Counterman

The WAI LIN2 wiper motor carries the latest technological advancements, according to the company. The new smart motors process operation requests sent over a bidirectional LIN 2 (local interconnect network) Bus interface with the SCCM (steering column control module) and rain sensor (optional). WAI’s LIN2 smart wiper motors are designed to deal with common faults and failures of wiper motors. Through replacement, WAI’s LIN2 smart wiper motors have shown to reduce replacement comebacks, by simplifying a complex and often difficult part replacement, according to the company. The LIN2 protocol offers the latest in intelligent control and ensures accuracy and compatibility for all vehicles that use it. With built-in diagnostics, the smart wiper motor will automatically align to the vehicle settings for wiper speed and matches the number of speed increments. The wiper motor electronics smart technologies feature Transpo intelligent design. Transpo electronics design is a critical part of the WAI Global product development. Transpo is well known for designing and engineering innovative and high-quality electronics pulse boards, chip technologies, and rotating electronics components. “WAI engineering works hard to develop solutions for smart wiper technologies that support all connection protocols including LIN2,” said Bizhan Roozrokh, head of engineering at WAI. “Our goal is to enable installers to be able to complete a wiper motor replacement quickly with no technical programming steps. The product should be plug-and-play to get customers on their way. The electronic ecosystem is a rock-solid foundation that reliably and accurately adapts and controls all wiper functionality regardless of environmental circumstances.” WAI implements a design principle called the synergistic design platform that is applied to advance all sub-elements of the product. This results in improvements and innovations such as ultra-light aluminum housings that are engineered to prevent sensitive electronics failure due to corrosion, leading to a longer service life. Each unit contains 100% all-new, precision-assembled components. “WAI has extensive coverage to ensure we have you covered with our extensive range of all makes and models,” WAI said in a news release. “All parts and components are tested against OEM specifications to equal or exceed them.” The post WAI Introduces Smart Wiper Motors appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

Delphi Technologies, a BorgWarner brand, announced that it released 87 parts across its product lines, the first of several parts announcements to come in 2023. “We’re pleased to further expand our parts coverage for vehicles in any stage of their lifecycle,” said Jenna Boone, general manager of Delphi Technologies North America. “We have multiple product announcements planned throughout 2023 and beyond, so we’re excited to demonstrate the growth in our portfolio while remaining dedicated to our quality and reliability.” Of the five new products to its fuel-delivery line, three are first-to-market fuel-pump module assemblies (FG2262, FG2669 and FG2667), according to the company. The new products cover approximately 2.43 million vehicles in operation (VIO) in the United States and Canada, covering both domestic and import brands such as the Chrysler Pacifica and Voyager, Nissan Rogue and Acura TLX. Sparta has added 22 parts to its portfolio. The specialty line by Delphi Technologies for high-mileage and early-model vehicles now covers an additional 11.36 million VIO for the United States and Canada. The added products include fuel-tank sending units, fuel-pump module assemblies and fuel-pump strainers for brands such as Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, Chrysler, Nissan, Jeep and Hummer. “Our goal with Sparta is to fulfill a request we’ve been receiving for years: a fuel line specifically dedicated to earlier makes and higher mileages with the Delphi Technologies quality technicians have come to know,” said Malcolm Sissmore, vice president, sales and marketing of Delphi Technologies. “We have a lot of great things in store for this year, Sparta included.” Delphi Technologies continues to launch steering and suspension parts across all makes and model years, adding 21 new parts to cover 17 million VIO in Canada and the United States. More than 10 types of parts were announced, some of which include tie-rod ends, ball joints, control arms, stabilizer-bar link kits and more. Regarding the company’s engine-management portfolio, the product line announced a total of 39 new parts. Sixteen of the new parts are manifold absolute-pressure sensors, bolstering an additional 20 million VIO for the United States across brands such as Ford, Honda, Mazda, Nissan, Volkswagen, Dodge and BMW. A sizeable addition for the engine-management line are 10 new ABS wheel-speed sensors for a total of 10 million VIO in the United States for brands such as Lexus, Ford, Chrysler and Toyota. Other parts announced include ignition coils, engine crankshaft/camshaft position sensors, an air-charge temperature sensor and a mass airflow sensor. For more information about recently release Delphi Technologies parts, visit the “New” tab on delphi. mypartfinder.com. To browse Sparta offerings, visit sparta.mypartfinder.com. The post Delphi Technologies Adds 87 Parts Across its Product Lines appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

Dana Incorporated and TruckPro LLC received the 2023 MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers Channel Excellence Award presented by Epicor thanks to their recent collaboration. The companies worked together in the development of the Dana EZ-ID Tool for Spicer ReadyShaft, which helps heavy-duty parts distributors and their customers to identify the correct replacement Spicer ReadyShaft driveshaft assembly for virtually any common commercial-vehicle application. Craig Bishop, head of NA Aftermarket Sales for Dana, and Steve Lockridge, vice president of sales & marketing operations at TruckPro, accepted the award on behalf of their respective companies at the 2023 MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers Vision Conference in Rosemont, Illinois. The annual MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers Channel Excellence Award presented by Epicor recognizes innovation and collaboration between suppliers and channel partners that drive aftermarket growth. The Dana EZ-ID application addresses a problem commonly faced in heavy-duty service bays: the absence of a product tag, part number or other identification on a worn driveshaft. The Dana solution streamlines the research into approximately 10,000 parts combinations to help the user quickly and easily order the correct replacement unit, speeding the repair and increasing vehicle uptime. “This is an example of a great idea made better through collaboration among a manufacturer and a valued channel partner,” said Tim Hardin, senior vice president and general manager, Global Auto, Data and Extend Services, Epicor. “Developing the Dana EZ-ID Tool for Spicer ReadyShaft required a significant investment in time, resources and shared insight – and the benefits are impressive for all parties.” “We are very proud of this achievement as it embodies Dana’s philosophy of ‘People Finding a Better Way,’” Bishop said. “It would not have been possible without the innovative spirit of our team members along with the strategic collaboration with our valued customer, TruckPro. Thank you to MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers and Epicor for recognizing the significance of the EZ-ID visual search application, and the industrywide solution it delivers for customer uptime.” “The Dana EZ-ID Tool has expanded our capabilities to service complete driveshaft assemblies throughout our network of over 150 TruckPro locations and advanced service shops,” Lockridge explained. “This program is an excellent example of two industry leaders working together to provide a better way to service our customers. We would like to thank MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers and Epicor for this opportunity to acknowledge this collaboration.” “This award recognizes the achievements in collaboration and innovation between suppliers and their channel partners to drive growth together,” said Paul McCarthy, MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers president. “We give this award to encourage an openness to the behaviors we all know we need to see – innovation and collaboration across the value chain. We congratulate Dana and TruckPro for a great example of that collaboration: bringing real value to the end customer, and utilizing technology and partnering to bring speed, accuracy and efficiency to fulfillment.” To learn more about the Channel Excellence Award, visit the Channel Excellence Award web page. The post Dana, TruckPro Receive MEMA Channel Excellence Award appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) and DTE Energy (DTE) announced Toyota’s enrollment in MIGreenPower, DTE’s voluntary renewable-energy program. Toyota’s participation puts all of TMNA’s R&D operations in Michigan on a path to attribute 100% of their electricity use to renewable energy projects starting in 2026, according to the company. This includes the company’s R&D headquarters in Ann Arbor along with six other facilities across Washtenaw County. TMNA’s clean-energy commitment covers a 20-year period and will have the environmental benefit equal to avoiding 29,000 metric tons of CO2 or the greenhouse gas emissions from more than 6,200 gasoline-powered passenger cars driven for a year, according to Toyota and DTE. “Renewable-energy programs like DTE’s MIGreenPower program are crucial to helping companies seeking a reduced carbon footprint to achieve their goals,” said Kevin Butt, director of environmental sustainability for TMNA. “From our R&D facilities in Michigan to our production and corporate facilities across the nation, Toyota aims to achieve carbon neutrality throughout our operations by 2035.” MIGreenPower is among the largest voluntary renewable-energy programs in the United States. The program enables DTE Electric’s residential and business customers to attribute an even greater percentage of their electricity use to Michigan-made wind and solar projects beyond the 15% DTE already provides. To date, the company has more than 800 businesses enrolled in the program along with more than 85,000 residential customers. On an annual basis, MIGreenPowercustomers have enrolled 4 million megawatt hours of clean energy in the program, which has the environmental benefit equivalent to avoiding more than three million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually or the greenhouse gas emissions from more than 630,000 gasoline-powered passenger cars, according to DTE. Program participation is accelerating the development of new wind and solar projects in Michigan. By 2026, DTE will add more than 2,000 megawatts of new clean-energy projects to meet program demand, according to DTE. “We are excited to welcome Toyota to the MIGreenPower program,” said Brian Calka, vice president, renewable sales and Project Development for DTEEnergy. “Toyota joins a growing list of Michigan-based automotive manufacturers and suppliers who are enrolling in MIGreenPower to meet their sustainability goals. Currently, more than 70% of MIGreenPower business customers are involved in the automotive sector.” DTE is Michigan’s largest producer of and investor in renewable energy and is committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. In its CleanVision Integrated Resource Plan filed in November 2022 with the Michigan Public Service Commission, DTE proposed increasing investment in solar and wind energy, accelerating the retirement of coal plants, and investing in the development of new energy storage. If the new plan is approved, the company noted it will add more than 15,000 megawatts of new renewable energy projects over the next two decades. The post Toyota on Path to Achieve 100% Renewable Energy appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

