---

# SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSIONWashington, D.C. 20549

# Form 10-K/A(Amendment No. 1)

_________________

# ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT
TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

|For the fiscal year ended:December 31, 2002 | Commission file number:1-12733
|------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------

_________________

Tower Automotive, Inc.(Exact name of
Registrant as specified in its charter)

|Delaware (State of Incorporation) | 41-1746238 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
|--------------------------------- | -----------------------------------------------

|5211 Cascade Road SE-- Suite 300
Grand Rapids, Michigan (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | 49546 (Zip Code)
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------

# Registrants
telephone number, including area code: (616) 802-1600

_________________

# Securities registered
pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Common Stock, par
value $.01 per share

# Securities registered
pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate
by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, during the preceding 12 months
(or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and
(2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.   Yes [ X ] No [     ]

Indicate
by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is
not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrants
knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part
III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.   [ X ]

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule
12b-2).   Yes [ X ] No [     ]

As
of February 28, 2003, 56,131,242 shares of Common Stock of the Registrant were
outstanding. As of June 28, 2002, the aggregate market value of the Common Stock of the
Registrant (based upon the last reported sale price of the Common Stock at that date by
the New York Stock Exchange), excluding shares owned beneficially by affiliates, was
approximately $890,771,000.

Information
required by Items 10, 11, 12 and 13 of Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K
incorporates by reference information (to the extent specific sections are referred to
herein) from the Registrants Proxy Statement for its annual meeting to be held May
21, 2003 (the 2003 Proxy Statement).

---



---

# EXPLANATORY NOTE:

Pursuant to this Form 10-K/A, the
Registrant amends Item 12: Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management to include the equity compensation plan information set forth below and
Item 15: Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K to
correct an incorporation by reference used in Exhibit 10.4 and to file Exhibit 10.17. No
other changes have been made to the Registrants Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2002.

# ITEM 12:   Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

Information required to be furnished
by Item 403 of Regulation S-K is included in our 2002 Proxy Statement and is incorporated
herein by reference.

# Equity Compensation Plan
Information

We maintain certain equity
compensation plans under which common stock is authorized for issuance to employees and
directors, including our 1994 Key Employee Stock Option Plan, 1999 Long-Term Incentive
Plan, Independent Director Stock Option Plan, Colleague Stock Discount Purchase Plan,
Director Deferred Income Stock Purchase Plan, and Key Leadership Deferred Income Stock
Purchase Plan.

The following table sets forth
certain information regarding the above referenced equity compensation plans as of
December 31, 2002.

|                                                                       | Equity Compensation Plan Information                                                               |                                                                               
|---------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|Plan Category                                                          | (a)
Number of securities to
be issued upon exercise
of outstanding options,warrants and rights (1) | (b)Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights
|                                                                       |                                                                                                    |                                                                               
|Equity compensation
      plans approved by
      security holders     | 3,283,995(1)                                                                                       | $13.95(1)                                                                     
|                                                                       |                                                                                                    |                                                                               
|Equity compensation
      plans not approved
      by security holders | --                                                                                                 | --                                                                            
|                                                                       |                                                                                                    |                                                                               
|Total                                                                  | 3,283,995                                                                                          | $13.95                                                                        

|_________________
|-----------------
|(1)              

|(2) | Consists of 1,045,250 shares under the 1994 Key Employee Stock Option Plan,
          791,562 shares under the 1999 Long-Term Incentive Plan, 84,800 shares under the
          Independent Director Stock Option Plan, 251,559 shares under the Colleague Stock
          Discount Purchase Plan, 51,060 shares under the Director Deferred Income Stock
          Purchase Plan, and 172,623 shares under the Key Leadership Deferred Income Stock
          Purchase Plan.
|--- | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1

---

# Item 15.   Exhibits,
Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)  
Documents Filed as Part of this Report

| | (1) | Financial Statements:                             
| | --- | --------------------------------------------------
| |     |                                                  
| |     |                                                  
| |     |                                                  
| |     |                                                  
| |     |                                                  
| |     |                                                  
| |     |                                                  
| | (2) | Financial Statement Schedules:                    
| |     |                                                  
| |     |                                                  
| |     |                                                  
| |     |                                                  
| |     |                                                  
| | (3) | Exhibits: See Exhibit Index in item 15(c) below.

