Methode's fortunes tied to Big 3; Friday Close: $10.84.(Markets)(Chery Automobile Company Ltd.)(Honda Motor Company Ltd.)(Brief article)

Crain's Chicago Business, December, 2006 by Levine, Daniel Rome

Byline: Daniel Rome Levine The pick: Ms. Scinto began buying shares of the Chicago-based maker of electronic components in early 2003, when the stock was trading at around $9.50. Voyageur owns 104,000 shares purchased at an average price of $11 each. The reasons: The company is accelerating a drive to reduce dependence on struggling U.S.

automakers. The Big Three account for 72% of its total auto sales, its biggest business. Asian carmakers account for 4% of sales, a figure the company wants to raise to 10% by 2010. Methode is supplying Honda Motor Co. with a critical airbag component for its Civic and CRV models and will be supplying Chinese automaker Chery Automobile Co. with switches starting with its 2009 model year cars. In the U.S., the company is...

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