aftermarketNews Staff
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Tower Automotive Retirees Will See Health Premiums Soar

About 1,200 retirees of Milwaukee’s Tower Automotive plant who opt to keep their current medical coverage will see their monthly health insurance premiums quadruple, or more. Premiums for some of the retirees have increased to more than $1,000 a month. Company officials say skyrocketing healthcare costs have given them no choice but to raise the premiums.

Federal-Mogul’s Champion, Wagner Lighting Brands Honored For Marketing Excellence

Federal-Mogul’s Champion spark plugs and Wagner lighting brands were honored in two recent international marketing competitions held in New York City. The Champion spark plugs “Champion Powers All” integrated marketing campaign was a finalist winner, and received a certificate of distinction in the 2004 AME (Advertising Marketing Effectiveness) Awards competition. Federal-Mogul’s Wagner lighting marketing team was also a finalist winner and recipient of a certificate of distinction in the 46th annual TV, Cinema and Radio Advertising competition of the prestigious New York Festivals.

CCAR Partners with OSHA to Create a Safe Workplace in the Auto Industry

The Coordinating Committee For Automotive Repair (CCAR) has formalized an alliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to address worker safety and health issues in the automotive industry. The alliance not only highlights workplace vehicle safety, but will also focus on abrasive wheel machinery (including associated silica hazards) and ergonomics. The alliance provides CCAR affiliates and others in the automotive industry with information, guidance and access to training resources that will further safety and health for industry workers.

ASA Planning ‘Celebration of Excellence’

The Automotive Service Association (ASA) is finalizing plans for the “Celebration of Excellence” which will take place Friday, Nov. 5 at the Flamingo Las Vegas. The event will honor the achievements of ASA members and other industry leaders. The program will include a graduation ceremony recognizing those who have earned the Automotive Management Institute’s Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation, as well as the presentation of a number of awards, including the Chairman’s Award of Excellence, a humanitarian award and a legislative award.

Automotive Communicators Discuss Preparing For and Dealing With Crisis

The Automotive Public Relations Council (APRC), the professional peer group of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association, will examine the issue of “Dealing with Crisis” during its annual Spring Conference. Slated to take place Wednesday, April 21, at the Dearborn Hyatt Regency in Dearborn, Mich, this event will provide insight on how automotive public relations professionals should plan and execute successful crisis communications strategies.

Federal-Mogul Reports Loss

Federal-Mogul lost $120.7 million in the final three months of 2003, 7 percent more than it lost in the same quarter of 2002. For the year, the Southfield-based automotive supplier, which makes such products as Champion spark plugs, Anco wipers and Wagner lights, lost $189.5 million. That’s far below 2002’s net loss of $1.6 billion, which included a $1.4-billion accounting charge.

Douglas Battery Wins Spartan Motors Supplier Award for Second Consecutive Year

Douglas Battery has been selected as a recipient of Spartan Motors’ “SPAR STAR” supplier performance award. The award is presented to suppliers who met or exceeded Spartan’s standards in product performance, on-time delivery, quality, value, service and customer care. With nearly 300 suppliers in the running, Douglas Battery, was one of only fifteen who qualified to receive the award.

Genuine Parts Co. Reports 2003 Results

Completing its 76th year in operation, Genuine Parts Co. (GPC) has reported sales and earnings for the year, which ended December 31, 2003. Sales in 2003 were $8.4 billion, up 2.3 percent compared to the previous year. Net income for the year, before the cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles related to cash consideration from vendors and goodwill, was $354 million, compared to $368 million, for the same period in the prior year, a decrease of 4 percent.

SKF to Continue as Roush Racing Sponsor

SKF USA Inc. and Roush Racing have signed a new sponsorship agreement that features SKF as the primary sponsor of Jeff Burton’s No. 99 Ford Taurus for two NASCAR Nextel Cup events: February 22 in Rockingham, N.C., and March 14 in Atlanta, Ga.

Advance Auto Parts Reports Record Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2003 Results

Advance Auto Parts has reported record revenue and earnings for its fourth quarter and fiscal year, which ended January 3. Fiscal 2003 included 53 weeks of operations compared to 52 weeks in 2002, with the additional week falling in the fourth quarter of 2003. Sales increased 19.2 percent in the fourth quarter to $821.3 million from $689.2 million.

Apogee Appoints New CFO

Apogee Enterprises, which develops and delivers value-added glass products and services for the automotive industry, has appointed William Marchido as its CFO. Marchido had been CFO at Siemens Dematic in Grand Rapids, Mich., since 1988. At Siemens Dematic, he was responsible for all financial areas, including IT systems management and productivity improvement programs, for the America’s Material Handling Division and locations in Europe, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia.

Precision Auto Care Reports Second Quarter Results

Precision Auto Care reported a profit of approximately $266,000 or $0.01 per share for the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2003, compared with a profit of $6.6 million or $0.44 per share for the comparable prior year quarter.