MANN+HUMMEL Will Double Operations in Mexico

TLALNEPANTLA, Mexico, Aug. 5, 2003 -- MANN+HUMMEL, a major automotive parts supplier, plans a multi-million-dollar expansion of its operations in Mexico.

Steffen Schneider, president of MANN+HUMMEL Mexico, said the company will relocate its operations in Mexico to a new location that will double the size of its current facility in Tlalnepantla and result in the addition of approximately 90 new jobs. The expansion represents an investment of nearly $15 million over three years.

Schneider said the company has narrowed its search for a new site to two locations and plans to break ground in October of this year on a planned 135,000 square-foot-facility. The plant will have 86,000 square-feet of space dedicated to manufacturing and assembly, 36,000 square-feet for warehousing and 13,000 square-feet for administrative and manufacturing design purposes. Occupancy and production is planned for spring of 2004.

Based in Ludwigsburg, Germany, MANN+HUMMEL Mexico currently employs about 150 people at its Tlalnepantla plant.

"Our intention is to build a state-of-the art manufacturing facility that will better accommodate the needs of our customers and our projected growth," said Schneider. "The sites being considered offer a minimum of 11 acres of land which also provides for future expansion."

The need for the larger facility is the result of both current and newly- awarded business from long-time and new key customers in NAFTA such as Volkswagen of Mexico, General Motors, Ford, Volvo, DaimlerChrysler and Nissan- Renault. Additional business is expected to triple sales for the company in Mexico and add to components currently produced there including air cleaners, carbon canisters, filter elements, design air cleaners, and introduce new products such as oil modules and coolant surge tanks.

"The expansion of our operations in Mexico allows us to leverage our manufacturing capabilities there and introduce more innovative products to our customers in North America," said Claude Mathieu, president and CEO of MANN+HUMMEL's North American operations. "We have aggressive plans for MANN+HUMMEL's growth in North America and this is one of the key steps in that process."

About MANN+HUMMEL

The MANN+HUMMEL Group is an international company. In 2002, the company achieved sales of $1.1 billion. The MANN+HUMMEL Group currently employs around 8,800 people at 41 locations worldwide. The company develops, produces and sells technically complex automotive components such as air filter systems, intake manifold systems, liquid filter systems and cabin filters for the automotive industry, and filter elements for vehicle servicing and repair. For general engineering, process engineering and industrial manufacturing sectors the company's product range includes industrial filters, filter systems, and materials handling systems and equipment. MANN+HUMMEL's customers come from a large number of sectors, with series production for the automotive industry occupying a key position. Further information about MANN+HUMMEL can be found under http://www.mann-hummel.com/ .