Dana Corporation to Supply Structural Frame System Utilizing Hydroforming Technology for 2004 Ford F-150 Series Pickup Truck

TOLEDO, Ohio, Jan. 9, 2003; Dana Corporation announced today that it will supply structural systems to the Ford Motor Company for its 2004 F-150 Series pickup trucks. Dana's Automotive Systems Group will supply frames from its Elizabethtown, Ky., and St. Mary's, Ont., facilities to supply Ford's Kansas City, Mo., and Norfolk, Va., assembly plants.

The newly designed frame will be produced using Dana's patented Robo Clamp(TM) technology, which increases the frame's vertical stiffness by 50 percent. The hydroformed structural system has increased stiffness not only vertically, but also torsionally for an improved ride. The frame surface is also being electrocoated, providing corrosion protection that is resistant to higher underbody temperatures.

"This is the first time Dana's hydroforming technology is being used in one of Ford's F-Series pickup trucks," said Bill Carroll, president of Dana's Automotive Systems Group. "We're proud of our intellectual property in hydroforming and the knowledge and expertise of Dana's structural engineers to provide Ford with a cost-effective, advanced frame solution."

"This frame design benefits consumers by providing a smoother ride, improved handling, corrosion resistance and safety," said Joe Magliochetti, Dana chairman and CEO. "After all, Dana people are automotive consumers, too; so clearly we have a vested interest in providing affordable, yet sophisticated, products to continually improve offerings to new vehicle owners."