Company receives PACE honorable mention for product innovation

LAKE FOREST, ILLINOIS, MARCH 11, 2003 - Tenneco Automotive (NYSE: TEN), a global leader in ride and emission control technology, has received an honorable mention for the 2003 PACE (Premier Automotive Suppliers' and OEMs' Contributions to Excellence) Award for its LiteningRod™ technology.

The PACE Award, sponsored by Automotive News and Cap Gemini Ernst & Young recognizes creativity, excellence and innovation in the automotive supply industry. Winners of the 2003 PACE award were recently announced at the ninth-annual awards ceremony.

LiteningRod is an innovative torque rod for heavy vehicle applications. The new product is six pounds lighter than conventional rods and provides 30 percent greater tensile strength, while enabling it to meet strength, durability and performance requirements. The outstanding strength-to-weight ratio of the LiteningRod is the result of its patented design and unique manufacturing process.

"We continue to lead the market in heavy-duty torque rods and the development of LiteningRod establishes a new industry standard," said Neal Yanos, vice president and general manager, North America original equipment ride control. "LiteningRod demonstrates our commitment to developing innovative technologies and products to meet customer needs."

To help meet the challenge of cost competitive and lower weight assemblies without compromising durability and strength, Tenneco Automotive uses an innovative high-strength spacer design and heavy wall tubing as the primary material for the new rod. In addition, a proprietary process provides improved strength and durability.

Tenneco is supplying LiteningRod torque rods to a major heavy truck manufacturer and has development contracts with several other heavy-duty vehicle companies. The rods will be manufactured at Tenneco Automotive's facilities in Angola, Indiana, and Ermua, Spain.

Tenneco's elastomer products include a broad range of bushings, links, mounts and torque rods. Tenneco develops and markets the premier NVH components under the well-known Cleviteâ brand name. The company leads the North American market in the design and manufacture of torque rods for heavy-duty vehicles.

Tenneco Automotive is a $3.5 billion manufacturing company with headquarters in Lake Forest, Illinois and approximately 19,600 employees worldwide. Tenneco Automotive is one of the world's largest producers and marketers of ride control and exhaust systems and products, which are sold under the Monroe® and Walker® global brand names. Among its products are Sensa-Trac® and Monroe Reflex® shocks and struts, Rancho® shock absorbers, Walker® Quiet-Flow® mufflers and DynoMax® performance exhaust products, and Monroe Clevite® vibration control components.

CONTACT:
Tenneco Automotive, Media Relations
Jane Ostrander
(1) 847 482 5607
jane.ostrander@tenneco-automotive.com

Tenneco Automotive, Investor Relations
Leslie Hunziker
(1) 847 482 5042
leslie.hunziker@tenneco-automotive.com