NORTHVILLE, Michigan, May 2 /PRNewswire/ --

Hayes Lemmerz International, (News) Inc. (Nasdaq: HAYZ) announced that it has recently earned Ford Motor Company (News/Aktienkurs) 's Silver World Excellence Award for exemplary performance during 2007 as a supplier of automotive wheels.

Ford's World Excellence Award specifically recognized Hayes Lemmerz' Autokola, the Company's steel wheel facility in Ostrava, Czech Republic, for consistently achieving high levels of quality, delivery and cost performance.

"Our global relationship with Ford is highly valued, and we're honored to receive this recognition," said Fred Bentley, Chief Operating Officer. "This is the second consecutive year that our Autokola operation has been honored, and I am proud of our Hayes Lemmerz associates for their commitment to excellence."

"This award is a testament to the hard-work and dedication of our employees," said John Stephenson, Vice President of Operations for Europe, Africa and Asia. "This is the second year in succession that Autokola has received this award. They have achieved this at the same time as expanding production by 20%. It demonstrates how far the team has come in managing growth and new customers while maintaining the highest levels of service and quality. I'm very proud of the team that we have in Ostrava," he added.

Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. is a leading global supplier of automotive and commercial highway wheels, brakes and powertrain components. The Company has 24 facilities and approximately 7,000 employees worldwide.

Web site: http://www.hayes-lemmerz.com