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Williams Controls Awarded Electronic Throttle Control Business

20 October 1999

Williams Controls Awarded Electronic Throttle Control Business for a Future Ford Vehicle

    PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 19 -- Williams Controls, Inc.
today announced that it has been awarded a contract to
manufacture electronic throttle controls (ETCs) for a future Ford vehicle.
    "This contract award is the culmination of 18 months of market research,
global benchmarking of our technology for the automotive market, and customer-
driven product design," stated Thomas W. Itin, chairman and chief executive
officer of Williams Controls.  "The Williams Controls team leveraged 13 years
of heavy truck and bus ETC expertise into the light truck and passenger car
market, and our ability to demonstrate the benefits of ETC technology is
enhanced by our expertise in sensor technology, which is the high value piece
of the ETC.  This has allowed us to provide a durable and feature-filled
product that delivers the performance and reliability expected by our
customers."
    "Our ETC solution for this Ford vehicle not only improves engine response
on acceleration, but it also reduced Ford's costs through an improved
engineering solution with the Williams' ETC," continued Mr. Itin.  "Further
savings are expected, as the Williams sensor technology should offer improved
customer service by reducing life-in-service costs to both Ford and the
vehicle owner.  Further, the assembly process is simplified by reducing the
number of electrical connectors in the ETC, offering vehicle manufacturing
cycle time cost savings to Ford as well."
    "The performance and overall cost advantages of using our ETC systems will
deliver outstanding value to Ford, compared to the mechanical systems
currently in use," stated Timothy J. Marker, vice president, sales and
marketing of Williams Controls.  "The growth in automotive industry ETC fully
supports Williams' recent acquisition of ProActive Pedal, which makes
adjustable ETC pedal systems."
    "The Williams Controls ETC pedal system that has been selected by Ford is
being considered for several other vehicle manufacturers' applications,"
Mr. Marker continued.  "Due to the system's modularity and design it can be
adapted to other car, truck and van applications with minor modifications.
Williams Controls' ownership of the sensor and proprietary technology in the
ETC allows costs to be minimized and service quality and availability to be
maximized."
    Williams Controls is a manufacturer and integrator of sensors, controls
and communications systems for the transportation and communication
industries.  For more information, you can find the Company at http://www.wmco.com on
the World Wide Web.
    The statements included in this news release concerning predictions of
economic performance and management's plans and objectives constitute forward-
looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1934, as amended.  These statements involve risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the
forward-looking statements.  Factors which could cause or contribute to such
differences include, but are not limited to, factors detailed in the Company's
Securities and Exchange Commission filings; economic downturns affecting the
operations of the Company or any of its business operations; and the
unavailability of financing to complete management's plans and objectives.
The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as
of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to
update these forward-looking statements.