TROY, Mich., (July 28, 2009) — ArvinMeritor, Inc. (NYSE: ARM) announced today that its portfolio of Meritor^® Q Plus^™ drum brakes will enable North American truck operators to meet the recently issued U.S. government mandate for shortened stopping distance requirements. 

The company has worked for more than three years to prepare the Q Plus product in anticipation of this ruling. The Q Plus drum brake is currently undergoing the final phases of implementation testing to meet this new requirement.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the new standard requires a typical tractor-trailer traveling at 60 miles per hour come to a complete stop in 30 percent less distance (250 feet versus the existing standard of 355 feet). The new rule applies only to new truck tractors, and does not include single-unit trucks, trailers and buses. The new rule will be phased in over the next four years beginning with 2012 models.

“It's a real benefit that truck operators are able to meet their stopping needs and the new federal stopping distance requirements without having to make significant changes to their drum brake specifications or service practices,” said Joe Plomin, vice president, Truck,  ArvinMeritor. “We have the technology and products and we are ready to support our customers. We have been working closely with vehicle manufacturers and fleets on field tests. Our time-proven and optimized drum brakes will meet the full compliance timeline, and we will continue to work with our OEM customers to make this new regulation transition seamless.” 

ArvinMeritor offers standard and high-performance drum brakes, automatic slack adjusters, hubs, rotors and drums and hydraulic disc brakes. 

ArvinMeritor, Inc. is a premier global supplier of a broad range of integrated systems, modules and components to the motor vehicle industry. The company marks its centennial anniversary in 2009, celebrating a long history of ‘forward thinking.’ ArvinMeritor serves commercial truck, trailer and specialty original equipment manufacturers and certain aftermarkets, and light vehicle manufacturers. 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: www.arvinmeritor.com.

CONTACT:  D. Mike Pennington
(248) 435-1933
david.pennington@arvinmeritor.com

Note to Media: For questions that journalists may have on brakes and stopping distances, company brake engineers are available to answer your questions, please email Mike Pennington at david.pennington@arvinmeritor.com. A media webinar is scheduled for late August with the North American industry press members.