AMN’s Top Ten Week: Top Ten News Stories
If nothing else has been made clear by the events taking place in the automotive industry over the past 12 months, this much is true: The automotive aftermarket is changing — in dramatic ways. Here, the editorial staffs of Counterman and aftermarketNews takes a month-by-month look at the key events that have shaped this industry’s destiny over the past year.
South Dakota Business Owner Wins New Ford Mustang at AAPEX
Terry Regynski of Telstar Motors from Mitchell, SD, was the winner of the Motorcraft-sponsored raffle for a 2006 Ford Mustang during the 2005 Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX), held Nov. 1-4, in Las Vegas. Regynski, a long-time AAPEX attendee, was on the show floor when Jim Stewart, Motorcraft national marketing manager/Ford customer service division, drew the winning ticket on Nov. 3.
NACE Live Action Theater Tackles Rekeying Issue
The International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE) has announced that this year’s Live Action Theater will conduct a “Profit Clinic” to tackle the issue of rekeying. The Live Action Theater (formerly known as the Action Demos), which will be located inside the Exposition, will feature both Profit and Process Clinics, designed to enable attendees to take away real practical knowledge.
National Pronto and Gates to Present at MIS Council Fall Conference
Bill Maggs and Mike Mitchell of National Pronto will present at the MIS Council 2005 Fall Conference, which will be held Sunday, Oct. 16, through Wednesday, Oct. 19, at Marco Island, FL. They will present the e-commerce initiatives of a leading program group.
Collision Industry Foundation to Hold Industry Bus Fundraiser
The Collision Industry is joining together to buy a specially- equipped bus for long-term benefactor Camp-Mak-A-Dream. The vehicle will be on display at NACE 2005.
Sonnax Announces New Company Ownership
Sonnax announces a change of company ownership. Neil Joseph, founder and CEO, along with minority shareholder David Landa, sold the company to Tommy Harmon and David Bedard in a management buyout. Harmon and Bedard formed a 50/50 partnership to complete the transaction effective June 30, 2005.
Carcare.org Consumer Web Site Now Features Activant Service Intervals Database
Activant Solutions Inc., a provider of vertical ERP solutions, and the Car Care Council have announced that the extensive Activant Service Intervals vehicle maintenance database is now available for use by consumers through the carcare.org Web site.
RPM Pronto Union Brings in Strauss Discount Auto
Just hours after announcing the addition of Automotive Warehouse Distributors Inc. to its group, RPM and Pronto have announced another major addition. Michael Mitchell, executive director of RPM (and now, director of supply chain management for the merged group), announced late Thursday afternoon that Strauss Discount Auto Stores has joined the newly combined RPM/Pronto Group.
BREAKING NEWS: Pronto, RPM Group Announce Merger
Two of the aftermarket’s programmed distribution groups — National Pronto Association and The RPM Group — today announced plans to merge. This is the second merger among program groups in as many months. In mid-January 2005, Parts Plus and IAPA announced their plans to join forces.
Venture’s Bankruptcy Plan Out; Auction Likely
The murky future of troubled auto supplier Venture Industries got murkier as a bankruptcy judge denied the company’s plan to exit bankruptcy after nearly two years. Most likely the Fraser, Mich.-based company — which makes plastic parts such as bumpers and instrument panels for the auto industry — is headed for the auction block with it being sold off all at once, or piece by piece. Venture is one of the world’s largest auto-plastics suppliers and at its peak employed about 13,000 worldwide, including about 2,000 in metro Detroit.