New York, NY, December 22, 2000......Standard Motor Products, Inc. (NYSE:SMP) automotive replacement parts manufacturer and distributor, announced the appointment of Lawrence I. Sills as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and John P. Gethin as President and Chief Operating Officer.

Mr. Sills, 61, grandson of the founder, Elias Fife, has been with the Company for 33 years. Most recently he was President and Chief Operating Officer.

Mr. Gethin, 52, currently Senior Vice President, has been with the Company for 5 years, and has held a variety of key positions, including the management of the Four Seasons Temperature Control division and the EIS brake parts division. Prior to joining Standard, John was employed by Cooper Industries and Echlin/Dana in senior management positions.

In addition, Arthur D. Davis was named Vice Chairman of the Board. Mr. Davis, a current member of the Board, is a son-in-law of Bernard Fife, a former President of the Company, and worked for the Company in various management positions in previous years.

The Board of Directors has approved payment of a quarterly dividend of nine cents per share on the common stock outstanding. The dividend will be paid on March 1, 2001 to stockholders of record on February 15, 2001.