Goodyear, Tire Industry Association Join Forces on Certification
In a continued effort to strengthen commercial tire service revenues, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has teamed up with the Tire Industry Association (TIA) to offer certified tire technician training. The industry-first collaboration between the tire company and international industry trade association includes plans for two one-day seminars in 48 cities next year. Tire technicians from the Goodyear, Dunlop and Kelly dealer networks, as well as Wingfoot Commercial Tire Centers, are eligible for the Goodyear/TIA joint certification.
Pricing Pressures Impact Aftermarket Friction Revenues, Study Says
As the majority of automobile manufacturers employ disc-braking systems, demand for premium and ceramic brakes is on the rise in the United States and Canada. Despite their high cost, continued demand in the aftermarket is expected.
Satisfied Brake Products Wins Growth Strategy Leadership Award in North American Friction Materials Aftermarket
Frost & Sullivan’s recent analysis, North American Brake System Parts Aftermarket — Friction Parts, selected Satisfied Brake Products as the recipient of the 2005 Growth Strategy Leadership Award for successfully increasing sales and expanding its customer base in the highly competitive North American friction materials aftermarket.
Meritor WABCO Reaches Trailer ABS Sales Milestone
Meritor WABCO Vehicle Control Systems said it has achieved a milestone on sales of its Easy-Stop trailer anti-lock braking systems (ABS). To date, more than 1.5 million units have been sold in the ten years it has been available to North American fleet owners and owner-operators. According to the company, this makes the system the most widely-spec’d trailer ABS system in the history of the commercial vehicle industry.
Cummins Enters Into Joint Venture Agreement for China Technical Center
Global engine manufacturer Cummins Inc. has signed a joint venture contract agreement with Dongfeng Cummins Engine Co. Ltd. (DCEC) to establish its first technical center in China. The facility is expected to open in the first quarter of 2006 in the central China city of Wuhan. The Cummins East Asia Tech Center will provide engineering and technical services for the full range of Cummins products built in China, including diesel and natural gas engines, power generators, turbochargers and filtration products.
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.
DST Asks: How Do you Make Strategic Business Decisions
There are almost as many sources of reference for making strategic business decisions as there are choices for planning and securing your future. Our respondents to last week’s question were in agreement that it takes collaborative efforts to design and implement a corporate roadmap, including internal management, consultants, observing and copying competitors’ strategies, industry journals and publications and technology supplier partnerships.
R. L. Polk & Co. Introduces Polk Used Truck MarketView
R. L. Polk & Co. has launched its latest information solutions product. The Polk Used Truck MarketView provides commercial OEMs, fleet and leasing companies, dealers and aftermarket component manufacturers with comprehensive reports on used commercial vehicle information. The new product is accessible via Polk’s TIP Net Web-based commercial vehicle market intelligence system or available in report form on a subscription basis, and can be used to accurately analyze the commercial used vehicle market; plan inventory and sales strategy; identify new market opportunities; and take advantage of market conditions according to Polk.
Dealership Parts & Service Takes Aim at the Aftermarket
Would you sell parts to your competitor? In all probability, you already do. While your driver delivers aftermarket parts through the OE dealership service department’s front door, OE parts are going out that same dealership’s backdoor to your best installer customers.
DST Asks: Parts Distributors — Do Your Customers Order Parts Online?
Help Wanted – Parts Counterman, Requirements: Must be willing to work 365 days per year, 24 hours per day. Understands and has committed to memory a world-class multi-line parts catalog. Always knows correct pricing of each item. Processes parts orders in nanoseconds. Never puts customers on hold. Works for electricity – no salary or extra benefits. Any bets on how many responses you’ll get to that classified ad? Selling auto parts would be a lot easier and less costly if you could make those kinds of hires. Actually, it turns out that such resources are available today, just not human resources, the kind we would advertise for in the local paper. Instead, we might call them “cyber-employees” – a new species that forms the backbone of e-business and works in the world of browser-based technology on the Internet.