Group Delphi history

In 1991, General Motors organized its many separate parts operations--spread across some 200 plants--into its Automotive Components Group (ACG). Sales were $19.3 billion in 1991, but the unit posted significant losses.

A new group of managers was placed in charge of ACG in 1992.

ACG was renamed Delphi Automotive in January 1995 to help establish its independent identity in the industry.

Delphi began implementing a Japanese-style lean manufacturing system in 1996.

By the end of 1997, Delphi had invested $300 million on plants in the People's Republic of China, where GM had a major automaking venture (as did Volkswagen). The company's technology, such as that in airbags, was increasingly in demand.

Almost 85 percent of Delphi's Asian sales were coming from clients other than GM. Delphi would be hit hard by the currency devaluations that attended the 1998 Asian financial crisis, but would remain committed to its investment in the region.

GM conducted an initial public offering (IPO) of 17.7 percent of Delphi's shares in February 1999, which raised $1.7 billion.

In July 2000, Delphi announced plans to dismiss 900 manufacturing workers in Europe as part of a restructuring there.

At the end of 2001, the company had approximately 350 new products, in various stages of production, with plans to introduce them during the next three years.

Delphi was scheduled to lose its right of last refusal for replacement business in North America with GM on January 1, 2002.