As one of the most powerful industries contributing to the U.S. economy, motor vehicle suppliers today have to balance both being influential as well as influenced by the challenges and opportunities in today’s ever-evolving industry. According to a 2019 study conducted by IHS Markit and commissioned by MEMA, the motor vehicle supplier industry continues to maintain its stronghold as one of the largest manufacturing sectors in the United States. Total employment in this sector makes up roughly 2.5% of the U.S. GDP and provided approximately 4.8 million direct and indirect jobs and induced employment in 2019 (when the study was conducted). Impacting not only the country’s economy but also public safety and the environment, this is an industry with major impact and a powerful voice. For the March AMN/Counterman cover story, we asked some of today’s top leaders in the supplier industry to tell us what’s top of mind for their businesses right now. What challenges and opportunities keep them up at night? What is their sense for the business environment in 2023 and other questions specific to their particular market segments? We’ve asked them to speak on topics such as EVs, the role of remanufacturing in achieving sustainability targets, the biggest contributors to innovation, the state of the supply chain, U.S. manufacturing competitiveness and more. Chloe Hung Chief Executive Officer, Autel U.S. As a leader in the EV charging space, what are your expectations for the EV market this year and moving forward? There’s little doubt that the EV market will continue to see significant, sustained growth this year and beyond. Several factors contribute to that belief, including the introduction of EVs by almost every vehicle brand last year, with many setting goals of EV-only lines within the next decade or so. Another is the passage of the infrastructure bill that incentivizes EV purchasers and offers stimulus funds to businesses, communities and municipalities interested in implementing charging stations. What can the aftermarket do – techs especially – to prepare for the increasing adoption of EVs? I think this moment in time offers technicians a unique opportunity – as electric and hybrid vehicles are starting to come to their shops – to not only educate themselves about electric vehicle servicing and repair but also to start to transition their shop layout, equipment and tools from what traditional-fuel vehicle repair requires. This equipment will include new diagnostics products, Level 2 chargers for repair and service bays and, possibly, Level 3 chargers for customer and public use. This reassessment of space could allow shops to keep services in-house that they might have previously been subbing out, including ADAS calibrations. EVs and advance driver-assistance systems (ADAS) are rising in parallel. One would be hard-pressed to purchase a new vehicle without automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring or lane-keep assist, and the march toward autonomous vehicles continues though less fervent than previously anticipated. The belief is that the continued growth of the electric vehicle will only accelerate the use of ADAS components in vehicles, as the EV design lends itself quite efficiently to using such sensors. Performing calibrations in-house is a revenue generator that enables shops to keep the funds lost in subletting calibrations and to earn additional revenue by offering such services to other shops. What are your thoughts about the business environment for the aftermarket in 2023? As supply chain and chip shortage issues continue to be resolved, 2023 may be when the aftermarket experiences real growth. In addition, more drivers are returning to their daily commute, resulting in more vehicles being repaired and serviced, which should also drive aftermarket growth. What are the opportunities your company is most excited about at this time? On the EV charger front, we consistently develop new AC and DC charging solutions for every commercial need, including repair and service centers, fleet managers, multi-unit dwellings, parking facilities, retailers and traditional fueling centers. And in diagnostics, we are incredibly excited about the opportunities our recently signed collaboration agreement with Repairify will mean for our companies and users. Via the arrangement, Repairify will deliver OEM-remote solutions, including diagnostics, calibrations and programming to our Remote Expert platform users. Conversely, what are the biggest challenges for your business in 2023? Autel has been fortunate to experience tremendous growth in the last few years. We purchased a 50,000-square-foot building, hired additional staff and expanded into a related but new industry for us, EV chargers. And we are about to finalize our selection of a factory site in the U.S. to produce chargers to comply with the infrastructure bill’s “Made in America” provisions. A lot is going on. But the challenges remain the same as when Autel started in the United States nearly 15 years ago, with just a handful of us working out of a small office. It is to develop products that enable our customers to realize genuine value. It holds true for the diagnostic tablet we make for the shop technician and the charger that a new EV driver just installed in his home garage. Eric Luftig SVP, Product & Engineering, Dorman Products As a company that prides itself on creating problem-solving products, what would you say are the biggest contributors to innovation at Dorman and why? It definitely starts with directly engaging our customers – the people on the front lines fixing cars and trucks every day. We’ve built several mechanisms for getting their feedback over several decades now, from our dedicated Ideation team that talks to repair professionals on a daily basis, to our newly expanded Dorman Training Center offerings that hold technician training classes around North America. We’ve also structured our business to foster new insights and seize new opportunities. We have an enormous portfolio, with hundreds of different categories and more than 120,000 individual products. To both support that and keep innovating, we’ve expanded our teams of product experts and engineers, and organized groups focused on distinct vehicle systems. That allows us to be specialists at scale. Our culture is also a driver of innovation. We started as a small, family-run company, and even now that we’re a global enterprise, people are still highly encouraged to propose new ideas and play an active role in contributing to our company’s future. That makes our entire workforce a wellspring of problem-solving. What are your thoughts about the business environment for the aftermarket in 2023? We see many positive trends on the horizon for this year. We love to see vehicles staying on the road longer and traveling more miles, which portends stronger business for the aftermarket. We’re also continuing to see strong trends toward digitalization, with more consumers shopping for parts and service online than ever before. That’s required companies like ours to make new investments in technology, data and product content, and we were honored last year with multiple awards highlighting this work, including from the Auto Care Association and several of our retailer, distributor and cataloging partners. We think the business environment will be very positive for manufacturers and sellers who are dedicated to delivering better digital experiences this year and in years to come. What are the opportunities your company is most excited about at this time? Conversely, what are the biggest challenges for your business in 2023? We are most excited about continuing to invest in our technology, our people and growth into a wider range of vehicles. We are increasingly platform-agnostic, whether it be light-duty or heavy-duty, automobiles or specialty vehicles, or ICEs or EVs and HEVs. Dorman was one of the first companies to develop aftermarket solutions for hybrid vehicles a decade ago, and we’re hard at work developing more solutions for increasingly popular all-electric vehicles today. In the past couple years, we’ve also welcomed Dayton Parts and SuperATV to the Dorman family, and we look forward to growing with both of these highly respected brands. As far as challenges, everyone knows there’s a lingering COVID hangover that still impacts global supply chains, but we are already seeing those issues start to resolve themselves. We believe the hard lessons from the past few years have made us much better as a company and prepared to deliver better service to our customers this year and beyond. Michael Kitching President and Chief Executive Officer, GB Remanufacturing With sustainability becoming an increasingly important topic to the aftermarket, what are your thoughts on the role that reman plays in the increasing efforts to meet sustainability measures? How does GB Remanufacturing help customers meet current and future sustainability goals? Great question for a remanufacturer! Remanufacturing and the use of remanufactured parts should be at the forefront of any and all sustainability initiatives. Consider the amount of energy and resources being consumed from start to finish to produce new, OE parts. These parts are necessary in the production of a new vehicle, but once the vehicle enters the aftermarket, we should be considering a sustainable alternative, and that’s where remanufactured products come into play. Remanufacturing or sustainable manufacturing restores a part to OE specifications, and oftentimes the result is a part that is better than the OE part that failed. Replacing the parts that wear out and fail, replacing or fixing known failure modes, recalibrating the part and testing the part to OE specifications are all part of the remanufacturing process. The beautiful thing about remanufacturing is that, more often than not, we get to reuse the “shell” of the original part that never wears out and that saves precious resources. In almost every instance, our remanufacturing processes save raw material, energy and labor when compared to a similar new product. This allows us to offer our customers a product that is equal to or better than a similar new product at a significant cost savings. High-quality remanufactured parts and competitive pricing give our customers the opportunity to enhance or increase their sustainability initiatives within their companies. Remanufacturing is a win-win proposition for both our customers and the planet. What are your thoughts about the business environment for the aftermarket in 2023? I’m not going to pretend to be an economist, but I can tell you with certainty that our business remains strong through the first two months of 2023, with solid growth expected for the remainder of the year. This is following an extremely strong 2022. Historically, consumers keep their existing vehicles longer, drive more and repair their vehicles themselves or at independent repair facilities in times of high inflation and/or recessionary times. This is all good news for the automotive aftermarket, and has been very good for our company in past similar economic cycles. As a remanufacturer in the aftermarket, we provide products to consumers and shops that allow them to save either themselves or their customers money, while offering them parts that meet or exceed OE specifications – two key advantages in economic uncertainty. Supply chain, inflation and labor issues remain real for us. The supply chain is improving each and every month. We invested heavily in safety stock several years ago and that has helped us tremendously throughout the last few years. Raw material and freight costs continue to increase on a monthly basis, which is concerning. The labor market is unlike anything I’ve ever seen in the almost 37 years we’ve been in business. It’s very frustrating and concerning. I don’t see the labor situation getting any better with current legislation and the business climate in California, unfortunately. What are the opportunities your company is most excited about at this time? Conversely, what are the biggest challenges for your business in 2023? Opportunities for our business in 2023: We are excited about furthering our plan towards becoming an even more sustainable company. In addition to remanufacturing an extensive line of remanufactured gasoline and diesel fuel system related products, we are working hard at critiquing every aspect of our business and asking ourselves “What can we do better?” in regards to making sure that we reduce, reuse, recycle and remanufacture in every department. While looking at our own operation, we want to be an advocate for remanufacturers in our industry and around the world through education and by using our products as a testament to the quality of remanufactured goods. Additionally, we are doubling down on our efforts to keep as many jobs related to GB Remanufacturing and our product lines right here in the USA. Finally, we are looking to expand into a few different product lines, and will be working hard on this project in the coming year. Challenges for our business in 2023: I touched on this subject in the previous question, but our largest challenges, in no particular order, are supply chain related issues, inflation and attracting and retaining team members. If we could solve these three issues, life would be really good! Eric Sills Chief Executive Officer, Standard Motor Products You have personally testified before Congress on issues such as supply chain challenges and U.S. manufacturing competitiveness. What are your thoughts on these issues as they stand today? Are we seeing improvements? What still needs to change in your opinion? Thankfully we are seeing a lessening of supply chain disruption, both from a delay perspective as well as relief from the outsized cost inflation of transportation. That said, we are far from back-to-normal. It surely has taken longer than anyone would have expected and I believe it highlights the fragility of the global supply chain the world has come to rely on. Which leads me to the second part of your question: U.S. manufacturing competitiveness. I am a firm believer in regional competitiveness, and moving from global supply chains to regional ones. Certain things make sense to manufacture here, while others are a better fit for Mexico. But it took decades to build out the China model, and moving things back will not be an easy or quick task. What are your thoughts about the business environment for the aftermarket in 2023? I continue to feel good about market conditions. The majority of the trends are positive – aging car parc, increasing VIO, rebounding miles driven – we all know the stats. And while there are legitimate concerns about heading into difficult economic times, the aftermarket tends to outperform, especially for non-discretionary product categories. For most Americans, their vehicle is their means of going about their lives – it needs to operate properly and safely. What are the opportunities your company is most excited about at this time? Conversely, what are the biggest challenges for your business in 2023? While automotive technology has always evolved, it is now doing so at an accelerated rate. And while this is certainly a challenge, it also presents tremendous opportunity for those willing to invest in it. This has always been the case for SMP. We’ve been told many times over our 100+ year history that we were going to get killed by new technology – electronic ignition, fuel injection, etc. – and yet each time we turned the challenge into a major component of our business. So, while it is clearly growing more daunting, and while we are facing external battles like data access that are increasing the challenge, we continue to invest in manufacturing capabilities, to train technicians on these new systems, and to hire great talent to get it all done for us. Matt Roney President, DRiV DRiV is known to have some of the most venerable brands in the aftermarket. What goes into maintaining a strong brand reputation for a product that’s been around a long time, while also ensuring customers that it is on the cutting-edge of technology and innovation? Ultimately, brands are built on trust, and trust is developed over a long period of time delivering sustained performance. The various brands within DRiV, including Monroe, MOOG, Fel-Pro, Walker, Champion, Wagner and many others, each stand for a variety of factors that instill trust in the thousands of installers who choose our products, the distributors who carry our products and the consumers who ultimately rely on our products. Some of the common threads across the DRiV brands include high quality and durability, superior product performance and a commitment to partner with our customers to ensure our products are available when our customers need them. By continually delivering on these promises, we build and reinforce the trust in DRiV and each of our individual brands. This requires a commitment to innovation, operational excellence, brand marketing support and customer relationships. For example, our engineers are busy developing new solutions, including over 1,400 new part numbers to be introduced in 2023 and many first-to-market innovations like our patented carbon fiber bearing designs to create stronger and more durable chassis control arms and ball joints. In addition, we are innovating in data analytics to evaluate forward-deployed inventory to work with our channel partners to ensure the right, targeted products are available quickly to each repair shop by zip code. On the operational excellence front, we continue to invest in our world-class manufacturing facilities to manufacture in the regions we sell with the best quality and durability. From a brand marketing perspective, we continue to support all our brands in market, clearly defining each brand’s value proposition and why our products are superior to the competition. Finally, as we partner with our customers throughout the value chain, our Garage Gurus team continues to provide much-needed training and technical knowledge to the technician community. Through the Gurus program, we provide technicians with the opportunity to keep up with the latest vehicle technologies for increasingly complicated repair jobs on newer vehicles. It’s the sum of these investments that maintain our brand reputation while innovating for the future. What are your thoughts about the business environment for the aftermarket in 2023? The last few years have been anything but an ordinary business environment. We’ve seen a rise in pandemic-fueled DIY in 2020, followed by a rebound in DIFM with the stimulus payments in 2021, and some corrections in 2022 as inflation and supply constraints muted market volumes. Looking ahead, we expect some reversion back to somewhat more normal activity in 2023, and with an aging and growing car parc we expect volume growth for the next few years. What are the opportunities your company is most excited about at this time? Conversely, what are the biggest challenges for your business in 2023? We are extremely excited about firmly establishing our commitment to service the global car parc across the full range of technologies for years to come. Where other companies are moving away from categories like engine and exhaust, we see an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to VIO coverage and availability in these segments. In addition, we continue to lead the way in training for emerging technology areas like ADAS and electrification and have a range of products well-suited to these vehicles along with our full lineup of powertrain-agnostic products like shocks and struts, chassis and braking. The biggest challenges for our business are not unique to DRiV, as companies around the world are wrestling with the macroeconomic impacts of the war in Ukraine, increased inflation and the shortage of skilled labor. Global supply chains remain strained, and therefore we remain committed to our strategy to manufacture in region. I mentioned our commitment to training, as that is also a response to the continued technician shortage across the industry. Through our Garage Gurus program, we annually offer academic scholarships to students who are enrolled in collegiate or high school technician and repair programs. Another challenge for us is the status of Right to Repair legislation across the U.S. So far in 2023, 20 states have filed legislation to address the issue, so we will be watching that carefully as the bills progress through state legislatures. Finally, as inflation continues to impact the industry, our commitment to operational excellence and innovation will help ensure we are providing the right value to our customers for years to come. The post Auto Parts Manufacturers Share Their Perspectives appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

