Press Releases

Company recognised for quality, delivery, technical and engineering support in passenger car suspension systems

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM / SEOUL, REPUBLIC OF KOREA – 31 MAY 2007 – WABCO, one of the leading providers of electronic braking, stability, suspension and transmission control systems to the global commercial vehicle industry and supplier of air management and suspension systems for passenger cars, received a ‘Best Supplier’ award from Ssangyong Motor Company (SYMC), the leading Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) manufacturer in South Korea. Ssangyong’s ‘Best Supplier’ criteria were product quality and delivery, technical and engineering support as well as cost reduction opportunities.

WABCO currently supplies vacuum pumps for all Ssangyong's diesel powered SUVs and Multi-Purpose Vehicles (MPVs) including its Rexton, Kyrone, Actyon and Rodius models.  “This valued award recognises our commitment to building strong relationships with our passenger car customers based on the same levels of design, engineering, quality and delivery as for our commercial vehicle customers,” said WABCO president Jacques Esculier. “Our long track record in product development and continuous innovation that started more than 25 years ago with the introduction of ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System) for commercial vehicles and subsequently EBS (Electronic Braking System) in 1996 is also supporting our growth and success in the Asian market,” Esculier added.

WABCO offers a wide range of vacuum pumps, electronic control units (ECUs) and air suspension systems for passenger cars, building on 20 years of experience in the sector. The luxury car, SUV and light commercial vehicle sectors increasingly demand electronic air suspension systems to provide excellent ride comfort on various road surfaces, under various driving conditions and with various vehicle loads. WABCO produces ECAS (Electronically Controlled Air Suspension) and Electronic Shock Absorber Control (ESAC) components in series production for a number of European Original Equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and is preparing the next generation of electronic suspension systems for the compact car segment as interest in these grows. “The increase in the number of passenger cars equipped with Electronically Controlled Air Suspension (ECAS) systems implies considerable growth potential for our passenger car business,” Esculier added.

The Ssangyong award, presented to WABCO during the OEM’s supplier meeting last month, represents the third award for WABCO in the Asia Pacific region this year. ”Receiving three awards highlights our commitment to this region’s commercial vehicle and passenger car industry”, said Leon Liu, regional president of WABCO Asia Pacific. Only recently WABCO received two prestigious awards in China. The Yutong Group named WABCO ‘Best Quality Supplier 2006’, and the engine branch of the China National Heavy Truck Group (CNHTC) honoured WABCO’s performance with the recognition ‘Best Supplier 2006’, one of the highest approvals for the company’s suppliers.

Please find more information on WABCO products and services on the website: www.wabco-auto.com

Editors Notes
WABCO, the vehicle control systems business of American Standard Companies, is one of the world's leading producers of electronic braking, stability, suspension and transmission control systems for heavy duty commercial vehicles. WABCO products are also increasingly used in luxury cars and sport utility vehicles (SUVs). Customers include the world’s leading commercial truck, trailer, bus and passenger car manufacturers. Founded in the US in 1869 as Westinghouse Air Brake Company, WABCO was acquired by American Standard in 1968. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, the business today employs more than 7,000 people in 34 offices and production facilities worldwide. In 2006, WABCO contributed US$ 2 billion to American Standard’s total sales of more than US$ 11.2 billion. On February 1, 2007, American Standard announced a plan to separate its businesses and to spin off WABCO as an independent, publicly traded company by the end of 2007.
Website: www.wabco-auto.com

WABCO in Asia Pacific
With regional headquarters in Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, WABCO serves Asia Pacific markets from six offices and five production facilities in India, Japan, Korea and the People’s Republic of China. Regional activity dates from the beginning of WABCO’s participation in the Sundaram-Clayton Limited joint venture in India in 1977, a joint venture originally formed in 1962, and the establishment of a WABCO Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong in 1996. Today WABCO’s subsidiaries and joint ventures employ approximately 1,750 people in product development, sourcing, manufacturing and distribution, marketing, sales and aftermarket service in Asia Pacific. There are five regional production facilities: two at Sundaram-Clayton Limited, Chennai (Madras), India; a WABCO facility in Pyungtaek, Korea; the Shandong Weiming Automotive Products Ltd. (SWAP) joint venture facility in Jinan and WABCO’s production and distribution center in Qingdao – all in the People’s Republic of China. Sundaram Clayton also owns an internationally certified (TUEV- Germany, MIRA – UK) commercial vehicle test track. Production facilities hold several recognized environmental, health and safety and quality certifications including ISO 14001 (environmental), ISO/TS 16949, ISO 9001/9002 and QA 9000 (quality) and OHSAS (health and safety). Sundaram-Clayton Limited was the first company in India to earn the Deming Prize (1998) and the Japan Quality Medal (2002) for quality. WABCO aftermarket support is provided at about 60 service facilities.

Media contact:
Tobias Mueller, +49-69-719168-34, tobias.mueller@klenkhoursch.de