Williams Controls Subsidiary Awarded Automotive Service Contract

20 January 1999
Williams Controls Subsidiary Awarded Automotive Service Contract
    PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 19 -- Williams Controls, Inc.
announced that its subsidiary, Premier Plastic Technologies,
has been awarded the Rear Lighting Service program by Textron Automotive for
Chrysler's 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
    Under this contract, Premier Plastics will supply Textron with replacement
taillight systems for the Grand Cherokee, one of the most popular sport
utility vehicles on the road today.  Premier Plastics will have total
responsibility for molding, painting, metalizing, assembling and testing these
systems, which are used by Chrysler Jeep dealers and other repair facilities
in North America that complete collision and repair work for this vehicle
model.
    Williams Controls chairman and CEO Thomas W. Itin stated, "This contract
is a major step in our drive to further penetrate the automotive sector with
our lighting systems products and other products in the Williams Controls
line.  This new program enhances our current lighting business and supports
our expectation for strong growth in the lens and optical components part of
our business in 1999."
    Premier Plastic Technologies, Inc. is a QS-9000 certified automotive
supplier operating from a new 60,000 square foot manufacturing center in
Sterling Heights, Michigan that utilizes state-of-the-art plastic injection
molding presses in its manufacturing process.
    Williams Controls is a leading manufacturer and integrator of innovative
sensors, controls and communications systems for the transportation and
communications industries.  For more information, you can reach the Company at
http://www.wmco.com on the World Wide Web.
    Forward-looking statements in this news release, if any, are made under
the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995.  Certain important factors could cause results to differ materially from
those anticipated by the statements, including the impact of changing economic
or business conditions, the impact of competition, the availability of
financing, the success of products in the marketplace, other factors inherent
in the industry and other factors discussed from time to time in reports filed
by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.