Tower Automotive Opens New Manufacturing Plant in Germany
Tower Automotive announced it has opened a new manufacturing facility in Duisburg, Germany. It is scheduled to begin production in early 2006. The new facility will primarily serve DaimlerChrysler for the production of complete body-in-white assemblies including the front and double cabin door assemblies for the next generation Mercedes-Benz Sprinter light truck.
Executive Interview with Charles E. Johnson, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Proliance International
Charley Johnson is president, CEO and director of Proliance International, Inc. based in New Haven, CT. Johnson joined Proliance (which was formed by the July 2005 merger of Transpro, Inc. and Modine Aftermarket Holdings) in March 2001, ending a broad search for a new CEO of Transpro. The company’s customers include the leaders in aftermarket automotive distribution, such as AutoZone, NAPA, Advance, Pep Boys, O’Reilly and CARQUEST, among others. AftermakretNews.com spoke with Johnson about the origins of the merger, the challenges ahead and how the name Proliance came to be.
Tenneco Automotive CEO Optimistic About New OE Business
Mark P. Frissora, chairman, CEO and president, Tenneco Automotive said the company is winning new OE business with its advanced suspension and emission control technologies. Its products are featured on more than 30 vehicle model premieres at the 2005 Frankfurt Auto Show (IAA).
TI Automotive Wins New Fluid Carrying Business
TI Automotive has been awarded contracts by three major auto manufacturers to supply fluid-carrying lines for five new-model vehicles.
Jamak Wipers Enhances Web Site
Jamak Global Wipers has given its jamakwipers.com website a fresh new look for the upcoming wiper season. The site provides the latest information on its global line, including the New Glider Beam Blade.
Troubled Supplier Finally Has a Suitor
Plastech Engineered Products Inc., a growing plastics auto parts maker from Dearborn,MI is expected to launch a bid in bankruptcy court this week for rival Collins & Aikman Corp., a company roughly four times the size of Plastech.
Supplier Wants to Build Cars for Big Three
Magna Steyr appears to be inching closer to its goal of being the first auto supplier in recent history to build entire vehicles on a contract basis for automakers in North America. The engineering unit of Canada’s Magna International Inc. still doesn’t have its first North American vehicle-building contract, but the unit’s top executive here said it has had initial talks with several U.S. automakers and could be close to inking a deal.
Visteon Scores Big Win with Honda
Visteon Corp. has landed a lucrative — and potentially more lucrative — contract to supply instrument panel modules to Honda Motor Co. in North America . Visteon, which was forced to seek a financial bailout from Ford Motor Co. this year, is moving deeper into business dealings with Honda, an automaker renowned for its stern scrutiny of suppliers.
OPTIMA Batteries Changes the Charge
Johnson Controls Inc. (JCI) has announced Stephen Kepler as the new general manager of OPTIMA Batteries, effective June 1, 2005. Kepler will handle the coordination of all sales, operations and marketing of the OPTIMA Batteries product line worldwide.
Ricardo Report Predicts Vastly Expanded U.S. Light Duty Diesel Market
The 2005 Ricardo diesel report predicts a momentous rise in U.S. light duty diesel market penetration over the coming decade. Sales in the light duty vehicle segment (up to 8,500 pounds gross vehicle weight) are projected to grow from a mere 43,000 units in 2004, to exceed one million units annually by 2012, rising to 1.5 million by 2015.