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Standard Motor Products, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2003 Earnings and a Quarterly Dividend

NEW YORK--July 24, 2003--Standard Motor Products, Inc. , an automotive replacement parts manufacturer and distributor, reported consolidated net sales for the second quarter of 2003, the three months ended June 30, 2003, of $166.1 million, compared to consolidated net sales of $180.6 million during the comparable quarter in 2002. Earnings from continuing operations for the second quarter of 2003 were $4.3 million or 34 cents per diluted share, compared to $6.3 million or 48 cents per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2002.

Consolidated net sales for the six month period ended June 30, 2003 were $301.9 million, compared to consolidated net sales of $307 million during the comparable period in 2002. Earnings from continuing operations for the six month period ended June 30, 2003 were $3.7 million, or 30 cents per diluted share, compared to $4.3 million, or 36 cents per diluted share, for the comparable period in 2002. The results for the six month period ended June 30, 2003 were negatively impacted by $0.8 million in currency exchange loss.

Mr. James Burke, Standard Motor Products, Chief Financial Officer, said, "The consolidated balance sheet reflected the previously announced acquisition of Dana Corporation's Engine Management Division (DEM), effective as of June 30, 2003. DEM's results of operations will begin to be reflected in our statement of operations for the third quarter 2003."

Commenting on the results, Mr. Lawrence Sills, Standard Motor Products' Chief Executive Officer, said, "Though Engine Management net sales were down $6.7 million in the second quarter, they are ahead over $4 million for the year. Temperature Control net sales decreased nearly $10 million for the quarter and $13.4 million for the first half, because of the previously announced loss of sales to AutoZone and the very cool and wet weather conditions existing in spring and early summer."

Mr. Sills added, "We are pleased with the continued improvement in gross margins. We are ahead of last year by 0.4 points for the quarter and 0.6 points year to date. The improvement in the second quarter was significant, considering the reduction in net sales."

Regarding the acquisition of DEM, Mr. Sills stated, "Thus far we are proceeding on schedule. We have publicly announced that seven of the nine Dana facilities will be closed over the next 18 months and their operations merged with existing Standard Motor Products plants. We are comfortable with our original estimates of $30-35 million for restructuring and integration costs over this period and $55 million in annual savings by 2005."

The Board of Directors has approved payment of a quarterly dividend of nine cents per share on the common stock outstanding. The dividend will be paid on September 2, 2003 to stockholders of record on August 15, 2003.

Standard Motor Products, Inc. will hold a conference call at 11:00 AM, Eastern Time, on Friday, July 25, 2003. The dial in number is 800-362-0571. The playback number is 800-839-3734 (domestic) 402-220-2976 (international) and the ID # is J405.

Under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Standard Motor Products cautions investors that any forward-looking statements made by the company, including those that may be made in this press release, are based on management's expectations at the time they are made, but they are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, events or performance to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results, events or performance to differ materially from those risks and uncertainties discussed in this press release, and detailed from time-to-time in prior press releases and in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the company's annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. By making these forward looking statements, Standard Motor Products undertakes no obligation or intention to update these statements after the date of this release.


                     STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
                 Consolidated Statements of Operations


(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)


                        THREE-MONTHS ENDED         SIX-MONTHS ENDED
                             JUNE 30,                   JUNE 30,
                          2003         2002         2003         2002
                    -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------

NET SALES          $   166,125  $   180,629  $   301,850  $   306,950

COST OF SALES          122,306      133,729      223,491      228,880
                    -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------

GROSS PROFIT            43,819       46,900       78,359       78,070

SELLING, GENERAL &
 ADMINISTRATIVE
 EXPENSES               33,279       34,519       65,491       65,582
                    -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------

OPERATING INCOME        10,540       12,381       12,868       12,488

OTHER INCOME
 (EXPENSE), NET           (129)          88         (403)         756

INTEREST EXPENSE         3,188        3,809        6,206        7,271
                    -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------

