2005 Omnibus Appropriations Bill to Help Strengthen Several Industry Initiatives
The fiscal 2005 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, recently approved by Congress on Nov. 20, will help strengthen the country’s stance against intellectual property rights (IPR) violations with the creation of a new federal post to coordinate federal anti-IPR theft efforts. Broad industry support for stronger intellectual property enforcement abroad resulted in the creation of a new Intellectual Property (IP) czar post, which will be appointed by the president. The new IP czar will serve as coordinator for international intellectual property enforcement and lead the National Intellectual Property Law Enforcement Coordination Council (NIPLECC).
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.
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.
AFFINIA Exec Discusses State of Acquisition
One of the biggest news stories of the year was the sale of the Dana Automotive Aftermarket Group (AAG) to New York-based buyout firm Cypress Group, which agreed to purchase the AAG unit for approximately $1 billion. That deal was announced in early July of this year, and two months later, on Sept. 8, it was announced that Dana AAG would have a new name under its new owners – AFFINIA. aftermarketNews.com sat down with AFFINIA’s John Washbish in Las Vegas just prior to the start of the AAPEX show to update show attendees on the state of the transition. Washbish is AFFINIA president of Customer Relationship Management (CRM), a position he has held since 2003. Recently, his duties were expanded to include serving as vice president and general manager of the AFFINIA Undercar Group, which includes the Raybestos, Spicer, Aimco and McQuay-Norris brands.
Bendix-Dana Joint Venture Completes Management Team Selection
Completing its leadership team selection, Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLC, a new joint venture between Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC and Dana Corp., announced the appointment of Bill Mossing as assistant general manager. Mossing will join Kishor Pendse, president of the new business.
Bendix-Dana Joint Venture Officially Begins Business
As scheduled, Bendix and Dana’s joint venture — Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLC — officially began business yesterday following corporate approvals from both partners. The joint venture, headquartered in Elyria, Ohio, will operate technology centers in Elyria and Kalamazoo, Mich., to produce a full portfolio of advanced wheel-end braking systems components.
Advanced Bosch Training Focuses on Solving Today’s Automotive Service Challenges
In today’s environment of ever-more-complex and sophisticated automobiles and trucks, training is all-important to the technicians who service and maintain these vehicles. Robert Bosch Corporation, a supplier of automotive systems and components, has placed itself in the forefront of those that supply the advanced technical training needed by the automotive service community.
Dana and Bendix Form Joint Venture
Dana Corp. and Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC, a member of the Knorr-Bremse Group, have formed a North American joint venture focusing on commercial vehicle foundation brake components and technologies. The joint venture, which is expected to close on June 30, will operate under the name Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLC. Completion of the transaction is subject to final corporate approvals at both companies.
DST Asks: How Do You View the Industry and Your Career?
Every automobile in every dealer’s showroom in America displays an EPA fuel economy ratings sticker. The ratings are estimates developed by the automakers after testing a limited number of pre-production vehicles. The EPA then verifies the results on roughly 10 to 15 percent of the vehicles produced for that year. The tests, repeated the same way each time in a controlled environment, are the same for all autos and are supposed to simulate city and highway driving conditions. They can’t – and don’t – reflect the conditions under which every vehicle is driven; nor do they reflect the maintenance condition, type of fuel used, or – perhaps most importantly-the variety of driving styles that we all see everyday on the streets. What do mileage ratings and driving styles have to do with your aftermarket career? Plenty.
REVVING HER ENGINE: Girls Enjoy Being Gearheads, Too
The full set of acrylic nails Ashley Pawlowski got before going to the senior prom with her boyfriend is not quite so full. The nail on her left pinky has come off and the air-brushed french manicure is chipping away. This, said the 17-year-old Canton, Mich., High School junior, comes from repeatedly washing oil and grease off her hands with an acetone-based soap. Ashley is a “gearhead,” slang for self-professed auto mechanic junkies whose tastes range from routine maintenance to restoring old cars to high performance engineering.