AFTERMARKET NEWS: From manufacturing to distribution to retail to recycling, The Autoparts Report covers all areas of the automotive aftermarket.
- Automotive Recyclers Look To Proposed Legislation For Nationwide System To Identify Severely Damaged Vehicles
- R. L. Polk & Co. Forms Aftermarket Advisory Board
- Toyota Said It Will Target U.S. Aftermarket
- Kmart and Penske Reach Agreement On Service Center Closings
- Monro Muffler Brake Expands Presence in Key Mid-Atlantic Market
- Aftermarket Adds Service Capacity As Car Dealers Trim Service Bays
- Aftermarket Revenues Climb As Net Income Declines During FY-1999-2002
- Delphi Signs Pact With Aftermarket Distributor
- Aftermarket Is Crowded For Constant Velocity Driveaxle, Boot Kit Manufacturers
- Mitsubishi To Dismantle Parts Supplier Network
MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS, JOINT VENTURES, DIVESTITURES: Keep up to date with the changing structure of both the OE and aftermarket industry segments, as companies embark on strategic initiatives to shape the future of the auto industry.
- DaimlerChrysler, Mitsubishi Sign Cross-Supply Commercial Engine Agreement
- Delphi and Ingersoll-Rand's Torrington Unit Form Global Steering Alliance
- Hayes Lemmerz Acquires Tennessee Foundry
- GKN Boost Its Ownership In Indian Unit
- Federal-Mogul Sells Signal-Stat Lighting Assets To Truck-Lite
- Nissan Motor, Chinese May Form Joint Venture
- Valeo, International Rectifier Form Alliance
- GKN To Acquire Part Interest In Japanese Powertrain Parts Maker
- Lear Strengthens Its Manufacturing Capability In China With New Joint Venture
- Eaton Forms Alliance With Chinese Independent Axle Manufacturer
- Sumitomo Electric To Buy Calsonic' Wiring Harness Operations
- Valeo To Team Up With Jabil In Electronics Products Co.
- Kawasaki Steel, Stelco Of Canada To Cooperate On Auto Steel Venture
- SMK Speedy International Unit To Be Sold To Tuffy
- GM Takes Stake In Chinese Minivan Producer
- IMPCO Tech To Spin Off Fuel Cell Subsidiary
- Dow Chemical, Sumitomo Rubber To Jointly Develop Run-Flat Tire
- Audiovox Acquires Code-Alarm
- Boston Acoustics Will Supply Auto Speakers To Visteon
- Hastings, Intraco In Piston Rings Venture
- Johnson Controls May Sell Stake In Donnelly
- Timken In Bearing Components Joint Venture
- Honda In Joint Venture With Sanyo To Produce Hybrid Car Batteries
- Magna Plans To Acquire Donnelly
- Hyundai Considering Engine Venture With Daimler, Mitsubishi
- Lear Corp. Buys Stake in South Korean Seat Supplier
- Bell & Howell To Develop Mazda North American Electronics Parts Catalog
- TRW Files With SEC For Spin Off Of Auto Unit
- Standard Automotive To Sell Truck Body/Trailer Division
- Delphi In Aftermarket Telematics Venture With Directed Electronics
- Delphi Considering Sale Of Auto Instrument Business To Siemens
- Sumitomo, Michelin, ArvinMeritor To Form Wheel Venture
- Isuzu, Mitsubishi Set Up Truck Joint Venture In Thailand
- Kawasaki Steel, INI Form Stainless Steel Sheet Venture For Autos
EXPANSION, CONTRACTION, RESTRUCTURING: Capital investment in the automotive industry is not a luxury, it's a necessity-- in order to maintain or expand market share in this highly competitive battleground.
