GM, DCX Join Forces To Make Hybrid Engines
General Motors Corp. and DaimlerChrysler AG are teaming up to develop fuel-saving hybrid engines in hopes of cashing in on an expanding market already dominated by hybrid leaders Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. Financial terms of the agreement between GM, the world’s largest automaker, and its German-American rival weren’t disclosed Monday, but Tom Stephens, GM’s group vice president for powertrains, said the collaboration likely will involve an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars.
Bosch Launches New Replacement Fuel Pump Program
Robert Bosch Corp. recently launched a new premium replacement fuel pump program for domestic and import vehicles. According to Bosch, the all new replacement fuel pumps allow the installation of superior turbine technology in more than 65 percent of vehicles equipped with electric fuel pumps – many of which are equipped with older technology pumps.
Mohammad Samii Receives APRA’s Distinguished Service Award
Mohammad Samii has received the Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association’s (APRA) Distinguished Service Award. APRA presented the award to Samii on Oct. 31, during the “International Big R Show” in Las Vegas. Mohammad Samii, or Sammy as he is often called, came to electrical rebuilding from a ten-year service in the Iranian Air Force as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer with a degree in aircraft maintenance engineering. Since 1972, Sammy has been involved with electrical rebuilding and currently is President and Operator of Sammy’s Auto Electric Service, Inc. in Champaign, Ill. His company does custom electrical rebuilding, electrical/electronic diagnostic and installations on various vehicles.
Standard Motor Products Supports Car Care Council’s 21st Century Tune-up
Standard Motor Products said it has incorporated the Car Care Council’s new 21st century tune-up concept into its marketing and public relations programs. Standard wants to help the automotive aftermarket industry re-define and promote the term “tune-up.”
Ballooning Steel Costs Bring Pain for Wisconsin’s Auto Suppliers
Skyrocketing steel prices already have pushed two automotive suppliers with plants in Wisconsin into bankruptcy, and industry observers say more companies could go under yet.
Advance Auto Parts To Host Free Monthly Car Care Clinics
Following the lead of major home improvement retailers, Advance Auto Parts has announced it will begin holding free, monthly car care clinics at its stores nationwide to teach drivers how to maintain their vehicles and perform minor repairs. The 20-minute video clinics will take place on the last Saturday of each month and are broadcast nationwide to more than 2,500 stores on the company’s in-store television network.
Modine Develops Fuel-Cell Parts
Modine Manufacturing Co. is developing fuel-cell components for an underground mining machine being built for the U.S. Department of Energy. The Racine, Wis.-based company will supply a cooling system for the machine that’s expected to run from a fuel-cell and battery-hybrid engine in tight spaces up to 1,000 feet underground.
Stoneridge to Form Partnership with India Firm
Stoneridge, Inc., a Howland, Ohio-based maker of wiring components and other vehicle parts, said it expects to grab a larger share of the growing auto parts market in India by forming a joint venture with a large Indian parts maker.
Parts Supply Affects Ford’s Hybrid Plans
Plans by Michigan’s Ford Motor Co. to start making gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles could be affected by a lack of domestically available parts. Phil Martens, Ford’s executive vice president of product development, said Ford had to turn to foreign suppliers for access to a majority of key components to build the company’s first hybrid, the Escape Hybrid, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.
Grote Releases Second Volume of “Know How” Training Guides
Grote Industries, a leading manufacturer of vehicle safety systems, has introduced the second volume in its “Know How” series of programmed instruction training guides. Grote Know How II is a 104-page illustrated guide to installation and troubleshooting of lighting and wiring on heavy-duty tractors, trucks and trailers.