Automotive Communicators Honored for Outstanding PR Achievements
The winners of the fourth annual Excellence in Automotive Public Relations Award were honored April 28 at the Spring Conference of the Automotive Public Relations Council (APRC) held in Dearborn, Mich. The only award of its kind, the Excellence in Automotive Public Relations Award identifies public relations programs that have successfully addressed an automotive-related public relations issue with exemplary professional skill, creativity and resourcefulness. The annual award honors complete public relations programs that incorporate sound planning, execution and evaluation.
Research Firm Publishes Automotive Suppliers Benchmarking Yearbook
Research and Markets, an international market research provider, recently released “Automotive Suppliers: 2004 Global Best Practices Statistical Yearbook,” a report on automotive supplier benchmarking. The report provides automotive supplier benchmarking data enabling Tier 1-2-3 and aftermarket suppliers to pinpoint how they perform against industry best practices in areas such as cost control, quality, human resource management and R&D.
Modine CEO Rings Bell Today To Begin Trading on NYSE
Modine President and CEO David Rayburn rang the bell this morning to open trading on The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) celebrating the start of trading of Modine common stock on the NYSE. Modine common stock will be traded under the new ticker symbol “MOD.” The company transferred its common stock to the NYSE on October 14 from the NASDAQ where it had been traded under the ticker symbol “MODI.” Yesterday, Modine CEO Dave Rayburn and CFO Brad Richardson conducted a conference call from the NYSE to discuss the company’s fiscal 2005 second quarter results, which included net income more than tripling, and sales increasing 30 percent versus the comparable 2003 quarter.
AIA to Hold Awards Program at AAPEX
The Auto International Association (AIA) Segment of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association will hold its 16th AIA Industry Awards program at AAPEX 2004. Last year’s awards program showcased 70 entries from 24 companies in an impressive display located in the Sands Expo Center Upper Level Lobby. This high-traffic area will again be the site for this year’s display.
Eaton Comments on ArvinMeritor Lawsuit
Yesterday, ArvinMeritor announced that it had filed a lawsuit in Charlotte, N.C., Federal Court against Cleveland, Ohio-based Eaton Corp. for infringement over a transmission patent. Eaton Corp. has issued a statement in response to the suit. In an email sent yesterday to aftermarketNews.com, the company stated that it has reviewed the complaint, which was filed on Aug. 27 by ArvinMeritor. The company said it believes that its claim of patent infringement is without foundation.
ArvinMeritor Wins Transmission Technology Dispute
The U.S. Patent Board of Appeals and Patent Interferences has issued judgment in favor of ArvinMeritor against Eaton Corp. on all claims in two related transmission patent interferences. The decision was rendered on April 29. The interferences involved an ArvinMeritor U.S. patent on torque prediction technology. Torque prediction is an enabling technology for some automated transmissions.
ArvinMeritor Announces Finance Leadership Appointments
Robert “Rob” Guy has been named vice president of finance for ArvinMeritor’s light vehicle systems (LVS) business group. Marc Pensa has been named vice president of finance for ArvinMeritor’s commercial vehicle systems (CVS) business group. Robert “Rob” Guy has been named vice president of finance for ArvinMeritor’s light vehicle systems (LVS) business group. Marc Pensa has been named vice president of finance for ArvinMeritor’s commercial vehicle systems (CVS) business group.
Suppliers Use Show as Bridge to Buyers
Most people think of Detroit’s auto show as a glitzy showcase for the latest cars and trucks from automakers around the globe. But auto parts makers increasingly are using one of the most influential auto shows in the world to promote their wares to the vehicle manufacturers that buy them and the consumers who use them.