Wins Tech of the Year PHOENIX (Feb. 10, 2007) - Motor Age Contributing Editor Pete Meier of Zephyrhills, FL, competing against his peers at the recent Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) Worldwide convention, garnered top honors and the title of CARQUEST/MACS Mobile A/C and Engine Cooling System/Heat Transfer Technician of the Year. Sponsored by CARQUEST and MACS Worldwide, the competition was open to mobile air conditioning (A/C) and heat transfer service technicians in the United States and Canada. Three finalists were selected from the entries and provided an all-expense paid trip to Repair Round-Up, MACS 27th annual Convention and Trade Show, where the winner and runners-up were announced. Meier took the online test and competed against 12 semifinalists to become the champion. His prizes include a Panasonic 42-in. plasma HDTV, a Panasonic 1,000-watt home theater system and the opportunity to wave the green flag as a grand co-marshal at the CARQUEST 300 in Charlotte, NC, on May 26, 2007. David Taylor of Sanford, NC, took home the first runner-up prize, including a Canon PowerShot 6 Megapixel Digital Camera and a Canon PIXMA Photo Printer. Robert Jacobs of Van Wert, OH, was the second prize runner-up and received an Apple video iPod. (Source: MACS Worldwide) Calling All
GAAS Scholarship Recipients ELGIN, IL- Over the last 10 years, the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) Scholarship Fund has awarded more than 1,150 scholarships, representing more than $1 million in aid. Now, GAAS organizers are looking for help from its former scholarship recipients. The group is currently putting together a promotional video, brochure and update to its Web site - and is looking for former scholarship recipients who are now working in the industry. GAAS says it is especially in need of testimonies from former recipients who are working in automotive, diesel repair or in collision repair. Anyone interested in participating should contact Gary McCoy, Fairway Communications, at (847) 622-7228 or via e-mail. [email protected]. Bosch Buys Beissbarth, Sicam MUNICH, GERMANY (Feb. 14, 2007) - Beissbarth GmbH and the Italian manufacturer Sicam s.r.l., also a part of the Beissbarth Automotive Group, are about to become members of the Bosch Group. The acquisition of the two companies Beissbarth GmbH and Sicam s.r.l. by the Bosch Group still requires the approval of the German and Italian antitrust authorities. While keeping the formal corporate structures, Beissbarth GmbH and Sicam s.r.l. are to be integrated into the Bosch Diagnostics business unit of the Bosch Automotive Aftermarket division. (Source: Beissbarth GmbH) AASP-MN to Award
16 Automotive Scholarships MINNEAPOLIS (Feb. 9, 2007) - The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers - Minnesota (AASP-MN) announced that through its successful fund-raising drive and with a generous donation from the Minnesota State I-CAR Committee, it will increase the number of scholarships it's offering to Minnesota's automotive students. A total of 16 $500 scholarships are available to students enrolled in post-secondary automotive (mechanical or collision) programs. Recipients must be entering the second year of a two-year automotive program (certified by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation) in the fall of 2007. Applications will be reviewed by a committee of industry representatives, with consideration given to scholastic achievement, education and career goals, financial need and written recommendations. Applications must be postmarked no later than March 23, 2007. For more scholarship application information, visit the AASP-MN Web site at www.aaspmn.org or call the association's office at (612) 623-1110 or (800) 852-9071. (Source: AASP-MN) Mac Tools Honors Million Dollar Man
COLUMBUS, OH (Feb. 15, 2007) - To recognize outstanding performance from its tool distributors, Mac Tools recently created the Serediak Award for Sales Achievement. It is named in honor of Rod Serediak, a company tool distributor, and his wife, Sue, for their contributions to the company. The award will be presented to Mac Tools distributors who reach $1 million in purchases in one year. Serediak was the first distributor to reach $1 million in purchases, and currently, no other distributor has reached this goal. (Source: Mac Tools) Auto Maintenance Schools
Spring up in China MATAWAN, NJ (Feb. 15, 2007) - Deep Field Technologies Inc., a specialized firm involved in the acquisition and build-out of technology, telephony and software companies, has entered into a definitive agreement with Beijing Sino-US Jinche Yingang Auto Technological Services Ltd. ("AutoMart") and Hebei University for the establishment of automotive maintenance schools at the AutoMart facilities in Beijing. AutoMart, a full-service automotive repair and maintenance company operating throughout Beijing, will also be involved with Hebei University in its planned expansion of a trade school in the Fangshan district of Beijing. This school will offer training in automotive after-sale service, automotive engineering and automotive repair. "The rapid growth of the number of automobiles in China, and specifically in Beijing, creates a constant need for well-trained automotive technicians, especially given the complexity of today's cars," says Guisan Pang, CEO of AutoMart. "We are always in the process of providing training on the latest automotive techniques to both new and established employees." (Source: Deep Field Technologies Inc.) WIX Kicks Off NASCAR Contest GASTONIA, NC (Feb. 8, 2007) - WIX Filters will host its third annual Lap Leader Award Contest in 2007, giving race fans the chance to earn prizes for correctly predicting the winner of the WIX Filters Lap Leader Award each weekend in the Top 3 NASCAR racing series. "It [the contest] provides race fans with the chance to test their racing knowledge and win great prizes," says Dave McColley, vice president of marketing for WIX Filters. "Participants have a chance to win company merchandise, Richard Petty Driving Experience 'ride-along' packages and a grand-prize trip to a 2008 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup event." The 2007 contest launched Feb. 13 for the race weekend at Daytona International Speedway Feb. 16 through 18. Prizes are awarded weekly to contestants who correctly select which driver will win the WIX Filters Lap Leader Award; in the event of a tie, the winner is the contestant who comes closest to predicting the correct number of laps led. Monthly and quarterly prizes are awarded to contestants who have amassed the most points in the specified timeframe, and the grand-prize winner is selected based on the total amount of points accumulated during the season. To join, visit www.wixfilters.com and click on the Lap Leader Award banner. Complete contest rules are available online at www.wixlapleader.com/lapleader/details.jsp. (Source: WIX Filters) Chrysler Unveils New V8 for Pickups CHICAGO (Feb. 7, 2007) - Chrysler Group has unveiled a new 4.7L V8 engine that will be introduced in the new 2008 Dodge Dakota mid-size truck.
