Michelin North America, Inc. and Toyota donate $20,000 to South Carolina Educational Foundation
Michelin North America, Inc. and Toyota donated $20,000 to the Lexington, S.C., School District One Educational Foundation during a recent ceremony at the Michelin plant.
Visteon to Sponsor Bill Elliott and No. 91 Visteon Dodge at Brickyard 400
Visteon Corp.’s aftermarket operations will sponsor Bill Elliott and the No. 91 Visteon Dodge for Evernham Motorsports at the Brickyard 400 on Sunday, August 8.
Collision Industry Raises $1,500 for Washington, D.C., Children
The National Auto Body Council (NABC) recently donated $1,500 to the National Children’s Medical Hospital during a meeting held in Washington, D.C.
Dana and Bendix Form Joint Venture
Dana Corp. and Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC, a member of the Knorr-Bremse Group, have formed a North American joint venture focusing on commercial vehicle foundation brake components and technologies. The joint venture, which is expected to close on June 30, will operate under the name Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLC. Completion of the transaction is subject to final corporate approvals at both companies.
RMA Embarks on New England Tire Care Awareness Tour
According to research from the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), New England drivers rank below national average when it comes to tire care. Only 14 percent of New England drivers properly check tire pressure. To address these issues, RMA is bringing its national tire care awareness tour to New England in a pre-July 4th, three-state swing to help educate motorists about the importance of proper tire care. RMA will co-host three, free tire care events, June 24-26.
MEMA Board Member Michael Cardone, Jr. Addresses European Distributor Group
Michael Cardone Jr., president and CEO of CARDONE Industries and a vice president on the MEMA Board of Directors, recently explained the U.S. remanufacturing industry to FIGIEFA (Federation of International Automotive Aftermarket Distributors). The presentation was made at the group’s annual meeting in Lisbon, Portugal. FIGIEFA is a European governing body that represents 27 national trade associations from 21 countries.
OEM Purchasing VPs to Discuss Industry Collaboration at Auto-Tech 2004
Top purchasing executives from DaimlerChrysler Corp., Ford Motor Co., and General Motors Corp. will headline a panel discussion on global purchasing practices at the 17th annual Auto-Tech conference at the Cobo Conference Center on Wednesday, Sept. 1. Auto-Tech is an automotive industry trade conference organized by the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG).
AASA: U.S. Trade Deficit Hurts Automotive Supplier Industry
The disparity between automotive parts exports ($48 billion) and parts imports ($74 billion) drove the U.S. auto parts trade deficit to $26 billion in 2003, according to the 2004 Automotive Aftermarket Status Report, just released by the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA).
Expand Summer Repair Business with “Be Car Care Aware” Point-of-Sale Starter Kits
The Car Care Council’s “Be Car Care Aware” point-of-sale starter kits provide the tools to help repair shops and part stores remind motorists to maintain their vehicles for the summer vacation season. Now, the “Be Car Care Aware” starter kits can be ordered online.
Chinese Autobuyers Have No Brand Loyalty Yet
China’s thriving car market boasts huge business opportunities, yet automakers should put more effort into making the local consumers loyal to their products, according to a recent survey of three major metropolitan Chinese cities. The survey was conducted by market research company AC Nielsen, in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, China’s three major automobile markets.
Commerce Secretary Selects Members for U.S. Manufacturing Council
U.S. Commerce Secretary Donald Evans has selected 11 people to serve on the newly established Manufacturing Advisory Council. Two executives from the automotive and heavy duty industries have been selected to serve on the council: Jim Padilla, COO of Ford Motor Co. and chairman of its automotive operations; and James Owens, chairman and CEO of Caterpillar Inc.
GAAS Scholarships Awarded to 145 Students
The Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) continues its work to ensure a strong future talent pool for automotive aftermarket companies and service outlets through its highly successful scholarship program. A total of 145 students will receive $1,000 GAAS scholarships in 2004, with the majority of recipients entering automotive vocational-technical programs, which will help address the critical shortage of automotive technicians.