The components include a two-pole inverter connection system, service plug and virtual instrument cluster.

CANTON, Mich., November 15, 2003 - Yazaki Corporation (Yazaki), a leading supplier of vehicle power and data solutions to the automotive industry, will supply several components to Toyota for its next generation, 2004 Prius gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle.

The components include a two-pole inverter connection system, service plug and virtual instrument cluster.

The two-pole inverter connector system includes two wire harness connectors, two electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielded aluminum cables and header connectors that mount to both the inverter and the battery. The system connects the vehicle's battery pack to the inverter that converts direct current from the battery to alternating current to power the electric motor that drives the front wheels.

The Yazaki harness saves weight and cost, compared to the previous version it supplied for the first-generation Prius. The aluminum cable is 31 percent lighter than the copper cable it replaces. The header connectors are lower cost because of simpler design and fewer parts. The wire harness incorporates EMI shielding to prevent electromagnetic interference with the radio and other devices in the car and ensures compliance with industry requirements for EMI.

The service plug disconnects the vehicle from the high-voltage battery power supply to enable safe servicing of the engine, electric motor and other components. Incorporating an integrated fuse and lever-assisted terminal insertion/removal design, the unit saves space and is easy to use.

The location of the Prius instrument panel at the base of the windshield introduced two challenges: little space and the potential for ambient light reflections to hinder the driver's view of information appearing on the instrument cluster. Yazaki's solution is a compact structure that internally incorporates two mirrors to prevent ambient reflections from being visible to the driver. This "virtual" cluster fits in the small space and provides a high-contrast display that supplies all key driver information such as speedometer, fuel and battery gauges, turn signal indicator and other read-outs.

"Yazaki's supplying these components for the 2004 Prius is a natural extension of the partnership we have had with Toyota for years," Myron Trenne, vice president of Research and Development, Yazaki North America, Inc., said. "Our experience and capability in power and data components and networks in the previous generation Prius position us well for both future generations of hybrids and fuel cell vehicles."

Yazaki Corporation is a global leader in the research, development and delivery of vehicle power and data solutions, as well as advanced electronic technologies for vehicle applications. Yazaki produces electrical distribution systems, fiber optics, advanced networking products, instrumentation, junction blocks, connector systems, and advanced electronics. Worldwide, the company employs more than 120,000 people in 38 countries, 1,500 of whom are based in the company's North American headquarters and research center campus in Canton, Michigan. For more information on Yazaki, log onto www.yazaki-na.com.
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Contact:

Brandon Dent
Yazaki North America
(734) 983-1104

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Michelle Zdrodowski
Franco Public Relations Group
(313) 567-5017