Rich White Promoted to AAIA Senior Vice President, Marketing and Member Relations
The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) vice president of marketing and member relations, Rich White, has been promoted to the position of senior vice president, marketing and member relations. White has been with AAIA since it was established in 1999.
CARE Testifies Passage of Act Needed to Protect Small Businesses, Economy
The Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE) called for passage of the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act, H.R. 2048, to provide fairness and free market competition for small businesses in the automotive aftermarket industry. The automotive aftermarket is a $200 billion a year industry with over 495,000 automotive aftermarket locations.
House Small Business Subcommittee to Take Up Right to Repair
The House Small Business Committee Subcommittee on Workforce, Empowerment and Government Programs will hold a hearing on Tuesday, June 28 on the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act (H.R. 2048). Introduced in May of this year by Reps. Joe Barton, R-Texas, Edolphus Towns, D-N.Y. and Darrel Issa, R-Calif., H.R. 2048 would require that car companies make available to independent service facilities, the same service information and tools that are provided to new car dealers.
Editor’s Ink: Raw Materials Hit Raw Nerve For Suppliers
We make our livelihoods in the automotive business, a business born in steel foundries and petroleum refineries. That’s exactly why the market is seeing dire pronouncements from manufacturers as they release their quarterly earnings statements. Many justifiably blame sluggish bottom lines on the cost of the very stuff they need to make and deliver the products you and your customers need to stay in business.
R. L. Polk & Co.’s Ask the Industry Checks Out National Car Care Month Events
It’s April and Spring has sprung. While springtime marks the start of many seasonal rituals, the Car Care Council wants to make sure that consumers add vehicle maintenance to their springtime to do lists. From event planning kits, to brochures, signage and promotional efforts, the Car Care Council has made it incredibly easy for aftermarket manufacturers, distributors and installers to get involved. It’s a win-win situation — the aftermarket gains a better image, better reputation and hopefully more business; the consumer walks away with a safer, better maintained car, increased vehicle knowledge and awareness and (hopefully), an improved perception of our industry. To find out how the industry is taking advantage of this opportunity, we asked a repair shop and a manufacturer: What are you doing for National Car Care Month?
Hella Continues Support for Student Competition
Hella Electronics Corp. announced this week plans to continue its participation in the national Student Auto Skills Competition co-sponsored by Ford Motor Co. and the Automobile Association of America (AAA) in 2005. Since 1991, Hella has donated more than 10,000 automotive components worth nearly $15,000 to the program, which will be held in all 50 states during 2005.
Odland’s Legacy Tied to POS
The automotive aftermarket continues to be an extremely complex challenge to high-flung retailing executives. Steve Odland’s recently announced departure from the top position at AutoZone is just the latest in a long line of high-level executive escapes from our unheralded industry. I wish Odland the best of luck at Office Depot, where (and, I don’t care how much White Out you use) the challenge to “profitably grow” would seem to be much easier. However, this is not so much a commentary on Odland leaving AutoZone, as it is on the ever-increasing complexity and challenges of our market.
Congressman Barton Predicts Right to Repair Act Passage This Year
Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, was strongly optimistic in predicting passage this year of the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act legislation that he will re-introduce to the 109th Congress during remarks to more than 250 attendees at the Aftermarket Legislative Summit last week.
Congressman Barton Predicts Right to Repair Act Passage This Year
Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, was strongly optimistic in predicting passage this year of the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act legislation that he will re-introduce to the 109th Congress during remarks to more than 250 attendees at the Aftermarket Legislative Summit last week.
Don Seyfer Named CARS 2005 Chairman
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has announced Don Seyfer, AAM, will serve as chairman of the 2005 Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS). Seyfer is a longtime member of ASA and has held numerous industry and association leadership positions over more than four decades in the industry.