Affinia Under Vehicle Group Announces New RaybestosR Brand Brakes Product Line Up

NEWS RELEASE

                                  

Contact:           Ken Myers
John Mader

                        Affinia Under Vehicle Group
Wray Ward Laseter

(815) 759-7668                                               (704)
926-1316

ken.myers@affiniagroup.com
jmader@wwlcreative.com  

 

Affinia Under Vehicle Group Announces New Raybestos(r) Brand Brakes
Product Line Up

 

Consolidation of Product Line Increases Application Coverage, 

Simplifies Product Selection Process

 

LAS VEGAS (October 31, 2006) -Affinia Under Vehicle Group today
introduced its new Raybestos(r) brand brake product line up, a
consolidated product line that provides customers with increased
application coverage, a competitive pricing structure, and a simplified
selection process for the company's friction, rotors and hydraulic
products.

            The product line up, unveiled to customers at the 2006
Automotive Aftermarket Parts Expo (AAPEX), is organized into three
well-defined brand categories - Advanced Technology, Professional Grade,
and Service Grade.

"We listened to customer feedback and tailored our product lines to
three distinct brands, each packaged in its own color, for simple
reference and easy location," said Ken Myers, marketing manager of
branded products for Affinia Under Vehicle Group's Raybestos(r) brand
products. "The new product categories provide our customers with
competitive pricing and a clear choice of product offerings, whether
they require high-performance, professional grade or everyday-use
product solutions."

In addition to reducing the total number of SKUs, the new product lines
provide customers with a cross referenced numbering system for a simpler
product selection process. The new product packaging also aids in the
selection process, featuring color coded packaging - black for Advanced
Technology, blue for Professional Grade, and red for Service Grade. The
new packaging maintains the recognizable Raybestos(r) brand brakes logo
and mark of distinction on each pad set. 

 

Three Raybestos(r) Brand Brakes Friction Lines

The three new Raybestos(r) brand friction product lines brakes
consolidate 10 different product offerings to the company's three new
levels of friction.

Streamlined from five product lines to one and engineered for the most
demanding applications, the Advanced Technology brake pads are designed
specifically for hardworking fleet, luxury and performance vehicles.  A
full coverage friction line, the Professional Grade brake pads are a
compilation of three product lines and are engineered to meet or exceed
original equipment offerings.  The third level, Service Grade, includes
brake pads composed of strong friction material, which are manufactured
to meet the braking needs for the everyday vehicle. Streamlined from two
product lines, the Service Grade pads are designed to cover 95 percent
of the market.

 

Two Raybestos(r) Brand Rotors Line

            The Raybestos(r) brand rotors line has made the transition
from the All Safe and Raymold brands to the new simplified branding
hierarchy of Advanced Technology and Professional Grade. The Advanced
Technology rotors are original equipment configured, mill balanced and
come with a no turn guarantee and rust prevention coating. Raybestos(r)
brand rotors and drums are also offered in Professional Grade.

 

One Raybestos(r) Brand Hydraulic Line

            Following the retirement of the Raymold brand name, the
Raybestos(r) brand hydraulic line has been simplified to one premium
brand, PG Plus. All PG Plus hydraulic parts have the durability, form
and fit to match original equipment reliability and performance. Also
new to the PG Plus hydraulic line are complete axle kits for disc
brakes, disc brake adjustment kits and noise reduction technology. 

 

Raybestos(r) brand brakes are produced by Brake Parts Inc., the leading
manufacturer of braking systems and components for the automotive
industry and part of Affinia Group Inc.'s Under Vehicle Group.  The line
includes everything from brake drums to rotors, pads, shoes and
hydraulic parts. Brake Parts Inc. is at the forefront of research and
development in brake technology and operates manufacturing and
distribution facilities throughout North America. For more information
about Raybestos(r) brand brakes, visit www.raybestos.com
<http://www.raybestos.com/> . Raybestos(r) brand brakes are the official
brakes of NASCAR, and the NASCAR relationship also includes the
Raybestos(r) Rookie of the Year Award, which is presented to the top
rookie in each of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck
racing series.

 

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