NHTSA Fines Auto Firms $10.2 Million
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration collected $10.2 million in civil penalties from automakers and other companies in 2004, the bulk of which was paid by two carmakers for exceeding federal fuel-economy limits. The two car manufacturers, Porsche Cars North America and Ferrari Maserati North America, paid penalties totaling $9 million for failing to meet the government’s corporate average fuel economy, or CAFE, standards, NHTSA said Wednesday. Porsche’s share was roughly $7.9 million. Ferrari’s was $1.1 million.
COMMENTARY: More Lean, Mean Machines
On a landmark Tuesday in which stock car racing rubbed wheels with Formula One in Dearborn, Mich., leaders of five auto racing sanctioning bodies agreed their sport faced some of its biggest challenges in years. Their message to a packed room of automotive engineers and racing industry veterans was clear: There must be a meaningful connection between race cars and production vehicles, or racing might be seen by manufacturers as too costly to continue to support.
Joint Venture to Develop New Car Race to Replace Formula One
GPWC Holdings BV, a group of four carmakers, said it has appointed International Sports and Entertainment AG (iSe) to start building the operational and commercial structure immediately for a new car racing event replacing Formula One by 2008 at the latest.
Alcoa Opens New Automotive Center in Detroit; Launches New Automotive Web Site
Alcoa has formally opened its new automotive center in Farmington Hills, Mich. More than 300 design, engineering, sales and marketing specialists began moving into the new 86,000-square-foot office building earlier this year. The new facility joins Alcoa’s North American automotive businesses into a single location and consolidates Alcoa offices located in Southfield, Livonia and Allen Park, Mich.
Marangoni Opens Its First U.S. Manufacturing Plant
Marangoni Tread North America Inc. hosted an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony on June 17 to celebrate the opening of the company’s first U.S. plant, located in Madison, Tenn. Sixteen North American Ringtread dealers, officials from the State of Tennessee and Nashville and executives from the parent company, Marangoni S.p.A., located in Verona, Italy, attended the event. Executives in attendance included Gianni Marangoni, president, Massimo De Alessandri, CEO, and Giuseppe Ferrari, divisional general manager.
Hot Wheels Racing, SPEED Channel, AutoZone Partner for Formula One Promotion
Mattel and its Hot Wheels Racing brand are partnering with SPEED Channel and AutoZone for a “Watch and Win” promotion that will award two VIP trips to the first Grand Prix race of the 2005 season in Australia.
Bridgestone, Michelin Criticize F1 Single-Source Strategy
Bridgestone Corp. and Michelin are speaking out against a plan to eliminate one of them from Formula One auto racing in 2006 to cut teams’ costs and reduce the impact of tire choice on racing. The 10 teams want a single tire supplier to reduce the more than $300 million a year they spend for testing and the more than $40 million a year required to operate a team, according to Max Mosley, president of Formula One’s ruling body.
Executive Interview with Wolfgang Winzer, Vice President and General Manager of Siemens VDO Automotive Corp. Service & Special Solutions, North America
Our latest edition of “Executive Interview” features Wolfgang Winzer, vice president and general manager of Siemens VDO Automotive Corp. Service & Special Solutions, North America. Winzer recently talked with aftermarketNews.com about the company’s extensive history in the OE market and how this will help them build a stronger aftermarket segment. He shared some of the company’s goals for its aftermarket business in the coming years.