Autoparts Report

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AutoZone Earnings Per Share Jump 65% In First Quarter.
AutoZone, Inc., reported diluted earnings per share of $0.76 for its first quarter (12 weeks) ended November 17, 2001, a 65 percent increase from diluted earnings per share of $0.46 in the first qu . . .

Ballard To Supply Fuel Cell Engines To Ford In $69.1-Million Deal.
Ballard Power Systems said that its transportation division has signed a three-year agreement valued at $43.9-million with alliance partner Ford Motor Co. Under the agreement, Ballard said it will . . .

Wingcast, Verizon Form Wireless Alliance To Deliver Voice And Data Services To Telematics Subscribers.
Wingcast, LLC, a company founded by Ford Motor Co. and Qualcomm to provide telematics services and applications to the automotive consumer market, and Verizon Wireless said they have forged a strat . . .

Automotive Telematics Industry Maturing Poised for Growth.
Automotive telematics (including systems that combine global positioning satellite (GPS) technology and other wireless communication systems for automatic roadside assistance and remote diagnostics . . .

Magna Steyr In Talks With DaimlerChrysler To Acquire Eurostar Facility.
Magna International Inc. said that its Magna Steyr Group has entered into negotiations with DaimlerChrysler concerning the acquisition of its Eurostar facility, which is adjacent to Magna Steyr's e . . .

Toyota Said Mexico May Be Home To A New Assembly Plant.
Toyota Motor Corp. plans to select a site for its fifth North American assembly plant, with Mexico a leading contender to host the facility, a company official said. "We are looking at Mexico as a . . .

U.S. Tool and Equipment Builders Japan's Automakers Met in Japan To Review 2002 Vehicle Models.
A thirteen-member Equipment and Tool Institute (ETI) delegation, lead by Technical Director Greg Potter, visited with Mazda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Toyota in Japan during "Japanese Technical Cooper . . .

Delphi Awards Automotive Subassembly Business to AMI DODUCO.
The Mechatronic Systems Group of Delphi Automotive has awarded Ami Doduco a contract to develop and produce electrical contact component subassemblies for a multi-purpose module that controls autom . . .

Delphi Automotive Reduces Forecast For 2002.(Delphi Automotive Systems)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Delphi Automotive Systems forecast reduced vehicle sales during 2002, due to expected softening demand as current zero-percent interest incentive programs are lifted and consumers react conservativ . . .

BorgWarner In Merger Talks With GKN According To A British Newspaper Report.(GKN PLC in acquisition talks with BorgWarner Inc.)(
British engineering group GKN Plc has been holding talks with BorgWarner Inc. in a move that could led to a $1.43 billion bid for the U.S. automotive components group, according to a British newspa . . .

Ford To Outsource Forgings In Europe.(Ford Motor Co.)(Brief Article)
Ford Motor Co. is to outsource a large part of its forging operations and close its die-casting plant in Cologne according to a report in the Financial Times. The report says that in excess of 1,00 . . .

Visteon PSA Peugeot Citroen Agree To Cooperate On New Technologies.(Visteon Corp.)(Brief Article)
Visteon Corp. said it has signed an agreement with PSA Peugeot Citroen to develop future innovative technologies in the areas of body electronics, chassis, climate control, interior and lighting, p . . .

Engineering Thermoplastics In Automotive Applications To Get Boost With Advent Of 42-Volt Systems.(Brief Article)
Higher voltage systems will be found on nearly 10 million to 13 million vehicles globally within the next ten years, according to "Emerging Developments in Automotive 42-volt Systems," a new study . . .

Dana Closing Utah Facility.(Dana Corp.)(Brief Article)
Dana Corp. said it will close its West Jordan distribution plant near Salt Lake City, UT and lay off 141 employees. Toledo, Ohio-based Dana plans to reduce its overall work force by more than 15 pe . . .

BMW Awards Modine New Engine Cooling Module Business.(Modine Manufacturing Co.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
BMW selected Modine Manufacturing Co. to provide engine cooling modules for future vehicle programs, resulting in $135 million in annual revenue, according to Modine. Modine said it has been a long . . .

Delphi Spins Off Composite Spring Business.(Delphi Automotive Systems divests spring business to Liteflex L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
Delphi Automotive Systems said that it has sold its Liteflex composite spring business to newly formed Dayton, Ohio based Liteflex LLC, in conjunction with the National Composite Center. Financial . . .

Honda Expands Auto and Engine Plant in Alabama Capacity.(Honda Manufacturing of Alabama)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Include
Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (HMA) said it plans a 30,000-unit increase in production capacity to 150,000 vehicles and engines per year by late 2002, raising Honda's investment in the facility to . . .

