ExxonMobil Chemical Completes Manufacturing Facility to Produce New Specialty Compounds...

ExxonMobil Chemical Completes Manufacturing Facility to Produce New Specialty Compounds for Energy Efficient Tires

HOUSTON--(Business Wire)--
ExxonMobil Chemical today announced the start-up of a
manufacturing facility at its existing site in Pensacola, Fla., that
provides new capacity for the production of a revolutionary new tire
material technology that can improve vehicle fuel efficiency.

"Tire inner liners made with the new material, Exxcore(TM)
dynamically vulcanized alloy (DVA), achieve leading-edge air retention
with less material. This reduces air loss between fillings and helps
conserve energy and resources for future generations," said Art
Sullivan, vice president, ExxonMobil Chemical Butyl Polymers Business.

Specifically, Exxcore(TM) DVA enables better fuel economy from
significantly improved tire inflation pressure retention (IPR). IPR is
a measure of tire air pressure loss over time. Improved air retention
means reduced rolling resistance, resulting in improved fuel economy.

If all vehicle tires on the road in the U.S. had an IPR of 1.5
percent, it would represent a significant potential annual fuel
savings of over 700 million gallons and a reduction in greenhouse
gases of over 6 million tons per year, equivalent to taking over a
million cars off the road. Exxcore(TM) DVA can help achieve these
savings.

Exxcore(TM) DVA combines the flexibility and elasticity of rubber
with the low air permeability of plastic, achieving 7 to 10 times
better permeability than existing halobutyl inner liner materials.

In addition, tire durability testing shows an improvement greater
than 50 percent over standard halobutyl inner liners. This allows for
an improved speed rating and potentially extends the tire's life.

The new material's performance benefits have already been
recognized by key tire manufacturers. ExxonMobil Chemical's
development partner, The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., plans to begin
manufacturing tires with Exxcore(TM) DVA inner liners later this year.
In addition, Cheng Shin Rubber Company, the manufacturer of the
popular "MAXXIS" brand, plans to debut a higher-performance, lower-IPR
tire with the new inner liner material in 2009.

Exxcore(TM) DVA represents ExxonMobil Chemical's latest
advancement in tire inner liner material science. The additional
capacity will help meet growing worldwide demand for fuel efficient
tire inner liners.

About ExxonMobil Chemical

ExxonMobil Chemical is a global leader in technology, product
quality and customer service with petrochemical manufacturing and/or
marketing operations around the world. To find out more about
ExxonMobil Chemical, visit www.exxonmobil.com.

About The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., (www.yrc.co.jp) established in
1917, is a leading manufacturer of rubber products, including vehicle
tires, other rubber products, and adhesive products. Its business has
expanded globally, maintaining productions to meet the demands of
customers in automobiles, civil engineering, construction, marine
engineering, aircraft components, and sports products.

About Cheng Shin Rubber

For more than four decades, the people who make up Cheng Shin
Rubber have provided high-quality tire products for cars, buses,
trucks, bicycles, motorcycles, ATVs, trailers, karts, and lawn and
garden applications.

Note to Editors:

The term "ExxonMobil Chemical" refers collectively to some or all
of the companies affiliated with Exxon Mobil Corporation, and/or
itself, which have chemical manufacturing and/or marketing operations
around the world.

ExxonMobil Chemical, Houston
Susan Kattelus, 281-870-6607

Copyright Business Wire 2008