Tenneco Inc. will continue its aggressive investment in new emissions control application coverage in 2009 as the company leverages its position as one of the world’s leading automotive original equipment manufacturers. Tenneco plans to add more than 300 SKUs to its Walker line of replacement exhaust parts in the coming year, enabling distributors and repair shops to capture more sales and service opportunities on popular late-model domestic and foreign-nameplate applications. Tenneco’s Walker brand already offers more exhaust application coverage than any other aftermarket brand.
The 2009 product launch plan includes 50 new domestic mufflers and pipes; 100 new import mufflers and pipes; 75 new direct-fit and universal catalytic converters; 50 new DynoMax and Thrush performance products, and 30 new commercial vehicle exhaust products. This planned expansion continues a strategy begun more than five years ago, when Tenneco began to significantly increase the Walker brand’s coverage in support of aftermarket businesses. More than 600 new exhaust part numbers were introduced to the Walker line in 2008 alone, and more than 1,600 parts have been added since 2004.
“We are investing in new products and coverage to help our aftermarket customers strengthen their competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving category,” said Frank Murkowski, North American emissions control marketing manager, Tenneco. “Some industry suppliers are reducing their investment in the exhaust marketplace; we’re becoming more aggressive each year by leveraging our OE manufacturing portfolio to help ensure that repair shops have all of the factory-quality parts they need to survive and grow.”
Tenneco also will continue its unique continuous launch strategy for new exhaust products, Murkowski added. Whereas North American exhaust suppliers traditionally have introduced new SKUs at one time each year, Tenneco will continue to identify and introduce new parts as market needs arise.
Tenneco backs all Walker, DynoMax and Thrush products with the company’s exclusive Safe & Sound Guarantee 90-day consumer cash-back offer. (See www.walkerexhaust.com for details.)
For additional information concerning Walker, DynoMax and Thrush exhaust products from Tenneco, contact your exhaust supplier, visit www.walkerexhaust.com, www.dynomax.com or www.thrushexhaust.com, or write to: Walker Exhaust, One International Drive, Monroe, MI 48161.
