Worth noting

Johnson Controls Inc. will decide within a year whether to put a design “listening post” in Barcelona, Spain, or somewhere in Italy, to keep up with European design trends. The supplier has 240 people in its design departments worldwide, with main studios in Plymouth, MI, and Burscheid, Germany. Barcelona — the home of design studios for many European automakers — “is a hot spot,” says David Muyers, vice president for design.

Dana Corp.'s Spicer Light Vehicle Axle and Spicer Driveshaft Groups will provide rear axle assemblies and rear main driveshafts for Isuzu Motors Ltd.'s new 2002 Axiom, a sport/utility based on Isuzu's Rodeo platform. Production begins this month. In addition, Dana will supply ride-height sensors for the 2002 Lincoln Blackwood luxury sport/utility vehicle (SUV) when it arrives in U.S. showrooms in early 2001. Dana already supplies other Ford pickups and SUVs with the sensors, which provide vehicle height information and allows for the chassis to be raised or lowered for a smoother ride.