(b)  
Reports on Form 8-K

| | (1) | During the fourth quarter of 2002, the Company furnished the following Form 8-K
               Current Reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission:
| | --- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| |     |                                                                                                                                                         
| |     |                                                                                                                                                         
| |     |                                                                                                                                                         

(c)  
Exhibits

2

---

# TOWER AUTOMOTIVE, INC.

# EXHIBIT INDEX TO
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K For The Fiscal Year
Ended December 31, 2002

|Exhibit |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | Page Number in
Sequential
Numbering of all
Form 10-K andExhibit Pages
|------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------
|3.1     | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
                             Registrant, as amended by the Certificate of Amendment to
                             Certificate of Incorporated, dated June 2, 1997,
                             incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Form S-3
                             Registration Statement (Registration No. 333-38827), filed
                             under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "S-3").                                                                                                                                                                | *                                                                    
|3.2     | Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant, incorporated
                             by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company's Form S-1
                             Registration Statement (Registration No. 333-80320) (the
                             "S-1").                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | *                                                                    
|4.1     | Form of Common Stock Certificate, incorporated by reference
                             to Exhibit 4.1 of the S-1.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | *                                                                    
|4.2     | Euro Indenture, dated July 25, 2000, by and among R.J. Tower
                             Corporation, certain of its affiliates and United States
                             Trust Company of New York, as trustee (including the form of
                             notes), incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the
                             Registrant's Form S-4 Registration Statement (Registration
                             No. 333-45528), as filed with the SEC on December 21, 2000
                             (the "S-4").                                                                                         | *                                                                    
|4.3     | Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, dated July 25,
                             2000, by and among R.J. Tower Corporation, certain of its
                             affiliates and Chase Manhattan International Limited, Bank
                             of America International Limited, ABN AMRO Incorporated,
                             Donaldson, Lufkin & Jennrette International, First Chicago
                             Limited and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. (collectively, the
                             "Initial Purchasers"), incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                             4.2 of the S-4. | *                                                                    
|4.4     | Deposit Agreement, dated July 25, 2000, among R.J. Tower
                             Corporation, Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A., and the Trustee,
                             incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the S-4.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | *                                                                    
|4.5     | Indenture, dated as of July 28, 1997, by and between the
                             Registrant and Bank of New York, as trustee (including form
                             of 5% Convertible Subordinated Note due 2004) incorporated
                             by reference to Exhibit 4.5 of the S-3.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | *                                                                    
|10.1    | Registration Agreement dated as of April 15, 1993 between
                             the Registrant and certain investors; and First Amendment to
                             Registration Agreement dated as of May 4, 1994 by and among
                             the Registrant and certain investors, incorporated by
                             reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the S-1.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | *                                                                    
|10.2    | Form of Convertible Promissory Note dated as of May 4, 1994
                             of the Registrant, incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                             10.12 of the S-1.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | *                                                                    
|10.3**  | Stock Option Agreement dated May 4, 1994 by and between the
                             Registrant and James R. Lozelle incorporated by reference to
                             Exhibit 10.14 of the S-1.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | *                                                                    
|10.4**  | 1994 Key Employee Stock Option Plan, incorporated by
                             reference to Exhibit 10.18 of the S-1.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | *                                                                    

3

---

|10.5**  | Tower Automotive, Inc. Independent Director Stock Option
                             Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the
                             Registrant's Form S-8 dated December 5, 1996, filed under
                             the Securities Act of 1933.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | *
|------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -
|10.6    | Joint Venture Agreement by and among Promotora de Empresas
                             Zano, S.A. de C.V., Metalsa, S.A. de C.V. and R.J. Tower
                             Corporation dated as of September 26, 1997, incorporated by
                             reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Registrant's Form 8-K dated
                             October 23, 1997, filed under the Securities Exchange Act of
                             1934.                                                                                                                                                                           | *
|10.7    | Certificate of Trust of Tower Automotive Capital Trust,
                             incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Registrant's
                             Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended
                             June 30, 1998, filed under the Securities Exchange Act of
                             1934.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | *
|10.8    | Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of Tower
                             Automotive Capital Trust, dated June 9, 1998, incorporated
                             by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Registrant's Quarterly
                             Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30,
                             1998, filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | *
|10.9    | Junior Convertible Subordinated Indenture for the 6%
                             Convertible Subordinated Debentures, between Tower
                             Automotive, Inc. and the First National Bank of Chicago, as
                             Subordinated Debt Trustee, dated as of June 9, 1998,
                             incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Registrant's
                             Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended
                             June 30, 1998, filed under the Securities Exchange Act of
                             1934.             | *
|10.10   | Form of 6 3/4% Preferred Securities, incorporated by
                             reference to Exhibit 4.4 of the Registrant's Quarterly
                             Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30,
                             1998, filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | *
|10.11   | Form of 6 3/4% Junior Convertible Subordinated Debentures,
                             incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 of the Registrant's
                             Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended
                             June 30, 1998, filed under the Securities Exchange Act of
                             1934.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | *
|10.12   | Guarantee Agreement, dated as of June 9, 1998, between Tower
                             Automotive, Inc., as Guarantor, and the First National Bank
                             of Chicago, as Guarantee Trustee, incorporated by reference
                             to Exhibit 4.6 of the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form
                             10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 1998, filed
                             under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.                                                                                                                                     | *
|10.13   | Amended and Restated Credit Agreement among R.J. Tower
                             Corporation, Tower Italia, S.r.L., Bank of America National
                             Trust and Savings Association, as agent, and the other
                             financial institutions named therein, dated August 23, 1999,
                             incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.43 of the
                             Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
                             ended December 31, 1999, filed under the Securities Exchange
                             Act of 1934. | *
|10.14   | Purchase Agreement, dated July 19, 2000, among R.J. Tower
                             Corporation ("Issuer"), Tower Automotive, Inc. ("Parent"),
                             those subsidiaries of the Issuer named therein (the
                             "Subsidiary Guarantors", and together with Parent, the
                             "Guarantors") and the Initial Purchasers, incorporated by
                             reference to Exhibit 1.1 of the S-4.                                                                                                                                                           | *
|10.15** | Tower Automotive, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan,
                             incorporated by reference to Appendix A to Parent's Proxy
                             Statement, dated April 12, 1999.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | *

