Derek Kaufman, Author of Telematics Study, to Address 2008 Aftermarket eForum
BETHESDA, Md. – The author of an industry study on telematics will present his findings and recommendations at the 2008 Aftermarket eForum, July 14-16 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Chicago. Derek Kaufman, president of C3 Network, has performed extensive research on telematics in both the automotive and heavy duty aftermarkets. Telematics is beginning to
New Ohio Collision Center to Showcase Most Advanced DCR Model to Date
HICKORY, N.C. – Mentor, Ohio-based DCR Systems and Mike Johnson’s Hickory Toyota have joined forces to build a state-of-the-art, 12,000-square-foot accident repair center near the dealer’s Hickory property. Featuring DCR’s unique patent-pending lean-based production process, Mike Johnson’s Collision Center opened to the public March 28. The grand opening of the center on June 11 will
GAAS 2008 VIDEO FEATURE: University of the Aftermarket Unveils New Programs
Midland , Mich. – Leadership 2.0, the University of the Aftermarket ’s Leadership Development Program, officially opened registration for the 2008-2009 class. The announcement was made by University of the Aftermarket Director Brian Cruickshank at the 2008 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS), held in Chicago May 20-21. While at GAAS, aftermarketNews had a chance to
GAAS 2008: Private Equity and the Aftermarket
“You can hardly pick up a newspaper without reading about the multi billion dollar funds buying up everything, everywhere, in every country,” said Dan Smith, president of Capstone Financial Group. Smith led a panel discussion on private equity at the 2008 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium in Chicago.
GAAS 2008: How Family Run Businesses Adapt to Changes in Today’s Aftermarket
Conjuring the spirit of an FDR fireside chat, Affinia Group’s John Washbish sat poised behind a table with his 1940s style microphone and a mug that read “Big Boss” as he kicked off the Family Affair panel discussion on day two of the 2008 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium in Chicago. Panelists included Craig Bond, senior vice president of Bond Auto Parts, a warehouse distributor based in Barre, Vt.; Dominic Grote, vice president of sales and marketing, Grote Industries, an LED lighting and wire harness manufacturer; and Doug Reevey, president of Autotec Inc., a Canadian service and repair business.
LIVE FROM GAAS: Preparing to Outfit and Service the Connected Car
Telematics. it’s a word you may hear bandied about a lot these days, but what does it mean exactly? Telematics is defined as a source of measuring, sending, receiving and storing information via telecommunication devices. To put it in more visual terms, it’s the iPod you can dock in your new car, it’s the GPS device sitting on your dashboard, guiding your way to an unfamiliar destination or the EZ Pass allowing you to breeze through toll booths without stopping. But according to Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, the opportunities and risks go way beyond that.
LIVE FROM GAAS: Attendees Divided Over Private Label Products, Brands
Probably not surprisingly, the attendees at the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium can’t agree on whether private label products are a positive trend in the industry. When 425 attendees were polled Tuesday using electronic audience response devices, 51 percent of distributors said they believed private label brands were a positive aftermarket industry trend. By contrast, 71 percent of manufacturers said it wasn’t a positive trend. However, when the audience as a whole was asked if private label products were corrosive to brands, 68 percent responded yes.
LIVE FROM GAAS: Aftermarket Must Communicate with Service Technicians, Panel Says
The rapid increase in global sourcing of parts requires that aftermarket manufacturers provide more information to service technicians, Steve Handschuh, president and COO of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association, and Ron Pyle, chief executive of the Automotive Service Association, told attendees of the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium. “The repair technician is confused about what’s in the box anymore,” Handschuh said. “We have the end-user who may have been forgotten or neglected.”
Tales from the Track: Dave Caracci Takes Us Behind the Scenes at Sebring
Dave Caracci, retired VP from Robert Bosch, has returned to his first love – racing. In this multi-part series, Caracci takes us behind the scenes on the road with Prime Time Racing, where he serves as Logistics Engineer. Stay tuned for more notes from Caracci’s race team travel journal.
Bridgestone, Toyo Buying Stakes in Each Other
Bloomberg has reported that Bridgestone Corp. and Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. will buy stakes in each other and work together on raw material procurement and production issues. The report says that Bridgestone will buy an 8.7 percent share in Toyo, and Toyo, in turn, will buy a 0.5 percent share in its larger rival.