With more and more Americans choosing to drive import vehicles, aftermarket manufacturers are aggressively seeking to expand product coverage and capture new sales and customer relationships. In keeping with this growing trend, Tenneco Inc. has announced ongoing product coverage expansion that will bring more than 600 new exhaust/emission control part numbers to the Walker exhaust product line throughout 2008. Tenneco, which already offers coverage of domestic and foreign nameplate vehicle registrations, has invested in well over 1,600 new exhaust/emission control SKUs since 2004. Unlike traditional annual coverage introductions provided by some aftermarket manufacturers, Tenneco and Walker will roll out hundreds of new exhaust/emission SKUs on a quarterly basis next year to make sure replacement parts distributors and their customers have the products they need, when they need them. This new capability resulted from the company's continued investment in product development resources to help customers re-energize their exhaust/emissions businesses. The 2008 product line expansion will include nearly 150 new catalytic converter SKUs, 54 Walker Quiet-Flow®3 premium mufflers and assemblies, dozens of new Walker SoundFX® mufflers, 113 new pipe SKUs, 139 commercial vehicle SKUs, and more than 100 additional performance systems, mufflers and related components. The Walker product line represents a single-source solution for distributors, jobbers, service professionals and do-it-yourselfers seeking original equipment-style fit, performance and reliability. "We told our customers back in 2004 that Tenneco and Walker would invest in the coverage and quality they needed to grow their businesses, and we're delivering on this commitment each and every year," says Frank Murkowski, emission control marketing manager, North American aftermarket, Tenneco. "By relying on Walker, aftermarket business owners will now enjoy faster access than ever to the industry's latest exhaust and emission control solutions." Tenneco's continuing investment in new products also has enabled the Walker brand to achieve industry-leading coverage of foreign nameplate applications. "We're seeing a significant shift in the make-up of the North American vehicle population, and Tenneco has responded to this trend with the best coverage and exceptional quality for import vehicles," Murkowski says. "Quality is the bottom line for the owners of these vehicles, and we challenge any other exhaust supplier to match the precision fit, flow, sound and reliability of our premium import assemblies." The Walker brand's leading coverage of foreign nameplate applications is aided by Tenneco's status as one of the world's largest manufacturers of original equipment exhaust systems and components. Because Tenneco is an OE supplier to most major global automakers, the company often can leverage its engineering insight to specific makes and models for faster and better aftermarket repair solutions. All Walker direct-fit catalytic converters, exhaust systems, mufflers, and related components feature precisely engineered cross-sections and routing; robust, OE style brackets; sophisticated sound tuning technologies; and thicker, more durable materials. Tenneco backs these products with a limited lifetime warranty and the exclusive Safe & Sound Guarantee™ 90-day consumer cash-back offer. For more information regarding Walker exhaust and emission control products for the transportation aftermarket, visit the company's Web site. | 