4

---

|10.16** | Tower Automotive, Inc. Director Deferred Stock Purchase
                             Plan, incorporated by reference to Appendix A to Parent's
                             Proxy Statement, dated April 10, 2000.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | *
|------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -
|10.17** | Tower Automotive, Inc. Key Leadership Deferred Income Stock
                             Purchase Plan.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | *
|10.18** | Tower Automotive, Inc. Colleague Stock Purchase Plan,
                             incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 of the S-1.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | *
|10.19   | Credit Agreement, dated as of July 25, 2000, among the
                             Issuer, certain direct and indirect wholly-owned
                             subsidiaries of the Issuer and Bank of America, N.A., as
                             administrative agent, and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
                             syndication agent, and the other lenders named therein,
                             incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the S-4.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | *
|10.20   | Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of June 28,
                             2002, among R.J. Tower Corporation, Tower Automotive Europe
                             B.V., Tower Automotive Finance B.V., the parties named as
                             Guarantors, the several financial institutions from time to
                             time party to this Agreement, Bank of America, N.A., as
                             administrative agent, JPMorgan Chase Bank (formerly known as
                             The Chase Manhattan Bank), as syndication agent, and The
                             Bank of Nova Scotia, Comerica Bank, U.S. Bank National
                             Association and Bank One, Michigan, as co-agents,
                             incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the
                             Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly
                             period ended September 30, 2002, filed under the Securities
                             Exchange Act of 1934. | *
|12.1*** | Statement and Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed
                             Charges filed herewith.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |  
|21.1*** | List of Subsidiaries filed herewith.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |  
|23.1*** | Consent of Deloitte and Touche LLP filed herewith.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |  
|23.2*** | Information Concerning Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP filed
                             herewith.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |  
|23.3*** | Consent of KPMG Cardenas Dosal, S.C. filed herewith.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |  
|99.1*** | Certification of Chief Executive Officer under Section 906
                             of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |  
|99.2*** | Certification of Chief Financial Officer under Section 906
                             of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |  

_________________

*Incorporated
by reference.
  **Indicates compensatory arrangement.
***Previously filed

5

---

# SIGNATURES

Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the annual report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

| | TOWER AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
| | ----------------------
| | By:                   

Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Amendment No. 1 to the
annual report has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May
8, 2003.

|Signature                                  |  | Title                                                                         |  | Date       
|------------------------------------------ |  | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |  | -----------
|/s/ S. A. Johnson*

S. A. Johnson          |  | Chairman and Director                                                         |  | May 8, 2003
|/s/ Dugald K. Campbell

Dugald K. Campbell |  | President, Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer) and Director |  | May 8, 2003
|Jurgen M. Geissinger                       |  | Director                                                                      |  | May 8, 2003
|/s/ Ali Jenab*

Ali Jenab                  |  | Director                                                                      |  | May 8, 2003
|/s/ F.J. Loughrey*

F.J. Loughrey          |  | Director                                                                      |  | May 8, 2003
|/s/ James R. Lozelle*

James R. Lozelle    |  | Director                                                                      |  | May 8, 2003
|/s/ Georgia R. Nelson*

Georgia R. Nelson  |  | Director                                                                      |  | May 8, 2003
|/s/ Scott D. Rued*

