just-auto Interviews Delphi CEO on Europe, Company Strategy

BROMSGROVE, England, June 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Just days after Delphi made an ambitious offer to acquire FCI Group's Motorised Vehicles Division (MVL), just-auto's Simon Warburton caught up with CEO of Delphi, Rodney O'Neal.

In this exclusive two part interview, O'Neal talks of Delphi's emergence from a turbulent Chapter 11, its plans for a greener automotive future, on dealing with French Trade Unions and his views on the state of Europe's economic struggle.

"If Europe does not do well, the world will not do well," he maintains.

But Delphi is nevertheless positioning for expansion.

"We know FCI and we have looked at it for years," O'Neal told just-auto when asked about the decision on the proposed acquisition of MVL. "It is a unique asset in the connector space - we have a very strong connector business and this just solidifies and improves customer diversification particularly with customers like Nissan," he added.

Subject to terms of acceptance, the transaction will be valued at US$962m and is Delphi's first major purchase since its emergence from bankruptcy.

O'Neal provides an insight on how he believes the economic pressures in Europe will impact on Delphi's proposed plans. "Europe is our largest region, around 43% of our company," but he insists that "our largest customers are the German OEMs, who, even in a downturn had a very robust year last year."

For its part in the automotive industry, Delphi will be heavily involved with electrical vehicles. "We are participating in the electrification of vehicles from hybrids to fully electric," revealed O'Neal, also adding that "it is an exciting spot, there is room for EVs".

With an extremely positive outlook, O'Neal hints at things to come "We are helping to create the technology of tomorrow".

Read more on just-auto.com for the full two part interview.

About just-auto.com

Established in 1999, just-auto is a leading online resource for the global automotive industry, publishing around 50 news articles, analysis features and insights every working day. Under the direction of Managing Editor David Leggett, its experienced team of journalists, consultants and analysts provide a unique blend of automotive news, interviews and research that is delivered to over 90,000 business executives per month.

Via its website, webinars and QUBE, CONSULT and PLDB research platforms, just-auto offers insight into OEM and supplier corporate strategies, manufacturing developments, in-depth management briefings, supplier technologies and innovations, component market trends and forecasts and current/future car model programmes.

For details of how just-auto is "helping decision makers make decisions" visit http://www.just-auto.com.

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