Ohio State University’s EcoCAR 3 wins Year 2 of U.S. Department of Energy competition

PLYMOUTH, Mich., July 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Johnson Controls Automotive Seating is proud to be the seating sponsor of the first-place award-winning EcoCAR 3 team. Johnson Controls’ team in Plymouth, Mich., supplied the custom seats for The Ohio State University’s winning lightweight vehicle in a national competition.

As the vehicle’s seating sponsor, Johnson Controls’ engineers conceptualized, designed and built eco-friendly seats that showcase the company’s innovative and sustainable products.

EcoCAR 3 is the latest Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition (AVTC) series sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and General Motors. EcoCAR 3 challenges 16 North American university teams to redesign a 2016 Chevrolet Camaro to further reduce its environmental impact, while maintaining the performance expected from this iconic American car. Teams have four years (2014-2018) to harness those ideas into the ultimate energy-efficient, high performance vehicle.

The Ohio State team, which included 35 undergraduate and graduate students, placed first place overall in the competition. The team won first place in 11 events, and placed in the top five in 30 out of 36 events.

In addition, they won the second place award for Project Management and the third place award for Communications and were the first team to be approved to drive their car at competition.

“Johnson Controls is proud to be the seating sponsor for this outstanding program and to provide the team with innovative, eco-friendly seats,” said Byron Foster, executive vice president of Johnson Controls Automotive Seating. “We congratulate the team and remain committed to supporting the next generation of vehicle designers.”

Features of the Johnson Controls seats, designed specifically for Ohio State’s EcoCAR, include:

• recyclable polyester fabric
• eco-thread stitching
• eco-adhesive lamination
• lightweight, soy-based foam
• bio-plastic side and back panels

About Johnson Controls:
Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. Our 150,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through our growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful. In 2016, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #17 company in its annual “100 Best Corporate Citizens” list. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com or follow @johnsoncontrols on Twitter.

About Johnson Controls Automotive Experience:
Johnson Controls Automotive Experience is a global leader in automotive seating components and systems. The company supports all major automakers in the differentiation of their vehicles through its products, technologies and advanced manufacturing capabilities. With more than 200 locations worldwide, Johnson Controls is where its customers need it to be. Consumers have enjoyed the comfort and style of Johnson Controls products, from single components to complete seat systems. With its global capability the company supplies more than 50 million cars per year. Johnson Controls pursues a spin-off of its Automotive Experience business. Following the separation, which is expected to take effect in October 2016, the Automotive Experience business will operate as the independent, publicly traded company Adient. Bruce McDonald will serve as the chairman and CEO of the new company.

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SOURCE Johnson Controls