New Technology Actually Steers the Vehicle for Driver

    DETROIT, March 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Aisin Seiki Co. Ltd., one of the world's
leading Tier One automotive components suppliers, today announced that it has
taken the next step in the development of Intelligent Transportation Systems
by developing technologies that will actually park a vehicle for its driver.

    Intelligent Parking Assist - Automatic Steering
    In its effort to stay on the cutting edge of automotive technology and
passenger safety, Aisin Seiki used the 2004 SAE World Congress to introduce
Intelligent Parking Assist (IPA), a new technology which actually steers the
car for drivers performing difficult parking maneuvers in tight and
restrictive spaces, such as parallel or garage parking.  IPA utilizes an
electrically-operated power steering system and back-up guide monitor
technology.  With the cooperation of Toyota Motor Corporation, the system has
been installed on the new Japanese market Prius, which was introduced in
September 2003.
    This next generation, high-tech IPA intelligently processes information
and reacts accordingly.  It automatically directs the vehicle to a parking
target position by adjusting the vehicle speed according to the driver's
operation and braking.  No steering wheel operation is required, and the
driver simply has to keep his/her foot lightly on the brake pedal.  The target
parking position can be easily set by touch based on the camera image from the
rear of the vehicle.  This system is useful for beginning drivers, or drivers
who are challenged at garage parking or parallel parking.

    Parking Assist System - Guided Steering
    Previously, Aisin Seiki introduced early technology at SAE which assists
drivers by guiding them through parking maneuvers.  Interest in this parking
assist system has been increasing since Aisin Seiki first introduced rear
camera technology.  This parking assist technology, which has become a
building block for the new IPA, is now equipped on the Japanese-market Toyota
ESTIMA van, Toyota Harrier, Toyota Alphard, Toyota Crown and the
DaimlerChrysler Maybach for the Japanese market.
    Aisin Seiki's Parking Assist System is convenient and easy to use,
requiring the driver to operate the steering wheel while following the
instructions on the video monitor or voice guidance.  The system indicates
color-identified guide or boundary lines, such as the predicted course of the
vehicle, and overlaps them on the camera image seen on the touch screen, which
is provided by the camera at the rear of the vehicle.

    Aisin Seiki has committed to continuous development of other technologies
for the safety and convenience of drivers.  Aisin Seiki has led the way in
Image Processing Technology since the 1980s, along with Aisin AW, an Aisin
Group company and worldwide leader of auto navigation systems.  This
combination of expertise is the basis and the accelerating force for
development of ITS-related technologies.
    Based in Plymouth, Mich., AWA is a subsidiary of the Aisin Group, headed
by Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. with corporate offices in Kariya City, Aichi, Japan.
The Aisin Group is a worldwide supplier of automotive components, such as body
parts, drive train components, engine-related parts, brake and chassis parts
and information-related products.  In North America, the Aisin Group has 24
manufacturing, R & D and sales centers, and more than 6,000 employees.  In
2003, AWA sales reached $1.5 billion.

    Press Contacts:  Joe Rohatynski
                     Rohatynski PR Consulting
                     313-378-6570
                     joe@joepr.com

                     John Koenig
                     Aisin World Corp. of America
                     310-874-5823
                     jdkking@aol.com

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