Joint Venture to Develop New Car Race to Replace Formula One
GPWC Holdings BV, a group of four carmakers, said it has appointed International Sports and Entertainment AG (iSe) to start building the operational and commercial structure immediately for a new car racing event replacing Formula One by 2008 at the latest.
Frank Mueller Named President of Behr America
Frank Mueller has been named president of Behr America, a leading supplier of automotive air-conditioning and engine-cooling systems. He succeeds Hans-Joachim Lange, who recently announced plans to leave the company.
Universal Automotive Promotes William Stock To Senior Vice President Supply Chain
Universal Automotive Industries, a distributor and manufacturer of brake rotors and other brake parts, has promoted William Stock to senior vice president of supply chain, having previously served as vice president manufacturing for the last two-and-a-half years.
Magna to Take Auto Parts Subsidiaries Intier, Decoma and Tesma Private
Magna International Inc. has made a $1.3-billion bid to take its three publicly traded auto parts subsidiaries private in a move the company says will help it win business from Japanese and South Korean carmakers.
Ballooning Steel Costs Bring Pain for Wisconsin’s Auto Suppliers
Skyrocketing steel prices already have pushed two automotive suppliers with plants in Wisconsin into bankruptcy, and industry observers say more companies could go under yet.
Exide Technologies CEO to Resign, Company Names New CFO
Craig Muhlhauser, president and CEO of Exide Technologies, has announced he will leave the company on or before April 1, 2005. Mulhauser did not provide a reason for his resignation, other than to say that with the company’s successful emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings and with a new board in place it was time for him to pursue new opportunities.
It’s Not Your Father’s Vo-tech – Warwick, RI, Area Career & Technical Center Named Nation’s Best
Many high school seniors worry about what they will do after graduation. But thanks to a school program and a mentorship, Jason Marley, a senior at Warwick Veterans Memorial High in Rhode Island, already has a job. Marley is one of 45 students in the Warwick Area Career & Technical Center’s automotive training program. This past summer, the 17-year-old student started working under a mentor at Bald Hill Subaru, repairing cars.
Software Industry Veteran to Lead CarParts Technologies
Data Network Inc., a provider of software and real-time data services to the automotive industry, has appointed Paul Van Den Berg as president of its subsidiary, CarParts Technologies. CarParts Technologies provides open, eCommerce and business automation software solutions for the North American automotive aftermarket. Van Den Berg will replace Dave McCann, who served as CarParts’ president and CEO since 2002. McCann is leaving the company to pursue his career in a field outside the aftermarket.
Magna Completes Its Acquisition of New Venture Gear
Magna International has completed its acquisition of DaimlerChrysler Corp.’s wholly-owned subsidiary, New Venture Gear, Inc. (NVG). The acquisition involves the creation of a new joint venture, which will be called New Process Gear, Inc. New Process Gear, which operates a manufacturing facility in Syracuse, NY, will initially be owned 80 percent by Magna and 20 percent by DaimlerChrysler. Magna will acquire DaimlerChrysler’s interest in New Process Gear, in September 2007.
R. L. Polk & Co. Names Todd Fleischhauer General Manager, Canada
R. L. Polk & Co. has named Todd Fleischhauer as general manager, R. L. Polk Canada, Inc. In his new position, Fleischhauer will be responsible for managing Polk’s activities in Canada including vehicle registration reporting, automotive intelligence and analysis and marketing solutions. Fleischhauer replaces Kendra Rawls who becomes vice president, Northern Europe at Polk’s location in St. Albans, U.K.