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Genuine Parts Co. (GPC) reported first-quarter sales of $5.3 billion, an 18.6% year-over-year increase. A 12.3% year-over-year increase in comparable sales and an 8.1% benefit from acquisitions contributed to the strong quarter. “We are pleased with the continued strength in our results to start the year, and we could not be prouder of the hard work by all our 52,000 teammates,” said Paul Donahue, chairman and CEO. “The first quarter was highlighted by new sales records for GPC and our Automotive and Industrial segments, margin expansion and our seventh consecutive quarter of double-digit earnings growth. The GPC team successfully navigated through ongoing supply chain challenges and inflationary pressures at levels we haven’t seen in 40 years.” Sales in the Automotive Parts Group, which includes NAPA Auto Parts, were $3.3 billion, up 10.9% from the first quarter of 2021. Automotive sales represented 62% of total company revenues. “”The continued strength in Automotive reflects solid growth across our operations, with 12% and 13% comparable-sales increases in the U.S. and Canada, respectively, and high-single digit comps in Europe and Australasia,” Donahue said. “Additionally, Industrial posted its fourth consecutive quarter of double-digit sales comps, driven by strengthening sales trends throughout the quarter.” GPC updated its full-year guidance with a more bullish outlook for the year. GPC now expects overall 2022 sales to grow between 10% and 12%, up from its previous full-year guidance of 9% to 11%. The company expects Automotive sales to grow between 5% and 7%, up from its previous outlook of 4% to %6. “The increase in our sales and earnings outlook reflects the confidence in our plans for accelerated growth and profitability as we build on the positive momentum in our Automotive and Industrial businesses,” Donahue said. “While cognizant of the many uncertainties in the global economy, we believe GPC is well-positioned with the financial strength and flexibility to support our growth plans and provide for disciplined, value-creating capital allocation while enhancing shareholder value.” The post GPC Reports 19% Jump In Q1 Sales, Boosts 2022 Guidance appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

O’Reilly Automotive has begun construction of its first distribution center in Mexico, company executives announced. The company’s first “O’Reilly-prototype” DC, located in Guadalajara, will boast a footprint of approximately 370,000 square feet, according to O’Reilly COO Brad Beckham. Beckham noted that O’Reilly is “targeting a completion date of the first half of 2023.” “This new facility will have the ability to provide company-store and jobber distribution to the Guadalajara metro area and support growth in the surrounding region,” Beckham explained during the company’s April 28 conference call. “Our distribution teams are well-seasoned in the design, planning and construction of new facilities, and we have been very pleased with our progress in working with our leadership team in Mexico to get this project rolling in true O’Reilly fashion.” Company leaders “continue to be excited about the growth opportunities we see in the Mexican automotive aftermarket,” Beckham added. In late 2019, O’Reilly acquired Guadalajara-based Mayasa Auto Parts, the company’s first foray into the Mexican aftermarket. At the time of the acquisition, Maya operated five distribution centers supporting 20 Orma Autopartes stores and more than 2,000 independent jobbers throughout Mexico. O’Reilly CEO Greg Johnson said the company’s strategy in Mexico mirrors its strategy in the United States, and company leaders are “happy with our progress in Mexico.” “We want to make sure we’ve got the supply chain infrastructure in place before we really ramp up our store growth at a more aggressive pace, because we want that customer experience to be what it’s going to be long-term,” Johnson explained. “And we want that service level from our DC for our professional customers to be at the very highest level from Day 1. So we’re growing the market incrementally.” As part of its strategy, O’Reilly will continue to operate under the Mayasa/Orma brand, at least for now, according to Johnson. “We’ll transition [to O’Reilly] over time,” Johnson added. Asked about the growth potential in the Mexican aftermarket, Johnson referenced “one of our major competitors” – AutoZone – which had 669 stores in Mexico as of Feb. 12. Johnson concluded: “We feel like there’s a pretty big opportunity to grow our store count somewhere in that range in Mexico as well.” The post O’Reilly Building Distribution Center In Mexico appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

