Eaton Selected to Participate in Mercedes-Benz M-271 Engine Program

    CLEVELAND--March 11, 2002--Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation today said it has been selected by Mercedes-Benz to provide key engine components for the German automaker's new M-271 engine, unveiled this week at the Geneva Auto Show.
    Eaton will provide engine superchargers, intake and exhaust valves, roller rocker arms and lash adjusters. The company said it expects sales for the M-271 engine components to exceed $375 million over the multi-year contract. Production is scheduled to begin later this year.
    The M-271 engine includes features such as Lanchester balancing shafts, supercharging and direct or port injection variants, producing a high technology four-cylinder engine design. Eaton has worked with Mercedes on this development program to ensure that the M-271 engine provides significant improvements in efficiency, leading to excellent fuel consumption and emissions performance while maintaining high levels of torque and power output. Mating the Eaton supercharger to this four-cylinder engine provides the performance of a typical six-cylinder engine, with up to 20 percent reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions levels.
    Stephen M. Buente, Eaton's senior vice president and group executive--Automotive, said, "All of the products we are supplying to Mercedes contain the latest state-of-the-art technologies developed by our Engine Air Management operations, including a fifth generation supercharger unit that features significantly higher performance efficiencies and reduced noise generation.
    "Eaton's Automotive business unit has a truly global manufacturing presence and we will be utilizing our world-class facilities in both Europe and the United States to support the M-271 engine production," Buente said.
    Eaton is a major supplier of a wide range of components and systems to virtually all of the world's automotive original equipment manufacturers. With a primary emphasis on fuel economy, safety and environmentally-friendly products, Eaton is a leader in the development of engine air management systems, and powertrain and specialty controls.
    Eaton Corporation is a global $7.3 billion diversified industrial manufacturer that is a leader in fluid power systems; electrical power quality, distribution and control; automotive engine air management and fuel economy; and intelligent truck systems for fuel economy and safety. Eaton has 49,000 employees and sells products in more than 50 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com.