9 April 1998: US-based Donnelly Corporation, the international automotive supplier, announced that it has new business commitments that will make significant expansions to the amount of Donnelly conte…
9 April 1998: US-based Donnelly Corporation, the international automotive supplier, announced that it has new business commitments that will make significant expansions to the amount of Donnelly content on two of Ford Motor Company“s top-selling vehicles. On the Ford Taurus programme, Donnelly said it has maintained its position as an encapsulated window supplier and has added commitments to supply complete outside mirrors for Ford“s best-selling sedan. The company will produce mirrors for several different trim levels in North America, as well as units for export. Donnelly produces backlight windows for the Taurus programme, and with the addition of the mirror business in a near-future model year, the company said it will dramatically increase its dollar content per vehicle on the Taurus programme. In a second vehicle programme, Donnelly will supply electrochromic mirrors for the Ford Expedition, one of the country“s “hottest-selling sport utility vehicles,” the company said. The company already supplies a number of components for the Expedition, including windows and interior lighting and trim. Electrochromic mirrors dim automatically to reduce dangerous headlight glare from following vehicles during night-time driving. It will also supply base electrochromic mirrors and electrochromic mirrors that feature Donnelly“s compass/temperature display, which gives readouts on both functions simultaneously. The programme is expected to begin in a near-future model year. “This is an exciting time to be working with Ford, especially on programmes of this stature,” said Greg Dalman, director of Donnelly“s Ford business unit. “It is great to see our technologies going onto vehicles that are leaders in their segments.”