Scott D. Rued          |  | Director                                                                      |  | May 8, 2003
|/s/ Ernest T. Thomas

Ernest T. Thomas     |  | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
(Principal Accounting Officer)          |  | May 8, 2003
|Enrique Zambrano                           |  | Director                                                                      |  | May 8, 2003

|*By: | /s/ Ernest T. Thomas

Ernest T. Thomas
Attorney in Fact | 
|---- | ------------------------------------------------------- | 

6

---

# CERTIFICATIONS

I, Dugald K. Campbell, certify that:

| | 1.       
               I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K, as amended, of Tower
               Automotive, Inc.;
| | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | 2.       
               Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement
               of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
               statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were
               made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;
| | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | 3.       
               Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information
               included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the
               financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as
               of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;
| | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | 4.       
               The registrants other certifying officers and I are responsible for
               establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in
               Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:
| | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | a)       
               designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material
               information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries,
               is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the
               period in which this annual report is being prepared;
| | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | b)       
               evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants disclosure controls and
               procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this annual
               report; and
| | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | c)       
               presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the
               disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation;
| | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | 5.       
               The registrants other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on
               our most recent evaluation, to the registrants auditors and the audit
               committee of registrants board of directors (or persons performing the
               equivalent functions):
| | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | a)       
               all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls
               which could adversely affect the registrants ability to record, process,
               summarize and report financial data and have identified for the
               registrants auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and
| | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | b)       
               any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees
               who have a significant role in the registrants internal controls; and
| | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | 6.       
               The registrants other certifying officers and I have indicated in this
               annual report whether there were significant changes in internal controls or in
               other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to
               the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with
               regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.
| | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | /s/ Dugald K. Campbell

Dugald K. Campbell
Chief Executive Officer
| | ------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: May 8, 2003



---

I, Ernest T. Thomas, certify that:

| | 1.       
               I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K, as amended, of Tower
               Automotive, Inc.;
| | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | 2.       
               Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement
               of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
               statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were
               made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;
| | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | 3.       
               Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information
               included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the
               financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as
               of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;
| | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | 4.       
               The registrants other certifying officers and I are responsible for
               establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in
               Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:
| | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | a)       
               designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material
               information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries,
               is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the
               period in which this annual report is being prepared;
| | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | b)       
               evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants disclosure controls and
               procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this annual
               report; and
| | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | c)       
               presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the
               disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation;
| | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | 5.       
               The registrants other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on
               our most recent evaluation, to the registrants auditors and the audit
               committee of registrants board of directors (or persons performing the
               equivalent functions):
| | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | a)       
               all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls
               which could adversely affect the registrants ability to record, process,
               summarize and report financial data and have identified for the
               registrants auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and
| | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | b)       
               any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees
               who have a significant role in the registrants internal controls; and
| | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | 6.       
               The registrants other certifying officers and I have indicated in this
               annual report whether there were significant changes in internal controls or in
               other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to
               the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with
               regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.
| | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | /s/ Ernest T. Thomas

Ernest T. Thomas
Chief Financial Officer
| | --------------------------------------------------------------

Date: May 8, 2003



---

# EXHIBIT 10.17

# TOWER AUTOMOTIVE, INC. KEY LEADERSHIP
DEFERRED INCOME STOCK PURCHASE PLAN (As Amended Through
February 27, 2002)

1.        
Purpose.

The
purposes of the Tower Automotive Key Leadership Deferred Income Stock Purchase Plan (the
Plan) are (i) to provide key leadership colleagues of Tower Automotive, Inc.
(the Company) or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries ) the opportunity to
acquire and to increase his or her equity interest in the Company, (ii) to attract and
retain highly qualified key leadership colleagues, and (iii) to align their interests with
interests of the shareholders of the Company. To achieve these purposes, the Plan permits
each key leadership colleague selected as a Participant to defer and invest all or part of
his or her annual cash bonus (Cash Bonus) in restricted stock units
(Restricted Stock Units) equivalent to shares of Common Stock of the Company.

2.        
Effective Date, Term and Plan Year.

The
Plan shall be effective for the Companys fiscal year ending December 31, 1998,
subject to its approval by shareholders at the 1999 annual meeting of shareholders. The
Plan shall remain in effect until terminated by the Board. Each Plan Year shall begin on
the first day of the Companys fiscal year and end on the last day of its fiscal
year.

3.        
Administration.

The
Plan shall be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board
(Committee).