Counterman’s “Guess the Car” contest challenges our readers to solve an automotive riddle, for a chance to win $100. And each month, we receive hundreds of responses from aftermarket professionals trying to guess the model of the vehicle depicted. The correct answer for the February/March contest is the Chrysler Pacifica. The winner is Elissa Herbert, retail specialist/counter sales for NAPA Auto Parts in Ambler, Pennsylvania. Now, let’s get to know the “Guess the Car” champion. CM: How long have you been working in the auto parts business? EH: I started in the automotive industry as a technician when I was 14. I was working part-time in auto parts also. I probably started [full-time] in auto parts when I was in my early 20s. CM: What do you like most about your job? EH: I like to help people – especially women who come in and don’t know anything [about cars]. I’m like, “Listen, I got you.” It’s kind of scary coming into these places, because they’re all full of guys. When [women] see me, they’re a little relieved, like, “Oh I can talk to you.” CM: What’s the strangest question a customer has asked you? EH: Once I had a customer call me for a set of brake pads: one rotor and one caliper. I had to get the caliper down from the very top shelf and it was quite heavy. When the customer came in to pick up his parts, he said he only needed the brakes and rotor, not the caliper. I jokingly gave him a hard time about how difficult it was to get down, and now I have to put it back. He asked me if he could make it up to me by taking me out to dinner! I accepted the offer and we dated for four years after that. CM: What’s the coolest car you’ve ever owned or worked on? EH: My first car was a 1986 [Camaro] Z28, and I loved that very much. And it was older than me, so I was trying to keep it running as long as I could. CM: Do you have any interesting hobbies? What do you do for fun? EH: I go hiking with my husband and daughter. We usually take our little 5-pound morkie, who likes to go for miles and miles. CM: What’s your dream car? EH: A Bugatti Veyron. CM: Doesn’t matter what year? EH: No, it’s just always been a Bugatti for me. I love them all. The post Meet the ‘Guess the Car’ Champ: Elissa Herbert appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

