgWarner Transmission Systems Opens New Facility in France
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Investment Driven by Demand for Dual Clutch Transmission Product Technology
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Dec. 13 / -- In response to increasing European demand for BorgWarner's (NYSE:BWA) dual clutch transmission technology, known as DualTronic®, and associated new business gained in transmission controls systems, BorgWarner Transmission Systems has opened a new, 170,000-square-foot facility in Eyrein, north of Tulle, France.
The new facility replaces a smaller facility in central Tulle and includes application engineering, testing, prototyping and manufacturing capabilities. It will produce solenoids for automatic transmission controls as well as BorgWarner's DualTronic® transmission control modules. The new facility currently employs about 280 people.
"As more customers and drivers experience the improved fuel economy and dynamic performance of this exciting technology, we expect the demand for dual clutch transmissions in Europe to continue to grow significantly," said Dr. Bernd Matthes, President and General Manager, BorgWarner Transmission Systems. "BorgWarner is pleased to expand its capabilities in France in order to accommodate increased demand for our dual clutch transmission control modules and other transmission products."
Among the company and government officials attending the opening ceremonies in early December were BorgWarner Chairman and CEO Tim Manganello and the French Minister Delegate for Industry, Francois Loos.
BorgWarner's DualTronic® clutch and transmission control technology enables a conventional, manual gearbox to function as a fully automatic transmission by eliminating the "torque-interrupt" feeling that occurs when a manual transmission shifts gears, while delivering performance and fuel economy that rival that of a manual transmission. The technology debuted on the VW Golf R32 DSG and the Audi TT 3.2 in 2003. BorgWarner has announced five programs with four customers, including VW/Audi, Getrag, another European OEM and SAIC in China. Total BorgWarner dual clutch technology programs announced to date represent over 1.5 million transmissions per year at full production volumes.
BorgWarner Transmission Systems is a supplier to virtually every automatic transmission manufacturer in the world. It produces "shift quality" components and systems including one-way clutches, transmission bands, friction plates and clutch-pack assemblies, and controls including transmission solenoids, control modules and integrated mechatronic control systems.
Auburn Hills, Michigan-based BorgWarner Inc. (NYSE:BWA) is a product leader in highly engineered components and systems for vehicle powertrain applications worldwide. The FORTUNE 500 company operates manufacturing and technical facilities in 63 locations in 18 countries. Customers include Ford, VW/Audi, DaimlerChrysler, General Motors, Toyota, Renault/Nissan, Hyundai/Kia, Honda, BMW, Caterpillar, Navistar International, and Peugeot. The Internet address for BorgWarner is: www.borgwarner.com/ .
Statements contained in this news release may contain forward-looking statements as contemplated by the 1995 Private Securities Litigation Reform Act that are based on management's current expectations, estimates and projections. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of the Company, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed, projected or implied in or by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include: fluctuations in domestic or foreign automotive production, the continued use of outside suppliers by original equipment manufacturers, fluctuations in demand for vehicles containing the Company's products, general economic conditions, as well as other risks detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Risk Factors identified in the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement.
Source: BorgWarner Inc.
CONTACT: Mary Brevard of BorgWarner Inc., +1-248-754-0881
Web site: www.borgwarner.com/