- Hyundai Breaks Ground On Its First U.S. Auto Plant
- Korean Partsmaker Mando Eyes Global Markets
- Denso Cuts U.S. Workforce, Citing Slowdown In Telematics Demand
- Denso To Split Tennessee Operations Into Separate Companies
- DaimlerChrysler To Consider Light Commercial Vehicle Market Entry In North America
- BMW Will Increase U.S. Production
- Alcan Expands European Auto Parts Capabilities
- Nissan To Expand Mississippi Plant
- Magna Takes Step To Assemble Complete Vehicles
- Dana To Realign Auto System Group
- Valeo To Form Separate Unit For Its Clutches and Friction Materials Activities
- Collins & Aikman To Close Swedish Plant
- American Axle Co. to Add 200 Jobs to Three Rivers Plant
- Chrysler To End Production At Ontario Trim Plant
- Ford To Build New V-6 Engine At Cleveland Engine Plant
- Foreign Tire Producers Building Capacity In China
- Chrysler Group To Redesign Production Planning Process To Better React To Market Changes
INDUSTRY TRENDS: A key feature of The Autoparts Report is its coverage of trends and developments in the auto/auto component sectors. The whole automotive industry is undergoing a major evolution on a global basis.
- Europe Car Sales Predicted To Decline In 2002
- GM To Keep Operating Two Truck Factories Because Of Demand
- Delphi Seeks New Business Outside Auto Sector
- Chrysler Looks To Suppliers For Up To 24 Percent Price Cuts
- U.S. Heavy Duty Truck Sales Expected To Drop For Third Straight Year
- GM Said Antilock Brakes To Be Equipped On 70 Percent Of Its 2003 Models
- Car Ownership In Russia Is Expected Double By 2005
- Price Competition In Global Markets To Stay Strong, New Study Forecasts
- XM Satellite Radio Signed Agreements With Two More Automakers
- Sirius Service Roll-Out Will Be Complete In July
- Women Are Growing Force In DIY Vehicle Service
- Delphi Sales May Be Hurt Because Of GM's Decision To Eliminate Some Auto Features
- Aftermarket Sales Grew 3.5 Percent in 2001
- Big Three Cost Reduction Includes Eliminating Certain Vehicle Features
- China's Auto Industry To Undergo Further Consolidation
- New Innovations Will Drive Global Seating Market
- Strong Intelligent Automotive Technologies Growth Expected
- OEM Automotive Electronics To Grow Nearly 7 percent Annually Through 2006
- Automakers Internet Spending Climbed In 2001
- Toyota Said It Will Source More Parts In The EU
NEW/EXPANDED FACILITIES: New facilities, upgrades, and expansions are continually changing the automotive landscape, both in the U.S. and abroad.
- J. Eberspaecher Opens New North American Headquarters In Novi, Mich.
- Bosch To Upgrade Tennessee Facility
- Asahi Glass Forms $100 Million Mexican Auto Glass Joint Venture
- Hyundai Motor To Assemble New Vehicle In Venezuela
- Bridgestone Is Building Distribution Center In Texas
- Akebono's Will Open New Kentucky Facility
- Visteon's New Corporate Offices To Open In 2004
- Honda To Set Up Second Assembly Plant In China
- Motorola Opens Automotive Headquarters In Mich.
- Hyundai Said Alabama And Kentucky Are Finalists For New Assembly Facility
- Federal-Mogul To Open Technical Center In Japan
- Michelin's Mexico Plant To Begin Operations
- Webasto Roof Systems Inc. To Open Second Facility in Lexington, Kentucky
- Nissan To Expand Mich. Technical Center
INTERNATIONAL: Globalization in the auto industry is rapidly evolving. Cross border tie-ups are a common occurrence for both the auto makers and the auto parts producers.
- Autoliv Begins Airbags Production In China
- BMW Wins Approval For Chinese Car Plant
- SGL Carbon To Start Mass-Producing Carbon Brake Discs
- Fiat's See Further Sales, Profit Decline
- Aisin Seiki To Produce Auto Parts In Brazil
- Opel Belgium To Produce New Vehicle In Belgium
- GM Japan Joins Japanese Automobile Trade Association
- China Clamps Down On Auto Import Licenses
- Ford's China Plant To Begin Production In 2003
- DaimlerChrysler To Continue Production Of Jeeps In China
- Brazil Suppliers Are Facing Slowdown
- Hayes Lemmerz To Restructure European Wheel Business
- Japan's Aftermarket Still A Challenge For New Entrants
- Fiat , GM To Produce Transmissions In Austria
- Honda Says It Will Up Output In China
- EU Finds That Car Prices Vary Up To 40% Across Europe
- Central Glass, Saint-Gobain In Auto Glass Venture
- Falling Car Sales, Rising Debt May Result Layoffs For Fiat
- DENSO To Begin Production Of Diesel Common Rail Systems In Thailand and Hungary
- Toyota To Produce Transmissions In India
- Toyota To Boost Sales In Mexico
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MATERIALS TRENDS: Lighter, yet stronger, materials are finding increased application in almost all major components in today's vehicles.
