Auto Club, Insurance Association Sponsor NASCAR Vehicle
Here’s a pairing that may seem, at first blush, a little odd. The Dearborn-based Auto Club Group, a confederation of AAA clubs with affiliates including AAA Michigan and the Auto Club Insurance Association, is sponsoring a Roush Racing NASCAR vehicle.
Auto Club, Insurance Association Sponsor NASCAR Vehicle
Here’s a pairing that may seem, at first blush, a little odd. The Dearborn-based Auto Club Group, a confederation of AAA clubs with affiliates including AAA Michigan and the Auto Club Insurance Association, is sponsoring a Roush Racing NASCAR vehicle.
Mike Lambert and Mike Kamal Share Details on ADN
On Jan. 14, aftermarketNews.com broke the news of the merger between the Parts Plus and IAPA programmed distribution groups. This major news follows closely on the heels of the merger between Quebec’s Uni-Select and New York-based MAWDI, which seems to confirm the sea change that has been taking place over the past few years — with strong but small groups merging to form even stronger collaborations, in an effort to ensure their future in the automotive aftermarket distribution market. Mike Kamal, executive director of IAPA and Mike Lambert, president of Parts Plus, will serve as co-presidents of the new group, to be called the Automotive Distribution Network (ADN). Yesterday, Kamal and Lambert spoke at length with aftermarketNews.com about the merger – how it came together, the synergies involved and thoughts on the future of The Network.
AAIA’s Aaron Lowe Shares the History and How-to’s for its Annual Legislative Summit
Our latest Executive Interview features Aaron Lowe, vice president of government affairs for the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association. On March 1 and 2, more than 200 aftermarket executives will gather in our nation’s capitol for the 2005 Aftermarket Legislative Summit. The annual event gives representatives of the aftermarket the opportunity to provide policymakers with the information they need to make educated and informed decisions about issues that impact the aftermarket. Major issues to be highlighted during this year’s Summit include: The Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act; association health plans; anti-counterfeiting; and asbestos litigation reform legislation. Lowe recently shared with us some history about this industry-critical event and how you can get involved.
Global Automotive Aftermarket Scholarship Fund Received Record Donations in 2004
The Global Automotive Aftermarket Scholarship program, funded through the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS), received more than $20,000 in corporate and individual donations in 2004, helping the program award a record 145 scholarships of $1,000 to students planning aftermarket careers, and to sons and daughters of industry families.
SEMA Delegation to Visit Australian Aftermarket Trade Show in April
SEMA announced in its eNews electronic newsletter this week that it is organizing a delegation to visit the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association Trade Show (AAAA) April 7-9 in Sydney, Australia. AAAA is the largest automotive aftermarket event in the southern hemisphere, spanning more than 20,000 square meters.
Executive Interview: Jacques Landreville and Jim Buzzard Talk About the Recent Merger of Uni-Select and MAWDI
Our latest Executive Interview features Jacques Landrevillenand Jim Buzzard. On November 1, Landreville and the Buzzard family completed the merger of Uni-Select and MAWDI. The merger significantly expands Uni-Select’s reach into the U.S., where it will generate revenues of approximately $470 million. As part of the agreement, all current MAWDI and Uni-Select locations will remain under their original names, but at the corporate level MAWDI will operate as a subsidiary of Uni-Select USA. All of the various companies within Uni-Select USA, including MAWDI, will be referred to as Automotive Group USA. Landreville and Buzzard recently spoke with aftermarketNews.com and shared some of the finer details about the future for Uni-Select USA.
NFL Coach and NASCAR Team Owner Joe Gibbs to be GAAS 2005 Luncheon Speaker
Joe Gibbs, head coach of the NFL’s Washington Redskins and founder of the Joe Gibbs Racing team, will address “Teamwork, Perseverance and Excellence,” as the luncheon speaker at the 10th annual Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) in Chicago. The first Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium was held in 1996, at the Hyatt Regency Deerfield Hotel in the suburban Chicago area. From its humble beginnings, the Symposium has grown to be the industry’s leading educational forum.
Congressional Hearing Scheduled for Right to Repair Act
A Congressional hearing for the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act, H.R. 2735, has been set for Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 2 p.m. in Washington, D.C. The hearing will take place before the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
AASP-MN Announces Fall Educational Offerings
The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers, Minnesota (AASP-MN) has released its schedule of fall educational programs. AASP-MN will host an educational program on “Inflatable Restraint Systems,” from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at Dunwoody College of Technology in Minneapolis, Minn. AASP-MN will host an educational program on “Inflatable Restraint Systems,” from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at Dunwoody College of Technology in Minneapolis, Minn.