/Repeat With Photo Information/

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Sept. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Lear Corporation (NYSE: LEA),
in its first expansion into the rapidly emerging Chinese market, today
announced plans to form a joint venture with Jiangling Motors Co., Ltd. in
Nanchang, China.  The announcement was made during a letter-of-intent signing
ceremony today at Lear's Ford Division headquarters in Allen Park, Mich., with
Robert Rossiter, President and COO of Lear, and Mr. Sun Min, Chairman and
President of Jiangling Motors.
    The new company, Jiangling-Lear, Interior System Co., Ltd., will support
the nearby Jiangling Motors plant, supplying seats and interior trim for Isuzu
Trucks and Ford Transit Vans.  The letter of intent provides that Lear and
Jiangling Motors each will hold a 50 percent share in the company, which will
operate from an existing facility in Nanchang.  The new company will provide
seats for 150,000 vehicles annually.
    "This is an excellent opportunity for two quality organizations to
capitalize on the growth and economic potential of China," said Lear Chairman
and CEO Ken Way.  "We look forward to working with Jiangling Motors to provide
customers with high-quality products and expand our global reach to include
the Southeast Asian market."
    Industry executives predict substantial growth in the Southeast Asian
market during the next 10 to 20 years.  Vehicle sales in China are expected to
triple over the next few years, from 1.2 million to more than 3 million,
fueled by the fact that China has 20 percent of the world's population, but
less than one percent of its vehicles.
    Jiangling Motors Corp., headquartered in Nanchang, China, is a state-owned
company recently named one of the country's top 300 firms.  Jiangling Motors
currently produces light trucks, under license from Japan's Isuzu Motors Ltd.,
and a European light truck that will begin production in late 1997 with the
Ford Transit Vans.
    A Fortune 500 Company, Lear Corporation is the world's largest independent
supplier of automotive interior systems, with 1995 sales of $4.7 billion.  In
1995, Lear was the third largest independent automotive supplier in North
America and one of the tenth largest in the world.  The company's world-class
products are manufactured by more than 40,000 employees in 135 facilities
located in 19 countries.
    Information about Lear and its products is available on the Internet at
http://www.lear.com.

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