- Japan's Steelmakers To Seek Higher Prices For Sheet Steel
- Dow Automotive In Advanced Resin Development Alliance With Cyclics
- Rapid Growth Seen For Stainless Steel Honeycombs In Catalytic Converters
- Intermet Says Steel/Aluminum Prices Are Surging
- Powered Metal Components Benefit From Increased U.S. Automotive Production
- Owens Corning To Target Composites Growth In Automotive Segment
PRODUCTIVITY: Cost reduction is the mantra for survival in the automotive supplier sector, especially in the OE marketplace. Annual demands by automakers for lower component costs puts an enormous amount of pressure on suppliers.
- JAMA Canada To Support Government Competitiveness Program
- Chrysler To Reduce Vehicle Development Costs
- Harbour Report Gives Toyota North America Top Marks For Stamping Productivity
- GM Said Its Productivity May Surpass Ford's
FORECASTS: Looking ahead - The Autoparts Report reviews important studies from the most highly regarded automotive research organizations to provide its readers with incite regarding the future of the auto/auto parts industry.
- Sirius Subscriber Estimates Lowered
- Global Light Vehicle Sales Projected To Be 56.2 Million In 2002
- Peugeot Predicts Sales In Mexico To Climb 60% This Year
- Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel Supply Is Expected To Meet 2006 Demand For New Diesel Engines
- New Study Finds Declining Profits For Auto Component Manufacturers
INTERNATIONAL TRADE: With foreign sourcing of auto components on the rise, trade problems become more commonplace. Global alliances also play an important part in automotive trade. The Autoparts Report tracks U.S. trade in auto parts for more than 120 parts categories and covers the cross-border arrangements that result in increased trade flow.
- Mexico's Auto Parts Exports Decline
- Ford To Increase Turkish Vehicle Exports
- Steel Tariffs Criticized By U.S. Auto Industry, Europeans
- Chile, Argentina Form For Auto Trade Agreement
- Auto Suppliers Ask Administration To Review Steel Tariff Decision
- U.S. Auto Replacement Glass Industry To Get Relief From Imports From China
- Renault Pans To Export Brazilian-Made Trucks To Europe
FINANCIALS: For the past 18 months, the revenues of companies in the OE and aftermarket have been increasing, but the bottom line for these industry subsectors have steadily declined during that period. However, several companies within this industry continue to buck the trend.