NTN, the parent company of BCA Bearings, recently announced the launch of BCA’s 2023 “Summer Cruisin’” promotion. During the promotion, BCA’s warehouse-distributor customers can earn BCA-branded, premium merchandise with orders of BCA wheel-hub assemblies, bearings and seals. “We are excited to unveil the theme of our 2023 summer promotion” said Georgianne Dickey, director of marketing. “The Summer Cruisin’ theme is meant to evoke the feeling of hitting the road for a summer cruise in a classic car, hanging out with friends and family at a car show, or just cruising with your windows down in your freshly washed car. The promotional items were selected to complement the ‘Summer Cruisin’’ theme, so they are all items that an auto enthusiast would want to keep handy for the summer. We look forward another successful summer promotion with our BCA customers!” BCA’s Summer Cruisin’ promotion enables customers to earn tiered packages of BCA branded merchandise with qualifying orders, which they can then use to conduct their own localized promotions. This allows the BCA-branded merchandise to reach every level of the distribution channel, from the counter people who recommend BCA products to the technicians who install them. “The Summer Cruisin’ promotional items pay homage to summer car care activities that we all undertake to keep our prized vehicles fresh and clean,” NTN said in a news release. “Start off with a carwash bucket kit to sparkle up the exterior, shop towels to clean and polish inside and out, and a multi-function car duster to give the finish a final shine. Use the funnel to top off your fluids, throw on the stylish trucker cap, and now you’re ready to cruise. As your cruisin’ down the road, you can keep your trunk neatly organized with the tailgate carry-all, while keeping refreshments cold in the wheeled cooler. Once you arrive at your destination, you have a can coolie to keep your drink cold, a gameday director’s chair to relax in comfort, and a clamp-on umbrella to keep you cool in the shade. Now you’re Summer Cruisin’ with BCA!” BCA’s 2023 Summer Cruisin’ promotion runs from April 1 through June 15, so keep an eye out for BCA merchandise coming to a summer cruise near you. For additional details about BCA’s 2023 Summer Cruisin’ promotion, contact a BCA sales representative or customer relations advocate. The post BCA Bearings Announces 2023 ‘Summer Cruisin” Promotion appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

The University of the Aftermarket, through Northwood University, is accepting registration for online courses for automotive-industry professionals to earn continuing-education units to obtain special industry designations. “Our Distance Education program offers in-depth, semester-long business skills classes taught by Northwood University faculty,” said Thomas Litzinger, executive director of the University of the Aftermarket. “We collaborate with companies, associations, and groups throughout the motor vehicle aftermarket to create custom industry-specific educational programs.” The CEUs can be used toward AAP, ACP and MAAP designations, and translate into college credits toward an associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree. “Northwood University and the University of the Aftermarket recently enhanced our ACP, AAP and MAAP designations, and we are introducing a SPAAP designation,” Litzinger stated. “Our industry designations are designed to promote continuous education within the automotive industry and to recognize professionals who are committed to personal and professional growth.” SPAAP is designed for industry executives who want to take the next step in their educational journey by participating in rigorous master’s-level coursework. “Our SPAAP will set the new standard for excellence in education for our industry and will be highly sought after by leading executives,” Litzinger added. “The development of our SPAAP designation indicates the University of the Aftermarket’s dedication to the Automotive Aftermarket, to continuous education and to the empowerment of the human condition.” The University of Aftermarket, through Northwood University, provides a number of online classes for industry professionals, including: Strategic sales and marketing Heavy-duty parts and service marketing Aftermarket field sales management Business law Principles of management Organizational behavior Business productivity software Principals of marketing Selling & sales management Consumer behavior World culture and customs The culture of leadership For more information, visit https://admissions.northwood.edu/corporate/uofa. The post UofA Accepting Registration for Online Summer Courses appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

