Visteon Corporation, a leading global automotive supplier, was recognized as being one of the most important investors in the Czech Republic

Visteon Corporation, a leading global automotive supplier, was recognized as being one of the most important investors in the Czech Republic when Dr. Karl Krause, Visteon's manufacturing vice president for Europe and South America, received the "Investor of the Year 2003" award from Czech Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla. Visteon's Czech subsidiary, Autopal, earned the recognition in an evaluation by the CZECHTOP 100 Association. Investment projects with the highest contribution to the Czech economic development were honored recently during a ceremony at Prague's castle. In the category of "investments with the highest innovative potential," Visteon/Autopal ranked third for the development of innovative lighting and climate control technology. Autopal also ranked in the top 60 of the most important companies in the Czech Republic in the "sales in 2003" category. Autopal ranked 21st in exports and also ranked high in the most "dynamic company" category. Autopal's overall investment in the Czech Republic in 2003 was 30.2 million Czech Republic Koruny (CZK) ($1.2 million U.S.), of which more than 15 million CZK ($600,000 U.S.) went toward employee training. As a result of this investment 50 new positions were created in the area of new product design and development.