Affinia to Expand Global Footprint through Chinese Drum and Rotor Business Acquisition
Affinia Group Inc. has announced plans to acquire 85 percent of HBM Investment Limited, owner of one of the world’s largest drum and rotor manufacturing companies, Longkou Haimeng Machining Co. Ltd. The company said the acquisition will significantly expand its worldwide manufacturing capacity for high-quality brake components and also provides Affinia with a strategic opportunity for continued market expansion through Haimeng’s current OEM and aftermarket customer base in Asia and Europe.
The Week in Review (May 12-16, 2008)
By Amy Antenora The Week in Review offers a snapshot of the most highly read stories of the week as seen on aftermarketNews. To access the complete stories, simply click on the highlighted links. If you missed reading one of our daily news emails, just click on the link that says "News Archives" at the
General Motors Recognizes Best Suppliers
JACKSONVILLE , Fla. – General Motors Corp. recently recognized 97 companies with its highly coveted Supplier of the Year Award. There are 57 multiple-year winners among this year’s nominees. “GM is proud to honor our best suppliers with the Supplier of the Year Award, an award that we believe is the most meaningful honor in
Aftermarket Professionals Graduate from University of the Aftermarket’s Leadership 2.0 Program
Leadership 2.0, the University of the Aftermarket’s Executive Development Program, concluded on Friday, April 18, with a graduation ceremony for its 19 participants. Participants in this year’s program represent a wide-array of aftermarket companies at all levels of the industry. Part I was held at Northwood University’s Troy campus in September 2007.
VIDEO FEATURE: LDN Fun Run Raises $6,000 for GAAS Scholarships
A record number of aftermarket execs laced up their running shoes for a worthy cause last week. The Leadership Development Network (LDN) hosted its annual Fun Run benefit during the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) Spring Leadership Days, which took place April 9-11 in Bonita Springs, Florida. While in Bonita Springs, aftermarketNews Editor Amy Antenora talked with LDN Chairman Jason Porrini about the history of the Fun Run, as well as his own experiences as one of the first participants in LDN’s Next Generation Club program.
From Counterman.com: Ignition System Sales in a Changing Market
Distributors started disappearing from engines back in the late 1980s and early 1990s as the automakers began to phase in distributorless ignition systems (DIS) followed by coil-on-plug (COP) ignition systems. Everybody said distributors and eventually spark plug wire sets were going away. Well, here it is more than 20 years later and auto parts stores still carry a hefty inventory of distributors, caps, rotors and spark plug wire sets. But in addition to these parts, store shelves are also stocked with DIS coil packs and COP coils. There are more SKUs than ever and the product mix is constantly changing.
Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance Sails Into Florida for Annual Meeting; Outstanding Vendors Honored
SAN ANTONIO — The shareholders of Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, Inc. (Alliance) gathered this week in Boca Raton, FL, for the group’s annual winter meeting. The meeting is a culmination of the past year’s efforts of the Alliance, which markets for Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper parts stores and certified service centers. Reports and breakout meetings
2007 Readers Choice Awards Announced
For 11 straight years, Underhood Service, ImportCar and Brake & Front End magazines have recognized the advertisers who are the foremost communicators in the industry with their annual Readers’ Choice Award. Given to only 10 companies from each magazine, the winners are determined by surveys conducted by Babcox Research that ask readers which ads they recall seeing and reading.
CAWA Board of Directors Elect Officers for 2008
LAS VEGAS — At its annual meeting to kick off the 2007 Industry Week in Las Vegas, the CAWA Board of Directors elected the following individuals to serve as officers for 2008: • Chair of the Board – Pat Winters, CARQUEST of California; • Vice Chair of the Board – David Finley, NAPA Auto and
First Woman Elected as Secretary to the CAWA Board of Directors
From CAWA Industry Bits The California/Nevada Automotive Wholesalers’ Association (CAWA) has announced that Mary Davis of NGK Spark Plugs has been elected as secretary to the CAWA board of directors for 2008. She has served on the association’s Manufacturers Advisory Council and board of directors for the past three years. Davis represents the first woman