4.        
Eligibility.

With
respect to each Plan Year, the Committee determines and selects the key leadership
colleagues who are eligible to participate in the Plan for that Plan Year. With respect to
the Plan Year ending December 31, 1998, the Committees determination of eligible key
leadership colleagues shall be made on or before December 15, 1998. With respect to each
Plan Year thereafter, the Committees determination of eligible key leadership
colleagues shall be made on or before November 1 of that Plan Year.

5.        
Election to Participate.

| | (a)        
               Time and Filing. An eligible key leadership colleague
               becomes a Participant in the Plan by filing with the Committee an Election
               to Participate for each Plan Year. For the Plan Year ending December 31,
               1998, the Election to Participate must be filed not later than December 15,
               1998. For Plan Years ending on December 31 of the years 1999 and thereafter, the
               Election to Participate must be submitted on or before December 1 of that Plan
               Year.
| | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (b)        
               Form. An election to participate (the Deferral
               Election) shall be made in writing on a form prescribed by the Committee
               (the Election to Participate Form).
| | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (c)        
               Content. Each eligible key leadership colleague may elect
               to defer the payment of all or part of any Cash Bonus which otherwise would be
               paid to him or her for a Plan Year. Such election must (i) be made on the
               Election to Participate Form, (ii) designate the percentage (not less than 25%
               or in intervals of five (5) percentage points above 25%) of the Cash Bonus to be
               deferred for the Plan Year (the Deferred Percentage), (iii) specify
               the year of payment (not less than three (3) Plan Years after the year for which
               the Deferral Election is made), (iv) designate the type of payment in accordance
               with Section 9(c) (Payment Election), and (v) designate one or more
               beneficiaries (Beneficiaries) to receive any credits in the
               Participants Stock Unit Account at the date of his or her death. The
               Deferred Percentage may change from Plan Year to Plan Year, but for a particular
               Plan Year may not be changed after the Deferral
| | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



---

| | Election is made for that Plan
               Year. The Payment Election may also be changed, but not later than 12 months
               prior to the date the payment is to commence. Provided that the key management
               colleague is again determined to be eligible to participate with identical
               participation limits, the terms of an Election to Participate will continue in
               effect for subsequent Plan Years until a new Election to Participate is timely
               filed with respect to a subsequent Plan Year.
| | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6.        
Credits to Accounts.

Deferrals
pursuant to Section 5(c) shall be credited in Restricted Stock Units to a bookkeeping
reserve account maintained by the Company for each Participant (Restricted Stock
Unit Account) as of the last day of the month in which the Cash Bonus would have
been paid.

The
Restricted Stock Unit Account shall consist of a Basic Account and a Premium Account. The
number of Restricted Stock Units credited to a Participants Basic Account shall be
the number determined by dividing one hundred percent (100%) of the Deferral by the Fair
Market Value (as defined in Section 15(f) hereof) of a Share on the last day of the month
in which the Cash Bonus otherwise would have been paid. The number of Restricted Stock
Units concurrently credited to a Participants Premium Account shall equal one-third
(1/3) the number credited to the Participants Basic Account based upon such
Deferral. Such calculations of Restricted Stock Units shall be carried to three decimal
places.

The
value of the Restricted Stock Units credited to the Participants Restricted Stock
Unit Account shall constitute the Participants entire benefit under the Plan,
subject to forfeiture of nonvested Units in the Participants Premium Account as
provided in the Plan.

7.        
Additions to Restricted Stock Unit Accounts.

As
of the payment date of each cash dividend payable with respect to Shares, there shall be
credited to the Restricted Stock Unit Account of each Participant an additional number of
Restricted Stock Units (Dividend Units) equal to the per share dividend
payable on such date multiplied by the number of Restricted Stock Units held in the
Restricted Stock Unit Account as of the close of business on the first business day prior
to such dividend payment date and divided by the Fair Market Value of a Share on such
business day. For purposes of this Section 7, the term cash dividend shall include all
dividends payable in cash or other property. The calculation of additional Restricted
Stock Units shall be carried to three decimal places.

