ArvinMeritor Light Vehicle Aftermarket Signs Distribution Arrangement with Jiffy Lube International
Manufacturer Takes On New Role as Distributor to 419 Service Centers
BRENTWOOD, Tenn., Oct. 21 -- ArvinMeritor, Inc. today announced that its Light Vehicle Aftermarket (LVA) business group, a manufacturer of automotive aftermarket products, has been selected to become a distributor of LVA products for 419 Jiffy Lube company-owned service centers. The three-year contract will take effect on Nov. 1, 2004.
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Jiffy Lube International's parent company, SOPUS (Shell Oil Products US), selected ArvinMeritor LVA as a distribution partner after its decision to close Heritage, a Shell-owned distribution company. The new contract will encompass approximately 2,800 product parts. ArvinMeritor LVA will provide consumable products for shop use, such as paper towels, as well as tools and office supplies, as well as provide auto filters for retail use. This contract marks the company's most comprehensive venture into the field of product distribution.
"Including distribution in our portfolio of customer services was the next logical step for us as a company," said Rob Malone, ArvinMeritor LVA's vice president and general manager of Filters and Ride Control, North America. "The opportunity to have Jiffy Lube, the leading brand in the fast-lube oil change category as our first distribution customer was very appealing. We're confident that building new business relationships with organizations such as Jiffy Lube will drive ArvinMeritor's strategy to become a 'one-stop shop' for customers."
"This is a new relationship we are putting into place," said Scott Ciurana, manager of products and services for Jiffy Lube International. "We have been a customer of ArvinMeritor LVA for several years, and they have demonstrated they have the infrastructure and network to make distribution successful. I am excited about what our two organizations can do for each other."
ArvinMeritor plans to explore other distribution opportunities within the installer community in the future.
Jiffy Lube, with more than 2,200 service centers in North America, serves approximately 30 million customers each year. Jiffy Lube pioneered the fast oil change industry in 1979 by establishing the first drive-through service bay, providing customers with faster professional service for their vehicles. The company is proud to be an affiliate sponsor of the Be Car Care Aware Campaign, an annual effort of the Women's Board of the Car Care Council. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Jiffy Lube International is a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Shell Oil Company. Visit http://www.jiffylube.com/ to learn more about Jiffy Lube and vehicle care.
ArvinMeritor's Light Vehicle Aftermarket (LVA) business group supplies exhaust systems, filters and ride control products to retailers, jobbers and distributors around the world. LVA posted more than $0.8 billion in sales during fiscal year 2003, and employs approximately 5,000 people at 21 facilities in seven countries. The strong family of LVA brands has earned customer confidence for quality and value for close to 100 years.
ArvinMeritor, Inc. is a premier $8 billion global supplier of a broad range of integrated systems, modules and components to the motor vehicle industry. The company serves light vehicle, commercial truck, trailer and specialty original equipment manufacturers and related aftermarkets. Headquartered in Troy, Mich., ArvinMeritor employs approximately 32,000 people at more than 150 manufacturing facilities in 27 countries. ArvinMeritor common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ARM. For more information, visit the company's Web site at: http://www.arvinmeritor.com/ .
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