American Axle & Manufacturing Launches Production For the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon Programs

DETROIT, Oct. 22, 2003 -- American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. (AAM), which is traded as AXL on the NYSE, today announced that it recently launched production of front and rear axles for the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon.

The vehicles incorporate newly designed front axles and AAM's state-of- the-art rear axle design. Both systems feature PowerLite(R) aluminum housings and PowerDense(TM) gear technology. In addition, the front axle is designed with a mounting structure that will assist in reducing Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH); an electronic four-wheel-drive shift system; and a plug-in half shaft interface. These features in combination provide mass reduction and improved packaging. Several of AAM's global facilities are involved in the launch.

"We are extremely pleased to be associated with these important all-new General Motors mid-size trucks," says AAM Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO Richard E. Dauch. "The programs enable us to leverage AAM's global capabilities to provide the world-class products, quality and technology that our customers have come to expect from us."

AAM is a world leader in the manufacture, design, engineering, and validation of driveline systems and related components and modules, chassis systems and forged products for trucks, sport utility vehicles and passenger cars. In addition to its 14 locations in the United States (in Michigan, New York and Ohio), AAM also has offices and facilities in Brazil, England, Germany, Japan, Mexico and Scotland.