MERIDIAN ANNOUNCES OPENING OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICE IN TOKYO, JAPAN

Meridian Automotive Systems has announced the opening of a new Business Development Office in Tokyo, Japan. The office will be the base of Meridian’s Asian sales and engineering activities in support of new business with automotive customers in Japan (Honda, Toyota, Hino, Nissan, Honda, Mazda) and Korea (Hyundai-Kia).

“The opening of the Business Development Office is an important step in increasing Meridian’s presence in Japan, and demonstrates our commitment to the key customers and OEM decision-makers there,” stated Dan Dowdall, Meridian’s Vice President - International Business Unit (IBU). “It provides Meridian with a central location to hold internal and customer meetings, and conduct technical and commercial work in support of our existing programs and new opportunities.”

The Meridian Business Development Office is in a professional building in downtown Tokyo, just a few blocks from the Tokyo Station. The grand-opening ceremonies were held in May 2005, and were attended by Minoru Furuta (Senior Asian Advisor - retired), Hiromichi Gotoh (Senior Asian Advisor), Tamutso Uto (Sales/Engineering Liaison), Joe Boczar (IBU Chief Engineer), and Dan Dowdall (IBU Vice President).

Meridian’s International Business Unit was established in 2004 to expand Meridian’s business with “transnational” OEMs. Meridian’s current “international” customers include Honda, Toyota, Nissan, and Mitsubishi.