J.D. Power and Associates Acquires Automotive Resources Asia
J.D. Power and Associates, a business of The McGraw-Hill Companies, has acquired Automotive Resources Asia (ARA), a market strategy and information firm specializing in Asia’s car markets since 1993. ARA provides market information to automakers and suppliers in the China and the ASEAN region. The company’s surveys are routinely used by global and domestic automobile manufacturers and parts suppliers to collect insights on everything from new-vehicle buyer behavior to future product demand forecasts. The company maintains offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Bangkok.
Sumitomo to Build New Plant in Thailand to Produce Dunlop Tires
Sumitomo Rubber Industries plans to start operating a new tire plant in Thailand by January 2007, according to Ryochi Sawada, president of the tiremaker’s Thai business. Sawada’s remarks were made to media sources in Bangkok. Construction of the new plant, to be located in Rayong province, is slated to begin in August.
Thailand’s Auto Industry Weighs Impact of Natural Disaster
Thailand’s vehicle production next year could drop by 12 percent from the original projection to one million units due in large part to the economic impact of this week’s natural disaster, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).
Car Care Council Women’s Board Announces Winners of the Automotive Communications Awards
The Car Care Council Women’s Board (WB) has announced the winners of the new Automotive Communications Awards (ACA). The awards were presented during the Women’s Board reception on Tuesday, Nov. 2 in Las Vegas, during AAPEX. The Automotive Communications Awards recognize companies/agencies that provide automotive information through outstanding advertising, marketing and PR efforts. The business-to-consumer awards have 14 categories for entry targeted to women, including car care clinics and direct mail piece or campaign/newsletter. The business-to-business awards consist of 21 categories with such options as logo design and special promotions and promotional events/trade show.
Denso’s Thai Unit Aims to Raise Quality, Lower Costs
Autoparts maker Denso Corp.’s Thai unit will work to improve quality while lowering the cost of its products, President Shinji Takeuchi of Denso (Thailand) Co. told The Nihon Keizai Shimbun daily newspaper. The launch of Toyota Motor Corp.’s Innovative International Multi-purpose Vehicle project, in which it produces common automobile models overseas and exports them around the world, is expected to have an impact on the way autoparts makers operate in Southeast Asia.
Goodyear Receives Military Aircraft Tire Development Grant
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company will receive $2.25 million under the defense appropriations bill, passed last week by the U.S. Congress. The grant will fund research and development on the next generation of aircraft tires to be used on the nation’s new Navy and Air Force joint strike fighter jets.