Kayaba to Expand Global Manufacturing Operations
Next month, Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd. (KYB) will acquire a 75 percent shareholding in AP Amortiguadores SA (APA) currently held by ArvinMeritor. In the U.S., Kayaba is set to expand its manufacturing base at Franklin, Ind, to support growing sales of KYB shocks and struts to the North American aftermarket.
Johnson Controls Delays Move
Plymouth Township, Mich., will retain its largest taxpayer for the time being. Johnson Controls officials recently announced they will not to move to Salem Township this year, but still expect to relocate their headquarters and technology facilities from Plymouth Township to a larger site when a suitable location is found.
Car Care Council Reports Increased Web Site Usage, Women’s Board Membership Up
In 2003, usage of the Car Care Council’s Car Care Newspaper Supplement (CCNS) Web site grew dramatically, the council said. The growth coincides with the first year of the Car Care Council’s “Be Car Care Aware” consumer-education campaign. In addition to the news of increased usage of Car Care Council materials, the Car Care Council Women’s Board’s announced that its membership more than doubled in 2003, setting a record high number.
AASA to Host University of the Aftermarket’s Inventory Management Seminar
Gain a better understanding of the fundamentals of inventory control management and the purchasing process by attending the University of the Aftermarket’s Inventory Management Seminar. The event is set for Monday and Tuesday, March 8-9, at MEMA’s Research Triangle Park, N.C., headquarters and will be hosted by the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA).
Auto Executives Don’t See Big Profit Rise Until 2006, KPMG Study Reveals
The global automotive industry is not expected to return to peak profitability levels until at least 2006, according to the results of an annual global survey by KPMG, an audit, tax and advisory firm. However, automotive executives indicate the worst is behind them, citing 2003 as the worst year for profits in the half-decade, KPMG said. KPMG’s fifth annual survey, conducted in October and November 2003, polled 100 American, Asian and European automotive executives from 19 automakers and from 49 Tier 1 and 32 Tier 2 suppliers.
Most Influential Women in Collision Repair for 2003 Honored
Akzo Nobel took time last month to honor five exceptional women from the collision repair industry. The five women were recognized as the 2003 Most Influential Women in the Collision Repair Industry, an award Akzo Nobel has been presenting for five years. The 2003 Most Influential Women are as follows: Bertha Bertrand, co-manager, Brian Cullen Body Shop, St. Catharines, Ontario; Teresa Bolton, collision repair/refinishing specialist, ASE, Leesburg, Va.; Georgina Carson, editor, BodyShop Business magazine, Akron, Ohio; Karen Fierst, president, KerenOr Consultants, Silver Spring, Md.; and Eileen Haberman, vice president and co-owner, Glen’s Auto Body, Waukesha, Wis.