Bridgewater Interiors is Recognized by General Motors With Automaker's 2002 Supplier of the Year Award

DETROIT, April 30 -- Automotive supplier Bridgewater Interiors L.L.C. was named as a General Motors Supplier of the Year for its overall business performance in providing the automaker with parts and services during 2002. The Detroit company is a minority joint venture between automotive interior supplier Johnson Controls and Epsilon, L.L.C.

The prestigious award was presented to officials from Bridgewater Interiors during GM's annual Supplier of the Year ceremonies held on Saturday, April 12 in Miami, Florida. Detroit-based General Motors is the world's largest vehicle manufacturer and sold more than 8.5 million cars and trucks in 2002.

For the past two years, Bridgewater Interiors has gained GM Supplier of the Year award recognition.

"Bridgewater Interiors is representative of the companies GM expects to grow with us as we seek to increase market share," said Bo Andersson, vice president, GM Worldwide Purchasing Production Control & Logistics. "The company's performance and contributions have been critical in helping GM to become the industry's low cost producer of high quality vehicles. They serve as a role model for other suppliers," he said.

The GM Supplier of the Year award began as a global program in 1992. Award winners are selected by a global team of GM executives from purchasing, engineering, manufacturing and logistics who base their decisions on supplier performance in quality, service, technology and price. This year, General Motors honored 70 suppliers for their excellence throughout 2002.

"Bridgewater Interiors is extremely pleased to be named once again among General Motors' most outstanding suppliers," said Ron Hall, president and chief executive officer of the company. "Our team is committed to delivering world-class products -- and this award reaffirms their successful efforts."

Established in 1998, Bridgewater Interiors produces seating systems for General Motors' Cadillac DeVille models and overhead systems for Cadillac Seville vehicles. The minority joint venture company operates a 175,000- square-foot facility in Detroit, Michigan with 210 employees. Its products have received the 2000 J.D. Power and Associates Best in Class Award, and the highest rating for any domestic vehicle in the "Things Gone Right" category in the 2001 J.D. Power and Associates Seat Quality Report. In addition, Bridgewater was honored with the 2002 Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing -- a top industry award that recognizes North American companies that excel in lean manufacturing and the elimination of waste.