TRW Automotive and FAWER Sign Commercial Steering Joint Venture Agreement
TRW Automotive J.V. LLC and FAWER Automotive Components Co. Ltd. have formed a new joint venture called TRW FAWER Commercial Vehicle Steering (Changchun) Co., LTD. The new company will manufacture and sell steering gears for the commercial vehicle market.
SmarTire Signs Distribution Agreement with Lexani Wheel Corp.
SmarTire Systems has signed a distribution agreement with Lexani Wheel Corp, a manufacturer of luxury alloy wheels based in California. Lexani will bundle SmarTire’s tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) with its Johnson line of custom wheels, which are sold through its dealer base.
Key Automotive Group Names President for Key Safety Systems, Promotes Tim Nelson to President of Key Plastics
Key Automotive Group (KAG) has named Daniel Ajamian president and COO of its affiliate, Key Safety Systems, Inc. KAG also announced that Tim Nelson has been promoted to president and COO for the North American operations of the company’s other principal subsidiary — Key Plastics L.L.C.
Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum Raises $35,000 at Auction
Race fans and collectors recently raised more than $35,000 for the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, at the museum’s Feb. 19 memorabilia auction. The auction featured 113 items including several pieces from the personal collection of NHRA Founder Wally Parks and his wife Barbara, who attended the auction and even autographed their items.
Timken to Become NASCAR Contingency Sponsor
Timken has signed on as a contingency sponsor of the NASCAR Busch Series for three years, beginning with the 2004 season. The Hershey’s Kisses 300 at Daytona International Speedway, which took place last weekend, was the first time the Timken logo appeared on multiple NASCAR stock cars.
ATP-Inc. to Produce Illustrated Parts Catalog Internally Using e-Publisher
The e-Publisher catalog management system from Vertical Development Inc. (VDI) has given replacement parts supplier ATP-Inc. the capability to generate illustrated parts lists and catalogs internally, bypassing traditional typesetting and desktop publishing services. According to VDI, the system will also allow ATP to produce literature faster and export data mapped in industry-standard formats.
Compuware Panning to Buy Covisint
Compuware Corp., the largest high-tech company based in Michigan, is expected to announce that it will purchase financially struggling Covisint LLC, according to documents on Compuware letterhead obtained by the Detroit Free Press. The acquisition, expected to be completed within 30 days for an undisclosed “small cash transaction,” ends the most expensive Internet start-up and flop ever launched in Michigan.
Automotive Accessories are Clever, Practical
Torque? Struts? Rack-and-pinion steering? Maybe they are important. But what we really want to know is if the console is big enough to store a purse. Or if there’s a way to secure the grocery bags. Or if there’s a place to stow the kids’ DVDs.
Hayes Lemmerz Announces Agreement with Hyundai Translead
Hayes Lemmerz International’s Commercial Highway Division has received a multi-product agreement with Hyundai Translead. Hayes Lemmerz will supply all standard wheel-end components for all of Hyundai Translead’s dry freight vans, refrigerated trailers, chassis and converter dollies for the agreement term. The agreement includes CentruMount steel wheels, and Cast Hub and Drums and Centrifuse Drums.
Hayes Lemmerz International Expands its Aluminum Wheel Presence
Hayes Lemmerz International has purchased certain assets from Hayes Wheels de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. and sold its equity interest in Hayes Wheels de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., to DESC, S.A. de C.V. According to Fred Bentley, president of Hayes Lemmerz’ International Wheel Group, the transaction is a key step in the company’s strategy to focus on the growth market for aluminum wheels.