Chinese to Enter U.S. Auto Market
With one humble car, a modest sedan called the Geely CK 1.5, parked Tuesday in the lobby of the North American International Auto Show, a Chinese automaker announced it’s coming to the U.S. And it has other automakers concerned, not only the now-struggling U.S. manufacturers but also those from Japan and South Korea.
AMN’s Top Ten Week: Top Ten News Stories
If nothing else has been made clear by the events taking place in the automotive industry over the past 12 months, this much is true: The automotive aftermarket is changing — in dramatic ways. Here, the editorial staffs of Counterman and aftermarketNews takes a month-by-month look at the key events that have shaped this industry’s destiny over the past year.
AMN’s Top Ten Week: Top 10 Distribution Influences
Annually, Counterman magazine, in conjunction with aftermarketNews, presents the 10 trends and issues that influence the aftermarket parts distribution industry. For this year’s list, Counterman and aftermarketNews editors examined all the major issues, eventually paring the list down to those issues that most affect today’s and tomorrow’s aftermarket industry.
Executive Interview with Terry McCormack, President and CEO, Affinia
Every other week, aftermarketNews.com offers an interview with high-profile individuals in the automotive aftermarket. We give executives free reign to express their views on anything from the state of their corporations to recent legislative news to future trends in their niche markets. Here you see what matters to the newsmakers themselves. This week we catch up with Terry McCormack, president and CEO of Affinia.
MEMA Promotes Two to New Management Positions
The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) has promoted two of its executives to new management positions: one to direct the association’s efforts in strategic services and technology, and the second to emphasize market research. Chris Gardner has been named vice president, strategic services and technology. He will coordinate new association-driven activities reflecting an emphasis on core business processes developed by MEMA and its market segment associations: the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) and the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA). Frank Hampshire has been promoted to senior director of market research for MEMA and its market segment associations. This promotion reflects the association’s increased emphasis on its market research and analysis services.
Aisin Celebrates Grand Opening of Fowlerville Proving Ground
Aisin Holdings of America, Inc. (AHA), the holding company for all Aisin Group operations in North America, celebrated the grand opening of its 878-acre automotive components test track and proving ground in Handy Township, MI. The celebration took place before nearly 200 people, including Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, auto industry executives and local business and community leaders.
OEM Technology Sessions Return to CARS
On Thursday, Nov. 3 at the Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) event in Las Vegas, representatives of several original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) will present individual seminars that will provide attendees with specific information on new systems or features that are being incorporated into today’s automobiles. Attendance to these sessions is open to anyone registered for CARS. Manufacturers conducting the OEM technology sessions include DaimlerChrysler, Ford, Honda, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Volkswagen.
Small Business Owners Will Suffer Without ‘Right to Repair Act’
Passage of the Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair Act is critical toward ensuring both the economic well being of the small businesses that comprise the independent vehicle repair industry and the affordability and convenience of maintaining vehicles for American car owners, according to leaders of several national aftermarket associations.
CIECA’s First Repairer Advisory Panel Meeting Held in Scottsdale
The Collision Industry Electronic Commerce Association (CIECA) announced today that the newly commissioned Repairers Advisory Panel (RAP) held its first meeting in Scottsdale, AZ on July 26.
NAPA Recommends Planning Ahead This Summer To Prevent Heat-Related Breakdowns
As the summer road trip season begins, NAPA Auto Parts is encouraging summer travelers to prepare their vehicles for the wear and tear caused by high temperatures. Hard driving combined with heat from the highway and stop-and-go traffic can cause parts to fail, resulting in time-consuming breakdowns and costly repairs, according to Jeff Walker, 2005 NAPA/ASE Technician of the Year and owner of Walker’s Automotive Services in Pleasantville, N.J.