Penzoil recently introduced the “Long May We Drive” campaign, celebrating the thrill of driving and carving your own path on the open road. “Every person has a unique story to tell when it comes to driving, and every vehicle can tell a thousand tales,” Penzoil explained in a news release. “No matter where and what someone drives, or whether cars are used for hugging curves in the road, commuting to work or packing up kids and heading for the mountains, Pennzoil wants to celebrate the pursuit of the next mile with this campaign.” Featuring real drivers with a passion for car culture, “Long May We Drive” focuses on the stories of those who are passionate about taking care of their engine, those who relish the open road or those racing into the record books track by track. One of those real drivers, who not only owns the road but also moves the industry forward, is Larry Chen, an automotive content creator. Chen and his daughter are featured in the campaign, tinkering in the garage like a normal weekend, alongside a real cast of drivers including offroad enthusiasts and a five-star-rated rideshare driver. Joey Logano, driver of the No. 22 Pennzoil Ford Mustang and two-time NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) champion, is a key driver in this campaign, highlighting his dedication to pushing his engine to the limits. Pennzoil also is proud to spotlight a budding relationship with motorsports enthusiast Torsten Gross. In the campaign, Gross demonstrates his drive to celebrate mobility and challenge the norm. As a racecar driver and a C6 quadriplegic who uses hand controls, Gross created the Just Hands Foundation to allow others in similar conditions to experience the thrill of driving at racecar speeds. “Pennzoil is proud to champion his mission of equalizing mobility in motorsports, supporting the Just Hands Racing team’s development of more cars modified with hand controls to hit the racetracks nationwide so people with disabilities can experience the thrill of racing,” the company said. Cars provide an irreplicable source of freedom and self-expression, and the love of the drive is a common thread that connects us all. “Wherever your car is going to take you, Pennzoil will be there,” the company said in a news release. “The ‘Long May We Drive’ campaign serves as a reminder that each person’s path of driving is unique, and Pennzoil invites you to join in this exciting ride!” The post Penzoil Celebrates the Next Mile With New Marketing Campaign appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

Advance Auto Parts recently announced that Tom Greco has informed the company of his plan to retire as president and chief executive officer of the company at the end of the year. Following Greco’s retirement, he plans to serve in an advisory capacity through a transition period, the company noted. In connection with Greco’s planned retirement and the company’s succession-planning process, the Advance Auto Parts board has formed a succession committee, composed of independent directors. The board intends to retain a leading executive search firm to assist in a thorough and comprehensive search that considers both internal and external candidates, Advance said in a news release. “It has been a privilege to lead Advance and I am extremely proud of the talented team we have built as well as the accomplishments we have delivered together,” Greco said. “Since my appointment as CEO, we have successfully integrated a transformative acquisition while scaling the business and enhancing our operational efficiency, inventory and distribution capabilities to better serve our customers. “I believe now is the right time to begin to transition leadership for two primary reasons. First, we are in the final year of our three-year strategic business plan and are in the process of updating our next multi-year strategy. This transition will enable my successor to play a role in developing the next chapter of Advance’s strategy and help ensure the long-term success of Advance. Secondly, by planning for retirement in advance, I will be able to work with the board’s succession committee to identify my successor and facilitate a smooth transition. In the meantime, I’m committed to the execution of our 2023 plan to continue delivering for customers and driving long-term shareholder value.” Eugene Lee Jr., chair of the board of directors, asserted that Greco “has constructed a strong foundation that will enable success in Advance’s next chapters.” “Under his leadership, Advance has transformed its talent base and culture, delivered nearly $2 billion of revenue growth and more than doubled its adjusted earnings per share over the last five years,” Lee Jr. said. “Advance is now better-positioned to meet the challenges of today’s dynamic environment and as we undertake our search for the next CEO, we are focused on ensuring that the company continues to unlock its enormous potential and deliver long-term shareholder value.” The post Advance Auto Parts CEO Tom Greco to Retire appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

Car-shopping marketplace Cars.com has revealed its 2023 Top Picks for electric vehicles in conjunction with the company’s 2023 EV Buying Guide. Cars.com experts examined the price, range, comfort and features of 40-plus EV models on sale in 2023 to determine the Top Picks for Value, Family, Luxury and Commuters. Cars.com’s 2023 Top EV Picks, which can be found in the Cars.com EV Buying Guide, are: Family EV 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 – The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a compact SUV with much more space inside than meets the eye – there’s room to carry a family and haul all the stuff that comes with them. Inside, parents will appreciate the storage nooks, perfect for stashing snacks or devices. For those with kids in car seats, the Ioniq 5’s backseat easily accommodates two car seats thanks to its abundant legroom and no-nonsense Latch anchors for easy connection. With a competitive EPA-estimated maximum range of 220-303 miles, depending on configuration, this family vehicle is ready for short and long road trips. Value EV 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV – The Chevy Bolt EV hatchback is a well-equipped all-electric vehicle with an EPA-estimated maximum range of 259 miles that starts at less than $30,000 before any applicable tax incentives. Featuring a 10.2-inch touchscreen multimedia system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, automatic climate control, automatic emergency braking and lane departure steering assist, this hatch delivers more than enough to satisfy budget-conscious car shoppers. Luxury EV 2023 Genesis Electrified G80 – The Genesis Electrified G80 is a gorgeous, electrified luxury sedan with an opulent interior that outshines the competition. The multimedia system is simple to use, easy to decipher and elegant. In addition, this luxury EV elevates the driving experience to one where there is practically no powertrain noise at all – unless you want there to be. Commuter EV 2023 Kia Niro EV – The Kia Niro EV is a fun and dynamic four-door compact hatchback with a comfortable ride and pleasant cabin – perfect for long commutes or traffic jams. With an estimated maximum range of 253 miles, owners shouldn’t need to plug in every night, plus the hatchback body packs a respectable amount of cargo and passenger space within a tidy, easy-to-park exterior dimension. For more, visit Cars.com’s 2023 EV Buying Guide. The post Cars.Com Reveals Top EV Picks for 2023 appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

Idemitsu Lubricants America and O’Reilly Auto Parts have jointly announced a nationwide expansion of their partnership. As a result of this new affiliation, all Idemitsu transmission fluids now are available through O’Reilly’s national network of Auto Parts Stores. Idemitsu Lubricants America is the largest supplier of Japanese OEM lubricants in North America. Idemitsu’s Japanese OEM-specific transmission fluids are developed explicitly for each OE vehicle’s transmission application. This way, vehicle owners benefit from the same OE-quality product that their vehicle’s transmissions were designed to use for optimal functionality, according to the company. “Developed to meet the most stringent requirements of Japanese automakers, Idemitsu’s application-specific formulas guarantee no shift shocks, less clutch wear and reduced fuel and oil consumption,” the company added. Founded in 1911, Idemitsu a leading supplier of OE-specific automatic (ATF) and continuously variable (CVTF) transmission fluids to Japanese automakers, such as Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Acura, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Subaru and Mazda. “We’re so very pleased to be partnering with O’Reilly Auto Parts on such a large scale,” said Frank Lam, Idemitsu senior division manager for the aftermarket. “This new distribution relationship will allow more O’Reilly locations across the country and, more importantly, their automotive service and Japanese-branded vehicle-owner customers, access to Idemitsu’s OE-quality lineup of transmission fluids developed specifically for their vehicles.” The post Idemitsu, O’Reilly Auto Parts Expand Partnership appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

Carter has expanded its popular line of Rapid Fit water pumps and now is offering 33 part numbers covering 80.8 million vehicles in operation. Carter Rapid Fit water pumps are engineered with pre-mounted components to deliver time-saving installation for the professional technician. Designed to be installed directly out of the box, Rapid Fit water pumps help save an average of 15 to 25 minutes in the bay, according to the company. “Expanding the coverage of our Rapid Fit pumps gives our customers more options to help get the job done and save time.” said Ryan Gernheuser, repair group director, product management/aftermarket engineering at First Brands Group. Also now available is the release of a new Carter online water-pump catalog. Gernheuser added that the new catalog “is another valuable resource for automotive technicians providing vehicle-specific information for engine cooling applications on the road today.” For more information, visit carterengineered.com. The post Carter Adds Rapid Fit Water Pumps, Publishes Catalog appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

