Continental AG to Acquire Motorola’s Automotive Electronics Business
Continental AG and Motorola have entered into an agreement under which Continental will acquire Motorola’s automotive electronics business for approximately $1 billion in cash. The transaction includes Motorola’s controls, sensor, interior electronics and telematics businesses. The acquired business will be integrated into Continental’s Automotive Systems Division.
Delphi Outlines Transformation Plan
Delphi this morning outlined its strategy to prepare for its return to stable, profitable business operations through a broad-based global restructuring in order to complete the Chapter 11 cases for Delphi and 41 of its domestic U.S. subsidiaries in the first half of 2007 as previously announced. Delphi’s transformation plan is intended to allow the company to become competitive in the global marketplace.
Aftermarket eForum Announces Speaker Lineup
With the entrance of several e-commerce retailers to the automotive aftermarket, what impact will they have upon the industry? Steve Frazier, vice president of U.S. category management for Amazon Services, Inc., will give his perspective on the subject when he addresses the 2006 Aftermarket eForum. This year’s event is scheduled from July17-19 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Chicago. Other speakers already confirmed, include Steven Liao of MechanicNet and Dr. Mitch Javidi of Digiton.
Major Investment in Tripmaster Acquired by Control Instruments Group Limited
Control Instruments Group Limited of South Africa has purchased a majority share of Tripmaster Corp. Tripmaster, founded by Rockwell International in the 1970s, is a pioneer in electronic onboard recording technology for North American truck fleets. Control Instruments (CI) develops, manufacturers and distributes products and services for the automotive and transportation industries, including to the aftermarket and original equipment market. Control Instruments designs, manufactures and owns the intellectual property for the Fleet Manager range of onboard computers that have been sold worldwide under the Siemens VDO FM brand for nearly a decade.
Frost & Sullivan Recognizes International Truck and Engine for Industry Innovation and Advancement
Frost & Sullivan recently recognized International Truck and Engine Corp. with the 2006 Medium-Heavy Truck Original Equipment Industry Innovation & Advancement of the Year Award for developing commercial vehicle telematics infrastructures aimed at maximizing the operating profits of trucks and buses. The award recognizes the company’s excellent entrepreneurship in introducing the International Aware Vehicle Intelligence solution.
AMN’s Top Ten Week: Top 10 Distribution Influences
Annually, Counterman magazine, in conjunction with aftermarketNews, presents the 10 trends and issues that influence the aftermarket parts distribution industry. For this year’s list, Counterman and aftermarketNews editors examined all the major issues, eventually paring the list down to those issues that most affect today’s and tomorrow’s aftermarket industry.
A Suppliers’ Guide to Innovation
As automotive suppliers continue to get hammered by price cuts, material cost increases, and competitors in low-cost countries, renewed attention is being focused on product and process innovation as a way to improve competitive positioning and profitability. So here we’ll look at the systems automotive suppliers need to implement if they want to consistently deliver on the innovation imperative.
Executive Interview with Tom Ward, President, Snap-on Diagnostics
Our latest edition of “Executive Interview” features Tom Ward, president of Snap-on Diagnostics, a global business focused on improving technician and workshop productivity around the world. Join us as Ward gives us an inside look at Snap-on Diagnostics, including information on some recently launched products. Ward also talks about the trends and challenges in automotive diagnostics and repair and how the division works to address these issues.
Fiat, Microsoft in Joint Venture
Microsoft and Fiat reportedly have reached agreement to turn out a new onboard car-data system. The plan is to make a system running Microsoft’s Windows Automotive software available for every vehicle model from one of Europe’s biggest automakers, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer said.
Auto Industry Conference to Help Participants Navigate the Future of the Industry
A perfect storm is brewing for global automakers and suppliers, but those who lead, manage and influence the industry have the knowledge and capabilities for navigating the troubled waters ahead. They’ll share their insights in early August in the Traverse City, Mich. area at the Management Briefing Seminars — the automotive industry’s premier conference event.