Johnson Controls develops and manufactures a new floor console for the Volvo S80 * Easy to assembly, versatile and enhanced passenger protection

Burscheid (Germany) 5 December (PROTEXT/ots) - Many automotive interiorcomponents already benefit from a modular construction method in Europewith the exception, so far, of floor consoles. Johnson Controls, one of theworld’s leading suppliers of automotive interior systems, electronics andbatteries, has now developed in conjunction with Volvo the first modularfloor console for the S80. For automakers, the benefits of the new productlie in greater ease of assembly and variant handling, as well as theenhanced ability to integrate electronic com-ponents. A special feature isthat the new console is built on a magnesium structure that absorbs anyside impact sustained in a crash.

The modular structure of such elements as doors, cockpits and overheadsystems has long proved its worth in the international automotive industry.The reasons lie in the assembly time saved, as a result of reducedcomplexity in the production line, and automakers being able to eliminatetheir material sub component material stock and handling and depot."Installation on the final assembly line is almost fully automatic," saidHans Rössle, Business Development Manager Volvo Business Unit of JohnsonControls. For the Volvo S80, this means that the module is delivered"just-in-sequence" to the assembly line at Volvo’s Torslanda plant inSweden. A robot fits the module into the car through the side door, leavingone worker with only five screws to tighten.

The floor console is delivered as a single unit in this process. It isfully pre-wired and also contains the vertical center stack and informationscreen, including the control panel, in addition to the central tunnelitself as well as the gear shifter. At the rear, it connects seamlesslywith the armrest and the integrated storage compartment.

Johnson Controls was also responsible for the floor console in the earlierS80 models, and currently manufactures them for the S60, V/XC 70 and XC90model series.

Johnson Controls and Volvo can look back on a long history ofcollaboration. Only recently, Volvo awarded the company the "Volvo CarsAward of Excellence", making it one of the top five of a total of 6,000automotive suppliers.

You will find the full-length press release and photos onhttp://www.johnsoncontrols-press.com.

Further information is available from:

Johnson Controls GmbH

Automotive Experience

Industriestr. 20-30

51399 Burscheid

Germany

Astrid Schafmeister

Tel.: +49 2174 65-3189

Fax: +49 2174 65-3219

E-mail: astrid.schafmeister@jci.com

Ina Longwitz

Tel.: +49 2174 65-4343

E-mail: ina.longwitz@jci.com

Johnson Controls is a global leader in interior experience, buildingefficiency and power solutions with 136,000 employees in more than 1,000locations serving customers in 125 countries. The company providesinnovative automotive interiors that help make driving more comfortable,safe and enjoyable. For buildings, it offers products and services thatoptimize energy use and improve comfort and security. Johnson Controls'automotive product portfolio also includes seating systems, instrumentpanels/cockpits, door and overhead systems, interior electronics andelectrical energy management. The company provides batteries forautomobiles and hybrid electric vehicles, along with systems engineeringand service expertise. Founded in 1885, Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) isheadquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The European headquarters is inBurscheid, Germany. Please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com foradditional information.

Subscribers please note that material bearing the label "PROTEXT" is notpart of CTK's news service and is not to be published under the "CTK"label. Protext is a commercial service providing distribution of pressreleases from clients, who are identified in the text of Protext reportsand who bear full responsibility for their contents.

PROTEXT