ArvinMeritor Expands in Eastern Europe with Dedication of New Poland Plant

POZNAN, Poland, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- ArvinMeritor, Inc. unveiled a new Light Vehicle Systems (LVS) Customer Value Center (CVC) in Swarzedz, Poland, today with a dedication ceremony for customers, government officials and the media. The new 1,000-square-meter CVC will serve as final assembler of more than 200,000 door modules a year for the Volkswagen Caddy, which will be produced in Poznan, Poland.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010524/ARVINLOGO )

"We are proud to dedicate this facility as a demonstration of ArvinMeritor's strategy to grow its LVS business through the development and delivery of technically advanced door systems and modules," said Robert Marty, vice president and general manager of ArvinMeritor's LVS Door Systems. "The Swarzedz site near Poznan was chosen for its access to a highly capable workforce, as well as its proximity to the customer's plant. Locating close to our customer enables just-in-time, sequenced delivery."

ArvinMeritor LVS began producing components and systems in Central and Eastern Europe with the opening of a door systems operation in Liberec, Czech Republic, in 1992. The company's Poznan facility represents the sixth LVS facility to be established in this region. Two further Czech sites have been added since then. One is located in Mlada Boleslav and produces exhaust systems for passenger cars. The other is in Vrchlabi which performs an innovative complete door assembly process. In addition, LVS produces exhaust systems for passenger cars and motorcycles in Jaszarokszallas, Hungary, and light vehicle exhaust systems in Golcuk, Turkey.

ArvinMeritor's LVS business group posted $4.4 billion in sales during fiscal year 2003, and employs 18,000 people at 65 facilities in 23 countries. LVS -- a market leader in the product categories it serves -- supplies integrated systems and modules to the world's leading passenger car and light truck OEMs, including door systems and modules, manual and power window regulators, access control systems and electric motors.

ArvinMeritor, Inc. is a premier $8-billion global supplier of a broad range of integrated systems, modules and components to the motor vehicle industry. The company serves light vehicle, commercial truck, trailer and specialty original equipment manufacturers and related aftermarkets. Headquartered in Troy, Mich., ArvinMeritor employs approximately 32,000 people at more than 150 manufacturing facilities in 27 countries. ArvinMeritor common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ARM. For more information, visit the company's Web site at: http://www.arvinmeritor.com/ .

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010524/ARVINLOGOPRN Photo Desk, [e-mail] ArvinMeritor, Inc.