Latest aftermarket news and analysis articles 
The aftersales business that includes the manufacture, distribution and sale of replacement parts for vehicles
US: NA auto industry execs upbeat and optimistic in Booz survey
24 May 2012
A new wave of optimism is overtaking the US auto industry as it rebounds from the depths of the recession and a brutal restructuring, according to Booz & Company’s second annual US Automotive Industry Survey and Confidence Index.
JAPAN: Alpine FY2012 net income falls 24.2%
17 May 2012
Auto audio and navigator specialist Alpine Electronics said net income declined by 24.2% to JPY4.57bn (US$56.9m) for the fiscal year ended 31 March 2012.
JAPAN: Akebono Brake posts loss for fiscal 2011
17 May 2012
Akebono Brake has reported a net loss of JPY3.2bn (US$39.8m) for the fiscal year 2011, compared to net profit of JPY5.3bn. Pre-tax income amounted to JPY300m.
just-auto's research round-up
10 May 2012
Here's a brief run-down of reports available in our research store that caught our eye over the past week or so...
GERMANY: Automechanika expects large Spain interest for 2012 show
10 May 2012
International exhibition organiser, Messe Frankfurt, says it expects a significant presence from Spain at this year's Automechanika show as the country looks to extract itself from myriad economic problems.
CHINA: GMIO names Susan Docherty's successor
8 May 2012
Mark Barnes has been named GM International Operations' (GMIO) vice president of sales, marketing and aftersales from 15 May. He replaces Susan Docherty, now president and managing director of Chevrolet Europe.
just-auto's research round-up
1 May 2012
Here's a brief run-down of reports available in our research store that caught our eye over the past week or so...
THAILAND: Continental expands network
26 April 2012
Continental Tyres is targeting a growing share of Thailand’s tyre market with plans to double its retail network to 300 outlets his year.
just-auto's research round-up
24 April 2012
Here's a brief run-down of reports available in our research store that caught our eye over the past week or so...
FRANCE: PSA moots jobs implication in Europe grouping plan
23 April 2012
PSA Peugeot Citroen is not ruling out implications for staffing levels as it revealed further details of its European rationalisation plans.
INTERVIEW: Jean-Marc Gales - new CLEPA CEO: Part 2
11 April 2012
It's fair to say newly-installed European automotive supplier body CLEPA CEO, Jean-Marc Gales, has a busy in-tray to deal with in his first few weeks in office. Everything from Free Trade Agreements and over-capacity to repair information access will be on his agenda. He spoke to Simon Warburton at his HQ in Brussels on the state of play in Europe.
US: Chrysler cuts the cables
10 April 2012
After being first to eliminate bulky owner manuals from its vehicles, Chrysler is staying ahead of the charging game by getting rid of cables in favour of wireless technology.
INDIA: Valeo-Anand JV targets aftermarket
4 April 2012
Valeo Service India Auto Parts, a new Valeo-Anand joint venture, will distribute products made by both groups in the independent aftermarket across India, under the Valeo brand name.
just-auto.com site outage - UPDATE
3 April 2012
Gremlins struck and we apologise for the just-auto.com site outage yesterday (2 April) between 18:00 and 21:30 BST. This was due to a catastrophic hardware failure.
US: Honda recalls SUVs for headlight glitch
3 April 2012
Honda Motor will recall some CR-V compact SUVs from the 2002 through 2004 model years and Pilot large SUVs from 2003 to fix possible problems in their headlight wiring.
BELGIUM: CLEPA threatens court action unless OEMs act on repair information
30 March 2012
European automotive supplier body CLEPA says it will have no choice but to take at least one carmaker to court if its pleas for fair access to repair and maintenance information (RMI) are not heeded.
UK: Fast charge a Vauxhall Ampera - with British Gas
28 March 2012
British Gas, which supplies UK homes with natural gas and electricity, and also offers household maintenance and repairs, is offering owners of the newly launched Vauxhall Ampera a fast-charge kit that reduces full charging time by around two hours.
GERMANY: Firestone launches first run-flat tyre for Europe
27 March 2012
Firestone has launched the Firehawk SZ90µ RFT for the replacement market, the brand's first tyre with Run-Flat Technology (RFT) in Europe.
March 2012 management briefing: QUBE extracts (exhausts)
26 March 2012
QUBE is just-auto's online research platform, providing constantly updated insight and analysis on the global automotive manufacturing industry across over 40 sectors and 200 companies. In this month's just-auto management briefing we republish extracts from QUBE. This interview is part of QUBE's Exhaust Systems Intelligence Service
CHINA: Bridgestone wins lawsuit with Chinese manufacturer
20 March 2012
Bridgestone Corporation has announced that it has won a lawsuit against a Chinese manufacturer regarding the infringement of its design patent rights.
US: VW America plans new parts warehouse near Passat plant
13 March 2012
Volkswagen Group of America will build a US$40m warehouse in Roane County, Tennessee, for distributing domestic auto parts for the Chattanooga-made Passat. The 400,000 sq ft facility is expected to open by spring 2013 and will employ up to 45 people by 2016.
US: Chrysler opens Mopar in Argentina and Brazil
27 February 2012
Following the recent opening of Mopar facilities in China and the United Arab Emirates, Chrysler Group has announced the opening of two more parts distribution centres in Argentina and Brazil.
NEW ZEALAND: Exide to shut down battery recycling plant
17 February 2012
Exide Technologies will shut down its New Zealand battery recycling plant in Lower Hutt by March 2013.
BRAZIL: Meritor opens new distribution and customer service centre
16 February 2012
Meritor has opened a new 50,000 sq ft South America aftermarket distribution and customer service centre in Barueri, Brazil, a suburb of Sao Paulo.
THAILAND: Advics establishes new brake parts company
14 February 2012
Advics has established a company to produce brake parts in Chonburi province, Thailand.
US: Yokohoma to increase tyre supply
13 February 2012
Dan King, sales and marketing chief at Yokohama Tyre, has said the company intends to increase supply in the US.
INTERVIEW: Sarah Kenworthy, European supply chain director aftersales, Vauxhall/Opel
10 February 2012
Sarah Kenworthy, European supply chain director aftersales, Vauxhall/Opel
US: Nissan opens $2m training centre in Irving, Texas
10 February 2012
Nissan North America announced the opening of a new 25,000 sq ft training centre in Irving, Texas, following an investment of US$2m.
UK: New company takes over Saab parts supply and service
10 February 2012
A new Saab parts and service organisation has been set up in the UK following the placing into administration last November of Saab GB which operated through a 58-strong dealer network across Britain of which 20 were 'Saab only' sites.
VIETNAM: Bridgestone to build $575m export tyre plant - reports
2 February 2012
Vietnam's northern port city of Hai Phong has approved the construction of a US$575m tyre factory by a subsidiary of Bridgestone, the state-run newspaper Nhan Dan quoted municipal authorities on Thursday as saying.