- ArvinMeritor Posts 35% Rise In First Quarter Profits
- Eaton Forms Alliance With Chinese Independent Axle Manufacturer
- Tower Said Earning To Improve; Awarded New Frame Contract
- SPX's Fourth Quarter Earnings Grow
- Wescast Earnings Climb 26 Percent In Fourth Quarter
- Pep Boys 4th-Quarter Net Income Soars
- Visteon Declares Dividend
- Profits In Automotive Sector To Top Estimates For 2002
- Dana Earning Dip In Fourth Quarter
- R&B Inc. Earnings Rise, Guides Higher For 2002
- AutoZone Earnings Soar In Second Quarter
- Suppliers Give Upbeat Picture At Global Auto Conference
- Champion Post Loss For The Fourth Quarter
- Genuine Parts Report Lower Revenue, Profit For 2001
- J.L. French Automotive Castings Files For IPO
- Johnson Controls Profit Climbs
- O'Reilly Automotive Reports First-Quarter Results, Record Sales and Earnings
- Federal-Mogul Reports Fourth Quarter Loss
- Aftermarket Technology Reduces Debt And Reiterates Earnings
- Textron First Quarter Earnings, Revenues Fall
- American Axle's Two Largest Stockholders File To Sell 20 Percent Of Outstanding Shares
- Superior Industries' First Quarter Earnings, Revenue Hit New High
- Global Suppliers' Profits Fell 25 Percent In 2001
- Donnelly Reported Stronger Earnings, Lower Sales
- CSK Auto Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2001 Financial Results
- SPX First Quarter Earnings Exceeds Estimate
- Tenneco Automotive Reports Narrower 2002 First Quarter Loss
- Strong Auto Business Ups Timken's Bottom Line
- Exide Technologies Files For Bankruptcy Protection
- Gentex Revenues, Net Income Climb In First Quarter
- Dura Automotive Beats Estimates In First Quarter; Revenue Down
- Lear's First Quarter Earnings Up 32%
- Intermet's Profits Climb In First Quarter Despite Lower Sales
- Genuine Parts Said First Quarter Sales, Income Declined
- BorgWarner Reports Income Up 13%, Sales Up 8% In First Quarter
- TRW's First Quarter 2002 Income Jumped By 20 Percent
COMPONENT SHARING/CROSS PLATFORM
- DaimlerChrysler To Share More Parts Among Brands
- Renault, Nissan To Share Components
- XM Satellite Radio To Be Offered On All 2003 Cadillac Models
- Diesel Fuel Catalyst Shows Sharp Decrease In Harmful Emissions
- Navistar Chairman Urges Auto Industry To Boost Use Of Clean Diesel Engines
GOVERNMENT REGULATION/ACTION: Legislation, regulations and other government actions plays a major role in defining the planning function at auto/auto parts makers.
- Administration Is Considering Mandating Anti-Lock Brakes
- Senate Votes Against Tougher CAFÉ Standards
- Trucking Industry Asks Government To Delay New Diesel Engines Standards
- Tire Pressure Monitoring Guidelines Set By NHTSA
- Car Makers Seek To Defeat Senate CAFE Measures
- Mexico And EU To Consider Elimination Of Automobile Tariffs Ahead of Schedule
- Michigan Governor Proposes Next Generation Energy Initiative
- EU To Investigate British State Aid To Ford
- U.S. Customs Ask Auto Industry To Help In Fight Against Terrorism
- China To Require Tougher Vehicle Emission Standards
NEW CONTRACTS: The Autoparts Report keep tracks on the changing supplier/manufacturer relationships by reporting on notable new contract awards.
- Federal-Mogul Receives Contract to Supply New Monosteel™ Piston for Truck Engine
- Delphi's Awarded $400 Engine Management Business From Hyundai
- Delphi Receives New Quadrasteer Orders
- Ford To Source New Truck Engine From Navistar
- Toyota To Procure More Chinese Auto Parts
- Sanden Wins Compressor Order From Peugeot Citroen
- New Lincoln's New Aviator SUV To Get Continental Teves Brake Systems
- TRW Awarded Full Braking Contract For New Toyota Corolla
- Collins & Aikman Corp. Announces New Interiors Business
- ArvinMeritor Awarded Volvo Axle Contract
- Toyota To Supply Diesel Engines To BMW
- Johnson Controls To Boost Purchases From Minority-Owned Suppliers
- Linamar Corp. Awarded Axle Components Business
- Delphi Get Additional Audio Business From Ford
- TI Auto To Supply Fuel System Parts To 5 Major Producers
- Dana Corp. Awarded Axles, Driveshafts & Full Frame Business For Redesigned GMC Vans
- American Axle Awarded Driveline Systems Business For New Hummer H2 Government
- North America Vehicle Production Climbs 7.2% Through Mid-March
- Dual-Fuel Vehicle Program Lacks Sufficient Infrastructure
- Honeywell Wins Patent Case vs. BorgWarner In Germany
- Sirius Satellite Radio Begins Service In Selected Cities
- Johnson Controls Says Donnelly Infringed On Car Mirror Patents
- Visteon Settles European Pricing Issues With Ford
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