Despite Tough Economy, Southwest Windpower Posts Record Sales and Plans for Expansion

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., Dec 10, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) — With an anticipated growth rate of 90 to 100 percent in 2009, Southwest Windpower, the world’s largest manufacturer of small wind generators, is expanding internationally to increase production, distribution and better meet customer demand, including a joint venture in China and a new warehouse and distribution center in Germany.

Southwest Windpower seized the opportunity to develop a strong presence in China by partnering with Yun Sheng, a Bei Jeng-based manufacturing company who has been producing component parts for several Southwest Windpower products for the last four years. The joint venture – Ningbo Air-Yun Sheng Windpower – will produce Southwest Windpower’s Air X product beginning in early 2009. The 400 watt Air X wind generator is a solution that can help power China’s rural electrification project, the largest such project in the world. Currently more than 15 million inhabitants in China have no access to basic electricity — and with the government’s commitment to resolve the majority of these insufficiencies by 2015, there is significant need for such products in China.

For the past year, Southwest Windpower has been developing relationships in China and CEO Frank Greco is confident in the Air X’s ability to penetrate the market, “We’ve been meeting with the government agencies and testing the Air X against competitive Chinese turbines. At the end of the day, our product speaks for itself and we’re very excited about our future in the Chinese market.” Southwest Windpower projects that 10,000 – 15,000 turbines will be manufactured and sold by the joint venture in 2009.