Meridian Announces Plans to Install Sheet Molding Compounding Capabilities in Mexico

ALLEN PARK, Mich., Feb. 4, 2009 -- Meridian Automotive Systems, Inc. ("Meridian") today announced that it plans to install sheet molding compounding ("SMC") capabilities in Mexico. Meridian's recently constructed facility in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico, will house the Company's SMC production for Mexico. At peak production, the Saltillo facility will be capable of producing approximately 75 million pounds of SMC annually which will enable Meridian to sell world-class engineered formulations of SMC sheet to other Mexican-based molders within the growing thermoset composites industry.

Meridian recently hired SMC industry veteran David Hearn to lead the project initiative. Hearn's career spans over 30 years serving in several key technical and senior leadership roles with Ashland Chemical Company and Core Molding Technologies. Richard E. Newsted, Meridian's President and CEO, said, "Our investment in SMC production capability is another leading step to support the growing need for mass reduction in our customers' products and will provide a domestic source of high quality SMC for our heavy truck, consumer and industrial products and OEM customers located in Mexico. This facility will complement our existing SMC capacity located at our world-class facility in Grabill, Indiana."

About Meridian Automotive Systems, Inc.

Meridian is a leading supplier of technologically advanced front and rear end modules, exterior thermoplastics and composites and lighting systems to automobile and truck manufacturers and to the consumer and industrial products market. Meridian operates 20 facilities in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Brazil. For more information visit www.meridianautosystems.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by the company's management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future consolidated results, financial situation, development or performance of the company, and the estimates given here. The company assumes no liability to update such forward-looking statements or to adapt to future events or development.