Dana Gets Suspension Module Contract

Dana Corp. will supply Ford of Australia Ltd. with a suspension module for its new Barra model, due in the ’03 model year, Steve Hanley, vice president-Systems Integration Group, says.

Although he doesn’t disclose volumes, the large, 4-door sedan, likely a replacement for the Falcon, is expected to become Ford Australia’s best-selling car, Mr. Hanley says. Holding up the contract as an example of supplier-OE cooperation, Mr. Hanley says Dana has responsibility for design, coordination of third-party engineering resources, Tier II sourcing and overall program management. It is co-locating its engineers at Ford in order to manage the project. Dana also will assemble the module.

“To date, we have successfully achieved aggressive cost and weight reduction goals, and we’re beating prototype deadlines as we approach production next year,” Mr. Hanley says. This marks the second modular suspension contract for Dana, which had been supplying complete chassis systems for Dodge Dakota production in Brazil.