Agenda Set for Automotive Chemical and Appearance Alliance Conference
Michael Klein, CEO of Murray’s Discount Auto Stores, will be a featured speaker at the annual meeting for the Automotive Specialty Products Alliance (ASPA) scheduled for Dec. 7-8 at the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. ASPA is an alliance of AAIA, Motor Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and the Consumer Specialty Products Association, created to address mutual issues facing the automotive chemical and appearance product industry.
Valvoline Announces Management Changes
Valvoline, a division of Ashland Inc., recently announced several changes in management, including the promotion of Mitchell Skaggs and Robert Craycraft to new positions on Valvoline’s senior management team. Scott Vogel, a consumer marketing executive, has joined the division as president of Valvoline Instant Oil Change (VIOC), Valvoline’s quick-lube business unit. In a related move, John Wesley, former president of VIOC, was named senior vice president and general manager for Valvoline’s DIFM (do-it-for-me) Distributor Group business unit.
Dana Completes Expansion of Heavy Vehicle Technology Center
Dana Corp. said this week it has completed the $6 million expansion of its heavy vehicle research and development center in Kalamazoo, Mich. The Heavy Vehicle Technology Center is the North American base for Dana’s Commercial Vehicle Systems group, and also serves as the research, development and testing center for its commercial vehicle and off-highway products.
Federal-Mogul’s British Pension Trustees Reject Rescue Plan
The trustees of the British pension fund of bankrupt U.S. auto parts maker Federal-Mogul, with 37,000 members, said they have been forced to vote against a rescue plan for the scheme as they consider new proposals from the United States. The proposed plan by Federal-Mogul Corp. for the fund of United Kingdom subsidiary Turner & Newall, had not been adjusted to include a new offer led by U.S. financier Carl Icahn, the largest holder of the company’s debt, in October, they said.
MEMA 100th Anniversary Materials Win 2004 International Automotive Media Awards
The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) was presented with four award by the International Society for Vehicle Preservation for its 100th anniversary materials – including “Best in Show” in the graphics category for its commemorative anniversary poster. The awards were presented Nov. 16 in New York.
Akebono Launches Three New Product Lines
Akebono Corp. North America (ACNA) unveiled several new product lines during the 2004 AAPEX show held earlier this month in Las Vegas. All three new lines feature Akebono Ceramic Technology.
Standard Motor Products Announces Third Quarter Results
Standard Motor Products, an automotive replacement parts manufacturer and distributor, has reported its consolidated financial results for the third quarter, which ended on Sept. 30. Consolidated net sales for the third quarter of 2004 were $203.5 million, compared to consolidated net sales of $214.5 million during the comparable quarter in 2003. Earnings from continuing operations for the third quarter of 2004 were $1.3 million or 7 cents per diluted share, compared to $2 million or 11 cents per diluted share in the third quarter of 2003.
Jason Tolleson Appointed to Lead SEMA Action Network
SEMA announced this week that it has appointed Jason Tolleson as the new director of the SEMA Action Network (SAN), the association’s grassroots hobbyist organization. Tolleson will also serve as SEMA’s government and public affairs manager. As SAN director, Tolleson will work as liaison between SEMA and the SEMA Action Network, informing members of federal and state legislative and regulatory initiatives that affect the aftermarket industry. He will also serve as editor of The Driving Force, SAN’s official monthly publication.
Mohammad Samii Receives APRA’s Distinguished Service Award
Mohammad Samii has received the Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association’s (APRA) Distinguished Service Award. APRA presented the award to Samii on Oct. 31, during the “International Big R Show” in Las Vegas. Mohammad Samii, or Sammy as he is often called, came to electrical rebuilding from a ten-year service in the Iranian Air Force as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer with a degree in aircraft maintenance engineering. Since 1972, Sammy has been involved with electrical rebuilding and currently is President and Operator of Sammy’s Auto Electric Service, Inc. in Champaign, Ill. His company does custom electrical rebuilding, electrical/electronic diagnostic and installations on various vehicles.
ArvinMeritor Adds Two to Board of Directors
ArvinMeritor announced that Steven Rothmeier, chairman and CEO of Great Northern Capital, and Andrew Schindler, chairman of Reynolds American Inc., have been elected to the ArvinMeritor board of directors.
WIX Filters Presented Vendor Partner Award by Parts Depot
Representatives from WIX Filters were presented with the 2004 Vendor Partner Award for Best Fill Rate at the annual Parts Depot conference that took place Nov. 6 in Roanoke, Va. Rollie Olson, chairman of Parts Depot, presented the award.
Nextel and NASCAR Announce Largest NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Points Fund
Nextel Communications and NASCAR yesterday announced that a record points fund of more than $24 million will be distributed among the top 25 drivers in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup series at the end of the 2004 season. The payout, a component of the sponsorship agreement Nextel entered into last year with NASCAR, guarantees each of the top 11 drivers at least $1 million for the first time in the sport’s history.