LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Based on the trend toward extending vehicle trade-in cycles and the need to simplify warranty administration, ArvinMeritor plans to simplify its component warranty categories from 16 to four.

The company is also going to offer end-user customers extended service packages.

Effective with model year 2003 trucks, with an in-service date of October 1, 2002, ArvinMeritor will offer customers in U.S, and Canada four warranty vocations – Linehaul, General Service, Heavy Service and Severe Service – for its DriveTrain Plus components – axles, transmissions, braking systems, drivelines, clutches, and suspensions.

The company is reducing the number of vocations so customers may better understand how their specific vehicles and applications will be covered. The new warranty package will provide easy to understand, straightforward descriptions of each coverage category.

The four simplified categories will be:
Linehaul
General Service – City Delivery, Motor Home, Intercity Coach, School Bus and Fire Service.
Heavy Service – Construction, Refuse, Heavy Haul, Oil Field, Logging, Mining, Transit Bus and Rescue
Severe Service – Yard Tractor

Continuing to fully support the Original Equipment Manufacturer’s (OEM) new vehicle warranty, ArvinMeritor will offer extended service packages for purchase, initially on its steer and drive axles and clutches, to provide even greater coverage. Other components will be added in the future.

Joe Mejaly, director of Customer Support Services, points out that, in many cases, a customer operating in a vocation like city delivery or construction will actually be able to extend his component coverage, since extended warranty was not available previously from either ArvinMeritor or the vehicle OEM.

“Now customers will be able to continue protecting their new truck purchases and prolong product support with our new extended service packages, called DriveTrain Plus(tm) Advantage,” says Mejaly.

The DriveTrain Plus Advantage packages will provide varying coverage periods, and the company is considering adding other services to increase their value. Items may include provisions for towing or hotel accommodations in the event of an unexpected breakdown.

Later this year, the company will launch an on-line application and registration process for the DriveTrain Plus Advantage. Customers will be able to check coverage availabilities, pricing and apply on-line predicated on the product and its application.

This new program will actually enable end-users to expand their linehaul axle coverage up to one million miles, from the previous maximum of 750,000 miles. If a truck operator isn’t interested in extended protection, he may opt to use only the OEM’s new vehicle warranty.