Auto Customizers Spend Billions, Boost Aftermarket Parts Suppliers
Some adults decorate their houses to suit their personalities. Others “pimp out” their cars. Customizing cars is a hobby that’s been around for years, but these days — with television shows such as “Pimp My Ride” and “Monster Garage,” and movies like “The Fast and The Furious,” the trend is just starting to get noticed.
AIAG Show Hosted Bold, Honest Stars
At a time when Detroit’s Cobo Center is catching a lot of grief for being a tired, rundown, expensive and cramped venue, it’s nice to see one trade show there on the upswing. Auto-Tech 2004, a conference and show staged by the Automotive Industry Action Group, concluded a stimulating three-day run Wednesday that was a huge improvement on previous year’s events.
Denso’s New CEO Focuses on Big 3 Business
Mitsuo Matsushita, the new CEO of Denso International America Inc., wants to increase revenue and profit margins as the company diversifies its customer base. Matsushita wants to add Big 3 business to complement its business with Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co.
TV, Movies Elevate Popularity of the Custom Car
The black Honda Prelude with hints of pearl blue beckons you to take a ride to hear its 800-watt amplified stereo blasting OutKast’s “Roses,” to sit in its gray racing seats and watch through tinted windows as people stare enviously. Tricking out vehicles has long been a part of American culture. Whether it’s a hot rod, monster truck or chromed-out Chevrolet, we want our rides to express our personalities. Today it’s a $29-billion industry highlighted in movies and cable programs.
Rising Auto Recalls Eat Profits
General Motors Corp., Toyota Motor Corp. and two other U.S. carmakers have in six months exceeded the vehicle recalls for last year, reducing profit. GM recalled 7.92 million cars and light trucks as of July 2, and said repair costs had helped cut first-quarter profit in North America by 18 percent. Toyota recalled 367,000 Highlander sport-utility vehicles, surpassing last year’s total by 74 percent. DaimlerChryslerAG’s Chrysler and Honda Motor Co. also are ahead of 2003.
System Allows Consumers to Buy Salvage-Yard Auto Parts from New-Parts Dealers
Joseph “Joey” Woodfin IV seized an opportunity. He noticed how automotive salvage yards, such as his Woodfin Auto Parts business in Chesterfield County, Va., had been looking for ways to sell more used car parts to consumers. Also, national auto-parts retailers wanted to be able to offer different merchandise to keep shoppers coming back. Woodfin decided to merge the needs, creating a budding national business that links auto recyclers with car parts retailers. His new EverDrive LLC serves as a conduit for auto parts retailers to have access to a vast supply of used parts through a network of more than 200 auto recyclers across the country.
Advanced Bosch Training Focuses on Solving Today’s Automotive Service Challenges
In today’s environment of ever-more-complex and sophisticated automobiles and trucks, training is all-important to the technicians who service and maintain these vehicles. Robert Bosch Corporation, a supplier of automotive systems and components, has placed itself in the forefront of those that supply the advanced technical training needed by the automotive service community.
Dealership Parts & Service Takes Aim at the Aftermarket
Would you sell parts to your competitor? In all probability, you already do. While your driver delivers aftermarket parts through the OE dealership service department’s front door, OE parts are going out that same dealership’s backdoor to your best installer customers.
Metaldyne, China’s Dongfeng to Form Joint Venture in China
Detroit-based Metaldyne Corp. signed a memorandum of understanding with Dongfeng Motor Co Ltd., a joint venture between Japan’s Nissan Motor Co Ltd. and China’s Dongfeng Motor Corp., to establish an additional joint venture in China. The planned joint venture will focus on manufacturing and selling powder metal-based automotive components for China’s domestic market, Metaldyne said on its Web site.
Ford Selected as Featured OEM for 2004 SEMA Show
Ford Motor Co. has been selected as the featured vehicle manufacturer for the 2004 SEMA Show, which takes place Nov. 2-5 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, during Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week. In addition to Ford, other OEM exhibitors will display concept vehicles and ways to modify vehicles at the SEMA Show 2004, including: American Honda, DaimlerChrysler, General Motors, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, SCION, Subaru and Toyota.