Kongsberg Automotive Holding ASA - Kongsberg Automotive Announces Restructuring of North American Operations
Kongsberg, Norway, April 18, 2008 - Kongsberg Automotive, a global supplier of automotive, commercial and industrial products, today announced that they are restructuring their Interior Systems operations in North America. Production at their Westland, Michigan facility will be transferred to an existing plant in Mexico. The Westland facility today produces lumbar support assemblies for the automotive market. This production will be transferred to the Kongsberg Automotive facility in Reynosa, Mexico. The Westland facility is expected to close in the autumn of 2008. Another restructuring project is to transfer the current production of Interior Systems parts from Willis Texas to the Kongsberg Automotive plant in Matamoros Mexico. This is also scheduled to be completed during 2008. All together 120 people are affected by this transfer. The Willis plant will however continue manufacturing of other products within the Kongsberg Automotive portfolio. "This restructuring will better align us to market needs and improve our overall competitiveness" said Olav Volldal, CEO Kongsberg Automotive Holding ASA. "Our recent acquisition of Teleflex's GMS Division has created a need for facility consolidations and we are pursuing a low cost footprint in North America." ### Kongsberg Automotive is headquartered in Kongsberg, Norway and has more than 50 facilities in 20 countries on all continents. Kongsberg Automotive, with revenues of about EUR1 billion and over 11,000 employees, provides system solutions to vehicle makers around the world. The product portfolio includes gearshift systems, cables for a wide variety of applications, fuel lines, tubing and hoses, couplings, clutch actuation, stabilizing rods, seat heaters, seat ventilation, lumbar supports, head restrains, arm rests, steering columns, pedals, electronics and displays. Find more information at www.kongsbergautomotive.com. ### FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Hans Peter Havdal President, Interior Systems Phone:+4732770520. Mobile:+ 4792065690 Ronny Lie Director Communication Phone : +4732770511. Mobile : +4791610798 ### This information is subject of the disclosure requirements acc. to §5-12 vphl (Norwegian Securities Trading Act)