Tenneco Opens China Research and Development Center
Tenneco has opened its first research and development center in China. Tenneco’s engineering center — a joint venture between Shanghai Tractor and Engine Company (STEC), a subsidiary of Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. (SAIC) — will focus on emission control product design and development for Tenneco’s growing OE and aftermarket businesses in China and the Asia-Pacific region. The center will deliver emission control testing capabilities, including acoustic tuning; noise, vibration and harshness/structural analysis; durability testing; engine vibration durability and diesel aftertreatment design.
Purchase Kasey Kahne’s Helmet, Support Charity Cars Campaign
The Kasey Kahne Foundation has created an exciting new fundraising event to benefit the 2007 Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper Charity Cars Campaign. The entire group of Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper shareholders, along with hundreds of parts stores and certified service centers, have allied with The Original 1-800-Charity Cars organization in a massive project to seek, secure, and refurbish vehicles to be presented to more than 500 qualified recipients at grand award ceremonies to be held throughout 2007 in various locations across the nation. To assist in these efforts, the Kasey Kahne Foundation will auction off the helmet he wore during the March 24 NASCAR Busch Series race where he took the wheel of the #9 Dodge sponsored by Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper.
Carmakers Racing to Stay in Control
From International Herald Tribune Porsche’s decision to raise its stake in Volkswagen, along with DaimlerChrysler’s recent decision to seek bidders for Chrysler, reflect European automakers’ desire to control their own fates, rather than see them decided by less friendly acquirers. The two remaining U.S. automotive giants, General Motors and Ford Motor, would be wise to
Polk Unveils Commercial Vehicle Loyalty Analysis at MATS
R. L. Polk & Co. yesterday unveiled its Commercial Vehicle Loyalty Analysis solution at the Mid America Trucking Show (MATS). This new product addresses the market need for customer metrics enabling commercial truck and engine manufacturers to better understand the loyalty of their customer base, analyze growth opportunities and take pre-emptive action against potential defectors.
AAIA Approves Medium Duty Vehicle Data at HDAW
The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) has announced that medium duty vehicle data will be added to the Vehicle Configuration database (VCdb) and incorporated into the ACES electronic catalog standard. The vehicle additions will cover more than 1,300 base vehicles of 23 different makes for years 1980-2007. Subscribers to the ACES vehicle database will see the first of these additions in the January release with the remaining makes published shortly thereafter.
Thirty-three Experts Sign Up for MACS Repair Round-Up Roundtable Lunch
LANSDALE, PA – MACS has announced that 33 industry professionals have agreed to participate in the Roundtable Luncheon scheduled to take place Thursday, Feb. 1 at noon, during the MACS Convention and Trade Show at the Phoenix Hyatt. The Roundtable Luncheon offers attendees the chance to sit down with the expert of their choice and
Audi and Volkswagen Launch New Service Websites
The National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF), which manages the OEM service information matrix, announced this week that Audi of America and Volkswagen of America have introduced new Service Information websites: www.ebahn.com/audi and www.ebahn.com/vw. These replace the “erWin” websites.
TRW Automotive Brings Braking Technology to Chinese Market
TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. is expanding its Chinese joint venture, LucasVarity Langzhong Braking Company Limited (LVLB), in preparation to launch TRW’s Electronic Park Brake (EPB) system in China. LVLB has expanded braking actuation production into a new building, with an additional 8,000-square-metres, and plans to start production of EPB systems in 2007, for two Chinese vehicle manufacturers.
BorgWarner Expands Chinese Operations
BorgWarner has opened a new operation in Ningbo, China, for the assembly of turbochargers and transmission solenoids. The manufacturing facility is the first of several operations planned for a campus that comprises BorgWarner Automotive Components (Ningbo) Co., Ltd., the company’s wholly foreign-owned enterprise in the Ningbo Yinzhou industrial zone. A new office building there houses employees of BorgWarner Turbo & Emissions Systems, BorgWarner Morse TEC and BorgWarner Transmission Systems, as well as a shared services group of finance, information technology and human resources professionals who will support all of BorgWarner’s business units in China.
Tenneco Expands China Operations
Tenneco has announced plans to expand its operations in China with investment in both manufacturing and engineering facilities. The company will open a wholly-owned elastomer manufacturing facility in Suzhou, China, and a joint venture emission control engineering center in Shanghai. The company has also reached an agreement to increase its ownership share to 65 percent in its Beijing ride control joint venture.