Tenneco Establishes First Manufacturing Operation in Japan

LAKE FOREST, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tenneco (NYSE: TEN) announced today the opening of its first manufacturing plant in Japan. Located in Osaka, the facility will initially produce emission control systems for Kubota, a leading global manufacturer of engines and equipment for agricultural and industrial applications. Tenneco is working to expand business with other Japan-based customers, using this facility and the company’s engineering and manufacturing capabilities.

“We look forward to collaborating with Kubota on their emission control needs and supporting them with our engineering capabilities and advanced technology diesel aftertreatment solutions.”

“We are very proud to support Kubota and to celebrate this milestone in Tenneco’s history with a customer who is recognized for manufacturing excellence and environmental stewardship,” said Gregg Sherrill, chairman and CEO, Tenneco. “We look forward to collaborating with Kubota on their emission control needs and supporting them with our engineering capabilities and advanced technology diesel aftertreatment solutions.”

The facility will produce diesel aftertreatment systems including diesel oxidation catalysts and diesel particulate filters for commercial vehicle applications.

“Establishing our first manufacturing facility in Japan demonstrates Tenneco’s commitment to our Japan-based customers and adds to our already strong global manufacturing footprint,” said Jeff Jarrell, vice president and general manager, Japan. “We continue to enhance our capabilities in Japan with a focus on providing our customers with leading technologies, outstanding engineering support and cost-effective solutions.”

Tenneco is a leading emission control supplier to the global commercial vehicle market with a full suite of aftertreatment solutions tailored to any engine size or powertrain strategy. The company currently supports customers in North America, Europe, Brazil, China, India, South Korea and Japan in meeting increasingly stringent emissions standards taking effect worldwide.

In addition to the new plant in Osaka, Tenneco’s presence in Japan includes a technical center in Yokohama and offices in Nagoya and Hiroshima. Tenneco has operated in Japan since 1973, and today, the company also supplies emission control and ride control products globally to seven Japan-based light vehicle manufacturers.

Tenneco is a $7.2 billion global manufacturing company with headquarters in Lake Forest, Illinois and approximately 24,000 employees worldwide. Tenneco is one of the world’s largest designers, manufacturers and marketers of emission control and ride control products and systems for the automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment markets and the aftermarket. Tenneco markets its products principally under the Monroe®, Walker® and Clevite® Elastomer brand names.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Words such as “anticipate,” “expects,” "will", "continue" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of the company (including its subsidiaries). Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, the company's plans, actions and actual results could differ materially. Among the factors that could cause these plans, actions and results to differ materially from current expectations are: (i) changes in automotive or commercial vehicle manufacturers' production rates and their actual and forecasted requirements for the company's products, including the company's resultant inability to realize the sales represented by its awarded book of business; (ii) changes in demand and prices, including decreases in demand for automobiles or commercial vehicles which include the company's products, and the potential negative impact on the company's revenues and margins from such products; (iii) the general political, economic and competitive conditions in markets where the company and its subsidiaries operate; (iv) workforce factors such as strikes or labor interruptions; (v) material substitutions and increases in the costs of raw materials; and (vi) the company's ability to develop and profitably commercialize new products and technologies, and the acceptance of such new products and technologies by the company's customers.

The company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release. Additional information regarding these risk factors and uncertainties is detailed from time to time in the company's SEC filings, including but not limited to its report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.