Federal-Mogul and Champion Brands Strike Multi-Year Licensing Deal
Federal-Mogul Corp. and Champion Brands, LLC have announced a long-term licensing agreement adding the Champion “Bow Tie” logo to a line of performance additives for automotive, heavy truck, marine and specialty industries. The new products are in addition to the full line of performance additives and lubricants Champion Brands currently manufactures. The new line will be targeted to national accounts and mass merchants channels.
SMMC to Discuss Tips for Increasing Brand Recognition
Bob Schaffer of Integrated Marketing Solutions will lead a discussion on increasing brand recognition at the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) Small & Medium Manufacturers Council (SMMC). The meeting is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, April 28, at American Axle in Detroit, Mich., and also on Thursday, April 29, at the Doubletree Hotel O’Hare Rosemont, Chicago.
Goodyear CEO Expresses Confidence in Tiremaker’s Recovery
Addressing hundreds of people at an Akron, Ohio, Roundtable lunch last week, Robert Keegan, chairman, president and CEO of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., told attendees that Goodyear would bounce back from its recent financial hardships.
ASA Adds New Affiliate
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) board of directors has named ASA-Texas as its 15th affiliate. Terry St. Pierre, owner of The Muffler Shoppe in Abilene, Texas, and president of ASA-Texas, said he is excited about the future of ASA-Texas and the direction it’s headed. St. Pierre said he encourages all service professionals to grow their local chapter, which will in turn grow their state groups, which will grow ASA on a national level.
RMA: Shipments of Rubber to Grow 2.3 Percent
Shipments of tread rubber in 2004 will grow 2.3 percent over 2003, according to the Rubber Manufacturers Association’s (RMA) Tread Rubber Market Analysis Committee. Shipments in 2004 will produce approximately 16.5 million retreaded tires in the U.S., the association reported.
Experts Warn Industry’s Growth in South Carolina Will Be Flat at Best
South Carolina is chasing automotive manufacturing jobs even as the industry’s work force is slipping away from the U.S. Some experts warn South Carolina will lose its auto jobs too, as automakers and parts companies move jobs abroad or squeeze out jobs at home through efficiency gains. Some experts warn South Carolina will lose its auto jobs too, as automakers and parts companies move jobs abroad or squeeze out jobs at home through efficiency gains.
Wade&Partners Adds New Account Executive
Wade&Partners aftermarket consulting firm has added Aileen Gildea as a new account executive. In this role, she will be responsible for client contact, as well as a large range of public relations activities. Prior to joining Wade&Partners, Gildea was an advertising production manager at O’Reilly Media and had worked for WBUR radio.
TRW Gets Rolling: After a massive IPO, Supplier Faces Hurdles
John Plant, chief executive of newly independent TRW Automotive Holdings Corp., remembers when his company was a corporate stepchild. As the auto-parts unit of former industrial conglomerate TRW Inc., it didn’t get favorable treatment, even when it generated cash for the business.
Price of Michelin Retreads to Increase
Michelin Retread Technologies announced that it will increase its prices by an overall average of 6 percent on retread rubber products sold in the U.S. The tiremaker stated that the continued escalation of raw material costs is the reason for the decision. The price increase starts on April 1, according to Michelin.
ASA Launches New Government Affairs Web Site
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has launched a new Web site to help communicate with federal and state representatives about issues impacting the automotive repair industry. According to a press release issued yesterday, the new Web site will help ASA and its members “mobilize support or dissent for issues directly impacting the automotive repair industry on both federal and state levels.”
Manufacturer’s Rep Conference Cancelled
The Manufacturer’s Rep Conference, scheduled to take place May 16-17, in conjunction with the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) in Chicago, has been cancelled. According to event organizers, the conference was cancelled due to scheduling conflicts.
Cooper Unveils New TV, Print Ad Campaign
Cooper Tire & Rubber has unveiled a multi-million dollar advertising campaign aimed at reinforcing the tire brand’s performance and value. The campaign adds to Cooper’s tag line, “Don’t Give Up a Thing,” with an additional message, “Get Everything You Want.” The ads focus on emotional considerations of buying tires, rather than product features. The campaign involves three, 30-second television spots and seven print ads.