TRW and ArvinMeritor in JV

In a press release, TRW Automotive Aftermarket and ArvinMeritor announces a Shock Absorber Distribution Joint Venture .

With the Joint Venture, TRW and ArvinMeritor will jointly control the future marketing, sales and distribution of the Gabriel and TRW aftermarket programmes throughout Western, Central and Eastern Europe.

See the full press release: http://trw.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=343

European Associations Launch Right to Repair Campaign

Automotive aftermarket and motorist representatives have today launched the Right to Repair Campaign at EquipAuto 2007 to safeguard consumer choice and effective competition in the market for vehicle replacement parts, tools and equipment, servicing and repair.
Campaign spokesperson Sylvia Gotzen: While technological innovations provide better emissions control as well as more safety and comfort, they have made it increasingly challenging to service or repair a vehicle. Fair and full access for independent market operators to technical information, multi-brand diagnostic tools as well as test equipment, replacement parts and training is therefore more than ever crucial to be able to provide European motorists with the quality service and parts they deserve in the aftermarket care of their vehicles,”

While technological innovations provide better emissions control as well as more safety and comfort, they have made it increasingly challenging to service or repair a vehicle. Fair and full access for independent market operators to technical information, multi-brand diagnostic tools as well as test equipment, replacement parts and training is therefore more than ever crucial to be able to provide European motorists with the quality service and parts they deserve in the aftermarket care of their vehicles.

Full story available on the tirereview.com website

Valeo settles with Delphi

In a settlement between Valeo and Delphi in which Valeo allegelly sold defective part to Delphi, the two companies has now reach an agreement in which Valeo will pay Delphi $4 million.

More on the story: http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071009/NEWS03/710090308/1004/news03

Remy set to reorganise

Remy Intenational has received acceptance of its reorganization plan and will procced to commence voluntary proceedings under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Banktuptcy Code to seek confirmation of the plan.

Source: AutoIndustry

Johnson Controls to launch new logo

Johnson Control is launching a new corporate logo and tag-line across its multi-diverse organisations.

The change is coming at the same time as the new CEO Mr. Roell is stepping in and who say the move comes as a result of aligning the corporate strategy. The new tag-line 'Ingenuity Welcome' send a strong signal for potential employees and this is no coincidence. The company believes that building its brand will enable them to attract the best talent and thereby support the cómpanys continued growth.

Privious stand-alone brands will also as part of the new branding strategy become closed tied in with the new corporate identity. Strong product brands such as: HomeLink, York, Optima, Varta, Heliar and LTH will become endorsed Johnson Control brands.

More on the brand change: See the Johnson Controls website

Chinese exhibitor caught by customs at Frankfurt IAA Show

For the first time the IAA has employed a special mobile customs group to check exhibitors from non-EU countries to expose counterfit products. Surprisingly the customes group with assistance from two patent lawyers found only one company in violation of a patent holders IP rights.

More on the story: http://www.autoindustry.co.uk/news/26-09-07_14

Valeo to sell its wiring operation

Yesterday, Valeo confirmed that it is in talk with German company Leoni AG on selling its wiring business. The activities in question had sales of 545 mill. EU in 2006. Leoni AG sad that the acqusition would gain the access to the French market for the first time.

More on this news: http://www.abcmoney.co.uk/news/042007128251.htm

Growing Automotive industry in India

In a recent published research report from Research and Markets Forecast to 2014 it is clear that the Indian Automotive industry has grown rapidly. It is a growth that is set to continue based on an influx of overseas technology and capital to a point were many globally companies now view India more favorably than China as a spuce point for components.

More info on the report: http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070903005017&newsLang=en

Federal-Mogul Gets OK for $3.5B Loan

AUg 29. Federal-Mogul Corp received a court approval to enter into a $3,5 Billion finance package to move the company out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

More: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/5092848.html

Consumer Reports finds maintaining cars for 200,000 miles can save owners thousands of dollars

In the October issue of US magazine 'Consumer Reports' , an interesting research is published which spells good news for the Automotive Aftermarket. In a survey of 6769 readers with more than 200.000 miles on the clock it was found that it pays off to keep and maintain the cars for a long time rather than change it in after 3 - 4 years.

The report gives the folllowing example: 'Consumer Reports estimated the popular Honda Civic EX, with an automatic transmission, could potentially save its owner as much as $20,500 if properly maintained over 15 years — $1,500 more than its purchase price.'

