HARMAN Suzhou Global Product Development Center in China Starts Operations

Pioneering facility seamlessly integrates innovation, development and
production

SHANGHAI–(BUSINESS WIRE)–HARMAN
International Industries
, Incorporated (NYSE:HAR), the premier
connected technologies company for automotive, consumer and enterprise
markets, today commenced operations of the HARMAN Suzhou Global Product
Development Center (PDC). The new facility, located in the Suzhou
Industrial Park, is HARMAN’s largest comprehensive R&D hub for car audio
products worldwide, and the third global car audio product development
center following the United States and Germany. The Suzhou PDC will work
side-by-side with HARMAN’s existing manufacturing facility on the same
site for seamless integration of development and production, making
HARMAN the only supplier in China’s automotive branded audio industry to
boast full value chain capabilities including sourcing, R&D, production,
technical support and distribution and retailing.

“HARMAN’s new development center in Suzhou is a physical testament to
our commitment to customer focus and innovation – two of our key
corporate values,” said Dinesh C. Paliwal, HARMAN Chairman, President &
Chief Executive Officer. “China is the largest automotive manufacturer
and market in the world, and the launch of the HARMAN Suzhou PDC not
only moves us closer to the Chinese market and customers, but
strengthens our global development networks. It also represents a
strategic step to drive our continuous high-speed growth in China
through innovation and quality excellence – and reflects the
government’s priorities for ‘Smart Manufacturing in China.’”

“At its essence, HARMAN innovation is based on identifying customer
needs and seeking the best possible solutions,” said Mr. David Jin.
“With our development center and production facility in Suzhou and
backed by HARMAN’s global innovation resources, we can stay closer to
the China market, get feedback quickly and directly, shorten the product
development cycle, better meet customer expectations and more flexibly
reach out to the global market. Breakthrough innovations and close
collaboration with manufacturing will allow us to continuously deliver
outstanding solutions.”

Covering 12,000 square meters, the Suzhou PDC can accommodate 350
scientists, engineers and supporting teams, and features advanced R&D
facilities. The facility boasts world-class product development labs,
testing labs and pilot manufacturing lines. It will be responsible for
providing product testing services to HARMAN plants globally supporting
tests for acoustic environment, EMC, machinery, acoustic inspection, and
stability and consistency.

The Suzhou PDC and other regional product development centers will work
seamlessly to cross share best product design knowledge and new audio
technology implementation methodology to enable trans-regional
cooperation with local and global partners as it leverages HARMAN’s
global research network. The Suzhou PDC will work closely with
fast-growing automakers in China, such as BAIC Motors, BYD, Changan,
Chery, Geely, Great Wall, SAIC-GM, and build HARMAN as a one-stop
premium audio solution supplier serving the China market, as well as
offer technical support and state-of-the-art solutions to leading auto
brands worldwide.

Established in 2006, the Suzhou production facility is HARMAN’s largest
R&D and production base in the Far East and Asia Pacific. With its
strong confidence in the China market, HARMAN has continued to invest in
China and locate its global car audio product development center in
Suzhou to further sharpen its competitiveness in this dynamic market. In
the 2015 fiscal year, HARMAN recorded approximately US$680 million in
China-related revenues, with an annualized growth rate of approximately
53% over the last six years.

ABOUT HARMAN

HARMAN (harman.com) designs and engineers connected products and
solutions for automakers, consumers and enterprises worldwide, including
connected car systems, audio and visual products, enterprise automation
solutions and connected services. With leading brands including AKG®,
Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson® and Revel®,
HARMAN is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues
where they perform around the world. More than 25 million automobiles on
the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and connected car systems.
The Company’s software services power billions of mobile devices and
systems that are connected, integrated and secure across all platforms,
from work and home to car and mobile. HARMAN has a workforce of
approximately 28,000 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and
reported sales of $6.5 billion during the 12 months ended December 31,
2015. The Company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange
under the symbol NYSE:HAR.

HAR-C

© 2016 HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated. All rights
reserved. Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Lexicon and Mark Levinson are
trademarks of HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated, registered
in the United States and/or other countries. AKG is a trademark of AKG
Acoustics GmbH, registered in the United States and/or other countries.
Features, specifications and appearance are subject to change without
notice.

Contacts

HARMAN International Industries
Darrin Shewchuk, +1 203-328-3500
Senior
Director, Corporate Communications
darrin.shewchuk@harman.com

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