Chief Operating Officer Jason Lippert Appointed CEO of Lippert Components, A Drew Industries Subsidiary

Former Lippert Components CEO Doug Lippert continues as Chairman

GOSHEN, Ind., March 17 -- Drew Industries Incorporated (AMEX:DW) today announced that effective February 5, 2003, its Board of Directors appointed Jason Lippert as the new president and chief executive officer of Lippert Components, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Drew.

Drew Industries, a leading manufacturer of recreational vehicles (RV) and manufactured housing (MH) components, said Jason Lippert, previously the executive vice president and chief operating officer of Lippert Components (LCI), has succeeded his father, L. Douglas Lippert, as president and CEO. Doug Lippert, who has led LCI since 1978, will remain with the Company as an active Chairman and will continue to serve on Drew's Board of Directors. Jason Lippert has been in charge of operations within LCI since 2000.

"Lippert Components was acquired by Drew in October 1997, and has been an extremely well-run business since it was established in 1956. We believe Jason's leadership and experience will continue the Company's heritage of success," said Leigh J. Abrams, president and CEO of Drew Industries. "Jason has been instrumental in the significant growth of Lippert Components over the past several years, and we look forward to him building on the legacies of his father and grandfather."

Jason Lippert, as head of the operations team at LCI, spearheaded the Company's introduction of new, complementary products, market share gains of existing products and strategic acquisitions that have driven sustained growth.

Jason Lippert received a bachelor's degree in management information systems and accounting in 1994 from Miami (Ohio) University in Oxford, Ohio. While still a student at Miami of Ohio, Jason began his professional career at LCI as an operations trainee in Goshen, Indiana. In 1995, Jason was named the general manager of an LCI manufacturing plant in McAdoo, Pennsylvania. His responsibilities expanded at a larger facility in Goshen in 1997, and he was named regional director of operations for all facilities in Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Texas in 1998. In May of 2000, Jason was named executive vice president and chief operating officer of LCI.

About Lippert Components

Lippert Components, Inc, a manufacturer of components for recreational vehicles (RV) and manufactured homes (MH), is the largest manufacturer of RV and MH chassis in the United States. Established in 1956 in Goshen, Ind., Lippert now operates 28 facilities in the United States and Canada, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Drew Industries Incorporated.

About Drew Industries

Drew, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Kinro, Inc. and Lippert Components, Inc., supplies a broad array of components for RVs and manufactured homes. Manufactured products include aluminum and vinyl windows and screens, doors, chassis, chassis parts, chassis slide-out systems, and bath and shower units. From 40 factories located throughout the United States and one factory in Canada, Drew serves most major national manufacturers of RVs and manufactured homes in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Additional information about Drew and its products can be found at www.drewindustries.com .