CUMMINS MERCRUISER DIESEL ANNOUNCES DISTRIBUTION PLANS FOR UNITED KINGDOM

Cummins MerCruiser Diesel, a 50/50 joint venture between Cummins Marine and Mercury Marine has announced the channel distribution plan for the United Kingdom. The current Cummins Distributor (Cummins Diesel UK) will distribute the full CMD product line including the Cummins and MerCruiser diesel brands, while E.P. Barrus will continue to distribute the MerCruiser diesel products.

“This dual distribution structure will leverage all the best from both parents, Mercury and Cummins,” said Gary Dickman, Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Marketing. “E.P. Barrus has extensive knowledge and relationships with various military accounts as well as a capable service network specifically trained on sterndrive applications. Cummins Diesel UK has tremendous capability with inboard applications for both commercial and recreational applications and will now be able to expand their distribution capability with the MerCruiser diesel product. It’s the best of both worlds and we’re expanding our service capability, which is great news to consumers,” Dickman said.

Cummins Diesel UK will supply inboard diesel engines 15 litre and below, including the MerCruiser inboard and stern drive diesel engines along with SmartCraft® electronic integration hardware. Only Barrus will supply the MerCruiser gasoline engines and gasoline engine sterndrive program but both companies will distribute the current 1.7 litre, 2.8 litre, 4.2 litre diesel engine sterndrive packages and future diesel engine sterndrive packages as well as jointly distributing the SmartCraft® electronic integration hardware.

“Our vision at CMD is to become the premier worldwide supplier of integrated diesel marine propulsion systems,” said Scott Patrohay, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cummins MerCruiser Diesel. “The team at CMD Marine is meeting the challenges of bringing together the exceptional brand recognition and products of the two parent companies. Cummins MerCruiser Diesel will also create a new level of customer value with prop-to-helm solutions combined with unparalleled service and support resulting from leveraging the strengths of the two parent distribution systems,” said Patrohay.

“In North America the Cummins Marine channel has been selected to take the lead in distributing the CMD product line. MerCruiser diesel dealers who were previously part of Mercury’s Diesel Power Center Program are being evaluated by the Cummins distributor network and it is anticipated that many will continue to play a role in support of service and repower opportunities throughout North America,” Dickman continued.

“Over the past eight months we’ve been working with Cummins and Mercury distribution leaders around the world to leverage the strengths of both channels. By leveraging each channel member’s strengths we will develop and improve our regional distribution model to better serve our customers and facilitate growth. We’re taking the necessary time to analyze and deliver the best possible distribution outcome worldwide. We will build a distribution network that delivers improved customer service and OEM support as we evolve into the industry’s prop-to-helm performance leader. This is a part of our company’s vision and it is what our OEM customers and consumers demand of us,” said Dickman.

Cummins retains its current high-horsepower commercial marine and auxiliary power business, which continues to be headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina. Mercury Marine retains its traditional gas engine propulsion business.

Mercury Marine is a division of the Brunswick Corporation, headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois. Brunswick Corporation is a manufacturer and marketer of leading consumer brands in the marine engine and boating markets as well as the recreational fitness, bowling and billiard markets. Mercury Marine’s home page can be found at www.mercurymarine.com.

A global power leader, Cummins Inc., is a corporation of complementary business units that design, manufacture, distribute, and service electrical power generation systems, engines, and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, and emissions solutions. Headquartered in Columbus, Indiana (USA), Cummins serves its customers through more than 500 company-owned and independent distributor locations in 131 countries and territories. With 24,800 employees worldwide, Cummins reported sales of $5.7 billion in 2001. Cummins home page can be found at www.cummins.com.

For more information, contact Ted Varner, CMD Communications Manager at 843-745-1586 or ted.varner@cmdmarine.com.