Northwood University announced that it has hired an industry veteran to serve in a new role supporting automotive aftermarket education. “We are thrilled to welcome James O’Dell as our new assistant director of aftermarket education,” said Kristin Stehouwer, academic vice president and provost of Northwood University. “His professional experiences and network, along with that of our new University of Aftermarket executive director, will usher in an age of growth for our aftermarket programs, which will benefit the entire automotive industry.” O’Dell has served as the business development manager for Fisher Auto Parts in Ann Arbor, Michigan, since 2019. The automotive aftermarket includes vehicle parts, equipment, replacement tires, service repair, collision repair and accessories sold after the sale of the original vehicle. The Auto Care Association, which represents the entire automotive aftermarket, estimates the auto care industry is a $400 billion industry with more than 4.5 million workers. “As our vehicle parc continues to increase in age, and our miles driven have reached a new record high, opportunities in the automotive aftermarket continue to grow at a rapid pace,” O’Dell said. “I am proud to join Northwood. Its aftermarket program, and the Northwood Idea, are truly unique in the country. It inspires human potential through education and opportunity which uniquely prepares its students to make a difference and be successful. This is evident in that nearly one hundred percent of Northwood aftermarket graduates are employed – and their average salary is nearly $63,000.” In October, Northwood named Thomas Litzinger as the executive director of the University of the Aftermarket. Litzinger is an accomplished high-performing executive with more than 30 years of leadership experience. “Dr. Litzinger and James O’Dell are industry professionals with diverse experience and skills to lead aftermarket education,” Stehouwer stated. “Their strong associations and ability to form new relationships across the industry will allow Northwood to collaborate with all segments to produce even more career-ready students.” O’Dell noted Litzinger is not just an industry expert; he has the academic achievement to lead and inspire students in Northwood’s undergraduate programs and those in the University of Aftermarket, which provides industry-specific professional development to those working in the industry. He also is proficient in researching and publishing new studies relevant to the industry. Litzinger will lead an effort to develop a new curriculum for the University of the Aftermarket just as Northwood is reinvigorating its aftermarket education through these new hires and a new curriculum. “The investments Northwood is making in aftermarket education shows the university is responsive to the industry’s feedback, and it is stewarding its resources well for the good of the industry,” O’Dell stated. The post Northwood Names New Assistant Director of Aftermarket appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

The Consumer Access to Repair (CAR) Coalition is commending a bipartisan letter from 28 state attorneys general urging lawmakers to approve bipartisan legislation protecting consumer rights in the post-collision auto repair market. Specifically, the attorneys general are urging key members of Congress to advance the SMART and REPAIR Acts, which have recently been reintroduced in the 118th Congress. “We applaud the bipartisan group of attorneys general for urging Congress to pass commonsense right to repair legislation, like the recently reintroduced SMART and REPAIR Acts,” CAR Coalition Executive Director Justin Rzepka said. “These attorneys general, as chief consumer protection and antitrust enforcers, are well aware of the pressure of rising prices on the people in their states. Swift federal legislation is critical to protecting consumers’ right to repair the products they purchase – restoring choice to the repair process, increasing competition and lowering costs.” The letter states in part: “The Right-to-Repair is a bipartisan issue that impacts every consumer, household and farm in a time of increasing inflation. It is about ensuring that consumers have choices as to who, where, when and at what cost their vehicles can be repaired. It is about ensuring small automobile businesses and ‘mom-and-pop’ auto shops can remain competitive against a closed system favored by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).” The letter can be read in full HERE. The Save Money on Auto Repair Transportation SMART Act (H.R. 1707) would put an end to automakers’ unfair use of patents by reducing from 15 years to 2.5 years the time that automakers can enforce design patents against alternative parts manufacturers on collision repair parts, including common parts like side mirrors, quarter panels, and bumpers. The Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act (H.R. 906), would ensure consumers have access to their vehicle’s data and the repair tools needed to maintain modern vehicles. The introduction of the SMART and REPAIR Acts builds on growing momentum for the consumer protections in the post-collision repair market, including endorsements from The White House and Federal Trade Commission, along with an unprecedented show of support from federal lawmakers in the FY2023 government funding package and spotlights at two congressional hearings. According to recent research from the CAR Coalition and DePaul University College of Law, anti-competitive practices from automakers cost American consumers more than $1.5 billion per year in higher auto repairs. The post State AGs Urge Congress to Pass SMART, REPAIR Acts appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

Standard Motor Products (SMP) has introduced 110 new part numbers in its March new-number announcement. Included in the release is new coverage for 56 product categories, and 29 part numbers for 2022 and 2023 model-year vehicles. Standard continues its strategic expansion of collision repair and ADAS programs. Active grille shutter actuators now are available for the 2022-2021 Ford F-150. New park-assist cameras offer additional coverage for 2.9 million vehicles, including the 2022-2021 Ford Bronco Sport, while park-assist sensors now are available for the 2022-2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee. SMP is continuing to increase coverage for hybrid vehicles across multiple categories. A vacuum pump for Lexus Hybrids is available, as is an ambient light sensor for Lexus and Toyota Hybrids. Temperature-control products for popular hybrid vehicles also are available, including a cooling-fan assembly for the 2022-2017 Nissan Rogue Hybrid and hose assemblies for the 2022-2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. This latest announcement also sees expansion in several key powertrain-neutral categories. Power-window switches are available for 1.2 million vehicles including the 2022-2018 Ford Ranger. Another 2 million vehicles will be covered with the latest release of power door look actuators. Other new powertrain-neutral releases include ABS speed sensors, TPMS sensors, neutral safety switches and vehicle-speed sensors. “We are pleased to release these new numbers to our trusted distribution partners,” said Jack Ramsey, senior vice president of sales and marketing, SMP. “This release covers import and domestic vehicles with ICE and hybrid powertrains, and also includes many aftermarket-exclusive parts, helping our distribution partners to capture additional business.” Standard also is adding to its line of new oil-filter housing assemblies. The latest application fits 2022-2019 Chrysler, Dodge, RAM and Jeep vehicles. Standard oil-filter housings come preassembled from the factory and include a new oil cooler, oil-temperature sensor, oil pressure sensor, gaskets and new mounting hardware. Four Seasons, SMP’s temperature-control division, has added 40 new part numbers to its product line, with 26 hose assemblies adding coverage for 3.8 million import and domestic vehicles. New compressors have been added for popular vehicles such as the 2022-2020 Ford F-250 and 2022-2021 Ford F-150. Four Seasons also has introduced cooling-fan assemblies, blower motors and heater cores. All new applications are listed in the catalogs found at StandardBrand.com and 4S.com, and in electronic catalog providers. The post SMP Introduces 110 New Part Numbers in March appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

