New Life in the Aftermarket
Pricey auto accessories like Lamborghini-style flip-up doors, 24-inch rims and 10-inch television screens are fueling the latest spending craze in the automotive industry, with young enthusiasts and old hot-rodders alike “pimping out” their cars. It’s a booming $31.5-billion-a-year business, whose customers no longer fit the stereotypical image of street thugs, hip-hop stars and celebrities.
2006 CABA Snow Show Details Set
“Locally-owned service centers will find more opportunities this year than ever to make money and save money at the 2006 CABA Snow Show,” said CABA Show Committee Chairman, Ralph Schissler of Atlantic Tire in Baltimore. At their recent August meeting, the CABA Show Committee set plans to expand the range of trade show features for the Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006 afternoon and evening aftermarket-only event.
Bosch Develops Compact Sensor to Monitor Car Battery Performance
Bosch has developed an electronic battery sensor (EBS) designed to monitor a battery’s current and future performance levels which prevents vehicle breakdowns associated with depleted and near-depleted batteries. This technology will be available on an OEM production vehicle in 2006.
Edelbrock’s Turbo Kit Now Available for Honda Civics
Edelbrock’s high-performing family of turbo systems for Honda Civics has a new member, with the introduction of the Victor X Open Track Turbo Kit for competition 1996-2000 Honda Civics.
Herman Trend Alert: Social Networking: The Next Frontier of Recruiting
Wise employers are looking for ideal applicants for open positions. In most cases, the people they want are not actively looking for a job. They will not show up on job boards or in stacks of resumes. The most desirable candidates are passive job seekers, not active. They are comfortable where they are working, but will change employers for the “right” opportunity. The challenge for recruiters is to find these special people. Traditional meat-market recruiting will not work.
R.L. Polk & Co.’s Ask The Industry Explores the Philosophy of Collaboration
For this edition of Ask The Industry, we venture into the philosophy of collaboration. It’s a single word solution to an extremely complex problem for everybody in the automotive aftermarket, from manufacturer CEO to warehouse manager. Although that word has been spoken from prominent voices throughout the years, the reality is that there are still major hurdles that need to be dealt with before the industry can begin to chart a course to success via collaboration. We spoke with some industry executives to give us insight on how we may be able to arrive at that point.
LIVE FROM GAAS: Day 2
The second day of the 2005 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) in Chicago included an overview of the aftermarket industry’s efforts to reach out the public and Wall Street – via initiatives like the Be Car Care Aware campaign.
ASA Launches ASA OnDemand Software
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has launched a new electronic endeavor, ASA OnDemand. The new software program was developed to deliver association and industry information electronically to members’ and prospective members’ computer desktops.
Lear’s Plunging Profit to Send Jobs Packing
The bug afflicting Detroit’s automotive industry is infecting even the healthiest companies now. Auto supplier Lear Corp. on Friday said it is planning an aggressive cost-cutting strategy, which includes moving manufacturing and engineering work to low-cost countries, after it posted a $75.8-million decline in profits during the first quarter of the year.
Bergwall Productions Donates $1.7 Million in Online Training Courses to SKillsUSA Winners
Bergwall Productions, a producer and distributor of automotive training materials, is showing its support of the SkillsUSA program with the donation of $1.7 million in online automotive training courses.