Profits up at Johnson Controls

Johnson Controls Inc.’s Automotive Systems Group reported a 16% increase in sales for the three months ending March 31, 2003, in comparison to the same time period last year. Worldwide sales in this period rose to $4.1 billion from $3.5 billion, while operating income rose 8% to $158 million. The increase in sales is mainly a result of an increase in European automotive sales, which were up 44%, and battery sales, which rose 10%. The company reported a 2% increase of automotive sales in North America, with a 1% increase in interior systems.
Johnson Controls has over a 100 manufacturing plants worldwide, including 8 in Canada.