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Hitachi's System Architecture is selected by Delphi Delco Electronics AND MANNESMANN VDO AG for Development of Next-Generation IN-Car InfoTAINMENT Systems

Industry leaders endorse Hitachi's silicon solution as industry standard



San Jose, CA and Maidenhead, UK – October 16, 2000 - Hitachi, Ltd., Semiconductor and Integrated Circuits Group today announced that two of the world's leading automotive suppliers, Mannesmann VDO AG of Germany and Delphi Delco Electronics Systems of the United States, will base their next-generation car information systems (CIS) on Hitachi's system architecture. In addition, the companies are individually collaborating with Hitachi for research and development of a standards-based solution.

As a key supplier in the emerging CIS market, Hitachi will offer a standard hardware solution based around its SuperH® microprocessor family and companion chips. This solution will be tailored to suit individual applications at a software level to ensure the increasing consumer demand for integrated in-car systems is met in the most effective way. The resulting in-car multimedia solution will integrate audio, navigation, communication, video, entertainment, safety and security capabilities within vehicles. The innovative new systems will be incorporated in vehicles debuting around 2003.

Commenting on the cooperation agreement, Robert W. Schumacher, director, Delphi MobileMedia group of Delphi Delco Electronics, said: "Hitachi's partnership approach to the development of an open platform and common chipset provides the performance versatility and functionality we seek for our future mobile multimedia applications."

"Our needs are defined by the customers," said Mr. Rolf-Juergen Bruess, Senior Executive Vice President, Technology, VDO Car Communication. "We require an open architecture that delivers high performance, cost efficiency and upgradablility with a clear development roadmap. We are convinced that with Hitachi we have found an excellent partner to exploit advanced technology in order to master solutions for tomorrow's mobile world based on our Top Level Architecture TLA".

New Architecture to Lead the Industry

Hitachi is creating the industry's first, open architecture for car information systems, capable of supporting all major operating systems. As well as extending its development activities in partnership with VDO and Delphi Delco Electronics Systems, Hitachi is working with a number of systems partners to create the de facto standard for advanced mobile infotainment systems.

The core of Hitachi's system architecture is the industry-leading SuperH 32-bit RISC engine, an embedded microprocessor that optimises the balance between power, performance and cost, making it an ideal platform for the development of in-car multimedia systems and other applications. It is already one of the most successful processor platforms for car navigation systems and has been used as a reference processor core by Microsoft for WindowsÒ CE for automotive.

In addition to the SuperH RISC processor, the dedicated CIS solution incorporates a companion chip called AMANDA, which combines multiple functions needed in this type of system. AMANDA includes a high-performance, two-dimensional graphics engine, video input and communication peripherals. Further details of the AMANDA Companion Chip will be available toward the end of the year. Holger Zielke, Automotive Group Executive, Electronic Components Group, Hitachi Europe Ltd., added: "We are delighted that two of the world's leading developers of in-car multimedia systems have selected Hitachi's architecture to form the platform for the development of next generation car information systems. "We believe that our SuperH family of microprocessors, combined with the best of other industry-leading components and operating systems will become the de facto standard for in-car infotainment systems."



Ali Sebt, Vice President of Product Business Units for Hitachi Semiconductor (America) Inc., said: "Hitachi's relationship with Delphi and VDO is a prime example of how we can provide a complete system solution including integration of multiple operating systems and efficient middleware. This addresses our customers' time-to-market needs and enables the delivery of content and services for personal information electronics."

About Delphi Delco Electronics

Multi-national Delphi Automotive Systems-Delphi Delco Electronics , with headquarters in Troy, Mich., USA, Paris, Tokyo and São Paulo, Brazil, is a world leader in mobile electronics and transportation components and systems technology. Delphi's three business sectors – Dynamics & Propulsion; Safety, Thermal & Electrical Architecture; and Electronics & Mobile Communication – provide comprehensive product solutions to complex customer needs. Delphi has approximately 216,000 employees and operates 179 wholly owned manufacturing sites, 41 joint ventures, 53 customer centres and sales offices and 31 technical centres in 39 countries. Delphi can be found on the Internet at www.delphiauto.com.

About Mannesmann VDO AG

VDO is one of the world's leading automotive suppliers for information and cockpit systems, audio and navigation systems, control electronics and tank systems. With components, modules and complete systems, VDO achieved total sales of 3.5 billion Euros in 1999. VDO has 24,000 employees worldwide. Being one of the Mannesmann Atecs automotive and engineering companies, VDO has been bought by Siemens AG and Robert Bosch GmbH. As soon as the antitrust authorities have approved of this, VDO will be merged with Siemens Automotive. Under the name of Siemens VDO Automotive, the new company will be the powerhouse of automotive electronics with the main business areas of powertrain, safety and chassis, carbody, information and cockpit systems and communication and multimedia.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the world's leading global electronics companies, with fiscal 1999 (ended March 31, 2000) consolidated sales of 8,001 billion yen ($75.5 billion*). The company manufactures and markets a wide range of products, including computers, semiconductors, consumer products and power and industrial equipment. For more information on Hitachi, Ltd., please visit Hitachi's Web site at http://global.hitachi.com/. Hitachi's Semiconductor products are sold through subsidiary companies of Hitachi, Ltd. in North America, Europe and Asia.

*At an exchange rate of 106 yen to the dollar

About Hitachi Semiconductor (America) Inc.

Hitachi Semiconductor (America) Inc. a subsidiary of Hitachi America, Ltd., in turn a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE: HIT), supports the requirements of the North American marketplace with a broad range of standard and low-power semiconductor solutions. Offering some of the industry's most popular RISC microprocessors, and memory components among other semiconductor solutions, Hitachi provides chips to the world's leading device manufacturers within industrial, consumer and emerging market applications. Hitachi's substantial design engineering, research and development facilities in the United States help bring the world's best technology to U.S. customers. Additional product and contact information can be found on Hitachi Semiconductor's Website at http://www.hitachi.com/semiconductor.

About Hitachi Europe Ltd.

Hitachi Europe Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., Japan. It has operations throughout Europe, which provide sales, marketing, technical support and research & development. Please visit Hitachi Europe's Web site at http://www.hitachi-eu.com.

http://b2b.hsa.hitachi.com/hsa/Universal/pressrelease/system_architecture_selected_b.html