Brembo To Fast Track. OEM Ceramic Discs

BREMBO COMMITS TO CERAMIC CARBON BRAKE DISC TECHNOLOGY
Redirects $30 Million to Ceramic Carbon and High Technology R&D
Announces OE Application of Ceramic Carbon Brake Discs as Early as 2002


COSTA MESA, Calif.- Brembo North America today announced that Brembo 
S.p.A. sold it's 60 percent stake in Stepal Srl, effective July 3, 
2001. Brembo S.p.A. exercised its option to sell according to an 
agreement with Stepal Srl effective July 31, 2000 as disclosed in the 
December 31, 2000 Annual Report. Brembo S.p.A's stake in Stepal, 
which owns the Fonderia Regali Foundry near Brescia, Italy was sold 
to Hopa S.p.A, Brescia for approximately US$30,752,650.

The resources released by this divestment will be progressively 
reinvested in targeted technologies, such as ceramic carbon composite 
brake discs and brake by wire. This action confirms the trend at 
Brembo S.p.A. to accelerate the development of advanced technologies 
at the new R&D center currently under construction near Bergamo, 
Italy.

Always on the cutting edge of researching and developing new 
solutions and materials for high performance braking systems, Brembo 
S.p.A. also revealed ceramic carbon discs, designed and tested over 
the past three years in its laboratories, that could be applied to 
production cars as early as next year. To this end, for the past few 
months a pilot plant in Munich, Germany has been producing prototype 
ceramic carbon discs. The new plant, owned by Brembo Gmbh, is part of 
a well-respected center for advanced research, owned by IABG, where 
it produces components and systems also for the aerospace and 
telecommunication industry. Brembo's engineers are extremely 
complimentary regarding the level of knowledge and experience on 
carbon ceramic material existing in the Munich center.  In addition, 
one of the most advanced R&D teams in the high performance brake 
system segment, are confident an innovative solution will be produced 
by leveraging the Munich site's knowledge of production issues with 
the knowledge acquired in the Italian laboratories as well as the 
experience gained in 15-years of F1 competition.

"From here rises the decision to differentiate our production 
investments in brake discs, until today concentrated on iron 
foundries. We believe that this leading technology can represent a 
concrete advantage for all of our customers. Even if the first 
applications are meant for performance and sport cars, typically 
produced in limited series, we think that in a not too far future 
this material, thanks to its lightness and wear-resistance features, 
may be present also on medium and high range cars, produced in higher 
volumes," says Alberto Bombassei, President of Brembo. "Today the 
structure of our Group is based on different production technologies; 
this allows Brembo to manage and to exploit our portfolio 
participations in order to maximise their technological innovation 
content and their added value, fully coherently with the medium term 
strategy decided by the Group."

Established in 1961 in Bergamo, Italy, Brembo S.p.A., is a world 
leader and design innovator of automotive brake technology and is a 
QS-9000 and ISO 9001 certified supplier of Original Equipment braking 
systems to the global market of passenger cars, light trucks, 
motorcycles and commercial vehicles. Brembo proved its leadership in 
braking system technology with innumerable international motorsports 
championships and continues to develop and refine its braking system 
technology in the world's most famous racing venues: NASCAR, CART, 
Formula 1, FIA World Championship Rally, and Superbike.

Brembo S.p.A., established Brembo North America in order to better 
serve Brembo enthusiasts in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. 
BREMBO NORTH AMERICA offers a comprehensive line of brake components 
and systems ranging from Original Equipment and direct Original 
Equipment replacement parts to Racing and High-Performance upgrades 
as well as performance Motorcycle brake components and systems. 
Brembo North America operates from its Costa Mesa, California 
headquarters and facilities in Laredo, Texas; Novi, Michigan, and 
Charlotte, North Carolina.  For more information please visit 
www.brembo.com, or contact Brembo North America, 1585 Sunflower Ave., 
Costa Mesa, CA 92626-1532; Tel: (800) 325-3994.


Media Contact:	Joe Pettitt			Lisa Gutierrez
		Top Dead Center			Brembo North America
		Communications			Communications
		909-605-7700 			714-641-5831


BREMBO winner of the prestigious 2000 GEO Awards,
Global Excellence in Operations, Curno (Italy)