New Manufacturing Facility

Johnson,Matthey PLC
10 November 2000


Johnson Matthey Opens New Autocatalyst Manufacturing Facility in India

Johnson Matthey has today opened its new autocatalyst manufacturing facility
at Manesar in India's Haryana State. The Manesar facility has initial capacity
to produce 2 million car catalysts and 4 million motorcycle catalysts per year
and is capable of further expansion to meet future growth in catalyst demand
in the region. A second phase of investment is already envisaged in which
manufacturing technology will be included in the plant to enable the
production of a future generation of emission control catalysts with the
capability to meet tougher new standards.

India now represents an important market for autocatalysts. While legislation
has been in place since 1995 requiring the use of car emission control systems
in India's four main cities of Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi and Madras, it has been
continually tightening throughout the country and extended to motorcycles and
three wheeled vehicles. From April this year all new passenger vehicles sold
in the National Capital Region of Delhi have had to meet equivalent to EU II
emission standards and EU I equivalent standards have applied to the rest of
the country. Most of India's other metropolitan areas will require vehicles to
meet the same standards as Delhi from early next year and further legislation
is expected that will implement new standards for progressively tighter
pollution control over the period 2004 to 2007.

Commenting on the opening of the facility, Neil Carson, Executive Director of
Johnson Matthey said:
' This investment confirms our commitment to our autocatalyst customers in
India where Johnson Matthey is the clear market leader. It also further
strengthens our operations in the Asia region where it stands alongside our
Technical Centre in Japan, our plant in Malaysia and our new factory in China,
which will open shortly.'

John Walker, Managing Director, CSD Asia Region said: 
'This major expansion of our autocatalyst business in India enables us to
provide our customers with an even better service and will allow the
manufacturing of the latest catalysts to meet the needs of this exciting
market as emissions standards continue to tighten.'

Enquiries:
Jatin Thakrar, Managing Director, CSD India (91) 124 633 8285/6
Ian Godwin, Group Corporate Communications Manager (44) 207 269 8410