Nissan Awards Wescast Hot End Systems Business

    BRANTFORD, Ontario--Jan. 24, 2001--Wescast Industries Inc. announced today it has received a letter of intent to supply machined exhaust manifolds and catalytic converter containers for Nissan's next generation V6 engine program.
    This engine, manufactured in Nissan's Decherd, Tennessee engine plant, will be used in next generation Quest van and Altima vehicles for the 2003 model year. This 5 year program is the initial business for Wescast with Nissan North America, Inc., and the first opportunity for hot end systems work.
    "We are pleased with the opportunity to work with Nissan," said Ray Finnie, President and CEO of Wescast Industries Inc. "This business expands our customer base and is the first step in developing a long term relationship with Nissan. It also brings Wescast into another product line with the addition of the catalytic converter container and takes us a step further in our hot end systems strategy."
    This program will require approximately 380,000 manifolds and 190,000 catalytic converter containers annually. There will be an additional investment of $9 million in preparation for this program, including a machining facility integrated with Wescast's Brantford foundry.

    \