ArvinMeritor announced Tuesday, July 28, 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 Troy, Mich.-based company also announced that Kevin Nowlan has been appointed vice president and treasurer, responsible for the company’s global capital market and treasury activities.
The company says it has worked for more than three years to prepare the Q Plus product in anticipation of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s ruling, and that the Q Plus drum brake is currently undergoing the final phases of implementation testing to meet the new requirement.
According to 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,” says Joe Plomin, vice president, Truck, for 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.”
Nowlan, who previously was vice president and assistant treasurer, has been with ArvinMeritor since 2007. Prior to joining ArvinMeritor, Nowlan held a series of senior-level financial positions with the GM Treasurer’s Office and GMAC Financial Services in New York and Michigan.
“Kevin brings extensive experience and financial insight to this position,” says Jay Craig, senior vice president and chief financial officer. “Since joining ArvinMeritor, he has made major contributions to the company, and we consider him a significant asset.”
Nowlan succeeds Mary Lehmann, who served as treasurer of ArvinMeritor since 2006. Lehmann, a senior vice president and executive officer of the company, has in the past several years been assigned various responsibilities in addition to the treasurer role, including leading the company’s corporate development and strategy group, as well as global information systems. She will continue to lead both functions, having responsibility for all merger and acquisition activities and a global information systems function that is committed to driving improved efficiency and business value. Her current focus is to complete the company’s strategic initiative to divest its global light vehicle systems business with the objective that ArvinMeritor can expand its business globally in the commercial vehicle on- and off-highway segments.
In addition, Carl Anderson has been appointed assistant treasurer, replacing Nowlan. Anderson was previously director of capital markets for ArvinMeritor. Prior to joining ArvinMeritor, Anderson was senior manager of securitization for GMAC.
