Aftermarket Standards for e-Commerce Training
DENSO Sales North America will host the University of the Aftermarket seminar, “Industry Standards for Aftermarket e-Commerce,” March 14-15, in Long Beach, Calif. This program offers essential information for those about to implement the AAIA Catalog Enhanced Standard (ACES) and the Product Information Exchange Standard (PIES). New to the program this year is an overview and demonstration of the PARTnerShip Network and the Internet Parts Ordering standard – both widely supported and low-cost communication solutions.
Motor Vehicle Lighting Council Names New Officers
Daniel Robusto, president and COO of Illinois-based North American Lighting, Inc., was recently elected chairman of the Motor Vehicle Lighting Council (MVLC). He succeeds Joseph Borruso, president and CEO of Hella North America, who served as the MVLC’s first chairman. The Motor Vehicle Lighting Council (MVLC) is a coalition of global automotive lighting and component manufacturers and related education and research institutions committed to bringing new lighting advancements to market in order to increase vehicle performance and vehicle and pedestrian safety.
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.
Intermet Reaches Agreements With Major Customers to Amend Contracts
Intermet Corp. has reached agreements with its largest customers to amend certain purchase orders and contracts. The amendments are primarily related to the recovery of scrap-steel and other raw-material costs.
Magazines Announce ‘Readers’ Choice Awards’ Recipients
The readers of Babcox’s Counterman, Brake & Front End, ImportCar and Underhood Service magazines have announced the Readers’ Choice Award recipients for 2004. The awards are based upon those companies whose advertising most successfully communicated their messages to the aftermarket.
Research Firm Publishes Automotive Suppliers Benchmarking Yearbook
Research and Markets, an international market research provider, recently released “Automotive Suppliers: 2004 Global Best Practices Statistical Yearbook,” a report on automotive supplier benchmarking. The report provides automotive supplier benchmarking data enabling Tier 1-2-3 and aftermarket suppliers to pinpoint how they perform against industry best practices in areas such as cost control, quality, human resource management and R&D.
MACS 25th Anniversary Convention Gets Support from Record Number of Sponsors
“NOW IS THE TIME!” — the 25th Anniversary Convention and Trade Show of the Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) Worldwide is getting support from a record number of corporate sponsors. Forty sponsors have signed up for the show, which will take place February 1-3, 2005 at the Las Vegas Hilton.
AIA Honors Industry Award Winners
The Auto International Association (AIA) presented its 2004 Industry Awards in Las Vegas last Tuesday during AAPEX. Mike Brown, president of Olympus Imported Auto Parts Corp., and vice-chairman of AIA, announced the winners and made the award presentations. Now in its 16th year, the awards program recognizes manufacturers and marketers for excellence in developing high-quality products and innovative marketing programs for import cars or trucks – ranging from products that enhance performance, appearance or convenience, to the cataloging, merchandising and advertising that create awareness and fuel demand.
Three Join AASA Board
Three automotive aftermarket executives have joined the board of governors of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA). AASA is the aftermarket market segment association of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA). New board members serving three year terms are: Kevin Baird, CEO, Qualitor Inc., Southfield, Mich.; John Casanova, senior vice president, Remy International, Anderson, Ind.; and John Casanova, senior vice president, Remy International, Anderson, Ind.
Joe Felicelli To Be AASA’s New Chairman
Joe Felicelli, executive vice president, worldwide aftermarket operations, for Federal-Mogul Corp. in Southfield, Mich., will take the reins as the new chairman of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) on Monday, Nov. 1, at the group’s board meeting in Las Vegas. Felicelli is the second aftermarket executive to serve as leader of the association, established in 2002. Current Chairman Charley Johnson, president and CEO of TransPro Inc., in New Haven, Conn., will step down as the group’s first chairman at the November meeting.