8.        
Vesting of Accounts.

| | (a)        
               Basic Accounts: All Restricted Stock Units credited to a
               Participants Basic Account (and the Dividend Units attributable thereto)
               shall at all times be fully vested and nonforfeitable.
| | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (b)        
               Premium Accounts: All Restricted Stock Units credited to a
               Participants Premium Account (and the Dividend Units attributable thereto)
               shall become one hundred percent (100%) vested and nonforfeitable on the
               fifteenth (15th) day of the second (2nd) Plan Year following the Plan Year such
               Restricted Stock Units are credited to the Participants Premium Account,
               provided that the Participant is then an employee of the Company. If a
               Participants employment terminates due to (i) death, (ii) disability (as
               determined by the Committee), (iii) Normal Retirement (which unless otherwise
               determined by the Committee shall mean retirement on or after reaching age 55
               and having been employed for a period of at least ten (10) years by the Company,
               a subsidiary of the Company, or a predecessor to the Company or a subsidiary),
               or (iv) terminates for any reason within twenty-four (24) months following a
               Change in Control, all unvested Restricted Stock Units and Dividend Units will
               immediately become one hundred percent (100%) vested and nonforfeitable.
               Additionally, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may accelerate a
               Participants vested percentage if it determines that such action would be
               consistent with the purposes of the Plan or otherwise in the best interest of
               the Company.
| | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



---

9.        
Payment of Accounts.

| | (a)        
               Time of Payment: Payment of the vested Restricted Stock Units to a
               Participant shall commence on or before April of the year of payment specified
               by the Participant in his or her Deferral Election. If a Participant dies before
               the Participants Restricted Stock Unit Account has been fully distributed,
               an immediate lump sum distribution of the Restricted Stock Unit Account shall be
               made to the Participants Beneficiary or Beneficiaries in the proportions
               designated by such Participant.
| | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (b)        
               Form of Payment: The total number of vested whole Restricted Stock Units
               in a Participants Restricted Stock Unit Account shall be paid to the
               Participant in an equal number of whole Shares. If installment payments are
               elected, the number of Shares to be paid shall be determined initially by
               dividing the number of vested Restricted Stock Units in the Restricted Stock
               Unit Account by the number of installment payments to be paid rounded to the
               nearest number of whole Restricted Stock Units. Each subsequent installment
               payment shall be determined by dividing the number of then vested Restricted
               Stock Units remaining in the Restricted Stock Unit Account by the number of
               installments remaining to be paid and rounding to the nearest number of whole
               Restricted Stock Units. The Company shall issue and deliver to the Participant
               Share certificates in payment of Restricted Stock Units as soon as practicable
               following the date on which the Restricted Stock Units, or any portion thereof,
               become payable.
| | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (c)        
               Type of Payment: Payments of Shares will be made from the Restricted
               Stock Unit Account of a Participant in whichever of the following methods the
               Participant elects at the time of the deferral election:
| | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (i)        
               A single lump sum.
| | ---------------------------------------------

| | (ii)       
               Annual installments over a period not to exceed ten (10) years, as the
          Participant shall elect.
| | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | If
all or any portion of the Restricted Stock Unit Account is to be distributed in
installments, the portion of the Participants Restricted Stock Unit Account being
held for future distribution shall continue to be credited with additional Dividend Units
as provided in Section 7.
| | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (d)        
               Accelerated Payment: Notwithstanding any Payment Election made by the
               Participant, if the employment of a Participant terminates for any reason prior
               to normal retirement date (other than because of disability or death), the
               Committee, in its discretion, may elect to direct the Company to pay the entire
               vested amount of the Participants Restricted Stock Unit Account in a
               single lump sum.
| | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

10.      
Shares Subject to the Plan.

Shares
that may be issued under the Plan may be acquired by the Company in open-market
transactions, consistent with all applicable rules and regulations regarding the
repurchase of securities, or may consist of authorized but unissued shares. Subject to
adjustment as provided in Section 11, the number of authorized but unissued shares which
may be issued under this Plan shall not exceed 750,000 shares.

11.      
Adjustments.

In
the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of Shares, merger,
consolidation, spin-off, recapitalization or other distribution (other than normal cash
dividends) of Company assets to shareholders, or any other change affecting Shares or the
price of Shares, such proportionate adjustments, if any, as the Committee in its sole
discretion may deem appropriate to reflect such change shall be made with respect to (i)
the aggregate number of authorized but unissued Shares that may be issued under the Plan,
and (ii) each Restricted Stock Unit or Dividend Unit held in the Restricted Stock Unit
Accounts. Any adjustments described in the preceding sentence shall be carried to three
decimal places.



