Amerigon Climate Control Seat Shown in Lincoln Navigator SUV Display
25 April 2000
Amerigon Climate Control Seat(TM) Shown in Lincoln Navigator SUV Display at 2000 New York International Auto ShowIRWINDALE, Calif., April 25 Amerigon Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARGNA) announced today that Lincoln Mercury is showing Amerigon's proprietary Climate Control Seat(TM) (CCS(TM)) system, which is an option for the 2000 model year Lincoln Navigator Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), at the 2000 New York International Auto Show at the Jacob Javitz Convention Center in New York City, April 22 to April 30. CCS is being shown and demonstrated in a special exhibit being displayed by Lincoln Mercury, which is near The Ford Motor Company oval at the show. CCS, which according to Ford has proven to be a very popular option on the Navigator SUV, is the only product on the market today that makes it possible for both the driver and front seat passenger of a vehicle to individually and actively control the cooling and/or warming of their seats for year-round driving comfort. To date over 20,000 CCS systems have been shipped for use in the Navigator since first shipments began in late November last year. Amerigon President Richard A. Weisbart commented, "Being featured in the Lincoln Mercury booth at the New York International Auto Show, which is the largest consumer auto show in North America, is a great opportunity to potentially expose thousands of car buyers to our unique CCS system. We are convinced that as more potential car buyers experience the unique heating and cooling benefits of CCS, the greater the demand will become." Late last month, Amerigon and Ford jointly announced that the two companies had signed a definitive agreement for Ford to use Amerigon's proprietary CCS system exclusively for heated and cooled or heated and ventilated seats for a period of five years. Under the terms of that agreement, Amerigon will continue to market CCS to other vehicle manufacturers and seat suppliers worldwide. "Ford's commitment to use our CCS system exclusively for five years combined with the increasing exposure of CCS to consumers and the customer enthusiasm and demand we are seeing for CCS in the Lincoln Navigator," Weisbart added, "greatly strengthens the sales potential of CCS in North America, Europe and Asia. We are currently marketing CCS to almost every major vehicle manufacturer and every major seat supplier worldwide and are actively working with more than 20 automotive platform teams to offer this unique comfort and fatigue-reducing option." Amerigon, a rapidly growing supplier to the global automotive industry, develops and supplies proprietary high-technology products for automotive OEMs. The Company has two principal products that serve two key, high-growth global automotive markets: its proprietary Climate Control Seat(TM) (CCS) system, which is the only product available today that makes it possible for both the driver and front seat passenger of a vehicle to individually and actively control the cooling and/or warming of their seats for year-round comfort; and AmeriGuard(TM), which is a radar sensing system, designed to improve drivers' field of view in vehicle applications such as enhanced parking aids, back-up warning and side object detection for collision avoidance. Certain matters discussed in this release, including the Company's ability to handle demand for its CCS systems, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may be different. Such risks and uncertainties include the acceptance and performance of the Company's products, the Company's ability to develop new products successfully and the ability to obtain new sources of financing. Please also refer to the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission reports, including but not limited to the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999. For further information, please contact: investors, Damon Wright, damon@allencaron.com, 949-474-4300, or media, Kari Rinkeviczie, kari@allencaron.com, 212-698-1360.
