Accuride posts 1Q loss

Wheel component manufacturer Accuride Corp. today blamed the downturn in heavy-duty truck sales resulting from EPA’s ’07 emissions regulations for its first-quarter loss of $1.9 million. The company earned $20 million in the same quarter last year.

Accuride also noted that it is divesting its light-duty business.

“As a result of our planned exit from a low margin light-duty steel wheel business, we completed a detailed analysis of the utilization of steel wheel capacity in future years,” said John Murphy, Accuride president & COO. “The resultant business restructuring of our steel wheel operations will strengthen our long-term competitive position.”