Hundreds Turn Out for AAIA Spring Leadership Days
Despite the travel hurdles many faced last week as American Airlines cancelled hundreds of flights, roughly 400 aftermarket executives turned out to participate in the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association’s (AAIA) Spring Leadership Days. The biannual gathering of AAIA leadership and industry volunteers took place April 9-11 in Bonita Springs, Fla. In addition to the more than 25 AAIA market segment and committee meetings that took place during the event, the association held its annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon and State of the Association address on Thursday, during which Jerry O’Pry kicked off his term as chairman of the AAIA Board of Directors for 2008-2009.
Auto Pride Speaker: Language is the Culprit in Lost Sales Opportunities
Mac McGovern believes the key for suppliers to sell more parts to repair shops comes down to language. It’s both about how countermen refer to technicians and how repair shops approach their business. “The parts industry’s responsibility is to teach the repair shops how to approach the customers,” said McGovern, who owned his own repair shop for 30 years. He’s now director of training for KYB America. He spoke during Saturday morning’s keynote address, titled “Parts people are from Venus, Installers are from Mars,” at Auto Pride’s annual meeting at the JW Marriott resort in Orlando, Fla.
Bando Adds Two New Regional Sales Managers
ITASCA, Ill. — Bando USA has announced the addition of Robert Talavera and Michael Walsh to the Bando sales management team. Talavera has accepted a position with Bando USA as western regional sales manager. He has more than eight years of industry experience, most recently with the Cardone Industries as a zone manager for the
Keystone Announces Wheel Finder Update Feature
POMONA, Calif. – Keystone Automotive has added a new, automatic update feature to its Wheel Finder CD. Customers who use the Wheel Finder CD (version 7 and higher) will now be able to regularly download updated information including model types and model years, as well as updated photos. According to Director of Marketing Services Mary
The Schaeffler Group Introduces FAG Premium Aftermarket Hub and Wheel Bearing Program in U.S.
Schaeffler Group USA Inc. has announced launch of a comprehensive FAG brand hub and wheel bearing program for the U.S. automotive aftermarket. The premium-quality line includes a full range of components from tapered bearings to fully-integrated hub units. Built to the same exacting standards as FAG original-equipment products, these premium-quality wheel end components deliver premium-quality materials and manufacturing, original-equipment fit and performance, integrated sensors (where applicable) and fully-integrated rolling units, according to the company.
Video on Global Outsourcing Available on Four Seasons Web Site
Four Seasons has added a powerful new video to its Web site, www.4s.com, about the quality of products being outsourced from other countries. “The automotive aftermarket air conditioning segment has been hit hard by a flood of poorly designed and constructed products coming into the U.S., so it’s more important than ever to know what you’re buying and where it’s coming from,” said Benny Araujo, marketing manager for Four Seasons Inc.
IndyCar Series Forms Promotional Partnership with Mac Tools
INDIANAPOLIS — IndyCar Series officials have announced a new one-year partnership with Mac Tools. The agreement will give Mac Tools a big presence at IndyCar Series races around the country in 2008. A key aspect of the partnership will be the Mac Tools “Lap Leader Award.” The award program will track laps led by all
U.S. Carmakers Are Adopting Simplicity as a Path to Recovery
Henry Ford, who created the automotive industry’s first mass-market hit with the Model T a century ago, was a proponent of radical simplicity. In fact, Ford became famous for saying his customers could have the $825 Model T in any color — so long as it was black. Since the first Model T appeared in 1908, Ford’s vision of top-down efficiency has been swamped by thousands of feature and color combinations on new cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles. A result, executives say, has been higher production and inventory costs and headaches for customers and dealers in sorting through a complex matrix of choices. Ford Motor and the other U.S. automakers are now going back to black, embracing the spirit of Ford’s notion in response to mounting losses and the risk of a deeper downturn in the United States in 2008.
AAEQ Unveils New Web Site for AA Midwest Cores
CHICAGO – AAEQ Manufacturers and Recyclers has launched a new Web site for AA Midwest Cores at www.aamidwestcores.com. The Web site is part of AAEQ’s new marketing and sales initiative to bring awareness to the company’s engine, transmission and internal parts cores for sale to engine rebuilders and machine shops. AA Midwest processes more than
CARQUEST Installs WHI Exploris Solution at More Than 2,000 Locations
WHI Solutions and CARQUEST announced this week that they have successfully installed Exploris in more than 2,000 locations, including more than 500 independent and locally owned CARQUEST Auto Parts Stores. Exploris is CARQUEST’s private labeled version of WHI’s Nexpart Distribution Management.