BASF Coatings honored by General Motors as 2006 Supplier of the Year

Münster / Southfield. BASF Coatings is the proud recipient of General Motors’ Supplier of the Year Award for 2006. The Supplier of the Year Award recognizes BASF for outstanding performance as a global supplier of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) coatings. It is the fourth time in five years that BASF has received this award.

Jay Baker, President of BASF’s Coatings business in North America, was honored to accept the award on behalf of BASF during GM’s “Best of the Best” recognition ceremony at the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes in Florida.

“We are proud to honor BASF as one of the ‘Best of the Best’ GM suppliers in 2006,” said Bo Andersson, GM group vice president, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain. "BASF achieved the award based on outstanding performance in 2006. We appreciate their energy, hard work and dedication to the success of GM.”

“It is truly an honor to be recognized as a global supplier exemplifying the level of performance that General Motors expects from the ‘Best of the Best’ in this very competitive environment,” said Baker. “Winning this award four times since 2002 is a tremendous source of pride for all of our employees as we work every day to strengthen our relationship with General Motors by providing world class products and services.”

Joe Schmondiuk, BASF Global Account Director for GM, is pleased to be a General Motors “Best of the Best” Supplier of the Year as the distinguished award recognizes BASF’s commitment to quality, innovation and high value services. “The BASF global team is dedicated to providing excellence in everything we do for General Motors,” said Schmondiuk. “We will work even harder in the future to ensure BASF supports General Motors and continues to build on a successful partnership.”

The GM Supplier of the Year award began as a global program in 1992. Winners are selected by a global team of executives from purchasing, engineering, manufacturing and logistics who base their decisions on supplier performance in quality, service, technology and price. This year, General Motors honored 89 suppliers for their outstanding performance throughout 2006.

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About BASF Coatings

BASF Coatings, the Coatings Division of the BASF Group, develops, produces and markets a high-quality range of innovative automotive OEM coatings, automotive refinishes and industrial coatings as well as decorative paints. BASF has significant market positions in the Coatings sector in Europe, North America, South America and the Asia/Pacific region. In 2006 BASF Coatings achieved global sales of about 2.3 billion euros. The Internet address of BASF Coatings is www.basf-coatings.com

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. As a reliable partner to virtually all industries, BASF’s high-value products and intelligent system solutions help its customers to be more successful. BASF develops new technologies and uses them to meet the challenges of the future and open up additional market opportunities. It combines economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility, thus contributing to a better future. BASF has approximately 95,000 employees and posted sales of €52.6 billion in 2006. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA), New York (BF) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

BASF Automotive Solutions. Performance Passion Success

BASF – The Chemical Company – is a leading-edge source of intelligent sustainable solutions to automotive manufacturers and their suppliers worldwide. With a full portfolio of technologies that include coatings, catalysts, engineering thermoplastics, polyurethanes, pigments and colorants, coolants and brake fluids for a broad array of exterior, interior, chassis and under-the-hood applications, BASF – The Chemical Company - develops and delivers the innovations that help the automotive industry improve the quality, appearance, safety, cost competitiveness, performance, comfort, fuel efficiency, sustainability. Website: www.automotive.basf.com