4.7L Corsair engine
(Photo: DCX) The new V-8 incorporates two spark plugs per cylinder, increased compression ratio, improved cylinder-head port flow and a new combustion system, says Chrysler. It provides 290 horsepower, a 25 percent increase, and 320 ft.-lb of torque, a 10 percent increase. The new engine is also capable of operating on E85 ethanol fuel and meets federal Bin 8A emission standards and California ULEV standards. The automaker says the improvements in the new V8 are the result of significant revisions to the induction system, as well as a lightweight piston/rod assembly and reduced accessory drive noise through lower accessory drive speed. Engineers improved the engine's smoothness at idle with a new valve-lash adjuster system. The engine is also equipped with Electronic Throttle Control. (Source: DaimlerChrysler) Icahn to Acquire Lear Corp. SOUTHFIELD, MI (Feb. 9, 2007) - Lear Corp., a supplier of automotive seating, electronics and electrical distribution systems, has agreed to the acquisition agreement presented by Carl C. Icahn's affiliate American Real Estate Partners LP (AREP), a diversified holding company. The agreement is subject to the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Lear common stock, regulatory filings and approvals and other customary closing conditions. In addition, under the terms of the agreement, Lear may solicit alternative proposals or consider unsolicited proposals from third parties for a period of 45 days from the execution of the agreement. If Lear accepts another proposal, a break-up fee would be payable to AREP. (Source: Lear Corp.) Senate Passes
Minimum Wage Legislation WASHINGTON (Feb. 5, 2007) - The U.S. Senate has passed the Minimum Wage Increase Act of 2007 by a vote of 94-3. This marks the first time the minimum wage has been voted an increase in 10 years. The legislation would increase the federal minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour over the next two years. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007, H.R. 2, in January. However, H.R. 2 did not include any tax breaks and the Democrats did not allow amendments to be offered during debate. This legislation passed 315-116. Included in the Senate's Minimum Wage Increase Act of 2007 is a package of small-business tax incentives intended for companies that employ minimum-wage workers. The package includes credits for small businesses that hire hard-to-employ or disadvantaged workers, including veterans disabled after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks; a reduced period of depreciation of improvements on leased property; increased deductions for improving buildings; and measures to help small businesses simplify their bookkeeping and tax purposes. The full text of both the Senate and House bills can be viewed at www.TakingTheHill.com. (Source: ASA)Toyota: Automakers Must
Work Together CHICAGO (Feb. 8, 2007) - In a speech to the Economic Club of Chicago, Toyota Motors North America President Jim Press called for automakers to cooperate with one another and form partnerships to share clean-air technology. "It's clear to me that we in the industry need to make some fundamental changes in our relationships with suppliers, with government, with communities and with one another," Press said. He added that automakers should compete in the showroom, but collaborate on reducing global warming, introducing safety features and boosting fuel economy. One example he cited was Toyota licensing its hybrid technology to Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., which uses it in the Altima hybrid sedan. In addition, Toyota and General Motors are cooperating on developing fuel cells. Press noted that Toyota already has ongoing partnerships with several automakers, such as with General Motors to produce Pontiacs at a plant in California and with Subaru to produce vehicles at a Lafayette, IN, assembly plant. He also said that Toyota and Isuzu were working together on clean diesel technology. When asked about a possible Toyota-Ford hook-up, Press confirmed that the Japanese automaker's chairman recently met with Ford's CEO, but he says talk of a partnership is premature at best. "While Ford CEO Alan Mulally and Toyota Chairman Fujio Cho share a lot of the same issues and concerns, there's nothing that has come out of those conversations other than a get-acquainted opportunity," said Press. (Source: American International Automobile Dealers
Association) New Car Buyers Give Thumbs Up to Kia Web Site WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA (Feb. 1, 2007) -Kia.com is the most useful manufacturer Web site for new-vehicle shopping, according to the recent J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Manufacturer Web Site Evaluation Study (MWES) - Wave 1. The semiannual study measures the usefulness of manufacturer Web sites during the new-vehicle shopping process. New-vehicle shoppers evaluate Web sites in four key areas: appearance, speed, navigation and information/content. Kia ranks highest with an index score of 868 on a 1,000-point scale - a four-point improvement from the June 2006 study. Hummer, which ranked highest in the previous study, Mazda, Honda and Toyota, respectively, follow Kia in the rankings. Both Hummer and Kia have ranked among the Top 10 manufacturer Web sites five consecutive times. (Source: J. D. Power &
Associates)
