Grote Names Brewer, Transpro Top Sales Guns
Grote Industries has awarded its top sales performance awards for 2003. Nan Brewer of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, was named the top aftermarket sales manager, while Transpro of Lee’s Summit, Mo., was named top manufacturer’s representative. Transpro, headed by Jeff White and John Cross, was also awarded the top prize in OEM performance.
Raybestos Brand Brakes Becomes “Gold” Sponsor of the Car Care Council Women’s Board
Brake Parts Inc., on behalf of Raybestos brand brakes, has committed to a “Gold” level sponsorship of the Car Care Council’s 2004 Women’s Board activities. Brake Parts Inc., headquartered in McHenry, Ill., is a leading manufacturer of braking systems and components for the automotive aftermarket. The Car Care Council Women’s Board recently expanded its sponsorship program in order to support all the Women’s Board activities for the year. Those activities include industry outreach, consumer education and recruiting women to the industry, as well as serving as an advisory board to the “Be Car Care Aware” campaign.
Vicky Black Promoted to VP Post at Dana
Vicky Black has been named vice president and general manager for the Heavy Vehicle Technologies and Systems Service Group of Dana Corp.
NASTF Reports on March 8 Meeting in Detroit
The National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) held its regular winter meeting on March 8 in conjunction with the SAE World Congress in Detroit. The task force meets twice yearly to maintain a forum for discussion and resolution of service-related issues. Approximately 55 people attended the meeting.
MEMA Creates Brand Protection Council to Address Counterfeiting, Non-Compliant Products, Intellectual Property Rights
MEMA and its market segment associations have established a new Brand Protection Council to help address and set the association’s priorities in the areas of counterfeiting, diversion, non-compliant products and intellectual property rights. The council will meet four times a year and will help dictate MEMA’s (and the industry’s) collective actions on various intellectual property issues. The council will also share best practices and dialogue on this growing industry challenge.
PPG Introduces New Line of Custom Finishes
PPG Automotive Refinish recently launched a new brand for its line of custom finishes. The new Vibrance Collection will showcase what the company described as “hot colors, unique pigments and special-effect finishes,” as well as a line of special primers, clears and detailing products. PPG is also finalizing a new co-branding partnership with Hot Wheels, a Mattel, Inc. brand, to collaborate on the production of 12 anodized-looking Hot Wheels SPECTRAFLAME colors in the Vibrance Collection for use in automotive refinishing.
Goodyear to Complete Purchase of Slovenia’s Sava Tires
In a move to further strengthen its position in the central and eastern European market, Goodyear Tire & Rubber is acquiring the remainder of Sava Tires d.o.o., a joint venture tire manufacturing company located in Kranj, Slovenia. In 1998, Goodyear acquired a 60 percent stake in the Sava Tires joint venture. In 2002, the company bought an additional 20 percent . Goodyear will exercise its call option and purchase the remaining 20 percent of Sava Tires owned by Slovenia’s Sava d.d. for approximately $52 million.
TI Automotive Receives Fuel System Contract
TI Automotive has been awarded a contract to supply the complete fuel system for a new sport-utility vehicle that will be built in the U.S. by a German automaker.
Exide Technologies Partners with Multiple NASCAR Teams for 2004
Exide Technologies, the “Official Battery of NASCAR,” has announced several NASCAR team partnerships for 2004. The new partnerships extend the company’s involvement in America’s fastest growing spectator sport. Exide Technologies will expand its partnership with four teams among NASCAR’s top three divisions.
Lear Downplays SEC Inquiry
Lear Corp. CEO Robert Rossiter on Wednesday downplayed an informal investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission into its employment of corporate officers’ relatives and insider business transactions. The head of the Southfield, Mich.-based auto-interiors supplier also told analysts that the probe is strictly related to disclosure — not whether there was financial misconduct. Management, he added, quickly corrected the disclosure omissions as soon as they were pointed out.
Cooper Tire to Sponsor Saturn Motorsports Racing Program
Cooper Tire & Rubber and its subsidiary Mickey Thompson Performance Tires and Wheels, has announced a new sponsorship and supply agreement with Saturn Motorsports. The agreement positions Cooper Tire as a major associate sponsor of the Saturn Motorsports Pro FWD Ion, driven by three-time world champion and current NHRA point’s leader, Lisa Kubo. Cooper Tire will also title sponsor a Saturn Motorsports tuner car slated to compete later this year in Sport FWD.
American Axle & Manufacturing Awarded Contract for New Driveline System
American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings (AAM) has been selected as the driveline system and module supplier for a 2008 model year North American vehicle program. AAM will be the sole source, exclusive supplier and systems integrator for all of the driveline components, systems, modules and forged products for the new off-road adventure sport enthusiast vehicle. The contract is valued at $100 million per year based on current customer design direction.