Automotive Supplier ZF Lemforder Plans to Close Duncan, S.C., Plant
Automotive supplier ZF Lemforder will close one of its two Duncan, SC, plants within two years and will lay off an unspecified number of employees, officials confirmed last week. Frank Buscemi, public affairs director with ZF Group North America, said the company’s components plant would be closed by the end of 2005 because it cannot fill demand and cannot be expanded.
Yost to Retire as ArvinMeritor CEO
Auto-parts supplierArvinMeritor Inc., which lost its bid to buy Dana Corp. last year, said Monday it is searching to replace chief executive Larry Yost, who plans to retire. The Troy-based company offered few details about the search, but company spokeswoman Lin Cummins said Yost has wanted to retire for some time. Yost led the company through several transitions including the 2000 merger of Arvin Inc. and Meritor Automotive Inc. He had been CEO of Meritor before he became chairman and CEO of ArvinMeritor.
GM Recalls Popular SUVs for Electrical Risk, Second Major Recall for GM This Month
General Motors said Monday that it will recall 636,000 of its most popular 2002 and 2003 midsize SUVs because of a windshield wiper system electrical problem that’s been tied to two crashes. GM plans to begin notifying owners starting in July, when they will be told to go to a dealer to have a vent hole in the windshield wiper system patched so that water does not leak in. The leaking water can corrode wiring, GM said, which in turn can lead to a short circuit or windshield wiper problems.
“DST Asks”: What Ordering Methods Do You Offer to Customers?
Forecasting the future isn’t a task restricted to tabloid psychics or your TV weatherman. Whether we like it or not, running a successful business today that will remain successful in the future requires forecasting skills.
Exide Introduces NASCAR Branded Product Line at Sam’s Club
Playing off the brand recognition the NASCAR name holds with its estimated 75 million fans, Exide Technologies has introduced a new NASCAR branded transportation battery program at Sam’s Club, a national members-only chain of retail warehouses. The new program is exclusive to Sam’s Club and will be available in more than 462 locations nationwide.
ArvinMeritor to Sell Ohio Trailer Systems Business to Sypris Solutions
ArvinMeritor has announced plans to sell its Kenton, Ohio, trailer systems business to Louisville, Ky.-based Solutions. ArvinMeritor said the sale of the facility, which employs more than 200 people, will allow the company to focus strategically within trailer products on its core processes for the design and assembly of complete systems, which consist of axles, brakes, suspension and ride control. Once the transaction is complete, Sypris Solutions would become a long-term, key supplier of trailer axle beams to ArvinMeritor’s trailer assembly facility in Frankfort, Ky.
Tenneco Offers New Limited Lifetime Warranties
Tenneco Automotive is promoting an expanded product guarantee program for 2004. Tenneco is now featuring limited lifetime warranties and a 90-day risk-free trial offer on premium Walker exhaust, Monroe shock and strut, DynoMax performance exhaust and Rancho off-road technologies. The new strategy will also enable aftermarket businesses to enhance bottom-line results while significantly increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty, according to Tenneco Automotive Vice President of Marketing Richard Alameddine.