Automakers Sue California Over Emissions
Automobile manufacturers sued on Tuesday to block the world’s toughest vehicle emissions standards, adopted by California regulators in September to cut greenhouse gases. The manufacturers argue in their lawsuit the standards, which could set a precedent for other states, must by law be the responsibility of the federal government.
Jack Rome, MotorVac VP and Inventor, Dies at 66
John “Jack” Rome, vice president of operations and engineering for MotorVac Technologies, lost his year long battle with cancer on November 4. Rome had served as vice president of operations and engineering at MotorVac since 1995. He was responsible for designing and developing most of the company’s products and was named on 18 of their 19 patent applications. He also managed the manufacturing, distribution and procurement operations.
Executive Interview with Greg Gyllstrom, Vice President and General Manager for Visteon’s North American and Asian Aftermarket Operations
Our latest edition of “Executive Interview” features Greg Gyllstrom, Vice President and General Manager for Visteon’s North American and Asian aftermarket operations. In this role, Gyllstrom is responsible for expanding the organization’s North American and Asian aftermarket business by coordinating and directing the company’s sales, product development and marketing activities. Gyllstrom recently talked with aftermarketNews.com about his first two years at Visteon, the company’s motor sports initiatives and its presence in Asia.
Investor Slams GenCorp
Hedge fund Steel Partners II LP on Thursday, Nov. 11, launched a $708 million hostile bid for GenCorp Inc., attacking the aerospace conglomerate for its subpar financial performance and questioning the company’s deal making record. “Management and the board appear to have engaged in what can be best described as a game of gin rummy by buying and selling businesses with no clear corporate strategy and with very poor results, including the recent sale of the GDX Automotive business at a loss of over $300 million,” said Warren Lichtenstein, managing partner at Steel, in a letter to GenCorp’s board.
AFFINIA Exec Discusses State of Acquisition
One of the biggest news stories of the year was the sale of the Dana Automotive Aftermarket Group (AAG) to New York-based buyout firm Cypress Group, which agreed to purchase the AAG unit for approximately $1 billion. That deal was announced in early July of this year, and two months later, on Sept. 8, it was announced that Dana AAG would have a new name under its new owners – AFFINIA. aftermarketNews.com sat down with AFFINIA’s John Washbish in Las Vegas just prior to the start of the AAPEX show to update show attendees on the state of the transition. Washbish is AFFINIA president of Customer Relationship Management (CRM), a position he has held since 2003. Recently, his duties were expanded to include serving as vice president and general manager of the AFFINIA Undercar Group, which includes the Raybestos, Spicer, Aimco and McQuay-Norris brands.
Live from AAPEX: MotorVac Showcases New Product Line
MotorVac Technologies, which makes proprietary technological solutions for the automotive service and repair industry, this week launched three new products at the AAPEX Show in Las Vegas.
Visteon Plant Earns EPA Honor
Visteon Corp.’s Sheldon Road manufacturing facility, located in Plymouth, Mich., has received recognition for its voluntary efforts to maintain a healthier and safer environment.
Executive Interview with Shozo Kibata, Senior Corporate Officer of Toyo Tire
This week, Jim Smith, editor of Tire Review (a sister publication to aftermarketNews.com) talks with Shozo “Carlos” Kibata of Toyo Tire Corp. Shozo “Carlos” Kibata is a very busy man right now, far busier than he was a scant four months ago when he was president of Toyo Tire (USA) Corp. in Cypress, Calif. Since June 1, Kibata was tapped to head Toyo Tire North America, a subsidiary of parent Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. that was created to build and manage the tiremaker’s first North American tire plant. And, as a reward for his hard work in the U.S., Kibata was named senior corporate officer of the parent company.
APRA Announces Name Change for Volume Transmission Division
The Automotive Parts Rebuilders Association has renamed its Volume Transmission Division. The new name — the Volume Transmission Remanufacturing Group — was unveiled at a recent APRA board meeting in Long Island, NY. According to APRA Chairman Craig Leuck of Jasper Engines and Transmission in Jasper, Ind., the intent of the name change was to reach out to high volume transmission remanufacturers — those doing several hundred per month or more.
Info on Car Safety Off-Limits to Public
The federal agency that oversees auto safety has decided — based largely on arguments from automakers and their Washington, D.C., lobbyists — that reams of data relating to unsafe automobiles or defective parts will not be available to the public. Specifically, the government has banned the release of car and truck warranty-claims information, customer complaints and early-warning reports about defects from dealers, automakers and rental car companies, even if media outlets or other groups push for it under the Freedom of Information Act.