---

12.      
Termination or Amendment of Plan.

| | (a)        
               In General: The Board may, at any time by resolution, terminate, suspend
               or amend this Plan. If the Plan is terminated by the Board, no Deferrals may be
               credited after the effective date of such termination, but previously credited
               Restricted Stock Units and Dividend Units shall remain in effect in accordance
               with the terms and conditions of the Plan.
| | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (b)        
               Limitations: No amendment may adversely affect the right of any
               Participant to have Dividend Units credited to a Restricted Stock Unit Account
               or to receive payment of any Shares pursuant to the payout of such accounts,
               unless such Participant consents in writing to such amendment. No amendment to
               the Plan which increases the number of authorized but unissued Shares which may
               be issued under this Plan shall be effective unless approved by the shareholders
               of the Company.
| | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

13.      
Compliance With Laws.

| | (a)        
               The obligations of the Company to issue any Shares under this Plan shall be
               subject to all applicable laws, rules, regulations and restrictions, and the
               obtaining of all such approvals by governmental agencies or stock exchanges or
               markets on which the Common Stock is listed or traded, and the Company may place
               appropriate legends on stock certificates relating to the foregoing, as the
               Board may deem necessary or appropriate.
| | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (b)        
               Subject to the provisions of Section 12, the Board may make such changes in the
               design and administration of this Plan as may be necessary or appropriate to
               comply with the rules and regulations of any government authority.
| | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

14.      
Unfunded Plan.

Nothing
contained in this Plan and no action taken pursuant to the provisions hereof shall create
or be construed to create a fiduciary relationship between the Company and Participant,
the Participants designee or any other person. The Plan shall be unfunded with
respect to the Companys obligation to pay any amounts due, and a Participants
rights to receive any payment with respect to any Restricted Stock Unit Account shall be
not greater than the rights of an unsecured general creditor of the Company.

The
Company may establish a Rabbi Trust to accumulate Shares to fund all or part of the
obligations of the Company pursuant to this Plan. Payment from the Rabbi Trust of amounts
due under the terms of this Plan shall satisfy the obligation of the Company to make such
payment. In no event shall any Participant be entitled to receive payment of an amount
from the Company which the Participant received from the Rabbi Trust.

15.      
Definitions.

Whenever
used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth in this Section
15.

| | (a)        
               Affiliatemeans a corporation or other entity controlling,
               controlled by or under common control with the Company.
| | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (b)        
               Board of Directors or Board means the Board of
               Directors of Tower Automotive, Inc., a Delaware corporation, at the time the
               term is applied.
| | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (c)        
               Change in Controlmeans a change in control of the Company of
               such a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of
               Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of
               1934 (Exchange Act), or such item thereof which may hereafter
               pertain to the same subject; provided that, and notwithstanding the foregoing, a
               Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if:
| | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (i)        
               Any person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the
          Exchange Act) is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule
          13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the
          Company representing twenty percent (20%) or more of the combined voting power
          of the Companys then outstanding securities; or
| | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



---

| | (ii)       
           At any time a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company is comprised of
          other than Continuing Directors (for purposes of this paragraph, the term
          Continuing Director means a director who was either (A) first elected or
          appointed as a Director prior to the date this Plan was adopted by the Board; or
          (B) subsequently elected or appointed as a director if such director was
          nominated or appointed by at least a majority of the then Continuing Directors);
          or
| | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (iii)      
           Any of the following occur:
| | --------------------------------------------------

| | (A)        
           Any merger or consolidation of the Company, other than a merger or
          consolidation in which the voting securities of the Company immediately prior to
          the merger or consolidation continue to represent (either by remaining
          outstanding or being converted into securities of the surviving entity) more
          than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company or
          surviving entity immediately after the merger or consolidation with another
          entity;
| | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (B)        
           Any sale, exchange, lease, mortgage, pledge, transfer, or other disposition (in
          a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or
          substantially all of the assets of the Company which shall include, without
          limitation, the sale of assets or earning power aggregating more than fifty
          percent (50%) of the assets or earning power of the Company on a consolidated
          basis;
| | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (C)        
           Any liquidation or dissolution of the Company;
| | ---------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (D)        
           Any reorganization, reverse stock split, or recapitalization of the Company
          which would result in a Change in Control; or
| | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (E)        
           Any transaction or series of related transactions having, directly or
          indirectly, the same effect as any of the foregoing; or any agreement, contract,
          or other arrangement providing for any of the foregoing.
| | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (d)        
               Committee means the Compensation Committee of the Board, or
               other Committee designated by the Board to be the administrator of the Plan, at
               the time the term is applied.
| | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (e)        
               Common Stock means the common stock of the Company, par value
               $.01 per share.
| | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (f)        
               Company means Tower Automotive, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
               and includes subsidiaries or affiliates where appropriate in the context in
               which it is used.
| | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (g)        
               Deferral means the dollar amount of a Participants Cash
               Bonus which is deferred in a particular Plan Year.
| | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (h)        
               Fair Market Value of a Share means, for any particular date,
               (i) for any period during which the Share shall be listed for trading on a
               national securities exchange or the National Association of Securities Dealers
               Automated Quotation System (NASDAQ), the closing price per Share on
               such exchange or the NASDAQ as of the close of such trading day or (ii) for any
               period during which the Share shall not be listed for trading on a national
               securities exchange or NASDAQ, the market price per Share as determined by a
               qualified appraiser selected by the Board. If Fair Market Value is to be
               determined on a day when the markets are not open, Fair Market Value on that day
               shall be the Fair Market Value on the most recent preceding day when the markets
               were open.
| | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (i)        
               Participant means an eligible leadership colleague who has
               filed an Election to Participate as provided in Section 5 of the Plan.
| | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



