PHOENIX & IEPER, Belgium--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 29, 2004--

          Companies work to increase power management options
                    for next-generation automobiles

To provide better service to the automotive industry and expand sourcing options for advanced line transceivers, ON Semiconductor (Nasdaq: ONNN) and Melexis (Euronext Brussels: MELE) today announced that they will jointly market advanced devices and are working towards sharing Intellectual Property (IP) for independent product development by both companies.

ON Semiconductor and Melexis will jointly promote Local Interconnect Network (LIN) and Controller Area Network (CAN) transceiver products taking advantage of ON Semiconductor's firmly established distribution channels and extensive customer relationships in the automotive industry. Melexis will continue to market its product line of LIN and CAN transceivers to provide automotive customers with expanded sourcing options for technologies that could define the next generation of electronic power management in the automobile.

The companies plan to expand the relationship where ON Semiconductor could obtain a license for Melexis' LIN and CAN technologies for future development that would enable the expansion of LIN and CAN options in the automotive industry. Melexis would continue its independent product development efforts, ensuring an expanding array of options for the automotive industry.

"By partnering in this effort, ON Semiconductor and Melexis have a tremendous opportunity to participate in the next level of sophistication of power-management electronics in the automobile industry," said Morry Marshall, vice president strategic technologies at Semico, an industry research firm. "As the electronic content inside the automobile continues to increase, automobile manufacturers will need to replace conventional wiring harnesses with multiplexed systems to increase efficiency and decrease wiring harness costs. LIN and CAN technologies will allow automotive manufacturers to continue to provide, at affordable prices, the electronics-based entertainment, comfort, convenience and safety features that consumers demand."

This agreement also will enable the companies to provide the auto industry with two production sources to assure the delivery of critical components. The companies plan to have their first joint samples available in the first quarter of this year.

"Our agreement with Melexis enables us to provide our customers in the automotive industry with the service and quality that the manufacturers demand," said Harvey Steele, ON Semiconductor corporate market development director for automotive. "We've worked diligently to establish and expand our presence in the auto industry and working with Melexis provides us with additional momentum to deliver more options and better service to our customers."

"To make this deal work, we needed a company that had the same commitment to customer service and product quality that we have here at Melexis," said Lutz Langeluddecke, Melexis business unit manager internal communications. "ON Semiconductor clearly has the reputation and customer focus that we needed and we're excited to provide this new level of service and quality to our customers."

About Melexis

Melexis Microelectronic Integrated Systems N.V. designs, develops, tests and markets advanced integrated semiconductor devices for the automotive industry. The company sells its products to a wide customer base of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of automotive equipment in Europe, North America and Japan. Melexis' main products are automotive microcontrollers, Hall (magnetic) sensor ICs, RF ICs, bus ICs, interface ICs for pressure and acceleration sensors, integrated silicon pressure sensor chips, application specific integrated circuits (ASICS) and RFID, in each case principally for automotive applications. Melexis is a technological leader in the design and development of Hall sensor ICs. A wide range of magnetic sensor ICs is offered by the company for applications such as position sensing, dented wheel position sensing, electronic motor speed regulation and antilock braking system (ABS). ICs for automotive sensors form the largest part of Melexis' sales.

Further information about Melexis can be found on the Web site at www.melexis.com.

About ON Semiconductor

ON Semiconductor offers an extensive portfolio of power- and data-management semiconductors and standard semiconductor components that address the design needs of today's sophisticated electronic products, appliances and automobiles. For more information visit ON Semiconductor's Web site at http://www.onsemi.com.

ON Semiconductor and the ON Semiconductor logo are registered trademarks of Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC. All other brand and product names appearing in this document are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders. Although the company references its Web site in this news release, such information on the Web site is not to be incorporated herein.

    CONTACT: ON Semiconductor, Phoenix
             Everett Tackett APR, 602-244-4534 (Public Relations)
             everett.tackett@onsemi.com
             Scott Sullinger, 602-244-3437 (Investor Relations)
             scott.sullinger@onsemi.com
                    or
             Melexis, Ieper
             Tanguy Scorpati, +32 13 670 795
             tas@melexis.com
             Karen Van Griensven, +32 13 67 07 79
             kvg@melexis.com

    SOURCE: ON Semiconductor