VC Visteon Corporation

Visteon Honored for its Investments in the Czech Republic KERPEN, Germany, July 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Visteon Corporation (NYSE:VC), a leading global automotive supplier, was recognized as being one of the most important investors in the Czech Republic when Dr. Karl Krause, Visteon's manufacturing vice president for Europe and South America, received the "Investor of the Year 2003" award from Czech Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001201/DEF008LOGO ) Visteon's Czech subsidiary, Autopal, earned the recognition in an evaluation by the CZECHTOP 100 Association. Investment projects with the highest contribution to the Czech economic development were honored recently during a ceremony at Prague's castle. In the category of "investments with the highest innovative potential," Visteon/Autopal ranked third for the development of innovative lighting and climate control technology. Autopal also ranked in the top 60 of the most important companies in the Czech Republic in the "sales in 2003" category. Autopal ranked 21st in exports and also ranked high in the most "dynamic company" category. Autopal's overall investment in the Czech Republic in 2003 was 30.2 million Czech Republic Koruny (CZK) ($1.2 million U.S.), of which more than 15 million CZK ($600,000 U.S.) went toward employee training. As a result of this investment 50 new positions were created in the area of new product design and development. Autopal customers include Aston Martin, Audi, Citroen, Fiat, Ford, Jaguar, Peugeot, Porsche, Renault, Seat, Skoda Auto, Volkswagen, and Volvo. "With increased production volumes 2003 marked another step forward for our export activities," said Ladislav Glogar, Autopal's general manager. "Autopal belongs to the leading exporting companies in the Czech Republic. We export lighting, climate control and engine cooling components to 73 plants in 22 countries on five continents. Our biggest customers are carmakers in Germany, France and Great Britain. Part of our production also goes to our customers in the United States." In 2003, Glogar said, Autopal delivered more than 24 million automotive parts, including more than nine million climate control components for passenger cars. "The company's excellent product quality record is testimony to the excellent accomplishments and the precise work of our employees," Glogar said. Visteon, through its Autopal subsidiary and its more than 4,400 employees, has gained a very strong position in the Czech Republic. Its production facilities are located in Novy Jicin, Rychvald, and Hluk. Its aftermarket trade subsidiary is in Prague, and the aftermarket Central Eastern European warehouse is located in Novy Jicin. A customer sales office for Skoda is located in Mlada Boleslav. Visteon Corporation is a leading full-service supplier that delivers consumer-driven technology solutions to automotive manufacturers worldwide and through multiple channels within the global automotive aftermarket. Visteon has about 72,000 employees and a global delivery system of more than 200 technical, manufacturing, sales and service facilities located in 25 countries. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001201/DEF008LOGO DATASOURCE: Visteon Corporation CONTACT: Britta Lange of Visteon Corporation, (+49) 2273 575 2667, Web site: http://www.visteon.com/

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