Tenneco Expands North American Emission Control Technical Center

Company Invests $13 Million to Support Vehicle Manufacturers

GRASS LAKE, Mich., May 31 -- Tenneco announced today that the company is expanding its North American emission control engineering center in Grass Lake, Michigan. The company has invested $13 million to add 30,000 sq ft to the current 110,000 sq ft facility. The expansion will accommodate additional development and testing capabilities to meet the growing demand for advanced emission control technologies.

"We are adding to our state-of-the art technical center in Grass Lake to enhance our capabilities and to continue providing outstanding engineering services and advanced products and technologies to our customers," said Mark P. Frissora, chairman, CEO and president, Tenneco. "Stricter emission control standards and the growth in the North American diesel market are driving the demand for more emission control content on vehicles. This capital investment will help ensure that Tenneco remains a leader in emission control engineering and advanced technology development."

Tenneco's North American engineering center serves global OE manufacturers, offering product design, development and testing at the Grass Lake facility. The company's comprehensive engineering services include: program engineering; design; after treatment and acoustical development; advanced technology, product and manufacturing engineering; prototyping; testing; and metallurgical, converter after treatment and warranty labs.

The expansion will enhance the company's sound engineering and emission control capabilities with an upgraded sound quality lab, engine dynamometers and a NVH evaluation lab. Later this year, the company will complete a flow lab, capable of hot and cold conditions, which will be used in developing advanced after treatment solutions. In addition, a new state of the art All Wheel Drive chassis dynamometer was added that will enhance full vehicle acoustic development to accommodate various drive trains, wheel bases and horse power ratings.

Increasingly stringent emissions regulations globally and growth in the diesel engine market are driving demand for emission control components and systems. As a result, Tenneco is capturing new business and leveraging its global engineering capabilities into new geographical and vehicle markets.

As previously announced, the company will supply three North American OEMs with advanced emission control technologies for light-duty diesel pick-up trucks, beginning in 2007 and the company recently announced its first medium- duty diesel after treatment contract in North America, which will also launch in 2007. The engineering and development work for these programs will be done at the North American Technical Center in Grass Lake, Michigan.

Tenneco is a $4.4 billion manufacturing company with headquarters in Lake Forest, Illinois and approximately 19,000 employees worldwide. Tenneco is one of the world's largest designers, manufacturers and marketers of emission control and ride control products and systems for the automotive original equipment market and the aftermarket. Tenneco markets its products principally under the Monroe(R), Walker(R), Gillet(R) and Clevite(R)Elastomer brand names. Among its products are Sensa-Trac(R) and Monroe Reflex(R) shocks and struts, Rancho(R) shock absorbers, Walker(R) Quiet-Flow(R) mufflers, Dynomax(R) performance exhaust products, and Clevite(R)Elastomer noise, vibration and harshness control components.