NBC to Broadcast International Auto Show
NBC Sports is shifting into overdrive to produce a live two-hour, high-octane telecast of . . . the International Auto Show. Cars. On display. In Detroit. Surrounded by hordes of people. “We’re using our NASCAR team, who are used to creating a live, fast-paced feel to events,” says NBC Sports programming chief Jon Miller. “Imagine it as a two-hour pit stop that celebrates the automotive industry.”
ACDelco Expands Its Ignition And Emissions Product Lines
ACDelco plans to add nearly 2,000 new part numbers to its ignition and emissions product offerings by year-end. This is part of a larger two-year expansion that will introduce a total of nearly 10,300 new parts.
Japanese Car Sales Hit New High in U.S.
Japanese cars for the first time accounted for more than 30 percent of new automobiles sold in the United States, according to 2004 sales figures. American consumers were drawn to energy-efficient Japanese cars due to the sharp rise in oil prices last year, the Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun reported Wednesday, quoting local industrial sources.
Japan’s Automakers and U.S. Tool and Equipment Manufacturers Meet in Japan for 17th Annual Tech Week
A 24-member delegation from the Equipment and Tool Institute (ETI), led by current president Greg Potter of Chief Automotive Systems, met with Honda, Isuzu, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota in Japan earlier this month. The visit marked the 17th annual ETI Japan Tech Week, co-sponsored by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA). This year the meeting attracted a record number of ETI participants, up 60 percent from the last time the event was held in Japan in 2002.
Executive Interview with James Croston, Director of Marketing, Trico Products
Our latest Executive Interview features James Croston, director of marketing, Trico Products. As director of marketing for Trico Products, Croston has surfaced as a leader in today’s highly competitive automotive aftermarket. He has dedicated the last 15 years at Trico to developing new products that fill voids in the marketplace, educating the sellers and the buyers alike and finding better ways of communicating with potential and existing customers. Croston recently shared with us his opinions on the future of the wiper blade segment, as well as details about Trico’s recent product launches for the Innovision and Oktane lines.
Visteon Names Vice President, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer
Visteon Corp. has appointed William Quigley III to the posts of vice president, corporate controller and chief accounting officer. As an elected corporate officer, Quigley will report to Jim Palmer, executive vice president and CFO.
U.S. Steel Shares Rise on News of Shortages
Shares of U.S. Steel and other steel producers rallied yesterday after Japanese car maker Nissan disclosed steel shortages are causing a five-day production halt at three plants. The news encouraged views that steelmakers will continue benefiting from sharply higher prices caused by tight supply and surging demand in China.
NSA Named Preferred Supplier of New Starters and Alternators for IAPA
NSA Corp. has been approved by the Independent Auto Parts of America (IAPA), as its preferred supplier of new starters and alternators. NSA offers coverage of more than 95 percent of late-model domestic passenger applications and 90 percent of late-model Toyota, Honda, Isuzu, Suzuki, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Subaru and European passenger vehicles. The company also provides extensive coverage of leading commercial-truck applications.
Executive Interview with Greg Gyllstrom, Vice President and General Manager for Visteon’s North American and Asian Aftermarket Operations
Our latest edition of “Executive Interview” features Greg Gyllstrom, Vice President and General Manager for Visteon’s North American and Asian aftermarket operations. In this role, Gyllstrom is responsible for expanding the organization’s North American and Asian aftermarket business by coordinating and directing the company’s sales, product development and marketing activities. Gyllstrom recently talked with aftermarketNews.com about his first two years at Visteon, the company’s motor sports initiatives and its presence in Asia.
Executive Interview with Randy Mordue, Director, Aftermarket Division, Akebono Corp.
Our latest edition of “Executive Interview” features Randy Mordue, director, Aftermarket Division, Akebono Corp. Mordue joined Akebono North America in 1999. He has more than 20 years of sales, national account and new business development experience within the automotive aftermarket industry. Mordue recently took the time to talk with aftermarketNews.com and bring us up to speed on the latest developments at Akebono.