R&D Expenditure

( in millions of JPY )

-	FY2007	FY2006	FY2005
R&D	495	452	523

R&D structure
-Each department's technical group works in cooperation with the R&D division, which is in charge of development for the entire group.
-The main areas of R&D are research on vehicle rear view systems and development of highly functional fine glass.
-The total number of R&D staff is 37, which includes the R&D division at the headquarters and technical groups at each department.

Main R&D fields

1.	Automotive rear-view recognition system
	-	Camera units to eliminate blind spots
	-	Development of a new mechanized mirror
	-	Development of weight saving and standardized structures
	-	Development of products for hydrophilic film
	-	Development of safety mirrors
2.	High function fine glass
	-	Development of various optical filters and a high-reflective mirrors
	-	Development of high-precision curved surface mirrors
	-	Development of light-adjusting filters (mirrors)
	-	Development of ECD production method

In Nov. 2007, the Company announced that it will work on expanding the application of door mirrors with built-in video cameras and offering new technical solutions to its customers. Because unfolded door mirrors are not included in the vehicle width based on the safety standard, the video cameras equipped in a door mirror have an edge over on-vehicle cameras in terms of the area they can capture. Leveraging this advantage, the company intends to link this camera system with car positioning sensor systems and drive video recorders, developing ways to integrate this technology in the future intelligent transport systems (ITSs). Aiming to achieve greater sales, it will study the possibility of employing the camera system as an input device of drive video recorders. In addition, the company will carry out development activities to use the door mirror camera as a core image system in the ITS age; it can be employed as a camera system to check lane departure and monitor distance between the car and the vehicle moving ahead. (From an article in the Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun on Nov. 14, 2007)

Licensing of technology to other companies (as of March 2008)

Partner	Location	Contract	Contract Period
Ken Sean Factory Co., Ltd.	Taiwan	To supply design and manufacturing technology on Automotive Rear-view Mirrors to automakers in Taiwan (except Ford Lio Ho Motor) including Japanese automakers	2008.02.01-2009.01.31 *
Ampas Industries Co., Ltd.	Thailand	To supply design and manufacturing technology on Automotive Rear-view Mirrors	2007.12.29-2008.12.28 *
Delloyd Industries (M) Sdn. Bhd.	Malaysia	To supply design and manufacturing technology on Automotive Rear-view Mirrors	2007.12.05-2008.12.04 *
Fu-Hwa Glass Co., Ltd.	Taiwan	To supply design and manufacturing technology on Automotive Rear-view Mirrors to automakers in Taiwan (except Kuozui Motors) including Japanese automakers	2008.04.01-2009.03.31 *
TATA FICOSA Automotive Systems,LTD.	India	To supply design and manufacturing technology on Automotive Rear-view Mirrors	From September 1, 2004 to the completion of delivery of the products subject to the contract
FICOSA Do Brasil ,LTDA.	Brazil	To supply design and manufacturing technology on Automotive Rear-view Mirrors	2004.09.01-2009.08.31
Ficosa International S.A.	Spain	To supply design and manufacturing technology on Automotive Rear-view Mirrors	2007.06.30-2008.06.29 *
Murakami Ampas (Thailand) Co., Ltd.	Thailand	To supply design and manufacturing technology on Automotive Rear-view Mirrors	2007.07.01-2008.06.30 *
Murakami Manufacturing U.S.A. Inc.	USA	To supply design and manufacturing technology on Automotive Rear-view Mirrors	2008.01.01-2008.12.31 *
Murakami Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd.	Thailand	To supply design and manufacturing technology on Automotive Rear-view Mirrors	2007.06.30-2008.06.29 *
Jiazing Murakami Ishizaki Corporation	China	To supply design and manufacturing technology on Automotive Rear-view Mirrors	2007.08.01-2008.07.31 *

* Contracts are renewed every year if both parties agree.

R&D