Executive Interview with Rich White, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, AAIA, and Executive Director of the Car Care Council
Rich White is vice president of marketing and communications for the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). He oversees marketing, public relations, media relations, publications, Web sites and most recently, the Car Care Council and the “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign. With National Car Care Month just around the corner, White provided aftermarketNews.com with an update on the “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign and the Car Care Council’s plans for this year. He also shared how aftermarket companies can become more involved in the campaign.
Cooper Tire Ups Investments in U.S. Manufacturing Plants, Hires 116 Plant Workers
Cooper Tire & Rubber has increased capital equipment investments in three of its four U.S. tire manufacturing facilities. The company said this increase provides additional production capacity of more than 2.4 million units to meet the steadily increasing demand for the company’s tires. The $32.1 million investment will include the purchase of new tire building machinery and presses. An additional 116 manufacturing employees will also be hired.
aftermarketNews.com Unveils New Features in 2004
aftermarketNews.com (AMN) kicks off 2004 with a number of new editorial features that will provide readers with more comprehensive industry news coverage and useful advice for improving aftermarket businesses. AMN will launch two new features in January, including “DST Asks,” a new technology-themed online reader survey sponsored by information technology services provider DST Inc. Also new this month is “AMN Perspectives by Thomas Group: Experience at Work” which will offer applied techniques for successful implementation of business objectives. Thomas Group is a professional services firm, specializing in improving strategic business processes. Twice a month on AMN experienced Thomas Group consultants will provide practical advice for improving your bottom line.
MPA Automates Catalog and Product Management with e-Publisher
Motorcar Parts of America (MPA) has partnered with Vertical Development Inc. (VDI) to consolidate its application and technical data into a single relational database. As a result, MPA’s customers can now access the latest product information linked to technical reference bulletins in a single lookup.
Pep Boys Names Transpro Primary AC Line Supplier
Pep Boys has named Transpro as the primary supplier of its air conditioning product line. The agreement extends Transpro’s existing relationship with Pep Boys whereby they currently purchase Ready-Rad Radiators and Ready-Aire Heater Cores and A/C Condensers from Transpro.
Coatings Manufacturer Valspar Acquires De Beer Lafkabrienken B.V.
Coatings manufacturer Valspar Corp. has purchased De Beer Lakfabrieken, a privately-owned, manufacturer and distributor of automotive refinish coatings based in The Netherlands. The acquisition includes De Beer’s subsidiaries in the U.K. and Australia. De Beer, which sells products in more than 65 countries, had sales of approximately $39 million ($50 million at current exchange rates) in 2003. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Allstate Insurance Co. Wins Ruling on Texas Law Prohibiting Claim Referrals
Allstate Insurance Co. has won a temporary injunction that will allow it to continue to refer claimants to Allstate-owned Sterling Autobody Centers, the company said Wednesday. Allstate Insurance Co. has won a temporary injunction that will allow it to continue to refer claimants to Allstate-owned Sterling Autobody Centers, the company said Wednesday.
Aftermarket Veteran George Halford Dies
George Halford, co-owner and vice president of H.B. International Marketing Services, died this week. A Royal Air Force veteran who served in World War II, Halford emigrated to Canada in 1957 and entered the automotive business. In 1966, he purchased BMC dealership for Triumph, MG and Jaguar, and in 1976, opened three jobber stores. Halford formed Tandem Marketing Co., an automotive parts sales agency, in 1980, and in 1987 merged with Bearden Marketing Services to form H.B. International Marketing Services, Inc.
ArvinMeritor to Sell Ohio Trailer Systems Business to Sypris Solutions
ArvinMeritor has announced plans to sell its Kenton, Ohio, trailer systems business to Louisville, Ky.-based Solutions. ArvinMeritor said the sale of the facility, which employs more than 200 people, will allow the company to focus strategically within trailer products on its core processes for the design and assembly of complete systems, which consist of axles, brakes, suspension and ride control. Once the transaction is complete, Sypris Solutions would become a long-term, key supplier of trailer axle beams to ArvinMeritor’s trailer assembly facility in Frankfort, Ky.
Bo Fisher to Succeed His Father as CEO and Chairman of Fisher Auto Parts
Following the death this week of his father Arthur Jay (Art) Fisher Jr., CEO of Fisher Auto Parts, Arthur Jay (Bo) Fisher III, has been unanimously elected to the position of CEO and chairman of the board. He has been president of Fisher Auto Parts since 1992 and owns a majority of the company.In addition, Gary Shifflett and Herb Godschalk have been promoted to become co-Presidents of Fisher Auto Parts.