Our weekly recap of the week’s top news begins with a live report from Counterman Editor Mark Phillips, who is in Orlando this week attending the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance’s tri-annual convention. Click here to read the highlights and view photos from the event.
In other widely viewed news this week, Delphi announced some changes in its aftermarket sales organization. Ray Swetman has joined Delphi Product & Service Solutions (DPSS) as vice president, sales, independent aftermarket, North America; and Malcolm Sissmore, most recently vice president of independent aftermarket sales for North America, will become country director for DPSS Canada, leading the company’s effort to accelerate growth and expand Delphi’s share of the automotive aftermarket in Canada.
Also among the most-read news this week was an update on issues surrounding the new HFO-1234yf A/C refrigerant that is making its way into new vehicles. Underhood Service Editor Ed Sunkin reviews some of the misconceptions and rumors about the refrigerant that were addressed recently at the Mobile Air Conditioning Society Worldwide (MACS) convention and trade show.
Within the supplier segment this week, Bosch received quite an accolade. The company was named "most admired" motor vehicle parts supplier by Fortune magazine. Bosch was ranked No. 1 based on responses from 3,855 executives, directors and analysts at 698 companies from 58 industries and 32 countries. In addition to receiving the motor vehicle parts honor, Bosch also ranked fifth "most admired" among all companies in Germany and earned the No. 14 spot among companies in the European category.
Last in our weekly recap, we learn that Affinia Group saw improved sales and profits from continuing operations in 2011. Consolidated net sales for the full year 2011 were $1.478 billion, as compared to $1.359 billion for 2010, resulting in a 9 percent improvement. The $119 million growth in net sales was primarily a result of new business wins with new and existing customers, along with increased sales at the company’s South American and European locations. Last week, the company announced it is exploring a possible sale of its brake-related businesses.
