Americans Will Drive Three Trillion Miles by 2006, Finds AASA Report
According to the 2004 Automotive Aftermarket Status Report just released by the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), Americans will drive 3 trillion miles per year by 2006. What does this mean for the aftermarket? A continued demand for aftermarket parts.
Violence Breaks Out During Strike at Visteon Plant
State troopers in riot helmets kept watch over a picket line outside a Visteon Corp. plant in Bedford, Ind., after weekend confrontations between strikers and security guards reportedly left some union members with injuries. The strike began early Sunday after members of the International Union of Electrical Workers-Communications Workers of America voted to reject a contract offer from the auto parts supplier.
Goodyear Selects Boston-Based Arnold Worldwide for Ad Creative
Goodyear Tire & Rubber has handed over responsibility for the creative and image advertising and marketing for its Goodyear and Dunlop brands to Boston-based Arnold Worldwide. The agency network has four full-service offices throughout the U.S., including its Boston headquarters, New York City, Washington D.C. and St. Louis.
ArvinMeritor Introduces Gabriel ReadyMount Struts
ArvinMeritor’s Light Vehicle Aftermarket (LVA) group has unveiled a new line of Gabriel ReadyMount struts. The new struts, available through distributors, automotive supply retailers and installers nationwide, are pre-assembled with bumpers, strut mounts, coil springs and boots designed for fast and easy installation.
DST Unveils FleetCross Cross Reference Integration
DST Inc., a technology provider to the parts and service supply chain, has integrated its DSTWare inventory management system with the FleetCross cross-referencing tool. The integration between FleetCross and DSTWare will provide a single system that goes from the beginning of the repair process all the way through to the point of inventory control and purchasing.
Lund International’s Ventshade Accessories Division Awarded ISO/TS Quality Certification
Lund International’s Ventshade Accessories Division has been awarded Technical Specification (ISO/TS) 16949 Quality Certification by the International Automotive Oversight Bureau (IAOB). Headquartered in Duluth, Ga., Lund International designs, manufactures and markets appearance products for the automotive aftermarket, sold under the brand names Auto Ventshade, Belmor, Deflecta-Shield, Lund and Nifty.
Cadna Names New Managing Partners
Cadna Automotive, a supplier of belts and hoses to the aftermarket, has added two managing partners to its staff. Dan Clevenger and Fred Witmer have joined the company as co-managing partners. Clevenger has been named president of Cadna Automotive. Witmer will serve as vice president of the Memphis, Tenn.-based company.
Steelworkers Strike Against BFGoodrich in Ontario
More than 1,000 members of the Steelworkers union are on strike against Michelin-owned BFGoodrich Tires in Kitchener, Ontario. United Steelworkers’ Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser said the local union’s negotiators worked over the weekend with a Ministry of Labor mediator to try to reach a settlement.
Pirelli Names VP of Advertising, PR and Motorsports
Pirelli Tire North America (PTNA) has appointed Peter Tyson vice president, advertising, public relations and motorsports. Tyson was hired by Pirelli UK as director of marketing in 1984 and helped revitalize the then-ailing Pirelli brand. In 1993, Tyson was promoted to the position of director of global brand support at Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.
From the Inside: Executive Interview with Craig Anderson, President, Hercules Tire & Rubber Co.
Our latest edition of “Executive Interview” features Craig Anderson, president of Hercules Tire & Rubber Co. While Hercules has grown quietly, preferring to remain out of the spotlight, every year brings line expansions, new products and other enhancements designed to help its members and dealer customers grow their businesses. Even after selling off its core retreading business, Hercules posted its best sales year ever in 2002, and again in 2003, and saw each of its divisions turn a profit in 2003. Craig Anderson, president, sat for an interview with Jim Smith, editor of Tire Review magazine in April. The two discussed how the changes impacted Hercules, the company’s plans in the future, and how he sees the market moving in the near-term.
Leadership for Change — Selecting Your Initiatives
Last time we kicked off a series of articles on the subject of leadership for change. We identified critical responsibilities for change leadership, and talked about creating a vision. This week we’ll talk about how to convert that vision into action-through selecting and launching the right initiatives.
Actron Manufacturing Appoints New VP of Marketing and Business Development
Actron Manufacturing Co. has named Dave Schaar to the newly created position of vice president of marketing and business development. In this new position, he will be responsible for Actron’s overall marketing and business growth opportunities as well as the company’s new product development. He will also manage Actron’s business initiatives in the state emission inspection markets.