Lear Will Close Five Plants Worldwide
Lear Corp. announced a restructuring plan Monday that includes closing five plants in the United States and Europe. Lear officials declined to say which of the company’s 300 plants could be affected but said up to 7,700 jobs will be cut globally.
Federal-Mogul Names Jose Maria Alapont New Chairman
Federal-Mogul Corp. has named President and CEO Jose Maria Alapont to the additional post of chairman of the board of directors for Federal-Mogul, effective immediately. He replaces Robert Miller, who has resigned to become chairman and CEO of Delphi Corp. Alapont was named president and CEO of Federal-Mogul on March 1. With more than 30 years of global leadership experience in the automotive manufacturer and supplier industries, Alapont is known throughout the industry as being customer and results oriented, relentless in his drive for excellence and breakthrough performance to generate global profitable growth.
Rosta International to Establish North American Headquarters; Names U.S. Executives to Global Team
Rosta International Limited, a leading China-based manufacturer of steel and aluminum wheels for automotive manufacturers and the aftermarket industry, has announced plans to open a sales and engineering facility in Michigan to support its global expansion. Rosta’s parent company, Yuan Feng Industrial Company, Limited, headquartered in Taiwan, is a leading supplier of wheels for the Asian market, and formed Rosta to spearhead its international expansion.
Delphi Reveals More Errors; Two More Executives Ousted
Delphi Corp. disclosed more accounting errors Thursday and forced out two more executives, bringing to six the number of senior officials who have left the Troy-based automotive supplier because of financial irregularities. Delphi, already under investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for its accounting, said that from the time General Motors Corp. spun off the supplier in 1999 until the end of 2004 it failed to properly disclose the amount of accounts receivable, or money owed from other businesses for its services or merchandise, from its European operations.
Former Visteon Executive, Thomas Burke, Named Executive Vice President of Modine Manufacturing Co.
Modine Manufacturing Co. announced yesterday that former Visteon executive Thomas Burke has joined the company as executive vice president, reporting to President and CEO David Rayburn. In this newly created position, Burke will be responsible for Modine’s North American automotive and commercial HVAC divisions, and the fuel cell products group, as well as the corporate information technology and environmental, health, safety and security departments. Burke brings a wealth of experience to Modine, including the last nine years with Visteon, where he was most recently vice president of North American manufacturing operations with responsibility for more than $10 billion in sales.
Dayco Celebrates Its First Hundred Years
With its celebration slogan “Continuing the Legacy,” Dayco Products, LLC is celebrating its 100th year as a company. In these days of corporate buy-outs and mergers, Dayco has maintained its identity, and in some ways returned to its early roots, to become a highly-respected, worldwide manufacturer of belts, hose, tensioners and related parts for the automotive original equipment and replacement markets. The legacy it celebrates is one of a strong company that has a reputation for an insatiable craving to develop new products, improve established products and increase manufacturing efficiencies.
Executive Interview with Gary Halpern, Vice President of Product Development Neutronics
Join us as Gary Halpern, vice president of product development for Neutronics, provides an insider’s perspective on the current R-134a issues and shares with us the message he’s been trying to get out to repair shops for a decade.
Automotive Communicators Honored for Outstanding PR Achievements
The winners of the fourth annual Excellence in Automotive Public Relations Award were honored April 28 at the Spring Conference of the Automotive Public Relations Council (APRC) held in Dearborn, Mich. The only award of its kind, the Excellence in Automotive Public Relations Award identifies public relations programs that have successfully addressed an automotive-related public relations issue with exemplary professional skill, creativity and resourcefulness. The annual award honors complete public relations programs that incorporate sound planning, execution and evaluation.
General Motors Loses $1.1 Billion in Last Quarter
General Motors Corp. just finished its worst three-month period in more than a decade, losing $1.1 billion, and spending $3.5 billion out of its savings. But as Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner works to get the world’s largest automaker through its toughest year since the early ’90s, one headache he doesn’t have is worrying about running out of cash, as Chrysler Corp. did in the late ’70s.
Out of the Ordinary: Executive Interview with Tom Dattilo, Cooper Tire & Rubber President and CEO
To get a sense of Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. and its chairman, president and CEO, you need look no further than Tom Dattilo’s corner office. Unlike the vistas other captains of industry enjoy from their lofty perches, Dattilo’s third-floor office overlooks Oler’s Drive Thru, a convenience store that stands as a stark reminder of who the real boss is – the retail customer.