Johnson Controls' Slim Stow Seat increases cargo space and offers improved seating comfort / New foldable rear seat for pickup trucks introduced

Burscheid, Germany (ots) - Johnson Controls, a global leader in
automotive seating, overhead systems, door and instrument panels, and
interior electronics, introduced a new design for second row seats in
pickup trucks. When stowed, the Slim Stow Seat takes up 33 percent
less space, maximizes seating comfort and is lighter weight compared
to traditional rear truck seats. It also improves visibility for the
driver.

"Our Slim Stow Seat enables us to set new standards in foldable
rear seats in pickups," said Dr. Andreas Eppinger, Vice President
Technology Management at Johnson Controls Automotive Experience. "It
surpasses previous seating concepts in terms of comfort, cargo space
and appearance. It also improves visibility when stowed since the
seat back is lowered 100 millimeters."

Side-bolsters integrate the passenger in the seat

The seat panel consists of two components. The upper part, a
tubular frame design, features the child seat attachment points and
defined side-bolsters. Through this unique design, the Slim Stow Seat
also provides lateral support and contour that is usually found
exclusively in front-row pickup truck seating.

The lower part of the seat features a stable arm. It carries the
seat pad, which features 50 percent more foam than usual in the
relevant areas. "This, together with the side-bolsters, ensures
superior comfort while fulfilling safety requirements," explained
Eppinger. "Even with the bolsters and padding, the seat's movement
enables space-saving stowage."

Easy handling and optimized visibility due to downward-sliding
backrest

- The Slim Stow Seat deploys and stows using an intuitive,
one-hand operation, making it easy to reconfigure the interior
space from outside the vehicle.

- The seat stows behind the truck's rear panel wall maximizing
cargo space while providing an unprecedented, clean appearance.

- By pushing the seatback rearward, the kinematics shift it
downward by approximately 100 millimeters (3.9 inches) to
increase visibility and safety.

Seat sets new standards

During a series of in-house benchmark tests, the Technology &
Advanced Development Group compared the Slim Stow Seat with the rear
seats of four of the most popular pickup trucks. "The Slim Stow Seat
sets new standards in all categories tested, which included cargo
capacity, user friendliness, seating comfort, material compression
and ease of assembly," said Eppinger. Further advantages include
weight savings, enabled by a 30 percent reduction in the usage of
materials.

Digital images are available online from
www.johnsoncontrols.co.uk/press .

Pictures are available via epa european pressphoto agency and can
be downloaded free of charge at:
http://www.presseportal.de/pm/19526/?keygroup=bild

About Johnson Controls:

Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial
leader serving customers in over 150 countries. Our 142,000 employees
create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy
and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive
batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles;
and interior systems for automobiles. Our commitment to
sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of
the first electric room thermostat. Through our growth strategies and
by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to
shareholders and making our customers successful.

About Johnson Controls Automotive Experience

Johnson Controls is a global leader in automotive seating,
overhead systems, door and instrument panels, and interior
electronics. We support all major automakers in the differentiation
of their vehicles through our products, technologies and advanced
manufacturing capabilities. With 200 locations worldwide, we are
where our customers need us to be. Consumers have enjoyed the comfort
and style of our products, from single components to complete
interiors. With our global capability we supply more than 30 million
cars per year.

Please contact us if you would like more information:
Johnson Controls GmbH Automotive Experience
Industriestraße 20-30
51399 Burscheid Germany

Ulrich Andree
Tel.: +49 (0)2174 65-4343
Fax: +49 (0)2174 65-3219
E-mail: ulrich.andree@jci.com