Corporate

- New Machines and Production Techniques Increases Capacity Nearly 25 Percent
- Chinese Heavy Duty Truck Demand Grew 62 Percent in the First Five Months of 2007

ZHEJIANG, China, July 2 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- SORL Auto Parts, Inc. (NASDAQ:SORL) , a leading manufacturer and distributor of commercial vehicle air brake valves as well as other auto parts in China, today announced that as of early June 2007, it has successfully installed new equipment to increase production capacity and to meet the growing demand from large OEM customers in China.

The Company installed 10 additional die casting machines, added 47 computerized numerical control machines to 198 machines previously in use, purchased 4 new tooling machines for clutch servo and streamlined the production facility to increase the total capacity by nearly 25%. All equipment completed testing and has begun mass production. The Company plans to further invest in new equipment and continue to expand capacity in the second half of 2007.

TROY, Mich., July 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ArvinMeritor, Inc. (NYSE:ARM) will host a conference call and web cast to discuss the company's third-quarter fiscal year 2007 financial results on Monday, July 30, 2007, at 9 a.m. (ET).

VAN BUREN TWP., Mich., July 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Due to an unprecedented increase in demand for its performance transmission products, Ricardo has invested $1M to enhance the precision gear grinding capability at its UK manufacturing center. The need for precision manufacture of high performance transmissions for applications ranging from Formula One and World Rally Championship to the endurance events such as the Le Mans series, has never been greater. With almost every aspect of motorsport engineering a potential means of advantage on the circuit, competition transmissions must exhibit ultra-high standards of reliability as well as performance if they are to contribute to race success.

IRVINE, Calif., June 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:QTWW) , today announced that it has retained Merriman Curhan Ford as financial advisor to assist the Company in a review of strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder value. The Company anticipates a review with its advisors of its options for the Tecstar operating segment, including strategic alliances or a possible sale of all or part of the Tecstar Automotive Group subsidiary, but there can be no assurances of any particular outcome.

PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP, Mich., June 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Executives from Robert Bosch LLC were joined today by city and state dignitaries to celebrate the opening of the company's technical center in Plymouth Township. The $37.5 million, 225,000 sq. ft. facility, which sits on 76 acres, houses more than 400 associates. Bosch began construction of its Plymouth Township Technical Center in 2005 to allow for expansion of its automotive capabilities in Michigan.

The Plymouth Township facility, located at 15000 Haggerty Road, serves as a technical center for Bosch, housing research and development as well as engineering space for its automotive electronics, starter motors and generators, and electrical drives divisions. Innovations currently engineered at the Bosch Plymouth Township Technical Center include predictive safety systems and driver assistance technologies.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sonic Automotive, Inc. (NYSE:SAH) , a leader in automotive retailing, announced the acquisition of Assael BMW/Mini of Monrovia located in Southern California, representing approximately $180 million in annual revenues. Year-to-date in 2007, Sonic Automotive has acquired dealerships representing approximately $400 million in annual revenues.

LOS ANGELES, June 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mizati Luxury Alloy Wheels, Inc. , a distributor of high-quality luxury alloy wheels for passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, vans and light trucks, today reported its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2007.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2007, Mizati's revenues were $1.73 million, an increase of 32% compared to revenues of $1.31 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2006. Operating Income for the first quarter of 2007 was $354,183, an increase of 48% from $239,603 for the quarter ended March 31, 2006. The Company's pre-tax net income for Q1, 2007 was $87,688 compared to $85,843 in Q1 of 2006, an increase of 2%. The first quarter revenue increase can be attributed to an increase in our number of distributors and dealers across the U.S., as well as greater brand recognition, and stronger sales.

NOVI, Mich., June 27 /PRNewswire/ -- As previously reported, Cooper- Standard Automotive Inc. entered into a definitive agreement with Automotive Sealing Systems S.A. providing for the acquisition by Cooper-Standard of Metzeler Automotive Profile Systems (MAPS) sealing systems operations in Germany, Italy, Poland and Belgium, including joint venture interests in India and China in a transaction valued at approximately 100 million euros. Today Cooper-Standard Automotive disclosed certain historical financial information relating to that business, which has been posted on the company's website under the Investor Relations/Presentations link. Cooper-Standard Automotive is sending out this release to comply with Regulation FD.

FREDERICK, Colo., June 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- UQM TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (AMEX:UQM) , a developer of alternative energy technologies, announced today that it has completed a private placement of 1,250,000 shares of its common stock to Heartland Advisors on behalf of two of its advisory clients, Heartland Value Fund and Turn of the Tide, a Wisconsin Limited Partnership. Net cash proceeds to the Company from the transaction were approximately $5.2 million.

SHIZUOKA, Japan, June 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Hideo Ishii has been named president and co-CEO of Asahi Tec Corporation, the company announced today. He will also become director and representative executive officer. Ishii assumes these positions after the general shareholders meeting on June 28.

He will be responsible for the Metal Forming Group and Diversified Business Group. These businesses represent the operations of Asahi Tec prior to the acquisition of Metaldyne announced in January of this year. He will also become co-CEO with Timothy D. Leuliette, who also serves as co-chairman of the company with Shoichiro Irimajiri.