KAYABA GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH AT AUTOMECHANIKA

Date: September 2004

KAYABA GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH AT AUTOMECHANIKA

Automechanika - Frankfurt: Hall 2, Stand C75

After several years of consistent development and growth, Kayaba will have its strongest ever presence at this year’s Automechanika.

The KYB brand has gone from strength to strength, with new products - including AGX shock absorbers and coil springs; new markets - Italy and Spain; a new European headquarters, central warehouse and logistics facility in Germany, and 100% ownership of Europe’s largest OEM shock absorber plant in northern Spain.

In addition, the company has developed new manufacturing facilities in Thailand and China, and is growing its business in North America, as well as in other parts of the world.

All of this has helped support the overall growth of the business, and establish KYB as a leading automotive component brand in the UK, Europe and the world, both in the aftermarket and OE.

For the European aftermarket, Kayaba has recently introduced its new shock absorber catalogue with a greatly expanded range, and at Automechanika launches its increased coil springs range with a dedicated European catalogue.

Full details are available from stand C75, Hall 2.

- ends -

Note to editors:

1. Wayne Hodgkisson (Sales Manager) and Sue Clough (Customer Service Manager) of Kayaba

UK will be on the Kayaba stand during the afternoon of Thursday 16 Sept, and in the morning and early afternoon of Friday 17 Sept. They would be delighted to see you and tell you more about the company’s developments in the UK. Please either visit the stand at your convenience, or telephone Sue on 01925 417444 (office) or 07966 562007 (mobile) to make an appointment.

2. Fact sheet attached

To receive this release via e-mail, please contact: sue.hitchcock@lawsonclarke.co.uk
To obtain this press release and any accompanying image via the Internet, please visit the LawsonClarke on-line press centre at: www.lawsonclarke.com

For further information, please contact:

Sue Clough

Kayaba UK

Tel: 01925 417444

E-mail: sue@kayaba.co.uk

Issued by:

Jeremy Clarke

LawsonClarke Ltd

Tel: 01285 658844

E-mail: clarke@lawsonclarke.co.uk

Ref: KYB05/2004

KAYABA - THE FACTS

Kayaba UK is one of five wholly owned European subsidiaries of Kayaba Industry Company Ltd based in Tokyo. The other four companies are located in France, Germany, Italy and Spain
Kayaba Industry Company Ltd is Japan’s leading hydraulics manufacturer with a revenue of approximately $1.8 billion
In February 2004, Kayaba acquired 100% ownership of AP Amortiguadores SA (APA) in Spain, making it a wholly owned subsidiary and the key production base in Europe
Kayaba’s European headquarters are based at Krefeld, near Dusseldorf, Germany
60% of Kayaba’s global sales are from automotive shock absorbers
Kayaba is the world’s largest original equipment (OE) supplier of shock absorbers to vehicle manufacturers, with a 23% market share
The original equipment vehicle manufacturers (OEMs) Kayaba supplies include Audi-VW Group, DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, Suzuki and Toyota
The company also supplies original equipment front fork assemblies to many leading motorcycle manufacturers, for example, Suzuki, Kawasaki and Yamaha, and also makes aircraft landing gear, and suspension components for the Japanese Bullet train
Kayaba products are sold under the KYB brand
There are seven automotive shock absorber production plants worldwide
Kayaba UK was established in 1997, and has its office and 20,000 sq ft central distribution centre located adjacent to the M62 motorway at Warrington
The aftermarket product range for the UK includes five oil and gas shock absorber types - Premium, Excel G, Gas-a-Just, Ultra SR and AGX - for standard and performance cars, LCVs and 4x4s. Kayaba also supplies Suspension Mounting Kits, Protection Kits and K-Flex Coil Springs, including K-Force Lowering Kits
Kayaba UK has a stockholding of 130,000 shock absorbers and provides aftermarket car parc coverage of 98.7%, and an order fill of 99%
Kayaba supplies the UK aftermarket through a network of independent distributors

September 2004