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Meritor to Open a New Assembly Facility

12 August 1998

Meritor to Open a New Assembly Facility To Better Serve its Heavy Vehicle OEM Customers

    TROY, Mich., Aug. 12 -- Meritor Automotive, Inc.
today announced that it will open a new assembly facility in Manning, South
Carolina to better serve its Southeastern United States heavy vehicle OEM
customers.
    The new location will be operated solely for the assembly of various
heavy-duty truck drivetrain components including cam brake systems, automatic
slack adjusters, driveline systems, and miscellaneous hydraulic and air disc
brake systems for off-highway applications.
    "By establishing a presence closer to the manufacturing locations of our
heavy vehicle customers, we can further enhance customer service and
responsiveness," said Glenn Eggert, senior vice president of operations for
Meritor's Heavy Vehicle Systems business.  "Because the new facility will be
devoted entirely to assembly, we expect to gain process flow efficiencies and
improved overall performance," Eggert added.
    Production is planned to begin at the 80,000 sq.-ft. facility in December
1998.  Once the plant is fully operational in December 1999, it will employ
approximately 200 people.
    Meritor, with 1997 sales of more than $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, and fire and rescue; and Light Vehicle
Systems, a major supplier of roof, door, access control and seat adjusting
systems, electric motors and electronic controls, suspension systems and
wheels for passenger cars, light trucks and sport utility vehicles.