New Life in the Aftermarket
Pricey auto accessories like Lamborghini-style flip-up doors, 24-inch rims and 10-inch television screens are fueling the latest spending craze in the automotive industry, with young enthusiasts and old hot-rodders alike “pimping out” their cars. It’s a booming $31.5-billion-a-year business, whose customers no longer fit the stereotypical image of street thugs, hip-hop stars and celebrities.
2006 CABA Snow Show Details Set
“Locally-owned service centers will find more opportunities this year than ever to make money and save money at the 2006 CABA Snow Show,” said CABA Show Committee Chairman, Ralph Schissler of Atlantic Tire in Baltimore. At their recent August meeting, the CABA Show Committee set plans to expand the range of trade show features for the Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006 afternoon and evening aftermarket-only event.
R.L. Polk & Co.’s Ask The Industry Explores the Philosophy of Collaboration
For this edition of Ask The Industry, we venture into the philosophy of collaboration. It’s a single word solution to an extremely complex problem for everybody in the automotive aftermarket, from manufacturer CEO to warehouse manager. Although that word has been spoken from prominent voices throughout the years, the reality is that there are still major hurdles that need to be dealt with before the industry can begin to chart a course to success via collaboration. We spoke with some industry executives to give us insight on how we may be able to arrive at that point.
LIVE FROM GAAS: Day 2
The second day of the 2005 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) in Chicago included an overview of the aftermarket industry’s efforts to reach out the public and Wall Street – via initiatives like the Be Car Care Aware campaign.
Lear’s Plunging Profit to Send Jobs Packing
The bug afflicting Detroit’s automotive industry is infecting even the healthiest companies now. Auto supplier Lear Corp. on Friday said it is planning an aggressive cost-cutting strategy, which includes moving manufacturing and engineering work to low-cost countries, after it posted a $75.8-million decline in profits during the first quarter of the year.
Bergwall Productions Donates $1.7 Million in Online Training Courses to SKillsUSA Winners
Bergwall Productions, a producer and distributor of automotive training materials, is showing its support of the SkillsUSA program with the donation of $1.7 million in online automotive training courses.
Accounting Concerns Jolt GM’s Stock
General Motors Corp.’s stock skidded Wednesday after accounting experts cast doubt on how the automaker reported certain transactions with former subsidiary Delphi Corp., its largest supplier. The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that several accounting experts it contacted had looked askance at the choices made. A GM spokeswoman insisted the accounting was appropriate and that the experts did not have complete knowledge of the transactions.
Mike Lambert and Mike Kamal Share Details on ADN
On Jan. 14, aftermarketNews.com broke the news of the merger between the Parts Plus and IAPA programmed distribution groups. This major news follows closely on the heels of the merger between Quebec’s Uni-Select and New York-based MAWDI, which seems to confirm the sea change that has been taking place over the past few years — with strong but small groups merging to form even stronger collaborations, in an effort to ensure their future in the automotive aftermarket distribution market. Mike Kamal, executive director of IAPA and Mike Lambert, president of Parts Plus, will serve as co-presidents of the new group, to be called the Automotive Distribution Network (ADN). Yesterday, Kamal and Lambert spoke at length with aftermarketNews.com about the merger – how it came together, the synergies involved and thoughts on the future of The Network.
Herman Trend Alert: Recruitment Intensifying
Employers are becoming noticeably more active in recruiting. The volume of employment advertising is increasing, including an unusual December growth in The Wall Street Journal. Professional recruiters report that the people they’re calling have received other inquiries, as well. Forward-looking employers are already seeking top talent, even during this usually quiet holiday season.
IMS President Tony George Presented First Autosport Pioneering and Innovation Award
Tony George, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president and CEO, was given the inaugural Pioneering and Innovation Award at the Autosport Awards held Dec. 5 in London. George was recognized for his leadership in the development of the Steel and Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER) Barrier. The SAFER Barrier, under development by the Indy Racing League and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Midwest Roadside Safety Facility since 1998, absorbs energy during impacts with retaining walls and is one of the more important safety breakthroughs in motorsports. NASCAR joined in the development of the system in September 2000.