Shortly after celebrating his retirement at the end of 2009, Richard “Dick” Morgan, president emeritus, Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, was kind enough to sit down with aftermarketNews to talk about the changes he has seen in the nearly half a century that he’s been in the industry and what he hopes and expects of the future. Our top story this week — you can read all three parts of this exclusive Executive Interview with Dick Morgan here.
Another highly read news item to break late this week was Federal-Mogul’s announcement of a new year-long, multi-brand campaign to help drive demand for premium repair solutions. The Federal-Mogul Smart Choice campaign, which will begin in late February and extend throughout 2010, was designed to reinforce the company’s message that longer-lasting, better-performing premium replacement products are today’s best option for professionals and do-it-yourselfers performing virtually any common automotive repair.
Engine Parts Group Inc. announced this week that it honored five of its top suppliers as Featured Suppliers during its annual winter shareholders meeting. Companies recognized as Featured Suppliers were Durabond Bearing Co., Hastings Piston Rings, JE Pistons, Melling Engine Parts and SA Gear. The suppliers were selected by Engine Parts Group members for exhibiting value by offering exceptional programs, policies and working relationships. Companies chosen for the Featured Supplier award also must be the primary source in its product category to at least 85 percent of Engine Parts Group members.
Readers were also interested this week in more details about a recent survey from AutoMD, which showed that motorists are keeping their vehicles longer – by at least 50,000 miles. The survey, which included online responses from more than 600 car owners in December 2009 and January 2010, revealed that consumers are breaking out of the buy-every-few-years cycle, opting to drive and repair instead. Nearly 50 percent of survey respondents indicated that their current vehicle had more than 100,000 miles. A combined 69 percent reported that they planned to drive their current vehicle for 150,000 miles or more (13 percent), or until their vehicle dies (56 percent).
This week, our sister publication Tire Review reported that Continental Tire recently underwent a subtle name-change. Previously known as Continental Tire North America, the new name for the passenger, light truck and commercial vehicle tire divisions in the region is now Continental Tire the Americas LLC. The change was made to better reflect the growth of the tiremaker in both North and South America, the company said this week. One of the key actions in 2009 that led to the decision to modify the name was the acquisition of a leading passenger, light truck and commercial tire company in Latin America, Compania Ecuatoriana del Caucho S.A. (ERCO). The Ecuador-based company includes a tire plant in Cuenca, as well associated operations including a rubber plantation, retreading plant, tire import businesses and various retail chains in the Andean region, Continental said.
