Linamar Corp. Launches New Automotive North American Sales Organization
Leading Canadian automotive and industrial manufacturer Linamar Corp. has created a new North American sales force in an effort to enhance customer service and strengthen its product focus. The past year was one of major growth and expansion for the company. In addition to building a new plant in Ontario that added 400 jobs, the company bought out its joint venture partner Westcast in a European joint venture the two companies had established in 1999. In September 2003, the company acquired McLaren Performance Technologies, which it planned to merge with Linamar. McLaren Performance Technologies specializes in advanced powertrain and vehicle development and testing for the automotive industry.
TRW Automotive and FAWER Sign Commercial Steering Joint Venture Agreement
TRW Automotive J.V. LLC and FAWER Automotive Components Co. Ltd. have formed a new joint venture called TRW FAWER Commercial Vehicle Steering (Changchun) Co., LTD. The new company will manufacture and sell steering gears for the commercial vehicle market.
German Auto Parts Makers Tour Southern U.S. Sites
Ten executives from German companies that serve the automotive industry are in Charlotte, N.C., and upstate South Carolina this week to investigate expansion sites. While rushing to expand in China, German automotive companies still consider the U.S. the most attractive market, in large part because BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Audi continue to increase sales here.
Campaign to Bring Back the “Midas Touch”
Midas wants to return to its core value of trust with the resurrection of a marketing campaign first used in Midas advertising in the 1980s. The company’s new national advertising agency DDB Chicago is collaborating with Ogilvy & Mather Toronto on the “Trust the Midas Touch” campaign. The campaign will include commercials that take place in a Midas shop and show a humorous dialog between a customer of Midas and a Midas service employee, who is hooked up to a polygraph machine. The commercials are the first in a long-term campaign to grow Midas’ category-leading shares in brakes and exhaust and to support the expansion of its services, including oil changes and other routine maintenance services.
ChevronTexaco Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Havoline Brand
ChevronTexaco Global Lubricants is launching a year-long program to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Havoline brand. As part of the centennial celebration, ChevronTexaco said it is investing in numerous marketing programs and consumer promotions to drive the Havoline name in 2004, including sponsorship of the U.S. Olympic Team competing in the 2004 Athens Summer Olympic Games, retro product packaging and a sweepstakes with a grand prize of $1 million.
Jim Pearl Rejoins Denman Tire Corp.
James Pearl has rejoined Denman Tire Corp. as senior vice president of sales and marketing. Pearl worked for Denman for ten years prior to leaving in late 2002 to pursue other opportunities. Pearl will once again have overall responsibility for the sales and marketing functions and will be leading and coordinating the efforts of the sales and marketing department.
Cooper Tire Increases Capacity at Ohio Plant
Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. said it plans to add capacity at its Findlay, Ohio, tire plant with an equipment investment of $1.8 million. The capacity will increase by 500,000 tires annually and add at least 30 additional jobs in the Findlay production facility. The facility should be running at full production levels with new equipment in place by late summer.
Radiator Repair Chain Takes Pollution Prevention Seriously
Radiator repair work — with antifreeze, lead-based solder and other hazardous materials — seems anything but environmentally friendly. But Mac’s Radiator, a Portland, Ore.-based chain of repair shops with a Eugene outlet, is part of an industry effort to change that perception. The Mac’s shop in west Eugene is the first business in the city to be certified under the Eco-Logical Business Program, a government-run pollution prevention project for small businesses.
Hella and Stanley Purchase Shares in Korean Auto Supplier
Automotive lighting suppliers Hella KG Hueck & Co. and Stanley Electric Co. Ltd. have purchased a five percent share in Korean auto supplier Samlip Industrial Company Ltd., based in Daegu, Korea. According to Joe Borruso, president and CEO of Hella North America, the investment represents a further expansion of the company’s 15- year-old relationship with the Korean supplier.
R&B Reports Sales and Earnings for the Fourth Quarter and Full Year
Automotive replacement parts supplier R&B has announced financial results for the fourth quarter and year, which ended December 27, 2003. For the fourth quarter, sales increased 1 percent to $55.6 million from $55.1 million in the same period last year. Net income in the fourth quarter of 2003 was $3.8 million compared to net income of $3.5 million in the same period in 2002. Diluted earnings per share in the fourth quarter increased 8 percent to $0.42 from $0.39 in the same period last year.