Ceradyne, Inc. to Supply Ford With Ceramic Armor Components for Lincoln Town Car Ballistic Protection Series

    COSTA MESA, Calif.--Jan. 30, 2003--Ceradyne, Inc. (Company) today announced that the Company has been selected by Ford Motor Company to supply lightweight ceramic armor systems components which will be incorporated into the Lincoln Town Car Ballistic Protection Series (BPS). The components supplied by Ceradyne will incorporate technology and ballistic protection similar to that developed by the Company for several defense related applications.
    On January 22, 2003, the Lincoln Town Car BPS was introduced at a Washington, D.C. private unveiling.
    "The market for armored vehicles is growing rapidly," said Joel Moskowitz, Ceradyne chief executive officer. "The introduction of the Lincoln Town Car BPS culminates two years of working with a Ford-assembled team of experts in ballistic steel, ballistic grade windows and 'run flat' tires. The use of Ceradyne's lightweight ceramic armor components allows the Lincoln Town Car BPS to have superior ballistic protection at reasonable added weight, particularly in the doors."
    Moskowitz added: "The Lincoln Town Car BPS is the only domestic original equipment manufacturer (OEM) armored vehicle that provides protection from powerful handgun and high-power rifle rounds compared to only handgun level protection offered by others."
    Ceradyne develops, manufactures and markets advanced technical ceramics for industrial, electronic, defense and consumer applications. Additional information about the Company can be found at www.ceradyne.com.

    Except for the historical information contained herein, certain matters discussed in this news release constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. The Company may use words such as "anticipates," "believes," "plans," "expects," "intends," "future," and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Further risks and uncertainties are described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001, and in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2002, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.