Visteon and Nintendo Bring Powerful Fun-on-the Mobile Entertainment to Europe

FRANKFURT, Germany (PROTEXT) - Super Mario and Darth Vader have taken to the road, and kids across Europe will soon be battling these and other popular Nintendo video game characters in the back seat of their parents' cars, thanks to Visteon Automotive systems. Today Visteon announced it has entered into an exclusive, strategic partnership with Nintendo of Europe, GmbH. to co-market and promote Visteon's new Rear Seat Entertainment System. The partnership will provide Visteon customers with outstanding systems technology and unsurpassed entertainment options. Located either in a vehicle's headrest or in a floor-mounted console, Visteon's Rear Seat Entertainment System is an in- vehicle entertainment center giving children in the back seat the ability to play video games or watch their favorite movies. "Visteon expects to leverage its product manufacturing and distribution strengths with Nintendo's popular line of video game products to appeal to savvy vehicle buyers," said David Peace, vice president, Visteon Global Aftermarket Operations. "Nintendo is an ideal partner for this type of technology, which we consider an exciting innovation in mobile electronics," Peace said. "Nintendo has built an extremely popular and respected brand name in the entertainment industry, and this alliance will certainly strengthen the exposure and recognition of Visteon's Rear Seat Entertainment System." Peace explained that this agreement -- combined with a similar co- marketing relationship announced earlier this year with Nintendo of America -- gives Visteon an opportunity to exclusively work with one of the world's best known brands on a global basis. Nintendo will receive inclusion in all marketing and promotional efforts related to the Rear Seat Entertainment System including public relations, in- showroom dealership promotions, direct mail, advertising and other marketing strategies. "Nintendo is committed to growing its share of the European video games market and we're always looking at new ways of integrating our game systems into the lives of consumers," Mr. Shigeru Ota, President of Nintendo of Europe, said. "Bringing our popular Nintendo 64 game system into a vehicle gives consumers an opportunity to have fun during short and long trips and is an innovative way to enjoy our products." Visteon's Rear Seat Entertainment System will be launched later this year as a floor-mounted console available to mini-van owners throughout Europe. A system mounted in vehicle headrests will be available to consumers early next year. Peace noted that Visteon's system has numerous advantages over similar systems in the market, including superior fit and finish, a warranty identical to a new vehicle warranty, an integrated console design to deter theft, and a competitive price. "We believe that our products must offer trade customers and consumers as many value-added benefits as possible," Peace said. "This partnership with Nintendo ensures that Visteon will be selling the most complete Rear Seat Entertainment System on the market." Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan is an acknowledged world wide leader in the creation of interactive entertainment. To date, Nintendo has sold more than 1 billion video games world wide, and has created such industry icons as Mario and Donkey Kong and launched franchises like The Legend of Zelda and Pokemon. As wholly owned subsidiary Nintendo of Europe GmbH, based in Grossostheim, Germany, serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in Europe. With a global delivery system of more than 125 technical, manufacturing, sales and service facilities located in 21 countries, Visteon is leveraging the talents of 77,000 employees to deliver innovative, consumer-driven automotive systems solutions to its customers. ots Original Text Service: Visteon Automotive Systems Internet: http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: Dolores Muniz of Visteon, +32-0-2720-96-12, or dmuniz@visteon.com Web site: http://media.visteon.com Web site: http://www.visteon.com Subscribers please note that material bearing the slug "PROTEXT" is not part of CTK's news service and is not to be published under the "CTK" slug. Protext is a commercial service providing distribution of press releases from clients, who are identified in the text of Protext reports and who bear full responsibility for their contents. PROTEXT