GUEST COMMENTARY: A Missed Opportunity
The following guest commentary was written by Fred Meyers, founder and CEO of One Stop Parts Source in California, Denver and Dallas. Meyers, a panelist at the 2008 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium in Chicago, feels there was a golden opportunity that he missed while speaking at the event. Today, he shares with AMN what that is.
BASF Sponsors Automotive Educational Day
BASF Automotive Refinish Solutions recently cooperated with Autorama and the International Show Car Association (ISCA), which sanctions the largest group of indoor car shows produced in the United States and Canada, to host an educational day for Michigan area students who participate in automotive classes. According to the ISCA, 3,300 students representing more than 60 high schools and community colleges throughout Michigan and a few out-of-state institutions attended the 2008 event held at Cobo Hall in Detroit.
International Automotive Supplier Associations Announce Cooperative Effort to Fight Counterfeiting, IPR Violations
Several leading international automotive parts supplier associations have issued a statement of cooperation to join together to combat the counterfeiting and intellectual property rights (IPR) violations in the global automotive industry. Representatives of CLEPA, the European association of automotive suppliers; the Japan Auto Parts Industries Association (JAPIA); and the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), which represents North American motor vehicle parts suppliers, recently met to discuss the issue of counterfeiting and IPR and release the joint statement.
Ford to Manufacture Some Parts In-house
For decades, Detroit automakers have outsourced parts work — from axles to cup-holders — to suppliers that employ thousands of workers nationwide, and increasingly, in low-cost countries such as Mexico and China. The suppliers develop and build the parts. Then they ship them back to the automakers, where they are assembled into shiny new Ford F150 pickups and Chevrolet Malibu sedans.
Ford, ACH and Neapco Drivelines Sign Final Agreements for Sale of Automotive Components Holdings’ Driveshaft Business
Ford Motor Company, Automotive Components Holdings (ACH) and Neapco Drivelines have signed definitive agreements for the sale of the ACH driveshaft business currently located in the ACH Monroe (MI) Plant. This announcement follows the recent UAW ratification of the collective bargaining agreement negotiated with Neapco. Neapco is opening a 345,000 square foot state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Van Buren Township, MI. Approximately 300 salaried and hourly employees from the Monroe Plan and associated technical and support staffs are being offered positions at the new facility.
Car Care Council Women’s Board Announces 2007 Scholarship Recipients
BETHESDA, MD – The Car Care Council Women’s Board is pleased to announce that Jenalyn Miller of Ann Arbor, MI, is the recipient of the 2007 Women’s Board $2,500 post-secondary scholarship. Miller was recognized during the Women’s Board reception held yesterday at AAPEX. Miller attends Washtenaw Community College, where she majors in automation technology. She
Northwood University to Honor Seven Aftermarket Professionals
Northwood University will honor seven automotive aftermarket leaders with its annual Automotive Aftermarket Education Award on Tuesday, Oct. 30 at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. The awards will be presented during a luncheon at the annual Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo Show (AAPEX). Northwood’s Automotive Aftermarket Education Award recognizes leaders for their contributions to the educational process in the automotive aftermarket field. The award was created to insure that these individuals receive national recognition for their efforts to improve education inside and outside the industry.
ArvinMeritor Recognized for Women’s Leadership Programs
TROY, MI — ArvinMeritor has become the first company from the automotive manufacturing industry sector to be classified as a "Most Valuable Player" (MVP), according to the 2007 Women’s Leadership Index (WLI). To achieve elite MVP status, ArvinMeritor was recognized in the following categories for Fortune 500 companies: — Women Directors: ArvinMeritor has two women
Executive Interview: Steve Handschuh, President and Chief Operating Officer, Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association
Steve Handschuh is the president and chief operating officer of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) and vice president of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA). AASA, a market segment association of MEMA, exclusively serves and represents North American aftermarket product manufacturers. This week we talk with Steve Handschuh about AASA’s involvement at AAPEX as well as the changes the association has gone through this year including the creation of its first-ever members-only event, the AASA Vision Conference.
ASA Announces New Board of Directors, Honors Member Achievements at Annual Convention
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) held its annual convention May 3-5 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, TN. The event provided a forum for several association leadership activities, including open meetings of the ASA board of directors and affiliate assembly; a State of the Association address by Ron Pyle, ASA’s president and chief staff executive; and the installation of the new board. Also during the third annual "Celebration of Excellence," ASA recognized special achievements of its members and industry partners.