---

| | (j)        
               Rabbi Trust means a Trust established by an agreement between
               the Company and a Trustee with such terms and conditions as the Company, in its
               discretion, shall determine, for the purpose set forth in Section 14 of the
               Plan.
| | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (k)        
               Share means a share of Common Stock.
| | -----------------------------------------------------------------

| | (l)        
               Subsidiary means a corporation or other entity in which the
               Company, directly or indirectly, owns 50% or more of the combined voting power
               of all shares of outstanding securities of such corporation or other entity.
| | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (m)        
               Other Terms Defined in the Plan.
| | -----------------------------------------------------------

| | The
following terms shall have the meanings defined respectively in the Section of the Plan
set opposite each term.
| | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

`Term                                        Section

                           Basic Account                                        6
                           Beneficiary                                          5(c)
                           Cash Bonus                                           1
                           Dividend Unit                                        7
                           Deferred Percentage                                  5(c)
                           Deferral Election                                    5(b)
                           Omnibus Plan                                         10
                           Payment Election                                     5(c)
                           Premium Account                                      6
                           Restricted Stock Units                               1
                           Restricted Stock Unit Account                        6`

16.      
Miscellaneous.

| | (a)        
               Assignment; Encumbrances: The right to have amounts credit to a
               Restricted Stock Unit Account and the right to receive payment with respect to
               such Restricted Stock Unit Account under this Plan are not assignable or
               transferable and shall not be subject to any encumbrances, liens, pledges, or
               charges of the Participant or to claims of the Participants creditors. Any
               attempt to assign, transfer, hypothecate or attach any rights with respect to or
               derived from any Restricted Stock Unit shall be null and void and of no force
               and effect whatsoever.
| | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (b)        
               Designation of Beneficiaries: A Participant may designate in writing a
               beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive any distribution under the Plan which
               becomes payable after the Participants death. If at the time any such
               distribution is due, there is no designation of a beneficiary in force or if any
               person (other than a trustee or trustees) as to whom a beneficiary designation
               was in force at the time of such Participants death shall have died before
               the payment became due and the Participant has failed to designate a beneficiary
               to take in lieu of such deceased person, the person or persons entitled to
               receive such distribution (or part thereof, as the case may be) shall be the
               personal representative of the Participants estate.
| | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (c)        
               Administration: The Committee shall administer the Plan, including the
               adoption of rules or the preparation of forms to be used in its operation, and
               to interpret and apply the provisions hereof as well as any rules which it may
               adopt. In addition, the Committee may appoint other individuals, firms or
               organizations to act as agent of the Company carrying out administrative duties
               under the Plan. Except as may be provided in a Rabbi Trust, the decisions of the
               Committee, including, but not limited to, interpretations and determinations of
               amounts due under this Plan, shall be final and binding on all parties.
| | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



---

| | (d)        
               Withholding: The Participant shall pay to the Company or make
               arrangements satisfactory to the Company to do so, regarding the payment of
               federal, state, local or foreign taxes of any kind required by law to be
               withheld with respect to any amount includable in the Participants gross
               income with respect to his or her participation in the Plan.
| | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (e)        
               Governing Law:The validity, construction and effect of the Plan and any
               actions taken or relating to the Plan, shall be determined in accordance with
               the laws of the State of Michigan without regard to its conflict of law rules,
               and applicable federal law.
| | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (f)        
               Rights as a Shareholder:A Participant shall have no rights as a
               shareholder with respect to a Restricted Stock Unit until the Participant
               actually becomes a holder of record of Shares distributed with respect thereto.
| | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | (g)        
               Notices:All notices or other communications made or given pursuant to
               this Plan shall be in writing and shall be sufficiently made or given if hand
               delivered, or if mailed by certified mail, addressed to the Participant at the
               address contained in the records of the Company or to the Company at its
               principal office, as applicable.
| | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I
certify that this Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors of Tower Automotive, Inc., a
Delaware Corporation, on March 2, 1999, and approved by vote of its shareholders on May
25, 1999.

Dated:  
May 25, 1999.

| | /s/

Secretary
Tower Automotive, Inc.
| | -------------------------------------