Valeo-Ichikoh Alliance Equips the Nissan Leaf Electric Vehicle With LED Low Beam Headlamps

PARIS, September 30, 2010 - Valeo and its partner in Japan, Ichikoh, have developed a new
generation of LED front lighting systems, unveiled as a world premiere on the
Nissan Leaf Electric Vehicle.

The Alliance's engineers have designed a cost-effective
LED-based headlamp, combining enhanced illumination close to daylight and
distinctive style. While the Nissan Leaf LED headlamp is cost and energy
efficient, it delivers a high level of performance, with brighter light color
on the road and a longer life span.

The optical system provides multiple innovative front lighting
solutions: the collector and reflector are combined as a single thermoplastic
part with no lens, giving it a more distinctive look than a conventional
headlamp.

With a flux on the road of more than 500 lumens, the wide beam
offers a good range and high homogeneity. Thanks to its color temperature of
5500K, it has been ranked at the level of HID lamps during night test
comparisons with different mass production headlamps.

This low beam module is the first on the market with efficient
power consumption as low as 50W per vehicle, using only 2 LED per headlamp.
The 2 LED-based design saves 30% more energy than the best 3 LED-based
headlamps currently on the market (70W).

Compared with other light sources, it saves up to 49% with
Xenon systems (90W) and 62% with Halogen (130W). The benefit is also very
high for conventional internal combustion engine vehicles with an average CO2
saving of 1g per km.

Valeo and its partner Ichikoh are positioned as a major player
on the booming LED front lighting market with the headlamps for the Nissan
Leaf, the first mass market 100% Electric Vehicle. Valeo and Ichikoh are
preparing for the future, working together on further innovative LED front
lighting solutions.

Valeo is an independent industrial Group fully focused on the
design, production and sale of components, integrated systems and modules for
the automotive industry, mainly for CO2 emissions reduction. Valeo ranks
among the world's top automotive suppliers. The Group has 117 plants, 21
Research centers, 40 Development centers, 10 distribution platforms and
employs 56,000 people in 27 countries worldwide.

For more information about the Valeo Group and its activities, please
visit our web site www.valeo.com.

For additional information, please contact: Sylvie Delion, Product Media Relations, Tel.: + 33-1-40-55-20-96