Vast Majority of Americans Believe Hybrid Technology Is Strategically Important for...

Vast Majority of Americans Believe Hybrid Technology Is Strategically
Important for United States, Finds Johnson Controls Survey

Nine out of 10 consumers open to purchasing hybrid as next vehicle

MILWAUKEE, May 12 /PRNewswire/ -- A new Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) survey,
conducted by Harris Interactive(R), reveals that more than four in five U.S.
adults believe the United States must become a leader in hybrid vehicles
(88%), and that the government should support the advancement of battery
technology in this country (84%).

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Johnson Controls commissioned the survey, "Powering the United States Hybrid
Vehicle Industry," to understand consumer sentiment regarding hybrid vehicles
and to gain insight into the challenges and opportunities for broad market
acceptance in the United States. The online survey of more than 2,000 U.S.
adults, conducted in March 2009, finds that the biggest reasons why U.S.
adults think it is important that America become a leader in hybrid technology
are to reduce the nation's reliance on foreign oil (81%), create jobs (67%),
and reduce the U.S. impact on the environment (64%).

In fact, 90 percent of U.S. adults are open to choosing a hybrid if they were
in the market for a new vehicle. However, they also perceive major obstacles
to such a purchase today, most notably cost concerns: Four in five adults
(80%) think financial barriers such as purchase price and/or insufficient cost
savings prevent people from buying a hybrid car. At the same time, most see
incentives and tax credits as an effective way to encourage consumers to
purchase hybrid cars (84%). Among adults who do not already own a hybrid, more
than one in three (35%) would buy a comparable hybrid vehicle as long as it
was priced the same as the gasoline-powered equivalent, and more than one in
five (23%) would be willing to pay more. However, one-third would expect to
pay less.

"The survey makes one message abundantly clear: despite recognizing the
importance of hybrid technology and the role of government support, consumers
need costs to come down for the hybrid industry to thrive," said Kim
Metcalf-Kupres, Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing for Johnson
Controls. "The survey also suggests a need for consumer education, because
most people admit they don't really grasp how hybrids work or understand the
differences between the types of hybrid applications that are available," she
added.

In addition to cost barriers, many consumers may also think hybrid vehicle
performance should be equivalent or better than that of a comparable
gasoline-powered vehicle. When asked what might prevent people from buying a
hybrid car, 49 percent of adults cite reluctance to sacrifice features such as
size and horsepower, and 42 percent express concerns that hybrids might mean
inferior performance, lack of speed, or a poor driving experience. Further,
nearly half (47%) believe lack of understanding about hybrids in general
prevents people from buying them, and an even greater number (59%) have no
idea what the distinctions are between different types of hybrids.

"That U.S. consumers are open to the idea of purchasing a hybrid bodes well
for the development of a U.S. hybrid industry," said Alex Molinaroli,
President, Power Solutions, for Johnson Controls. "However, it's evident that
success in building the industry will depend on making it easier for consumers
to buy hybrids. We're doing good things in the United States to stimulate the
industry, but in the long run, it will be broad market acceptance and scale
that makes it sustainable."

Survey Methodology
The Johnson Controls survey, "Powering the U.S. Hybrid Vehicle Industry," was
conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive between March
9 and March 11, 2009 among 2,309 adults ages 18 and older, of whom, 35 (2%)
already own a hybrid car. Results were weighted as needed to reflect the
composition of the U.S. population of adults ages 18+ using targets for
region, age within gender, education, household income, race/ethnicity, and
propensity to be online. This online survey is not based on a probability
sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be
calculated. For further details, please contact Rebecca Fitzgerald, Johnson
Controls, at Rebecca.K.Fitzgerald@jci.com.

About Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) is the global leader that brings ingenuity to the
places where people live, work and travel. By integrating technologies,
products and services, we create smart environments that redefine the
relationships between people and their surroundings. Our team of 140,000
employees creates a more comfortable, safe and sustainable world through our
products and services for more than 200 million vehicles, 12 million homes and
one million commercial buildings. Our commitment to sustainability drives our
environmental stewardship, good corporate citizenship in our workplaces and
communities, and the products and services we provide to customers. For
additional information, please visit www.johnsoncontrols.com.

About Johnson Controls Power Solutions
Johnson Controls is the leading supplier of lead acid batteries for virtually
every type of passenger car, light truck or utility vehicle. Our commitment to
world-class technology and manufacturing excellence is reflected in our global
brands, including Optima, Varta, LTH and Heliar, as well as through the
private labels we supply. We are the leading independent provider of hybrid
battery systems that make vehicles more energy efficient. With dedicated
research and development centers worldwide, our employees continue to break
new ground in the development of advanced battery systems. We are driving
environmental excellence through global lead recycling efforts, as well as
energy efficiency improvements in manufacturing worldwide.

SOURCE Johnson Controls

Rebecca Fitzgerald of Johnson Controls, +1-414-524-2945,
Rebecca.K.Fitzgerald@jci.com