Connecting the Dots of the e-Commerce Picture at University Forum
This year at University Forum, automotive expert Bob Moore will moderate a panel discussion “Connecting the Dots — Drawing the e-Commerce Picture” will Ron Decker, co-owner of Decker Auto Supply, Justin Fletcher, e-business manager for Factory Motor Parts and Joseph Oddo, who handles global development and program coordination of customer B2B e-business systems for Delphi Product & Service Solutions group. In this panel discussion, Moore, Decker, Fletcher and Oddo will address current e-business solutions and share stories from their own IT journeys.
Stoneridge to Form Partnership with India Firm
Stoneridge, Inc., a Howland, Ohio-based maker of wiring components and other vehicle parts, said it expects to grab a larger share of the growing auto parts market in India by forming a joint venture with a large Indian parts maker.
Airtex Plant Facing Strike
Talks between Airtex Products and the United Auto Workers Local 543 failed to produce an agreement Thursday night, resulting in a strike at the company’s three auto parts plants in Fairfield, Ill. The five-year contract expired at midnight Thursday without an agreement, affecting 539 hourly union members.
Ewing to Buy Key Auto Stakes from Carlyle Group
As part of the unwinding of their relationship, Ewing Management Group has agreed to buy Carlyle Group’s stake in Key Automotive Group, as well as a stake held by Lightyear Capital. Key Automotive was formed by putting Key Plastics LLC, acquired for about $175 million in 2001, under the same roof with Breed Technologies, Inc., which Ewing had bought out of bankruptcy in 2001 for a reported $315 million. Breed was later renamed Key Safety Systems, Inc. and moved its headquarters to Michigan, where Key Plastics is based.
Delco Remy International Changes Name to Remy
As of Aug. 1, Delco Remy International, Inc. will be known simply as Remy International, Inc. The company is changing its corporate name to mark the tenth anniversary of its spin off from General Motors. The company said it will continue to market certain starters and heavy-duty alternators for original equipment and aftermarket customers under the Delco Remy trademark, which is licensed to the company by General Motors. The company will also add the Remy trademark to its brand portfolio for a variety of automotive products in addition to using Remy International as the new corporate name.
Executive Interview: John Washbish Talks About the Dana AAG Acquisition
Our latest edition of “Executive Interview” features John Washbish, president of customer relationship management for the Dana Automotive Aftermarket Group (AAG). On Friday it was officially announced that New York-based investment firm Cypress Group agreed to buy Dana AAG for $1.1 billion. We had the opportunity to talk to Washbish just hours after the announcement was made. Join us as he shares some of the preliminary details on the acquisition and talks about the future of the Automotive Aftermarket Group.
Hella Forms Minority Joint Venture With Craft-Co
Hella North America and Craft-Co Enterprises, Inc. have formed ILUMA, a minority-owned joint venture to supply automotive interior-lighting systems.
DST Asks:Does Your Multi-Store Business Management System Capture and Consolidate Operating Information?
It’s the American way. Start your own business. Perfect your methods. Hire good people. Grow your customer base. Perfect the idea at one location, then expand by adding new locations that share the same business model. Thousands of successful retail enterprises have started in exactly this way. It’s a fundamental way to apply the principle we all learned in Economics 101 – economies of scale. Business 101 would call it leverage. Good entrepreneurs call it survival!
Douglas Battery Names New Sales and Marketing VP
Douglas Battery recently named William Spears to the position of vice president of sales and marketing for the company’s automotive division. Spears, a 20-year veteran of the automotive industry, began his career in auto parts with Mid-American Industries (Green Light Auto). Since that time, he has developed comprehensive sales programs for some of the world’s top battery manufacturers.
NAPA CHASSIS Wins Spirit of NAPA Award
The NAPA organization recently presented its coveted Spirit of NAPA Award to the employees of Dana Corp. in recognition of NAPA CHASSIS’ outstanding vendor support and service. This is the first time NAPA CHASSIS has won the Spirit of NAPA Award.