Metallurgy is the study of the physical and chemical properties of metal, and when comparing different metals, the question becomes whether one wants to pursue a complicated degree in science, or whether you’re OK with accepting the basic facts around it. The science is cool stuff, but I’ll leave it for my next life. I’m OK with the basic facts, and it’s the knowledge of these facts that makes it much easier to understand the basic types of crankshafts, or “cranks” for short. In this industry, whether you’re interested in performance or not, you can’t escape the conversation of it, and one of the first things that always comes up is the term “forged” crank. Everyone knows the term and knows they’re better, but why? Back up to the era of muscle cars and the exploding popularity of hot-rodding and aftermarket performance parts. As the horsepower wars accelerated throughout the ‘60s, the high-performance variants of any engine had one thing in common: a forged crank. When you think about what a crank does, it harnesses all the power created by combustion and transfers that power to the transmission. Visualize what they go through: The power of combustion transfers through the piston and rod and into the rod journal to drive the crank into rotation. Meanwhile, the next cylinder in the firing order is compressing an air/fuel mixture in preparation for firing and driving the piston downward. Add to this engine speed and the momentum of pistons and rods that are holding on for dear life – not to mention the shock to the system by dumping a clutch to launch – and you can paint an easy picture of the immense forces pulling and twisting on the crank, just waiting to expose a weakness. The bottom line is the crankshaft needs to handle the abuse it gets, and everything from compression to rpm to how hard the vehicle will be driven are factors that must be considered. This is why during the heyday of muscle cars the top performers had forged cranks. It was more than just handling the horsepower; it was the fact that these cars were going to be run hard over and over again, and many of them on the track. Iron vs. Steel Iron is a natural element that comes from the earth. Steel is a man-made alloy that’s a result of mixing iron with carbon, and it’s ultimately a stronger material. Those are some of the basic facts I was talking about. Metallurgy 101. Done. Casting For years, the traditional or “standard” crank was made of cast iron by pouring molten metal into a mold. When the casting is removed, it’s very close to the finished dimensions and comparatively requires minimal finishing. The entire process has a considerably lower cost than any other. As a result, this has been the standard crank of choice for automakers for many years. Now, cast iron certainly is no wimpy material – think frying pan – and cast-iron cranks are very functional, but they have a limit to the amount of power they can handle in an engine. Generally, they’ll perform well up to the range of 450 to 500 horsepower, but when you reach that level (especially when driven hard on a regular basis), it’s time to move to something more durable, and the forged crank enters the picture. Forging A forged crank starts as a large cylinder of steel, heated to the molten state. It’s then pressed and/or twisted into shape by large dies. The ultimate difference between a casting and a forging is the resulting grain structure of the metal. A casting produces a sand-like grain versus the uniform flowing-grain structure of a forging. This grain structure is the reason for the difference between the strength of a cast and forged crank. Billet A billet crank starts as a large cylinder of steel, which then is machined into a crankshaft. Since a billet crank isn’t pressed or twisted in a forging process, the resulting grain structure runs parallel throughout the entire piece. Is a billet crank stronger than forged? Arguments go both ways, but billet seems to get the nod most of the time. Just a Little More Metal Cast cranks can be made of iron, nodular iron or steel. Add a small amount of carbon to iron and you have nodular iron. Steel has the greatest amount of carbon, and by definition is an alloy. There are thousands of different types of steels. Forged cranks, as well as billet, are made of multiple grades of these steel alloys. The difference in all – from least expensive to most – is tensile strength. Tensile strength is another term related to metallurgy. It refers to the amount of force that a metal will withstand before it begins to stretch. So, the two underlying factors in crank strength are material and manufacturing process. Ultimately, you can go from bottom to top, aligning tensile strength, price and how much horsepower a crank will handle. Less costs less, more costs more. It’s that simple! The post A Closer Look at Crankshafts appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

Springtime is a season of change and renewal. The weather turns warmer, plants and flowers bloom into life and the days get longer. Like the local wildlife, DIY customers also are emerging from hibernation, eager to take advantage of the warmer weather so they can tackle projects in the driveway again. If your store is in snow country like ours, spring also is a season of surprises. Anything that careless customers or the wind has “deposited” in your parking lot over the past few months will reappear as the snow melts. Now is the time to address these (and other) items, before your customers notice! A literal clean sweep of the parking lot also will reveal any weather-related damage like broken and heaved concrete, or cracked asphalt. Potholes might help drive sales of steering and suspension parts this time of year, but your parking lot shouldn’t be the place your customers encounter them! Standing in the parking lot, you also can get a customer’s-eye view of your store’s exterior. Do faded signage and dirty windows make it look like you closed during the pandemic and maybe never re-opened? Speaking of opening and closing, if you have seasonal differences in business hours, verify that those posted hours are correct. (Your online presence also should accurately reflect these changes.) And even though the days are getting longer, interior and exterior lighting still are important safety and security concerns, especially if you keep extended hours. That dimly lit look isn’t doing you or your business any favors! Once inside, your customers also should find fresh new merchandise on relevant seasonal displays. The idea of spring cleaning is often “out with the old, and in with the new,” so changing up the front of the house is in order this time of year. Refreshing your spring line doesn’t just mean dragging out last year’s old stock and hanging it out for sale. Mixing this year’s new-to-market products into the displays along with the “tried-and-true” items is a good way to showcase your refreshed new look. There’s no place for faded, worn or damaged goods in your seasonal displays, but saleable merchandise left over from the previous season should be rotated forward and sold as soon as possible (especially chemicals and wiper blades). Those lingering unsold winter goods sometimes can present storage issues. On occasion, I’ve been guilty of “storing” off-season parts by tossing everything into totes or empty boxes to get them out of the way. There are two issues with this “method,” each of which I discovered the hard way. The first issue is that these items still are in inventory, so if someone needs one of the parts, we waste a lot of time sifting through totes in search of a needle in a haystack. The second issue is that when these parts are brought out again the following season, all of that sifting, sorting and shuffling makes the merchandise look pretty shopworn. Unless seasonal items are returned to your warehouse, a dedicated “off-season” shelving unit will help ensure that these parts stay organized and available and don’t suffer in storage. Last but not least, our delivery vehicles likely are due for a thorough cleaning … inside AND out! Washing away the winter salt and road grime not only makes our fleet look professional, but it also increases the service life of our vehicles and bolsters our image in the community. National Spring Car Care Month begins in April, so before the public comes calling for their cleanup needs, this is the perfect time to take care of our own! The post Spring Cleaning and Seasonal Stocking appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

KBS MAXX single-stage paint provides a beautiful, durable, UV-stable finish with excellent gloss retention, according to KBS Coatings. The two-component polyurethane top coat performs like an all-in-one base coat and clear coat, according to the company. “KBS MAXX has superior impact, weather and UV resistance, while providing fast-drying characteristics,” KBS Coatings explained in a news release. “The long-lasting, high-solids coating offers outstanding adhesion and superb opacity. KBS Advanced Cross-Linked Coatings Technology makes it both flexible and durable.” Chemical-resistant KBS MAXX has low VOC and HAPs and withstands continuous temperatures of up to 400 F. The paint can be applied by brush, roller or sprayer and features excellent flow-out for a smooth finish with no brush marks. KBS MAXX and the KBS MAXX Activator Medium are easy to mix and yield a pre-thinned paint that is ready to spray or brush. KBS MAXX currently is offered in 19 colors, and in clear. For more information, visit the KBS Coatings website. The post KBS Coatings Introduces KBS MAXX Single-Stage Paint appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

