Beach Elected Secretary of TIA
The Tire Industry Association (TIA) announced that Dan Beach, president and CEO of the Tire Alliance Groupe (TAG), has been elected to the position of secretary within the organization. Beach was named secretary on Apr. 22 at the TIA board of directors meeting held in Louisville, Ky. He will begin his new role with TIA on Nov. 1.
Torvec Adds Two to Board of Directors
Automotive technology firm Torvec has elected Mary Ho and Philip Fain to its board of directors. Mary Ho is president of the China Millennium Council, a globally-recognized enterprise dedicated to fostering and developing innovative cultural, educational and community partnerships with China. A renowned expert in international negotiation, Ho has extensive experience in international public relations, corporate strategy development and transition management.
Congressman Barton Predicts Right to Repair Act Passage This Year
Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, was strongly optimistic in predicting passage this year of the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act legislation that he will re-introduce to the 109th Congress during remarks to more than 250 attendees at the Aftermarket Legislative Summit last week.
Congressman Barton Predicts Right to Repair Act Passage This Year
Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, was strongly optimistic in predicting passage this year of the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act legislation that he will re-introduce to the 109th Congress during remarks to more than 250 attendees at the Aftermarket Legislative Summit last week.
AAIA Legislative Summit Drives Home the Message
With record numbers and spirited optimism, representatives from the aftermarket industry assembled in Washington, D.C., for the Aftermarket Legislative Summit this past Tuesday and Wednesday. More than 250 attendees representing 37 states made the journey to the lobbying rally to discuss with members of Congress the issues that affect the aftermarket.
Newly Formed Coalition Opposes ‘Right to Repair’ Legislation
The Automotive Service Association (ASA), the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers have formed a new coalition that favors existing voluntary efforts – instead of federal legislation – to provide access to technical repair data to all repair shops and service providers. CARFIX opposes the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act, H.R. 2735, which was last introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2003, and its Senate companion, S. 2138. Members of CARFIX say they agree that consumers should have a choice in where to have their vehicles serviced and repaired. However, the coalition has made it a mission to educate policymakers about the voluntary program that is currently in place and to persuade them that legislation is unnecessary.
AAIA’s Aaron Lowe Shares the History and How-to’s for its Annual Legislative Summit
Our latest Executive Interview features Aaron Lowe, vice president of government affairs for the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association. On March 1 and 2, more than 200 aftermarket executives will gather in our nation’s capitol for the 2005 Aftermarket Legislative Summit. The annual event gives representatives of the aftermarket the opportunity to provide policymakers with the information they need to make educated and informed decisions about issues that impact the aftermarket. Major issues to be highlighted during this year’s Summit include: The Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act; association health plans; anti-counterfeiting; and asbestos litigation reform legislation. Lowe recently shared with us some history about this industry-critical event and how you can get involved.
AASP/NJ Member Named NAPA/ASE Technician of the Year
NAPA Auto Parts and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) have named Alliance of Automotive Service Providers/New Jersey (AASP/NJ) member Jeff Walker as the 2005 NAPA/ASE Technician of the Year. Presented annually by NAPA and ASE, the award is given to a technician who exemplifies excellence and achievement in the industry. This winner is selected by a panel that includes former winners, automotive trade media and ASE headquarters.
The Year in Review – A Look at the Top 10 News Stories of 2004
Whether you believe 2004 was a good or bad year for the aftermarket, no one can argue this was a big news year for our industry. The year included noteworthy shifts in leadership, mergers, acquisitions and more, most of which will significantly impact the industry for many years to come. Here’s a month-by-month look at what aftermarketNews.com considers to be biggest news events that happened in our industry in 2004.
Executive Interview: Jacques Landreville and Jim Buzzard Talk About the Recent Merger of Uni-Select and MAWDI
Our latest Executive Interview features Jacques Landrevillenand Jim Buzzard. On November 1, Landreville and the Buzzard family completed the merger of Uni-Select and MAWDI. The merger significantly expands Uni-Select’s reach into the U.S., where it will generate revenues of approximately $470 million. As part of the agreement, all current MAWDI and Uni-Select locations will remain under their original names, but at the corporate level MAWDI will operate as a subsidiary of Uni-Select USA. All of the various companies within Uni-Select USA, including MAWDI, will be referred to as Automotive Group USA. Landreville and Buzzard recently spoke with aftermarketNews.com and shared some of the finer details about the future for Uni-Select USA.