Congress Gives Automakers One More Chance to Share Data
Yesterday, scores of representatives from the automotive aftermarket along with representatives from the original equipment manufacturers turned up on Capitol Hill to attend a Congressional hearing on HR 2735 — the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act. If passed, HR 2735 would mandate that car manufacturers make available all service and repair information to independent service technicians. The hearing, which took place before the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection of the House and Energy Commerce Committee, is a major step forward for those who have been lobbying in support of the legislation.
Advance Auto Parts To Host Free Monthly Car Care Clinics
Following the lead of major home improvement retailers, Advance Auto Parts has announced it will begin holding free, monthly car care clinics at its stores nationwide to teach drivers how to maintain their vehicles and perform minor repairs. The 20-minute video clinics will take place on the last Saturday of each month and are broadcast nationwide to more than 2,500 stores on the company’s in-store television network.
AAIA Calls on Regulators to Review GM Licensing Fee
In a Sept. 7 letter, AAIA called on the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to take action regarding the recent announcement by General Motors (GM) that it is increasing the licensing fee for use of its data stream information to $50,000 from the current $10,000. In addition, the agreement spelled out by GM in a letter to tool companies requires that even if a company does not want to use 2004 model year information, they still must pay the new licensing fee if the tool providers want to include data stream information for past model year vehicles on their products (notwithstanding the fact that they may have already paid the fee to GM for that information under previous licensing agreements).
Precision Tune Auto Care Signs Agreement With Hong Kong Company to Open 330 Centers in China
Precision Auto Care, Inc. (PACI) on Tuesday signed a master franchise agreement with Hung Yue Holdings (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd. giving that firm’s affiliate, Precision Tune Auto Care (China) Co. Ltd., a license to open and operate at least 330 Precision Tune Auto Care (PTAC) car care centers in China over the next seven years. The first PTAC center is scheduled to open early next year.
Article Sheds Light on OE Service Dealer Business
A report that ran in the Albuquerque Journal yesterday — “Ford VIP Sees Service Center Open” — may shed some light on the OE dealerships’ increasing focus on capturing more service business. The article, which talked about the grand opening of a new Ford Quality Care Service Center in the Albuquerque area, included comments from Francisco Codina, president of Ford’s Customer Service Division. Codina heads up the service center program. Codina told the Journal that Ford’s Quality Care Service Centers are part of the company’s plan to provide service centers close to where people live.
Executive Interview with Paul Foley, Vice President, Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA)
Our latest edition of “Executive Interview” features Paul Foley, vice president of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), a market segment of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA). Join us as Foley brings us up to speed on the rapid growth of AASA since its creation two years ago, as well as several industry initiatives AASA is currently focusing on.
Midas’ European Operations Gets New Owners
Midas has confirmed the pending sale of its licensed operations in Europe and Latin America. Currently owned by Magneti Marelli, a member of the Fiat Group, Marelli will sell the operations to France’s Norauto Group. Midas sold its interests in Europe and Brazil to Marelli in October 1998, when the companies entered into a long-term license agreement for which Midas received $100 million in cash and on-going royalties throughout the term of the license agreement.
Installer or Technician — What Are You?
“He thinks I’m working on parts. I’m working on concepts.” I recently came across this sentence in the book “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.” Unfortunately, this sentence describes the mentality of some elements in the aftermarket. It really got me thinking about an incident that happened to me earlier in the week. I was talking to a person involved in the aftermarket and he kept using the word “installer” to describe shops and technicians. Personally, I find the word “installer” to be very offensive. It does not describe the full role of the professional automotive technician in the aftermarket. It reduces technicians to merely “parts swappers” and not diagnosticians.
Executive Interview with Tom Ward, President, Snap-on Diagnostics
Our latest edition of “Executive Interview” features Tom Ward, president of Snap-on Diagnostics, a global business focused on improving technician and workshop productivity around the world. Join us as Ward gives us an inside look at Snap-on Diagnostics, including information on some recently launched products. Ward also talks about the trends and challenges in automotive diagnostics and repair and how the division works to address these issues.
U.S. Consumers Not Replacing Parts Often Enough for Maximum Performance, Says AASA
U.S. consumers are replacing vital parts and fluids in their vehicles, but not as regularly as needed to keep the vehicles running in top condition, according to the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA).