ArvinMeritor Expands Wheel Manufacturing Facility in Mexico

    SAN LUIS POTOSI, Mexico, May 8 ArvinMeritor, Inc.
recently completed expansion of its wheel assembly plant in San
Luis Potosi, Mexico.  The expansion will support ArvinMeritor Light Vehicle
System's (LVS) growing automotive markets in the Americas.
    The new facility adds more than 89,000 square feet in area, effectively
doubling the plant's size to 194,000 square feet.  This increase in space
allows the plant to produce larger, heavier, and full-face wheels.  The
expansion also enables the plant to more than double its workforce -- from 95
to 198.  These changes are the result of customer demand, which mandated that
the Mexico plant be renovated for higher production.
    "This expansion strongly illustrates a commitment to our customers and to
our operation at San Luis Potosi," said Sidney Del Gaudio, vice president and
general manager, Wheels Division, ArvinMeritor Light Vehicle Systems.  "First,
it is continuing evidence that ArvinMeritor is determined that its markets in
the Americas will continue to prosper.  And second, it demonstrates our
growing presence in Mexico and our long-term strategy to build partnerships
with OEMs at their manufacturing sites around the world."
    The San Luis Potosi plant features a stamping line, rim line, machine
cells for both discs and rims, and a wheel assembly area.  In addition, the
facility employs new "state-of-the-art" manufacturing equipment from around
the world.  Some examples include:

    *  Presses from Manzoni in Italy
    *  Rim-rolling lines from Fontifne in Holland
    *  Lathes from Daewoo in Korea
    *  Welding robots from Cloos in Germany
    *  Degreasing systems from KTL in Denmark

    All are prime examples of ArvinMeritor's commitment to utilize the best
equipment to ensure its steel wheels meet industry-leading standards.
    Thanks to the expansion, ArvinMeritor's San Luis Potosi plant expects to
supply more than two million wheels per year for light trucks and SUVs.  San
Luis Potosi currently supplies full-face cladded steel wheels for
DaimlerChrysler's Dodge Ram as well as other customers' vehicles.
    The full-face cladded wheels provide more styling flexibility and a classy
bright appearance compared to base wheels, but offer significant cost-savings
over traditional chrome steel or aluminum.
    Along with full-face cladded steel wheels, the renovated plant and new
equipment will enable ArvinMeritor to produce a wide range of wheels,
including drop center base and spare wheels, bead-seat and full-face design,
fully cladded wheels and fabrication in aluminum, if further weight reduction
is needed.
    ArvinMeritor continually pursues excellence in all its products.  Steel is
no different.  Steel's unique properties of wear resistance, durability,
reliability and performance have historically made it the leading component in
a vehicle's construction.  But as the times changed and the fuel supply
dwindled, the automotive industry began a constant search for alternative
materials and processes that reduce vehicle weight and improve fuel
consumption and ride quality.  ArvinMeritor plays an active role in addressing
these issues.
    The company is the pioneer in the application of High Strength Low Alloy
(HSLA) steels for wheel manufacturing in South America.  Through the use of
these steels, ArvinMeritor achieves performance results that are four times
greater than conventional steels application.  And, the company also attains
significant weight reductions of up to 20 percent.  But the main reason
ArvinMeritor applies a wide variety of steels to produce its wheels is to
ensure maximum safety to its final customer -- the driver.
    ArvinMeritor, Inc. is a premier $7-billion global supplier of a broad
range of integrated systems, modules and components to the motor vehicle
industry.  The company serves light vehicle, commercial truck, trailer and
specialty original equipment manufacturers and related aftermarkets.  In
addition, ArvinMeritor is a leader in coil coating applications, including
those for the transportation, appliance, construction and furniture
industries.  The company is headquartered in Troy, Mich., and employs 36,000
people at more than 150 manufacturing facilities in 26 countries.
ArvinMeritor common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the
ticker symbol ARM.  For more information, visit the company's Web site at:
http://www.arvinmeritor.com .

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