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.
Executive Interview: Affinia President Terry McCormack Discusses the Future
Yesterday it was announced that Dana Corp. had completed the sale of the Dana Automotive Aftermarket Group (AAG) to Cypress Group, a New York-based buyout firm. The new company, renamed Affinia, will be lead by Terry McCormack, an aftermarket veteran of more than 30 years. McCormack spent three decades in positions of increasing responsibility at Dana, and was named president of Dana AAG in 2000. Join us as McCormick describes to us his visions for the future of Affinia and reflects back on AAG’s time under the Dana organization.
Fine-tuning the Midas Touch
Alan Feldman, president and CEO of Midas Inc., may not share the ability of his company’s fabled literary counterpart, King Midas, to turn whatever he touches to gold, but much of what Feldman has touched in his 21-month tenure at the automotive aftermarket giant has had a golden effect on the company.
NAPA Chassis Announces Winner of the Extreme Drive Sweepstakes
Larry DeMar specifically wore his lucky red shirt in hopes that it would bring him one last bit of luck. And, it did. DeMar, owner of Superior Auto & Fleet Repair in Phoenix, Ariz., outlasted six other regional winners to drive away with the NAPA CHASSIS Extreme “Drive” Sweepstakes’ grand prize – a new Ford F150 truck, Jeep Wrangler, a Bass Boat and a $1,000 Cabela’s gift certificate. The drawing was held Nov. 20 at the Grand Hyatt Washington Hotel in Washington, D.C.
APRA Honors Two with Honorary Member Awards
Late last month during the International Big R Show in Las Vegas, the Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association recognized two individuals with Honorary Member Awards. APRA Past Chairman Steve Fallen, a second generation electrical rebuilder, was one of two men recently honored with the award.
Executive Interview with Frank Pagano, CEO of Coni-Seal
Our latest Executive Interview features Frank Pagano, CEO of Lakewood, NJ-based Coni-Seal, Inc. Recently, as part of an investment group, Pagano acquired the assets two aftermarket businesses including Qualitee International. Pagano recently took some time to give aftermarketNews.com a breakdown of these new businesses and where they are headed.
Standard Motor Products Announces Third Quarter Results
Standard Motor Products, an automotive replacement parts manufacturer and distributor, has reported its consolidated financial results for the third quarter, which ended on Sept. 30. Consolidated net sales for the third quarter of 2004 were $203.5 million, compared to consolidated net sales of $214.5 million during the comparable quarter in 2003. Earnings from continuing operations for the third quarter of 2004 were $1.3 million or 7 cents per diluted share, compared to $2 million or 11 cents per diluted share in the third quarter of 2003.
Bosch Named 2004 Vendor of the Year by Strauss Discount Auto
Robert Bosch Corp. has been named 2004 Vendor of the Year by Strauss Discount Auto. Strauss presented the award to Bosch on Oct. 5 at its Fall Tune-up Managers’ Conference.
Car Care Council Women’s Board Announces Winners of the Automotive Communications Awards
The Car Care Council Women’s Board (WB) has announced the winners of the new Automotive Communications Awards (ACA). The awards were presented during the Women’s Board reception on Tuesday, Nov. 2 in Las Vegas, during AAPEX. The Automotive Communications Awards recognize companies/agencies that provide automotive information through outstanding advertising, marketing and PR efforts. The business-to-consumer awards have 14 categories for entry targeted to women, including car care clinics and direct mail piece or campaign/newsletter. The business-to-business awards consist of 21 categories with such options as logo design and special promotions and promotional events/trade show.
Midas Reports Third Quarter Results; Announces Plans to Exit Exhaust Manufacturing Business
Midas has reported net income of $2.1 million, or 13 cents per diluted share, for the third quarter, which ended on Oct. 2. This the company’s second consecutive quarter of positive net results.