Car Makers Cut Free Maintenance
In an effort to trim costs, car makers are eliminating their free-maintenance programs — a move that could cost drivers thousands of dollars in additional upkeep over the life of a vehicle. Now, however, a growing number of manufacturers — including some of the same brands that kicked off the free-maintenance movement more than a decade ago — are requiring new customers to pay for maintenance services like oil changes, tire rotations and other routine tasks that used to be free.
R. L. Polk & Co.’s Ask the Industry Looks Into The Perception of the Internet
Five years ago, the industry was abuzz about the Internet. Many thought it would revolutionize distribution and fundamentally change the way consumers and repair shops sourced auto parts. From a business perspective, what is your perception of the Internet today versus five years ago? We spoke with various people in the industry who had their own take on the information superhighway.
Metaldyne Rescues Former Chrysler Plant with Japanese Work Ethic, Fewer Workers
When auto parts supplier Metaldyne Corp. acquired Chrysler’s machining and forge plant here last year, residents of this small Midwest town feared the worst. Chrysler had been the area’s largest employer since the 1920s, giving it an identity it treasured as dearly as its claim on native son and basketball great Steve Alford.
Executive Interview with Eric Rozier,. Vice President & General Manager, Americas and Asia for Honeywell Friction Materials
Our latest Executive Interview features Eric Rozier, vice president and general manager, Americas and Asia for Honeywell Friction Materials. In his eight years with Honeywell, he has served as vice president for the Autolite Electronics Business, vice president and chief information officer for Honeywell Consumer Product Group, and as director of sales operations for Honeywell Consumer Products Group.
Japan’s Autobacs Seven to Invest $400 Million to Expand Network
Autobacs Seven Co. Ltd, a major Japanese automotive supply chain, will invest approximately $400 million over four years to reorganize and expand its domestic network, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported, without citing sources. By March 2009, Autobacs Seven plans to have 630 sales sites, up 20 percent from 516 as of last March, the business daily said.
NAPA Brake and Chassis Names Grand Prize Winner in Corvette Sweepstakes
Troy Casey, general manager of City Select Auto in Camden, NJ, chose the winning key that started a Corvette Convertible, making him the grand prize winner of the NAPA BRAKE and CHASSIS Varsity Jacket/Corvette Sweepstakes, June 3 in Nashville, Tenn. Casey was joined in the Music City by three other regional winners, all service dealers from across the country, for an all-expense paid trip for two that included a special tour of the Corvette plant in Bowling Green, Ky.
AAPEX to Showcase New Products That Enhance Driving Experience
An innovative focus on products that enhance the driving experience and a first-ever judging of products are new features to this year’s Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) New Product Showcase. These changes are expected to draw record participation in the showcase, which in 2004 had more than 500 products on display.
School Fuels Dream of NASCAR Career
As Bryan Station High School senior Joseph Hampton breezed through the hallways of the Eastside Technical Center, his fellow classmates greeted him with smiles and hellos. He carried himself with an air of confidence and pride, knowing that in a few months he would be attending the “Harvard of automotive schools.”
Macon, Ga., Auto Parts, Service Shops Bought by Oklahoma Company
Two Macon, Ga.-based automotive parts and service businesses have been sold to an Oklahoma company. Macon-owned Global Parts Distributors, a parts supplier, and Auto Air of Macon, an auto service business founded in 1974, have been sold to Oklahoma City-based Fred Jones Enterprises, said Doug Hines, Global’s president.
Executive Interview with Lou Gaudette, General Sales Manager, Loctite Automotive Aftermarket Division, Henkel Corp.
After a three-year hiatus, Henkel has re-launched the Loctite brand in the automotive aftermarket with a new look and an innovative and exclusive product line. As General Sales Manager for Henkel Corp.’s Loctite Automotive Aftermarket Division, Lou Gaudette is responsible for all of Henkel’s aftermarket activities in the U.S., Caribbean and Canada. Read on as Gaudette brings us up to speed on Loctite’s re-entry into the marketplace.