More on this interesting report: http://www.search-autoparts.com/searchautoparts/Web+Exclusive/Good-news-for-the-aftermarket-mdash-Consumer-Repor/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/453716?contextCategoryId=41884&ref=25

Mekonemens struggels to get into the black

Sweden's Mekonomen continues to see red figures following its acqusition of Danish A. Østergaard in 2002. However, Mekonomen will radically change its distribution net for the sencond half of 2007 to focus on improved customer service.

More on the news (in Danish): http://www.motormagasinet.dk/artikel/VisArtikel.aspx?SiteID=MM&Lopenr=109030048

Aftermarket in China worth 19 billion US withn 3 years

China became the words second largest car maket last year. By 2010 it is estimated that there will more than 55 million cars on the road. Of these app. 40% will have reached an age were they require larger maintenace repairs. In total the swervice aftermarket is estimated to be worth app. 107 billion DKK within the next 3 years.

More on this news (in Danish): http://www.motormagasinet.dk/artikel/VisArtikel.aspx?SiteID=MM&Lopenr=108270036

Champion Spark Plug celebrates its 100 years anniversary

Federal-Mogul launces an extensive advertising campaign to celebrate the Champion Spark plug's 100th anniversary.

More on the anniversary here: http://www.imakenews.com/dealersf/e_article000889227.cfm

China Automakers booming

China's largest automaker: 'Shanghai Automotive Co' has reported a 358% increase in first-half net profit!! Vechile production rose from 682000 units to 840000 units.

More on the news: http://www.autoindustry.co.uk/news/22-08-07_1

75 Mph on AA batteries!!

192 AA bateries powers a racer to 75mph!

Bosch to take on low-price car challenges

BOSCH sees a future trend with an increase in low price vehicles, driven by market uptake from the developing markets. The trend towards cheaper cars will affect the market for automotive electronics as the price level will drop. BOSCH sees three strategies to meet this challenge:

1. Simplify existing standard products
2. Adopt cheaper products from even cheaper vechiles e.g. motorcycles
3. Develop specific components. As an example BOSCH has developed an ignition coil which can supply two different ignition energy levels.

More on future trends as seen by Robert Bosch, here: http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=201801393

Visteon downgrade on poor US car sales

Suppliers Tenneco Inc. and Visteon Corp. stand to do the worst if weak U.S. auto sales continue. On the flip side, BorgWarner Inc. and TRWAutomotive Inc. are best positioned for a market downturn because they rely less on North American markets, the report said.

See the full story here: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070820/REG/70820003/1170/rss11&rssfeed=rss11

Delphi to sell catalyst business to Umicore

In their ongoing effort to refine their product portfolio, Delphi yesterday received approval fro the US Bankruptcy Court for the sale of assets related to the company's global OE and Aftermarket catalyst business to Umicore for $75 million.

Ful story here: http://delphi.wieck.com/pressSingle/value=DEL2007081649893

Automotive Batteries Trends

A fresh market report from Just-Auto predicts that the trend in ever increasing need for vehicle electricity will most likely cause the auto industry to start using two batteries: - one for starting and another for 'general purpose'

See the full story here: http://www.just-auto.com/store/product.aspx?id=45061&lk=rotw_arch

Automotive Electrical Products Market to Reach US$52 Billion by 2010

According to a new research report by GLO the World Automotice Electrical Products market are estimated to reach US$ 52 billion by 2010 with Europe as the largest geographical market (27,83% of of 2006), while the APAC and LA are forecast to out grow all others in terms of growth rate.

More on this story:
http://pr-gb.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5271&Itemid=9

Valeo Creates a New Joint Venture in India With Minda

Velea has entered into a JV with Minda for the production of Starters and Alternators. THe new company will be called Valeo Minda Electrical Systems and be owned 66,7% by Valeo and the remaining 33,3% by Minda.

Currently the total market for these products are estimated to around 1,5 million units a year with an anual growth rate of app. 9%.

See the full story here:
http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2007/07/24/055988.html

Chinese supplier Wonder Auto to list on Nasdaq

Chinas´'s second largest manufacture of automotive electrical parts has been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Global Market. To see the full story follow this link:
http://www.autoindustry.co.uk/news/07-08-07_13