Magna Sets Sights on Japan
Magna International Inc., Canada’s largest auto-parts maker, is aiming to double its sales to Japanese carmakers to 12 percent of total sales in two to three years, according to president Mark Hogan, who shared this at a Tokyo news conference.
GAAS 2005 Registration Online
Agenda highlights and a registration form are now available online for the 2005 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS), scheduled for Wednesday, May 11, through Thursday, May 12, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Chicago.
BodyShop Business Presents Scholarship and Award at NACE
The Automotive Management Institute (AMI) and Babcox Publications have honored Loren Estwick – owner of Loren’s Collision Plus, LLC, in Foley, Minn. – as the recipient of the 2004 BodyShop Business magazine Scholarship. The award was presented at the General Session held during NACE by BodyShop BusinessPublisher Denise Lloyd.
2005 North American International Auto Show to Promote Automotive Careers with First Annual Automotive Education Day
A new event promoting automotive careers will be added next year to the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), which takes place on Jan. 15-23, 2005, in Detroit. Thousands of students will converge upon the 2005 NAIAS for the first annual Automotive Education Day on Wednesday, Jan. 19 from 9-3 p.m. at the Detroit Cobo Center. The event is designed to provide southeast Michigan and Windsor-area students in grades 7-12 with an exciting and educational automotive career curriculum, presented by knowledgeable industry professionals.
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.
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.