Dana Will Consolidate Engine, Fluid Businesses.(Dana Corp.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Auto parts maker Dana Corp. said it would consolidate its engine and fluid businesses, and take about $445 million in charges for a restructuring announced in October. Dana based in Toledo, Ohio sa . . .

Collins & Aikman Revises Its Bid For Textron Trim Business.(Collins & Aikman Corp. revises bid to acquire Textron Inc.)(Brief Ar
Collins & Aikman Corp., a manufacturer of car and truck interior parts, said it had lowered slightly its bid to buy the automobile trim business of Textron Inc. and announced a proposed offering of . . .

South Korea Says GM Is Not Expected To Pay Daewoo Suppliers.(General Motors)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
South Korean Finance Minister Jin Nyum said he did not expect General Motors to settle payment claims from suppliers that have cut off the delivery of parts to Daewoo Motor. "I expect creditor bank . . .

Auto Manufacturers, Suppliers Not Getting Return On Vehicle Improvements.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
The significant increase in car features and safety made by auto producers and their suppliers, have not registered on the industry's bottom line, according to new research conducted by Accenture, . . .

Senate Approves Bill Giving President "Fast-Track Trade" Authority; MEMA Applauds Vote.(George W. Bush, Motor & Equipment Manufa
The Senate Finance Committee voted 18-3 to approve a modified version of the House-passed trade promotion authority bill, H.R. 3005. The bill, sponsored by Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Me . . .

Copart Reports Record First Quarter Results.(Copart Inc., ist fiscal quarter net income)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Include
Copart, Inc. said its earned net income for the first fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2001 was $12,758,200 or $.22 per diluted share, generating a 38 percent increase in earnings per share over th . . .

Genuine Parts Company Declares Regular Quarterly Dividend.(Genuine Parts Co.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Genuine Parts Co., a distributor of automotive replacement parts, declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 28.5 cents per share on the company's common stock. The dividend is payable January 2 . . .

Majority Of New Vehicle Buyers Search Internet First For Automotive Information Before Buying.(survey by J.D. Power and Associat
The Internet is becoming an important resource for automotive information for consumers while shopping for their vehicle. Sixty-two percent of all new-vehicle buyers go online for automotive inform . . .

eAutoclaims, Planet Salvage Form Alliance To Offer Recycled Parts Procurement Solution.(Brief Article)
Planet Salvage, Inc., an online marketplace for the automotive recycled parts and salvage vehicle industries, and eAutoclaims, a company that provides the insurance industry with online claims mana . . .

Autoliv To Produce Airbags In Korea.(Autoliv AB new plant)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Autoliv said it has begun construction of a new plant that will produce airbags and seatbelts for the Korean automotive manufacturers. The company said the $8.5 million investment will serve local . . .

Volkswagen's Internet Platform Has Expanded To Include Auctions.(Volkswagon AG website information)(Brief Article)(Statistical D
The Internet platform started by Volkswagen in the summer of 2000 is up and running, VW said. The most important components: Online-Catalogue-Purchasing, Online-Negotiations (auctions), Capacity ma . . .

GM Captures 20 Percent Of China Small Car Market.(General Motors Corp., new cars from Shanghai General Motors Corp., Shanghai Au
General Motors Corp. said it has captured 20 percent of China's small car market. GM said it had sold about 19,000 of the Buick Sail cars since its debut in June and now hoped to follow up on that . . .

ZF Group's Acquisition Of Gets EU Approval.(ZF Friedrichshafen AG acquisition of Mannesmann Sachs AG, European Union authorizes
The EU Commission authorized the acquisition of Mannesmann Sachs by ZF Friedrichshafen AG. Sachs will continue as a joint stock company owned by ZF Friedrichshafen AG under the name ZF Sachs AG. . . .

New Website Created By Steel Automotive Group.(United States Steel L.L.C. new website)(Brief Article)
United States Steel LLC said it has launched a new website -- www.ussautomotive.com -- designed to be the primary steel technology resource for the automotive industry. The site, created by the com . . .

Nickel Metal Hydride Battery Market To Expand With The Growth of Hybrid Electric Vehicles.(report from Advanced Automotive Batte
Over the next seven years, advanced Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) vehicles will become increasingly available and the corresponding battery market will grow accordingly, according to the 2001 Adv . . .

Fiat-GM Readies Transmission Plant In Germany.(Fiat S.p.A., General Motors Corp.)(Brief Article)
Installation of equipment at a new Fiat-General Motors transmission plant in Russelsheim, Germany, has begun with the arrival of the first production machines for six-speed manual transmissions, th . . .

TI Automotive Awarded $350 Million In OEM Contracts.(from Volkswagen AG, Ford Motor Co., Land Rover UK Ltd., Mazda Motor Corp.)(
TI Automotive said it has received supply contracts for brake and fuel-storage and delivery systems from four major auto manufacturers worth more than $350-million over the lifetime of the awards. . . .

