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Meritor Automotive Names Prakash Mulchandani President, Heavy Vehicle Systems

18 December 1997

Meritor Automotive Names Prakash Mulchandani President, Heavy Vehicle Systems

        Yost Assumes Interim Responsibility for Light Vehicle Systems

    TROY, Mich., Dec. 18 -- Meritor Automotive Inc. ,
today announced the appointment of Prakash R. Mulchandani to the position of
president, Heavy Vehicle Systems (HVS), effective January 1, 1998.
Mulchandani will report directly to Meritor Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer, Larry D. Yost.
    In addition to his new duties, Mulchandani will retain his
responsibilities for the HVS Worldwide Truck and Trailer Systems business. He
has held this post since 1996.
    Yost said:  "Prakash's experience in the industry, solid business
background and dedicated approach make him the ideal choice to head HVS.  With
more than twenty years of company service along with his operations and
manufacturing expertise, Prakash has the perspective to continuously sharpen
our focus on meeting customer needs and advancing our worldwide business
growth initiatives.
    "Prakash's seasoned leadership has played a key role in securing record
1997 sales of $2 billion for our HVS business," Yost added.
    Mulchandani joined the company in 1974, as a supervisor of cost and
budgets at the company's Newark, Ohio, axle plant.  Since then, he has served
more than 20 years in progressively more responsible financial and operational
management positions at manufacturing sites and World Headquarters in Troy,
Michigan.  In 1989, Mulchandani was named general manager of the Trailer
Products business.  He was appointed vice president, Worldwide Trailer
Products in 1993.  The following year, he was appointed president of the
company's former North American Truck Systems business. He also held
engineering and financial positions at Dow Chemical Co. and Owens-Corning
Fiberglas Corp.
    Mulchandani holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Bombay University;
bachelor's and master's degrees in chemical engineering from Michigan State
University and Clemson University respectively; and a master's degree in
business administration from the University of Michigan.
    As previously announced, Robert A. Calder, 62, senior vice president and
president of Meritor's Light Vehicle Systems (LVS) business, will retire in
January 1998.  Following his retirement, Calder will act in an advisory role
to assure an orderly transition and to provide assistance to the company.
Yost will assume interim responsibility for LVS as its acting president until
a successor is named.
    Meritor, with 1997 sales of $3.3 billion, is a global supplier of a broad
range of components and systems for commercial, specialty and light vehicles.
Meritor consists of two businesses:  Heavy Vehicle Systems, a leading supplier
of drivetrain systems and components for medium- and heavy-duty trucks,
trailers and off-highway equipment and specialty vehicles including military,
bus and coach, fire and rescue; and Light Vehicle Systems, a major supplier of
roof, door, access control and seat adjusting systems, electric motors,
suspension systems and wheels for passenger cars, light trucks and sport
utility vehicles.
SOURCE  Meritor Automotive Inc.