Alcoa To Open Automotive Center in Michigan

PITTSBURGH--Nov. 1, 20037, 2003--Alcoa Inc. announced today that it is opening an Automotive Center in Farmington Hills, Mich., integrating the capabilities of more than 300 design, engineering, sales and marketing specialists. The company said it expects to being moving employees into the new center in Spring 2004.

The Center will bring together all of Alcoa's automotive businesses, including AFL Automotive, Advanced Transportation Systems, Automotive Castings, Cast and Forged Wheels, and Engineered and Mill Products. These businesses manufacture automotive products ranging from electrical distribution and crash management systems to body structure, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, chassis and suspension components to drive shafts, closure panels and aluminum wheels.

These Alcoa products generate annual revenues of approximately $3 billion. Trucks and sport utility vehicles account for almost two-thirds of Alcoa's sales, with cars accounting for about one third and high-performance vehicles the balance.

"Alcoa's Automotive Center will give our customers access to unmatched structural design, application engineering, product development and technical problem-solving resources," according to Rick Milner, Alcoa vice president, Automotive, and president of the company's new Advanced Transportation Systems business. "We believe that by combining our capabilities, we will be more capable of creating new product opportunities and solving commercial and technical problems faster and more cost-effectively than ever before."

Alcoa's Automotive Center will be located in the Farmington Hills Corporate Center. The Center will include more than 86,000 square feet with additional room planned for future growth. It will consolidate Alcoa facilities currently located in Southfield, Livonia and Allen Park, Mich.

"In addition to demonstrating Alcoa's commitment to the automotive market and giving our customers access to a significantly enhanced resources, we also believe that the new Automotive Center will be a catalyst for a more stimulating and high-energy work place for our employees," added Bob Alexander, Alcoa vice president and Chairman of AFL Automotive.

"We also look forward to becoming a productive part of the Farmington Hills community," Alexander continued, "and we intend on being a contributing and respected corporate citizen in this community."