Superior Industries Gets Nissan Wheel Order

Superior Industries International Inc. said it received a $50-million contract to supply Nissan Motor Co. with two new kinds of aluminum wheels for cars and trucks. The company will supply the wheels from 1998 to 2004. The new contract is Superior’s fourth with Nissan. The wheels will be made in Superior’s Van Nuys plant and will be exported to Nissan in Japan. The contract helps Superior further expand its overseas business as a percentage of total sales, said Jeff Ornstein, spokesman for Superior. Superior, based in Van Nuys, also makes aluminum wheels for Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. Superior’s shares rose 94 cents to close at a two-year high of $23.75 on the NYSE.