RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – In testimony and at an exhibition of advanced vehicle technologies attended by more than 100 lawmakers and guests on June 8 in Lansing, Mich., the
Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and its affiliate associations, including the
Motor & Equipment Remanufacturers Association (MERA), detailed for Michigan lawmakers the importance of motor vehicle parts manufacturing to the state’s economy.
Both Bob McKenna, president and CEO of MEMA, and Neil De Koker, president and CEO of the Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA), testified on June 8 before the Michigan House Commerce Committee on the industry’s presence in the state and the need to foster a business climate for suppliers to continue to expand production, invest in research and development and create jobs.
“The road to a competitive, thriving parts manufacturing sector begins right here in Michigan. We hope to work with your committee and the Michigan Legislature to ensure the industry’s continued recovery and success,” McKenna remarked in his testimony.
De Koker urged lawmakers to keep the state globally competitive through tax policy, education and streamlined regulation. “The supplier industry continues to move through a historic transformation – we are supporting new global customers, innovating new product technologies, formulating new materials and implementing new production processes. The competitive dynamics are greater than ever,” De Koker said.
McKenna, along with MERA President and COO John Chalifoux and other affiliate association leaders, met with key representatives of Gov. Rick Synder's office on June 8 to discuss ways the administration and the supplier industry can work together.
Also on June 8, MEMA’s Government Affairs Committee met with members of the administration as well as Michigan Speaker of the House Jase Bolger. More than 100 Michigan lawmakers and guests attended an evening reception with exhibits showcasing the latest fuel efficient and safety technologies developed by suppliers with a major presence in the state. Exhibitors included: Affinia Group, Aisin, BorgWarner, Bosch, Cooper-Standard, Delphi, Denso, Eaton Corp., Federal-Mogul Corp., Gentex, Magna, Meritor and Yazaki.
“MERA members were very supportive of this event, our new association’s initial education and outreach effort at the state level,” said Chalifoux. “We were very pleased with the level of dialogue and look forward to working with state officials to raise awareness of the value of remanufactured components and exchanging information on issues important to the supplier community.”
MEMA and its affiliate organizations – Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA), MERA and OESA – say they will continue to engage lawmakers in Michigan and other key states to remind them of the importance of motor vehicle parts manufacturers to their economies.
