Connecticut Based ESP Wins Contract to Build Vehicle Test Lanes in India

Indian Government Escalates National Campaign to Target Unsafe or Polluting Vehicles

EAST GRANBY, Conn., Dec. 20 -- The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) has issued a letter of intent to award a contract to Connecticut-based Environmental Systems Products (ESP) to develop the country's first automated vehicle safety and emissions inspection lanes. In what will be a model for future test lanes in India, ESP will provide the Inspection and Certification Centers at Burari with advanced equipment that will automate, streamline and modernize what is now a manual process of inspecting vehicles. ESP is the world's leading provider of vehicle inspection technology, programs and equipment.

The Delhi Government is establishing two safety and emissions test lanes -- one for light duty vehicles including three-wheel auto rickshaws and one for heavy duty commercial vehicles. "ESP's technology and equipment will ensure that our new inspection lanes will be modern and convenient apart from being high volume facilities," said Mr. B. Bhanot, Director. "We're confident that the global resources of ESP along with the company's innovative technology, equipment and program will help us safeguard public health and safety by more accurately identifying vehicles in need of repair," continued Mr. Bhanot.

ESP will work with ARAI and the Department of Transport, Delhi to develop comprehensive safety and emissions standards (in-use vehicle pass / fail cut- points), and to integrate the new, automated lanes in the fitness certification system. The company will supply a turnkey system to the Burari Test Lane Program that includes equipment and software. ESP's solution will give Indian officials the flexibility they need to quickly and seamlessly respond to changes in the law, add new test functions, and meet the evolving needs of the program. The objective inspection results will help auto technicians make effective repairs that improve vehicle safety, performance and air quality in the region.

The Government of Delhi and the country's Supreme Court, through the Environment and Pollution Prevention and Control Authority (EPCA), are increasingly concerned about deteriorating air quality and road safety, and are taking proactive measures to protect public health and safety. Current requirement is that all transport vehicles carry a fitness certificate that is renewed each year after the first two years of new vehicle registration. The goal is to strengthen the existing system by using the latest technology and equipment to identify unsafe or polluting vehicles.

ESP won the contract in the face of stiff competition from six other leading vehicle inspection firms. Indian officials awarded the contract to ESP because they determined the company offered the best technical proposal along with the most cost-effective pricing. The new inspection lanes are scheduled to be commissioned in March 2005. ESP is committed to offering enhanced customer service, providing on-site support to ARAI and DOT for six months, three months more than the project tender had required.

The Burari test lanes will be flexible enough to easily and seamlessly integrate loaded exhaust emissions tests for petrol, CNG, LPG and diesel vehicles and quickly implement more rigid vehicle specifications called for during test equipment upgrades. The inspection system and pass/fail standards will serve as a model for all future test lanes in Delhi and potentially throughout India.

Environmental Systems Products Holdings Inc. (ESP), headquartered in East Granby, Connecticut, is the world's leading vehicle environmental technology company, providing clean air and safety solutions to domestic and world markets. The company offers a comprehensive array of vehicle emissions and safety inspection products and services, helping people around the world by identifying vehicles that are unsafe, or polluting the air. ESP programs, technology and services test more than 27 million vehicles each year. The company's centralized programs inspect 12 million vehicles in nine states and the Canadian Province of British Columbia. The company also manufactures and markets decentralized and remote sensing test equipment, offers warranty support, post-sale servicing and independent data management for U.S. and international programs. ESP has an installed base of over 12,000 decentralized units performing 15 million vehicle inspections in North America, China, Egypt, Germany, Mexico, the United Kingdom and Taiwan.