The Tire Industry Association has joined other association leaders to support the critical global Right to Repair movement by signing the new Right to Repair position statement. The statement enumerates the core beliefs of the movement and the objectives and intended outcomes of right to repair legislation. The document also sets forth 10 best-practice principles to developing a framework for Right to Repair legislation that any supporting country can use and adapt them to their needs. Globally, the automotive aftermarket keeps 1.5 billion vehicles on the road while contributing $1.8 trillion to the global economy. After vehicles exit their warranty period, independent repair shops perform 70% of repairs. This vibrant industry and the consumer choice that it creates is being threatened by automotive manufacturers that block access to wirelessly transmitted vehicle repair and maintenance data, according to TIA. Without the convenience and choice of independent parts and repair, especially in suburban and rural communities, consumers will have limited access to affordable vehicle service and repair. These restrictions can have catastrophic effects on local economies and the well-being and safety of millions that rely on vehicle transportation daily, TIA says. In the United States, the automotive aftermarket is a $492 billion industry employing 4.5 million professionals, according to the Auto Care Association. “Right to Repair is a top priority for TIA members and for the global automotive aftermarket,” said Richard “Dick” Gust, TIA CEO. “Without safeguards, independent automotive repairers and vehicle owners will have fewer repair options, face longer wait times and pay higher prices when they repair their vehicles. It is crucial for independent auto repair locations to have access to the equipment and data needed to repair today’s highly technological vehicles and that consumers have a choice in where they get their vehicles repaired.” Both Australia and South Africa have successfully retained their drivers’ right to repair their vehicles. These countries are a model for similar legislation in the United States that levels the playing field and keeps the consumer at the heart of decision-making across the transportation ecosystem. Read the full position statement here. The post Tire Industry Association Joins Right to Repair Movement appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

MEMA, The Vehicle Suppliers Association, announced the members of the steering committee of the Center for Sustainability, launched in January. Committee members were selected to represent the diverse membership of the organization, covering automotive and commercial vehicle, original equipment and aftermarket, large and small companies, and the remanufacturing community. Members of the steering committee will provide guidance and oversight for the center’s leadership. In addition, they will support the programming that will be developed for the benefit of all member companies in the organization. “We are thrilled to have the commitment of these outstanding industry executives as we take the Center for Sustainability from concept to reality,” said John Chalifoux, chief sustainability officer, MEMA, following the inaugural meeting of the steering committee. “I look forward to working with the committee members who will continue to provide their expertise and a balanced perspective for all MEMA members.” The 10 executives serving on the MEMA Center for Sustainability steering committee are: Marc Blackman, president and CEO, Gold Eagle, and MEMA chairman Ed Edwards, president and CEO, Circuit Board Medics Maureen Klein, vice president, public affairs and sustainability, Pirelli Tire North America Jill Kupcak, corporate office of sustainability and EHS, North America Region, Robert Bosch LLC Brian Lewallen, president, aftermarket solutions, Daimler Truck North America Santosh Singh, senior vice president, human resources, legal, government relations and corporate communications, North America, DENSOe Volker Weng, president and general manager, drivetrain and battery systems, BorgWarner Shawn Zwicker, global recon general manager, Cummins Bill Long, president and CEO, MEMA John Chalifoux, chief sustainability officer, MEMA, and COO, MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers Learn more about the Center for Sustainability here. The post MEMA Announces Steering Committee for Sustainability Center appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

Arch Auto Parts, one of New York’s fastest-growing auto parts retailers with 20 convenient locations, has doubled the footprint of its main distribution center from 30,000 to over 60,000 rentable square feet (RSF). The new lease is both an extension and expansion for Arch Auto Parts at the Ideal Queens industrial building, located at 184-10 & 184-60 Jamaica Avenue in Jamaica, Queens, according to owners KABR Group and Monocle Group. “Doubling the size of our Queens center is critical to our growing regional footprint,” said Chris Bodh, owner and CEO of Arch Auto Parts. “We are excited to be working with the new ownership group on our company’s expansion in this great location.” Ideal Queens, purchased by KABR and Monocle in February 2022, consists of more than 620,000 RSF, which is conveniently located with access to Manhattan, Long Island City, Long Island, JFK International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Brooklyn. The warehouse and logistics buildings are equipped with 15 loading docks, multiple drive-in doors, 24/7 secured access, ceiling heights of up to 20 feet clear and onsite surface parking. Ideal Queens is situated on a major thoroughfare with accessibility to local routes as well as interstate highways. For a convenient commute, employees enjoy proximity to Jamaica Station, serviced by the E, J, M and Z subway lines and the Long Island Railroad. “Arch Auto Parts is a perfect fit for Ideal Queens,” said Adam Altman, Founder and Managing Partner of KABR. “We are excited to be a part of their continued growth.” The new owners have commenced a comprehensive renovation. This modernization project will transform the building into a Class A industrial center by improving the buildings infrastructure and tenant experience. The improvements include a complete exterior restoration of the building façade, including replacing original windows, installation of brand-new automatic freight and passenger elevators, complete bathroom remodeling and upgrading of loading docks with full dock packages. “The ongoing project will continue to transform the asset into a best-in-class multi-story light industrial, manufacturing, warehouse and distribution facility in a highly supply-constrained New York City consumer market,” Arch Auto Parts added in a news release. Leasing opportunities are available with the ability to accommodate a variety of industries looking for 1,000 to 200,000 RSF within minutes of Manhattan. For more information, visit www.IdealQueens.com. The post Arch Auto Parts Double Footprint of Main Distribution Center appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

The winter registration deadline for the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) testing and recertification is March 31. Those service professionals registering by the deadline will have 90 days to schedule an appointment to take their selected ASE tests. ASE now offers three options for taking certification or recertification tests: In-person testing is available throughout the year and is conducted days, nights and weekends at more than 450 secured, proctored Prometric test centers. Those with unexpired automobile certifications (A1-A9) can use the ASE renewal app for recertification. ASE also offers ProProctor remote testing as an online recertification solution for all ASE recertifications tests, excluding L1 and L2 tests. To register and select an available option to take selected ASE certification tests, visit ASE.com by March 31, click on register and sign-in. Once logged in, users can next click on “orders” and then “store” where they can find the tests they want to take, add those tests to the cart, check out and registration is complete. For assistance from ASE customer service, call 800-390-6789. The post ASE Winter Registration Deadline March 31 appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

Walker Products announced the release of more than 200 new SKUs for the automotive aftermarket. The SKUs cover a wide range of automotive applications, including engine-management sensors, oxygen sensors, ignition coils and more. “Walker Products has been a trusted name in the automotive industry for over 75 years, and the launch of these new SKUs further solidifies their commitment to providing high-quality products and exceptional customer service,” the company said in a news release. Designed to provide superior performance, reliability and durability, the new SKUs are manufactured to the highest quality standards using the latest technology and materials, according to the company. “The release of these new SKUs demonstrates Walker Products’ commitment to meeting the evolving needs of their customers in the automotive industry,” the company added. To learn more about the new SKUs and other products offered by Walker Products, visit the Walker Products website. The post Walker Products Releases 200 New SKUs appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

Worldpac, a wholly owned subsidiary of Advance Auto Parts, celebrated the grand opening of its newest warehouse on Feb. 22 in Hatillo, Puerto Rico. Members of the local community, including Hatillo Mayor Carlos Román Román, attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Located at H-1 Metro Plaza Hatillo, Carr No. 2 KM 87.5 Marginal, Worldpac’s Hatillo warehouse measures more than 30,000 square feet and has the capacity to house more than 400,000 original-equipment and premium-brand automotive parts, serving most vehicle makes and models on the road in Puerto Rico. The warehouse will support the businesses of local independently owned auto parts stores throughout the western region, with parts deliveries for most customers taking place multiple times per day, six days a week. “We are very proud to open our second Worldpac warehouse in Hatillo, bringing independent businesses in the western region greater access to original equipment and leading name brand auto parts,” said David Heine, Worldpac executive vice president of sales. “With two locations in Puerto Rico, we can now offer far greater inventory coverage across the island to better serve our customers. We’re also very pleased to employ members of the community at our new facility and we look forward to continued investment in Puerto Rico for years to come.” Worldpac employs 10 team members at its new facility, with many living locally in Hatillo and surrounding communities. The company also supports independent auto parts stores through its warehouse in Bayamon, which opened in 2010. Visit Worldpac’s website for more information about its parts, accessories and employment opportunities. The post Worldpac Celebrates Opening of New Warehouse in Puerto Rico appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article