CSK’s Fraser, California Air Resources Board Representatives to Speak at ASPA Annual Meeting
Martin Fraser, president and COO of CSK Automotive, Peter Venturini of the CARB California Air Resource Board (CARB) Stationary Sources Division chief, and Janette Brook, CARB Air Quality Measures Branch chief, are the key speakers for the third annual Automotive Aftermarket Specialty Products Group (ASPA) meeting.
Auto Part Suppliers Study Jobs
Automotive jobs will continue to leave Michigan, but there are remedies, says a report on the future of manufacturing to be delivered today at the opening session of the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress in Cobo Center in Detroit. The U.S. is expected to see an 11 percent drop in its automotive production jobs by 2010, according to “The Odyssey of the Auto Industry” a study conducted by Roland Berger Strategy Consultants for the Original Equipment Suppliers Association.
PPG Announces Management Assignments
PPG Industries has announced two management assignments. Reg Norton, director of global manufacturing and supply chain for PPG’s automotive refinish business unit, has been appointed global director, environment, health and safety, effective April 1. He will replace David Cannon Jr., vice president, environment, health and safety, who is leaving the company on March 31. Lynne Schmidt, director of government affairs, will be promoted to vice president, government and community affairs, and executive director of the PPG Industries Foundation, effective July 1.
Centrix Financial Subsidiary to Acquire Rights To Grand Prix of Denver From Dover Motorsports
A wholly-owned subsidiary of Centrix Financial, a financial management and services firm, has announced its intention to acquire assets and rights to the Grand Prix of Denver from the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, Inc. (Grand Prix), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dover Motorsports. Centrix’s subsidiary is currently conducting a due diligence process and said it will announce its final decision with regard to the acquisition of rights no later than March 12. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Bendix Brakes Expands Partnership with Pedregon Racing
Honeywell’s Bendix brakes has renewed its associate sponsorship with former Funny Car champion Cruz Pedregon for the 2004 NHRA POWERade drag racing series season. The brand has also expanded its involvement with the team by becoming an associate sponsor on 2003 Funny Car Champion Tony Pedregon’s Quaker State Funny Car.
Technology Outpaces Would-be Technicians
Help Wanted: Automotive technician. Starting salary: $30,000. Benefits include medical insurance, plus two weeks paid vacation and two long weekends off — that’s Thursday through Sunday — a year. How difficult is it to fill a job like that in Michigan’s lackluster economy? Plenty, according to Stan Shephard, owner of Shephard’s Hi Tech Automotive in Detroit. Shephard posted his help-wanted sign 18 months ago, and today the position remains unfilled. He’s had only 15 applicants for the job.
AutoZone EPS up 32 Percent
AutoZone has reported sales of $1.159 billion for its second fiscal quarter, which ended February 14, an increase of 3.4 percent from fiscal 2003. Same store sales, or sales for domestic stores open at least one year, were flat overall, the company said. Retail same store sales were down 1 percent while AZ Commercial same store sales were up 10 percent.
Federal-Mogul Changes its Plan, Shareholders to Be Offered New Stock
Federal-Mogul Corp. has amended its plan for emerging from bankruptcy to guarantee current shareholders the right to buy new shares in the reorganized auto supplier at a predetermined price. Under both the former and amended plans, current shares would be voided once the company exits bankruptcy and new shares would be issued. In an unrelated matter, Federal-Mogul announced Friday that a fire had extensively damaged its Smithfield, Tenn., distribution facility. All employees were evacuated safely. The company is working on a plan to resume operations elsewhere late this week. The center employed 225.
Monro Muffler Brake Completes Mr. Tire Acquisition
Monro Muffler Brake has completed its previously announced acquisition of 36 leased Mr. Tire locations from privately held Mile One Automotive. The acquired locations generated approximately $50 million in sales last year. Monro said the acquisition will expand the company’s market share in the mid-Atlantic region, particularly the Baltimore market. The transaction, valued at approximately $29 million, is expected to contribute between $5 million and $6 million to Monro’s EBITDA in the first year.
O’Reilly Auto Parts Names Interdynamics Vendor of the Year
Interdynamics Inc. has been presented with the 2003 “Vendor of the Year” award from O’Reilly Auto Parts. The company is a leader in auto air conditioning and air compressor products.
BWD Automotive Announces Vehicle Service Professional Rewards Program
BWD Automotive has launched a new Vehicle Service Professional (VSP) Rewards program, designed to foster, preserve and enhance the relationship among automotive repair technicians, distribution customers and BWD Automotive. The goal of VSP Rewards is to provide today’s professional automotive technician with up-to-date educational and reference tools required by an increasingly complex automotive repair industry.
Advance Auto Parts Unveils New “2010” Format in Orlando
Advance Auto Parts has announced its grand re-opening in the Orlando, Fla., market, bringing 49 retail stores and 525 employees under the newly branded name, “Advance Discount Auto Parts.” Advance Auto Parts has invested approximately $4 million to remodel the 49 stores to the new “2010” format, which is currently being rolled out across the company’s chain. The new format features a new floor layout with improved product adjacencies, enhanced systems to offer more convenience to customers and high-impact signage.