Hayes Lemmerz Announces Planned Senior Unsecured Note Issuance

NORTHVILLE, Mich., May 12, 2003 -- Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. today announced its intention, subject to market conditions, to sell up to $225 million principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 2010.

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Hayes Lemmerz intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to make payments in connection with its Plan of Reorganization to support its emergence from Chapter 11.

The notes to be offered will not be and have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor will there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state, and is issued pursuant to Rule 135c under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Hayes Lemmerz, its U.S. subsidiaries and one subsidiary organized in Mexico filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on December 5, 2001.

Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. is one of the world's leading global suppliers of automotive and commercial highway wheels, brakes, powertrain, suspension, structural and other lightweight components. The Company has 43 plants, 3 joint venture facilities and 11,000 employees worldwide.

This press release includes forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which represent the Company's expectations and beliefs concerning future events that involve risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this release are forward looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward looking statements include the factors set forth in our periodic reports filed with the SEC. Consequently, all of the forward looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these and other factors, risks and uncertainties.

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