Chrysler 2009 Annual Report Download - page 112

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All business lines suffered from the recession. Highlights of the operating performance of the individual business
lines are provided below.
Lighting
Revenues totalled €1,228 million in 2009, a decrease of 19% over the previous year. The general drop in sales
volumes attributable to the global financial crisis was most pronounced in the medium-to-high-end segment,
where the business line is most active.
Innovations included the Bihalogen Projection Module, a new halogen standard that provides a brighter and
wider beam of light.
Major new orders included: headlamps for Mercedes, Audi and Skoda models, and headlamps and tail lights
for Land Rover and Peugeot.
Engine Control
Revenues totalled €850 million for 2009, a drop of 9% over 2008. Performance varied by region, with declines
in Europe and the US contrasted by growth in India - driven by the production of diesel control units - and
China, while performance in Brazil was in line with the previous year.
New products launched during the year included throttle bodies for Peugeot and Citroen and for the South
African, Indian and Russian markets, as well as the GDI injector for the Volkswagen group. Innovation focused
on development of components and battery packs for electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as projects to reduce
nitrogen oxide emissions on diesel engines.
Major orders received during the year included: for Fiat, CNG systems for the Grande Punto and the MultiAir
control unit for the Punto Evo and MiTo; for Volkswagen, systems for 1.0 and 1.4 engines; for Fiasa, systems
for 1.6/1.8 Tritec engines; and the Freechoice system for General Motors in Brazil.
Suspension Systems
Revenues for the year totalled €525 million, representing a 23% decrease over the prior year on a like-for-like
basis. The largest decline was in Italy and was due to the contraction in the production of light commercial
vehicles. For the business line’s other principal markets: Poland benefited from an increase in sales to Fiat and
other manufacturers, and Brazil was in line with 2008.
The principal production launch during the year was the suspension system for the Fiat 500C in Poland, while
major new orders included the strut for future BMW platforms, which will be manufactured in Poland.
Shock Absorbers
Revenues for the business line totalled €281 million for 2009. The 11% decline over the previous year was
attributable to the drop in both the European and American markets. Poland was the only market to record an
increase in revenues over 2008.
In 2009, production began on the electronic Synaptic Damping Control suspension system for the Lancia Delta
and Alfa Romeo MiTo. The main innovation projects included: an inertial valve (a new valve for shock absorbers)
and the selectronic project (a new concept in electronic shock absorber).