Automakers Help Allies Handle Crises
Seeking to mitigate disaster costs after events such as 9/11 and last year’s blackout, Detroit automakers said Wednesday they’ll ask their suppliers and dealers to take part in a crisis management plan that will prepare them for emergencies. The automakers, working together through a trade organization called the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG), released a booklet that could serve as a guide for suppliers and dealers that either don’t have a contingency plan or want to modify an existing one. GM said that it will begin rolling out the process to all its 3,700 suppliers next week. The AIAG said the plan is voluntary for suppliers and will result in minimal costs for the companies.
Delphi Earnings Decline
Auto-parts maker Delphi Corp. said Tuesday its fourth-quarter net earnings sank to $82 million as it paid for a major restructuring program it launched in October, which included 8,500 job cuts. Net income for the quarter was 15 cents a share, down from $119 million, or 21 cents, in the same period a year earlier.
Save the Date: MEMA Legislative and Public Policy Summit – Advancing American Manufacturing, May 5-6
MEMA and its market segment associations – AASA, HDMA and OESA – will host the inaugural “MEMA Legislative and Public Policy Summit: Advancing American Manufacturing” on Thursday and Friday, May 5-6 in Washington, DC. The Summit has been created to raise awareness among Washington policymakers of the supplier industry’s many contributions to the nation’s economy. MEMA intends to bring members to Washington, DC, to collectively share their priorities and concerns with members of Congress and the Bush administration. While in Washington, they will discuss best practices in government affairs for our industry, and provide updates and dialogue on legislative, regulatory and political developments from senior administration officials, members of Congress and other experts.
R. L. Polk & Co. Establishes Commercial Vehicle Advisory Board
R. L. Polk & Co. has announced the formation of its first-ever commercial vehicle advisory board. This new board is charged with advising Polk on its strategic position in the commercial vehicle sector, product offerings, providing input on marketing communication strategies and supporting Polk’s commercial vehicle sales team in growing customer relationships.
More Details on the Future of Honeywell’s Friction Materials Business
Yesterday, Honeywell announced that it had terminated discussions with Federal Mogul regarding the possible sale of its friction materials business, which manufactures and markets the well-known aftermarket brand Bendix. After several months of negotiations, the parties were unable to agree on terms of a deal. Now Honeywell has reported that the friction materials division will remain part of Honeywell and will become closely aligned with the company’s business initiatives and operating plan. According to Joe Puishys, president of Honeywell friction materials, the company is in the process of making investments in both the aftermarket and OE segments of the business.
Exide Introduces NASCAR Branded Product Line at Sam’s Club
Playing off the brand recognition the NASCAR name holds with its estimated 75 million fans, Exide Technologies has introduced a new NASCAR branded transportation battery program at Sam’s Club, a national members-only chain of retail warehouses. The new program is exclusive to Sam’s Club and will be available in more than 462 locations nationwide.
DENSO Becomes Toyota’s Corporate Sponsor for F1
Toyota Motor Corporation and Toyota Motorsport GmbH have announced today that DENSO Corp. has become a corporate sponsor for the Panasonic Toyota Racing F1 team from the 2004 season. DENSO has supported the Toyota F1 team as a technical partner since 2002, providing products such as tailor-made spark plugs for the team’s V10 engine.
“DST Asks”: The Use of Computerized Business Management Systems and their Potential for Generating ROI
Tremendous technological advances have made the use of computerized business management systems the paradigm of the aftermarket. All tiers of the supply and service chains have benefited from technology — manufacturers, warehouse distributors, jobbers, national and regional parts and service chains, multi-store independent parts and service enterprises and single-store independent parts and service facilities. Gone are the days when a capital investment in technology was merely another overhead expense. Savvy managers now know that computerized systems can become their own profit centers, generating an impressive ROI.
The Results Are In: Seventy Percent Say AAPEX is Worth the Cost
The results are in from the first edition of “AMN Asks” — the new weekly aftermarketNews.com poll. Last week, we asked whether you thought the annual AAPEX Show in Las Vegas offers “complete value” for the amount of time and resources you spend to attend. The annual Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo, which takes place in Las Vegas every fall, is the largest gathering of aftermarket products and people under one roof. It’s a chance to network, check out new products and attend informative seminars. It’s fast-paced and frenetic and can be a world of fun, however, on the flipside, it’s also an exhausting week of glad-handing and schmoozing in a very pricey town. Is it offering the best bang for your buck?
More Aftermarket Eye Candy at This Year’s North American International Auto Show
Although there’s no shortage of muscle on the main floor at this year’s North American International Auto Show — the 850-horsepower Chrysler ME412 concept is only the beginning — there’s also a subterranean performance theme that’s been missing from previous shows. Once the take-it-or-leave-it realm of marginal players like Daewoo and stillborns like the revival Cunningham sports car, Cobo Center’s downstairs Michigan Hall exhibit area is studded this year with an intriguing array of production vehicles enhanced by aftermarket bolt-on goodies: designer wheels, low-profile tires, oversize brakes, high-performance shock absorbers and more.