AAIA Study Shows DIY Market Still Going Strong
Contrary to some industry and Wall Street naysayers, the Do-it-Yourself (DIY) segment of the automotive aftermarket is not dying. In fact, 70 percent of U.S. households have someone who has personally performed vehicle maintenance or repair in the last year, according to a new market research study released by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA).
EPA to Conduct OEM Web Site Audit
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced it will conduct an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) Web site audit to gather feedback from the technician community on their experiences with the Web sites. As part of the program, a steering committee, comprised of 15 industry representatives from OEMs, tool companies, repair facilities and aftermarket associations, was formed to oversee the evaluation process.
Magazines Announce ‘Readers’ Choice Awards’ Recipients
The readers of Babcox’s Counterman, Brake & Front End, ImportCar and Underhood Service magazines have announced the Readers’ Choice Award recipients for 2004. The awards are based upon those companies whose advertising most successfully communicated their messages to the aftermarket.
Executive Interview: John Lampe, chairman, president and CEO of Bridgestone/Firestone Americas Holding
Two years ago on August 9, Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. — and the whole tire industry — changed for all time. John Lampe has been in the middle of the entire saga from day one. More importantly, as chairman, president and CEO of what is now Bridgestone/Firestone Americas Holding (BFAH) and the head of Bridgestone/Firestone North America Tire, the Kansas native has led the once-beleaguered company back from the brink.
Many Recalled Cars Remain Unrepaired
Timothy Michaud died in May after falling from the tailgate of a Chevrolet pickup and suffering severe head injuries. The 19-year-old from Maine never knew General Motors Corp. had recalled the pickup two months earlier because the tailgate cables could corrode and snap. At the time of the accident, Michaud’s employer, which owned the used 2000 pickup, hadn’t received a recall notice, said Stephen Schwarz, an attorney for the Michaud family. The pickup was one of the millions of recalled vehicles that go unrepaired each year. Sometimes vehicle owners are at fault for not getting repairs. But some safety experts say automakers and federal regulators share the blame because they haven’t developed a better system to track whether a vehicle has in fact been repaired.
Valvoline Recalls Brake Cleaner and Brake Parts Cleaner
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Valvoline have announced a voluntary recall of Pyroil Brake Parts Cleaner and NAPA Brake Cleaner. More than 2.8 million cans of the cleaners are being recalled due to a defect in the spray valve.
Transtar Launches New UV Paint Refinish System at NACE
Last week at the NACE Show in Las Vegas, Transtar Autobody Technologies introduced a new UV paint system for the collision repair industry. The new Ultra V product line is a breakthrough in fast cure time for spot repairs, improving productivity, according to the company.
Executive Interview with Ron Pyle, President and Chief Staff Executive of the Automotive Service Association (ASA)
Every other week, aftermarketNews.com offers an interview with high-profile individuals in the automotive aftermarket. We give executives free rein to express their views on anything from the state of their corporations to recent legislative news to future trends in their niche markets. Here you see what matters to the newsmakers themselves.
Lowe’s Knows!
As a homeowner, I spend a fair amount of time and money at my local Lowe’s store. I go there for just about all of my house-fixing projects: paint, light bulbs, tools, etc. I choose Lowe’s because I find their employees to be knowledgeable, and they have what I need (sound familiar?).
Study Shows 92 Percent in Favor of Right to Repair Legislation
In conjunction with this week’s hearing before a Congressional subcommittee on HR 2735, the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act, Automotive Industry Association (AAIA) President and CEO Kathleen Schmatz held a press conference on Wednesday reiterating the association’s reasons for supporting the measure. At the press conference, AAIA released the results of an independent study conducted that showed 92 percent of respondents are in favor of the Right to Repair legislation.