Ford New Chinese Investment May Build Cars For Export.(Ford Motor Co. China plant could export cars to Asia markets)(Brief Artic
The head of Ford Motor Co.'s China operations said its new joint venture automobile plant in south China's Chongqing city could manufacture cars for export to Asian markets as well as the domestic . . .

Vehicles Include Factory-Installed Navigation Systems Is Growing.(J.D. Power and Associates study)(Brief Article)(Statistical Da
While penetration of navigation systems remains at less than 1 percent of the market, the number of cars, vans and light-trucks models that offer factory-installed navigation systems grew from 26 . . .

Wire Harnesses/Connectors Market Expected To Grow.(Frost and Sullivan Inc. study)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
As the number of electronic components in cars increases and become more sophisticated, the demand for wire harnesses will grow at the original equipment level, according to new study. The introduc . . .

Delphi To Close Italian Auto Components Facility.(Delphi Automotive Systems Corp. closing facility in Desio, Italy)(Brief Articl
Delphi Automotive Systems said it is closing a facility in Desio, Italy, as part of a broader restructuring plan. The facility is expected to be closed no later than the end of the first quarter, 2 . . .

Japanese Airbag Producer Files Suit Against Delphi, GM.(Takata Corp. sues Delphi Automotive Systems Corp., General Motors Corp.)
Takata Corp., a Japanese manufacturer of auto airbag covers, sued General Motors Corp. and Delphi Automotive Systems for alleged infringement of a 1992 Takata patent for a vehicle airbag. In papers . . .

Pep Boys Said It Will Use icarz Store Management System.(Pep Boys-Manny, Moe and Jack agreement with icarz Inc.)(Brief Article)
The Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack, a full service automotive aftermarket chain, said that it has entered into an agreement with icarz, inc. for the purpose of acquiring the icarz PartsWatch store m . . .

Automotive Suppliers To Be Showcased In Automotive Edge 02'.
Tier one and tier two automotive suppliers will be able to showcase products and technology at a new trade show "Automotive Edge 02,", on January 9-10, 2002, at St. John's Golf and Conference Cente . . .

Advance Auto Parts Finalizes Purchase Of Discount Auto Parts.(Advance Stores Inc. acquires Discount Auto Parts Inc.)(Brief Artic
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. said that it has completed its acquisition of Discount Auto Parts, Inc., further strengthening Advance's position as the nation's second largest retailer of auto parts and . . .

Enova To Provide Fuel Cell Components To Ford.(Enova Systems, Ford Motor Co.)(Brief Article)
Enova Systems said that it has entered into a strategic relationship with Ford Motor Co. to supply Ford's Th!nk brand with a high power, high voltage conversion module (HEC) for their upcoming fuel . . .

Modine, Xcellsis To Jointly Develop Fuel Cell Components.(Modine Manufacturing)(Brief Article)
Modine Manufacturing Co. said it has signed a new agreement with Xcellsis, a developer of fuel cells, expanding their relationship to include components for hydrogen powered vehicles. Early intro . . .

KANA Gets Wingcast Telematics Contract.(Brief Article)
Wingcast LLC, the telematics company founded by Ford Motor Co. and Qualcomm Inc. said it selected of KANA Contact Center to provide advanced multi-channel support and information services for Win . . .

Sony Ericsson, MobileAria Form Partnership For In-Vehicle Bluetooth Adoption.(Brief Article)
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications and MobileAria, a pioneer in True Hands Free , voice-enabled productivity services for the driver, said they formed a strategic partnership to promote in-vehicle . . .

Telematics Industry Shakeout Predicted.(by Steve Millstein of ATX Technologies)(Brief Article)
Steve Millstein, president and CEO of ATX Technologies, Inc., an independent telematics service provider to the automotive industry, predicted a shakeout in the telematics industry in 2002. In a . . .

Denso To Build Car Air Conditioning Plant In The Czech Republic.(Brief Article)
Denso Corp., 24.9 percent owned by Toyota Motor Corp. and Japan's largest partsmaker, said it would spend $75 million to build a car air conditioner plant in the Czech Republic, with production sla . . .

Decoma Higher Third-Quarter Sales, Earnings.(Decoma International)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Decoma International Inc. reported stronger third-quarter earnings as sales increased despite a slowdown in North American vehicle demand. Concord, Ontario-based Decoma said earnings for the period . . .

Collins & Aikman Reported Third Quarter Loss.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Collins & Aikman Corp. reported sales of $430.4 million, and excluding a $1.1 million loss ($0.8 million, net of tax) from the sale of a metal stamping operation, operating income of $12.6 million, . . .