EARNINGS FROM
 CONTINUING
 OPERATIONS BEFORE
 TAXES                   7,223        8,660        6,259        5,973

INCOME TAX EXPENSE       2,923        2,393        2,566        1,627
                    -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------

EARNINGS FROM
 CONTINUING
 OPERATIONS              4,300        6,267        3,693        4,346

LOSS FROM
 DISCONTINUED
 OPERATION, NET OF
 TAX                      (433)        (806)        (781)      (1,125)
                    -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------

EARNINGS BEFORE
 CUMULATIVE EFFECT
 OF ACCOUNTING
 CHANGE                  3,867        5,461        2,912        3,221

CUMULATIVE EFFECT
 OF ACCOUNTING
 CHANGE, NET OF TAX          -            -            -      (18,350)
                    -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------

NET EARNINGS
 (LOSS)            $     3,867  $     5,461  $     2,912  $   (15,129)
                    ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========




NET EARNING (LOSS)
 PER COMMON SHARE:

   BASIC EARNINGS
    (LOSS) FROM
    CONTINUING
    OPERATIONS     $      0.34  $      0.53  $      0.30  $      0.36
   DISCONTINUED
    OPERATION            (0.03)       (0.07)       (0.06)       (0.09)
   CUMULATIVE
    EFFECT OF
    ACCOUNTING
    CHANGE                   -            -            -        (1.54)
                    -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
   NET EARNINGS
    (LOSS) PER
    COMMON SHARE -
    BASIC          $      0.31  $      0.46  $      0.24  $     (1.27)
                    ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========


   DILUTED EARNINGS
    (LOSS) FROM
    CONTINUING
    OPERATIONS     $      0.34  $      0.48  $      0.30  $      0.36
   DISCONTINUED
    OPERATION            (0.03)       (0.05)       (0.06)       (0.09)
   CUMULATIVE
    EFFECT OF
    ACCOUNTING
    CHANGE                   -            -            -        (1.53)
                    -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
   NET EARNINGS
    (LOSS) PER
    COMMON SHARE -
    DILUTED        $      0.31  $      0.43  $      0.24  $     (1.26)
                    ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========


WEIGHTED AVERAGE
 NUMBER OF COMMON
 SHARES             12,493,796   11,918,439   12,234,764   11,873,288
WEIGHTED AVERAGE
 NUMBER OF COMMON
 SHARES AND
 DILUTIVE SHARES    15,334,225   14,840,360   12,305,907   11,984,935


                        STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS
                CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS
                        (Dollars in thousands)

                                 ASSETS

                                                June 30,  December 31,
                                                 2003       2002

                                               ---------- ---------

  Cash                                        $    7,404  $  9,690
  Marketable securities                            5,700     7,200

  Accounts receivable, gross                     266,832   122,526
  Allowance for doubtful accounts                  9,268     4,882
                                               ---------- ---------
  Accounts receivable, net                       257,564   117,644

  Inventories                                    264,311   174,785
  Other current assets                            19,013    19,041

                                               ---------- ---------
  Total current assets                           553,992   328,360
                                               ---------- ---------

  Property, plant and equipment, net             116,911   103,822
  Goodwill                                        79,867    16,683
  Other assets                                    40,649    41,893

                                               ---------- ---------
  Total assets                                $  791,419  $490,758
                                               ========== =========



                  LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY


  Notes payable                                   $3,643    $3,369
  Current portion of long term debt                3,958     4,108
  Accounts payable trade                          78,277    35,744
  Accrued customer returns                        35,607    16,341
  Other current liabilities                       87,795    51,866

                                               ---------- ---------
  Total current liabilities                      209,280   111,428
                                               ---------- ---------

  Long-term debt                                 272,931   169,440
  Accrued asbestos liabilities                    25,287    25,595
  Postretirement & other liabilities              53,056    30,414
                                               ---------- ---------
  Total liabilities                              560,554   336,877
                                               ---------- ---------

  Total stockholders' equity                     230,865   153,881

                                               ---------- ---------
  Total liabilities and stockholders' equity    $791,419  $490,758
                                               ========== =========
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