New Spicer® EconoTrek™ Tandem Axle Offers Reliable, Fuel-Efficient 6x2 Option for Fleet Owners

LOUISVILLE, Ky., March 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Dana Holding Corporation (NYSE: DAN) today introduced the Spicer^® EconoTrek™ tandem axle, a new durable, lightweight 6x2 configuration that improves performance, reduces maintenance, and increases fuel economy for heavy-duty line haul tractors.

Debuting this week at the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS), the Spicer EconoTrek tandem axle is an innovative solution for those customers who can benefit from the advantages offered by a 6x2.  It improves fuel economy by up to 3 percent through decreases in mechanical drivetrain energy loss and reduces weight by up to 400 pounds when compared with a traditional 40,000-pound tandem axle arrangement.

Available this summer, the Spicer EconoTrek tandem axle expertly combines the company's newly upgraded Spicer^® S170 and S190 single-reduction single drive axles with the new, lightweight Spicer S20-045B tag axle.  Together, these axles provide reliability and durability for the industry's lightest 6x2 tandem axle configuration.

"At Dana, we continually evaluate the performance of our drivetrain designs to ensure that they deliver long-term value for fleet owners," said Pat D'Eramo, president of Dana Commercial Vehicle Driveline Technologies.  "Updated with new components and designs to increase fuel efficiency and durability, the Spicer EconoTrek tandem axle offers performance improvements that can boost the productivity of 6x2 fleets."

First introduced in 2004, Spicer S170 and S190 high-performance single drive axles have been outfitted on more than half a million commercial vehicles and are designed for efficiency while withstanding the most demanding applications.  Now improved to ensure optimal operation and durability with less required maintenance, the Spicer S170 and S190 drive axles are even more resistant to abusive differential spin-out events.

The new Spicer S20-045B axle features advanced designs leveraged from Dana's popular line of Spicer commercial-vehicle drive axles.  Made of high-strength, micro-alloy steel with a thin-wall, square-edge formed axle housing box, it weighs 20 to 30 pounds less than competitive models.  The Spicer S20-045B axle is shaped like a low-profile drive axle to provide significant strength for the axle's vertical load-bearing capabilities, reducing tire wear while simplifying suspension and chassis installation at a lower weight.

The Spicer EconoTrek tandem axle is optimized for use with electronic-controlled air suspension systems, such as the new Bendix eTrac™ system. The eTrac system will seamlessly transfer weight to the Spicer S170 or S190 series drive axle for improved low-speed traction when combined with the Spicer patented wheel-differential lock feature.

Fleet owners can quickly and accurately calculate the money-saving advantages of the new Spicer EconoTrek tandem axle at www.dana.com/commercialvehicle.

MATS attendees may visit Dana in the South Wing of the Kentucky Expo Center in booth 30555.

About Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, a member of the Knorr-Bremse Group, develops and supplies leading-edge active safety technologies, energy management solutions, and air brake charging and control systems and components under the Bendix^® brand name for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, tractors, trailers, buses, and other commercial vehicles throughout North America. An industry pioneer, employing more than 2,700 people, Bendix is driven to deliver solutions for improved vehicle safety, performance and overall operating cost. Bendix is headquartered in Elyria, Ohio, with manufacturing plants in Bowling Green, Ky.; Huntington, Ind.; and Acuna, Mexico. For more information, call 1-800-AIR-BRAKE (1-800-247-2725) or visit www.bendix.com. To learn more about career opportunities at Bendix, visit www.bendix.com/careers. Follow Bendix on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Bendix_CVS.

About Dana Holding Corporation
Dana is a world-leading supplier of driveline, sealing, and thermal-management technologies that improve the efficiency and performance of passenger, commercial, and off-highway vehicles with both conventional and alternative-energy powertrains.  The company's global network of engineering, manufacturing, and distribution facilities provides original-equipment and aftermarket customers with local product and service support. Based in Maumee, Ohio, Dana employs more than 23,000 people in 26 countries and reported 2012 sales of $7.2 billion. For more information, please visit www.dana.com.

SOURCE Dana Holding Corporation