North American Automotive Suppliers, Japanese Carmakers Meet for 10th Annual Business Conference
North American automotive suppliers and Japanese car manufacturers will meet to promote expanded business relationships at the 10th annual MEMA/JAMA One on One Business Conference, scheduled to take place Monday, Sept. 27, through Wednesday, Sept. 29, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Dearborn, Mich. The conference is sponsored by the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA)
Modine Gets Long Term International Contract
Modine Manufacturing has been awarded a major contract with International Truck and Engine Corp., providing all its power train cooling systems starting in 2007.
Early Bird Registration Discount Extended For GAAS
There is still time to hear the aftermarket’s leading experts discuss how the industry can work “Leaner, Faster, Better,” at the ninth annual Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) program – set for Tuesday and Wednesday, May 18-19, at the Hyatt Regency, Chicago, Ill. – at a substantial savings.
AAIA Executives Make Presentation to Wall Street Investors
Kathleen Schmatz, AAIA president and CEO, and Al Gaspar, president emeritus, addressed a group of 30 Wall Street investors at a luncheon meeting at the Yale Club in New York City last week. The latest statistics and trends on the size, shape and structure of the aftermarket were addressed, as well as profiles of AAIA’s market-growing initiatives: Product Information Exchange Standard (PIES), category management, Right to Repair Act and the “Be Car Care Aware” campaign.
Speedway Motorsports Announces Executive Appointments
Speedway Motorsports (SMI) has appointed James Holden, former CEO and president of DaimlerChrysler, to the company’s board of directors. Holden recently completed 27 years in the automotive industry including 19 with DaimlerChrysler, and its predecessor, Chrysler Corp. Highlights of his career include being named president of DaimlerChrysler in 1999 and CEO in June 2000.
Metaldyne Expands Technical Capabilities in Plymouth, Mich.
Metaldyne has opened a new 27,000-square-foot technical center in Plymouth, Mich., which will be dedicated to the company’s chassis group. The facility will house chassis group personnel including finance, human resources, product engineering, program management, quality and testing. A 13,000-square-foot test lab will serve as the design and development center for products such as chassis suspension components, wheel-end assemblies, ball joints and control arms.
ASA Planning ‘Celebration of Excellence’
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) is finalizing plans for the “Celebration of Excellence” which will take place Friday, Nov. 5 at the Flamingo Las Vegas. The event will honor the achievements of ASA members and other industry leaders. The program will include a graduation ceremony recognizing those who have earned the Automotive Management Institute’s Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation, as well as the presentation of a number of awards, including the Chairman’s Award of Excellence, a humanitarian award and a legislative award.
Advance Auto Parts Reports Record Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2003 Results
Advance Auto Parts has reported record revenue and earnings for its fourth quarter and fiscal year, which ended January 3. Fiscal 2003 included 53 weeks of operations compared to 52 weeks in 2002, with the additional week falling in the fourth quarter of 2003. Sales increased 19.2 percent in the fourth quarter to $821.3 million from $689.2 million.
Apogee Appoints New CFO
Apogee Enterprises, which develops and delivers value-added glass products and services for the automotive industry, has appointed William Marchido as its CFO. Marchido had been CFO at Siemens Dematic in Grand Rapids, Mich., since 1988. At Siemens Dematic, he was responsible for all financial areas, including IT systems management and productivity improvement programs, for the America’s Material Handling Division and locations in Europe, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia.
Radiator Repair Chain Takes Pollution Prevention Seriously
Radiator repair work — with antifreeze, lead-based solder and other hazardous materials — seems anything but environmentally friendly. But Mac’s Radiator, a Portland, Ore.-based chain of repair shops with a Eugene outlet, is part of an industry effort to change that perception. The Mac’s shop in west Eugene is the first business in the city to be certified under the Eco-Logical Business Program, a government-run pollution prevention project for small businesses.