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LucasVarity Sets 50 Million ABS Milestone

13 January 1999

LucasVarity Sets 50 Million ABS Milestone

    LONDON, Jan. 12 -- LucasVarity plc announced
today that its Automotive Division has surpassed an industry milestone with
the production of more than 50 million two-wheel and four-wheel anti-lock
braking system (ABS) units.
    Company officials celebrated the event on Monday, 11 January, at its ABS
manufacturing facility in Fowlerville, Michigan where the company produces
four-wheel ABS units for virtually all of General Motors' North American light
trucks and sport utility vehicles.  LucasVarity also operates ABS
manufacturing facilities in Fenton, Michigan, and Heerlen in the Netherlands.
    John Plant, President of LucasVarity Automotive said, "Achieving this
production record reinforces our position as the leading North American
manufacturer of four-wheel ABS and the world's leading manufacturer of
two-wheel and four-wheel ABS combined.  We hold a strong position in the North
American light truck and sport utility segments and are gaining share in the
European passenger car market.
    "With a fourth generation of four-wheel ABS currently in production, we
are poised to benefit from the introduction in future models of associated,
advanced vehicle control systems such as vehicle stability management and
electronic braking," Plant added.  "In 1998, LucasVarity received significant
contract awards for its advanced braking technologies, including an award from
GM for certain future passenger cars."
    ABS is widely regarded as one of the most important safety advances in
recent automotive history. Its accident avoidance technology senses when
wheels are about to lock in emergency braking situations, then automatically
modulates pressure to avoid wheel lockup, enabling drivers to steer their
vehicles while bringing them to a stop.  It is the foundation technology for
other advanced vehicle control systems such as traction control, vehicle
stability management and electronic braking.
    Headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, LucasVarity Automotive supplies
braking components and systems, diesel systems, electrical and electronic
systems, and aftermarket replacement parts to automotive manufacturers and
customers throughout the world.
    It is a division of LucasVarity plc which designs, manufactures and
supplies advanced technology systems, products and services in the world's
automotive and aerospace industries.