Fender Premium Audio System Born From Collaboration Between Panasonic Automotive Systems Company Of America And Fender Musical Instruments Corp

Collaboration between panasonic automotive systems company of america and fender musical instruments corp. To be featured on select 2012 volkswagen models. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) January 13, 2011 - Industry-leading mobile audio supplier Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America and Fender Musical Instruments Corp - the iconic manufacturer of guitars, basses, amplifiers and related equipment - today announced that its partnership has resulted in the all-new Fender Premium Audio System that will be featured in select 2012 Volkswagen models. The 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GTI will be the first VW model featuring the Fender Premium Audio System and will be available in dealerships this Spring.

The Fender Premium Audio System encompasses three years of research and was developed hand-in-hand with the Volkswagen vehicle design team, resulting in a nine-speaker system that delivers uncompromised clarity regardless of volume, with a unique Fender sound.

"When Panasonic Automotive first partnered with Fender in 2007, our charge was to bring a 'platform for creativity' to the automotive market," said Allen Kudla, Sales and Marketing Senior Vice President, for Panasonic Automotive Systems.

"We strongly believe that successful brands need more than just an identity; they need a personality. The Fender Premium Audio System includes both Fender's iconic name and a legendary passion for music."

The Fender Premium Audio System features 9-speakers and 400 watts of system power. The speakers have been uniquely designed and feature proprietary Panasonic technology to reproduce the individual elements of the "Fender sound."

"The Fender Premium Audio System is the result of creative and technical expertise and collaboration between the teams at Fender and Panasonic," said Mark Van Vleet, Senior Vice President, Business Affairs for Fender. "The result of these combined efforts is an audio system that is unique, expressive and dynamic."

The Fender Premium Audio System includes:

• Fender Deluxe™ Tweeter
- 2-ohm, soft dome with neodymium magnet
- Wide frequency range and extension
- Incredibly low distortion
- Excellent off-axis performance
- Reveals the harmonic richness of voices and instruments

• Fender Twin™ Speaker
- 16cm with dual voice coils
- Ribbed polypropylene honeycomb cone
- Wide frequency range and extension
- High power-handling capability
- Lightweight and low distortion
- Enjoyable, even when loud

• Fender Bassman™ Subwoofer
- 20cm with dual voice coils
- Lightweight and high-efficiency neodymium magnet
- Glass-fiber reinforced foamed paper
- Super-low distortion
- High power-handling capability
- Powerful and precise bass response

Panasonic and Fender engineers worked painstakingly to uniquely tune the system for each individual vehicle's interior, thus customizing the sound and allowing VW's customers to experience the raw emotion of a live performance each time they drive their vehicle.

"The best seat in the house is now behind the wheel of a Volkswagen," said Jonathan Browning, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America. "Our two iconic companies - one with a passion for driving, one with a passion for music - are joining forces to bring the raw emotion of live music to the driving experience."

About Fender Musical Instruments Corporation:

Fender® is the number one U.S. guitar and amplifier brand and a name that is synonymous with rock 'n' roll. With an illustrious history dating back to 1946, Fender has touched and transformed music worldwide and in nearly every genre: rock 'n'roll, country and western, jazz, rhythm and blues, and many more. Everyone from enthusiasts and beginners to the world¹s most acclaimed artists and performers have used Fender instruments and amplifiers, in the process making the company not only a revered music industry name, but also a cultural icon. For more information, visit www.fender.com.

About Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America:

Based in Peachtree City, Georgia, and with Detroit-area operations located in Southfield, MI, Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America is a division company of Secaucus, New Jersey-based Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation. (NYSE: PC) of Osaka, Japan, one of the world's leading developers and producers of innovative digital and other electronic products for consumer, business and industrial use. Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America also acts as the North American operating company of Panasonic¹s Automotive Systems Company, which coordinates global automotive industry systems and components operations. For more information on Panasonic, visit www.panasonic.com/automotive.

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