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Hayes Lemmerz Announces Strategic Realignment

28 January 2000

Hayes Lemmerz Announces Strategic Realignment

    NORTHVILLE, Mich., Jan. 28 -- Hayes Lemmerz International,
Inc. , one of the world's leading suppliers of wheels, brakes,
powertrain, suspension, structural and other lightweight components to the
automotive and commercial highway markets, today announced a global initiative
to better align its business strategy with its market focus.  The strategy
will principally include an aggressive initiative to position suspension
components for impressive growth into the global market well into the next
century.
    As part of this strategy, Hayes Lemmerz announced that it has realigned
its corporate structure into four operating groups:

    North American Wheels Group
    Leading the Group as president is Ronald Kolakowski.  Mr. Kolakowski is
responsible for the North American Cast Aluminum Wheels and North American
Fabricated Wheels business units, and for wheel operations in Mexico,
Venezuela, Columbia and Japan.

    North American Components Group
    Leading the Group as president is John Salvette, formerly group vice
president of finance.  Mr. Salvette will have overall responsibility for the
Suspension Components, Powertrain Components and Automotive Brakes Components
business units, the Equipment and Engineering division and Technical Services.

    European Chassis Components Group
    Leading the Group as president is Klaus Juenger, who previously served as
president of European Fabricated Wheels.  Falling under Mr. Juenger's purview
is Metaalgieterij Giesen B.V. (MGG) and the System Service division.

    European Wheels Group
    Leading the Group as president is Giancarlo Dallera, formerly president of
European Cast Aluminum Wheels.  Mr. Dallera will have overall responsibility
for the European Fabricated Wheels and the European Cast Aluminum Wheels
business units, and for wheel operations in Brazil, South Africa, Thailand,
Turkey and India.

    The Commercial Highway and Aftermarket Services business unit led by its
president, Mike McGrath will continue to focus on the North American
heavy-duty truck market.
    "The changes will allow a strengthening of the focus on global strategy
and development," said Ron Cucuz, chairman of the board and CEO.  He adds,
"The realignment of operating groups will accelerate this momentum, enabling
Hayes Lemmerz to better service the customer and focus more on suspension
components and modular solutions."
    All changes go into effect on February 1, 2000.

    Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. is one of the world's leading global
suppliers of automotive and commercial highway wheels, brakes, powertrain,
suspension, structural and other lightweight components.  The Company has
annual sales of close to $2.3 billion with 43 plants, 8 joint venture
facilities and over 15,000 employees worldwide.

    CONTACT:  Marika P. Diamond of Hayes Lemmerz International, 734-737-5162