Photo caption: From left, Northwood University Board of Trustees Vice Chair Steve Madincea; President Kent MacDonald; 2022 Outstanding Business Leader Bill Long; and Elisse Richardson, a Northwood student who introduced Long. Bill Long, CEO of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), has received the 2022 Outstanding Business Leaders Award. Northwood University celebrated this year’s class of Outstanding Business Leaders and the Richard DeVos Young Entrepreneur Award winner during a weekend that included a gala at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. “The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation is a perfect venue to celebrate these industry leaders, as this historical museum celebrates American ingenuity, resourcefulness and innovation,” Northwood President Kent MacDonald said. “Like those innovative business leaders who have come before us, we honored this weekend contemporary business leaders who have also contributed to the free-enterprise system Northwood University holds so dear.” The 2022 class of honorees includes: • Bill Long, president and CEO, MEMA • Jim Fitterling, chairman and CEO, Dow • Michael LaFontaine Sr., president, LaFontaine Automotive Group • Ben Manthei, founder and board member, Redi-Rock International • Lisa McClain, U.S. Congresswoman representing Michigan’s 10th District • Andra Rush, CEO, Dakkota Systems • Angela Steele, Publicis Groupe In addition, Manik Thapar, owner of Eco Wise Waste Management in Uttar Pradesh, India, was honored with the Richard M. DeVos Young Entrepreneur Award. “What a great honor to be recognized by Northwood University with the Outstanding Business Leaders Award and be among such a distinguished class of honorees,” Long said. “It’s truly humbling share this recognition when considering the long list of distinguished honorees, many of whom I have known and admired throughout my career. And to the Northwood students, this is a time for new thinking, new ideas and new solutions to the issues of our day. We look to you to with hope and inspiration and to your leadership and what you will achieve.” Northwood University annually recognizes a select group of business professionals for their achievements, support and exemplary leadership of the communities in which they live and work. These individuals serve as role models for Northwood University students as they share their experiences and obstacles they have encountered, in addition to how they overcame them while on the road to success. In the four decades since the program began, more than 300 business leaders from more than 30 states and several countries, have been recognized. These honorees represent a vast, diverse, group of people from dozens of industries and fields of business expertise. The Outstanding Business Leader Awards are presented by the Northwood University Board of Trustees. Each awardee is selected based on personal achievements which typify the unique philosophy of Northwood University. Criteria used in the selection of awardees include a contribution to the philosophy of private enterprise, support of the integration of business and the arts, contribution to education, economic innovation, creative marketing ideas, community involvement, religious leadership, philanthropic contributions, as well as business success. All honorees past and present serve as role models for Northwood University students. Northwood University bestows the tremendous honor of the Outstanding Business Leader Award over a multi-day celebration ending with a formal gala event where the members receive an engraved crystal recognizing their honor. Proceeds from the event support the Outstanding Business Leaders Endowed Scholarship Fund at Northwood University. This year’s event raised $300,000. The post Northwood Honors MEMA CEO Bill Long appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

O’Reilly Automotive reported first-quarter sales of $3.3 billion, a 7% year-over-year increase. Comparable-store sales were up 4.8%, on top of the record 24.8% year-over-year increase in first-quarter 2021. “Historically, our first quarter can be volatile, as we see weather impacts from winter conditions early in the quarter and the timing of the onset of spring at the end,” CEO Greg Johnson said in a news release. “This year was no exception, and we saw choppiness in our business that coincided with inclement weather at the beginning of our quarter and the slow start to spring, along with other macroeconomic pressures. However, we continue to be pleased with the core, underlying strength of our business and our solid first-quarter comparable-store sales results, which, on top of last year’s performance, are clear indicators of our team’s ability to grow our business and take market share.” The emergence of the coronavirus Omicron variant put some pressure on O’Reilly’s DIFM sales early in the quarter, but “outside of this short period, our professional business in the quarter was consistent and in line with our expectations, with comp strongly positive in each month of the quarter,” Johnson explained during the company’s first-quarter conference call. “We’re encouraged by the resiliency and consistency of our professional-customer demand, and still anticipate this side of the business to be the larger driver of our growth in 2022 as we grow share and consolidate the market,” Johnson added. In February, O’Reilly rolled out targeted, companywide price cuts for DIFM customers, which contributed to an expected year-over-year decline in the company’s gross profit margin. Johnson pointed out that the competitive response to O’Reilly’s pricing initiative “has been muted, as expected, and pricing remains rational.” The DIY side of the business was much more volatile, according to Johnson. “Early in the quarter, in addition to the headwind from inclement weather and Omicron, we also faced headwinds to DIY traffic from macroeconomic pressures stemming from the spike in gas prices and global instability,” Johnson explained. Over the last eight weeks of the quarter, which ended on March 31, DIY volumes stabilized, “though still hampered by less-than-ideal spring weather as our business benefits when we see an early start to spring.” “Our DIY customers often perform their routine jobs outside in their driveways and will take advantage when warmer weather hits to catch up on the repair, maintenance and tuneup items that have been temporarily on hold at the end of winter,” Johnson added. “This year, we have seen cold, wet weather persist through much of spring in many of our markets. However, the corresponding impact to demand matches up to what we have historically seen in similar environments, and we have been encouraged that DIY results have stabilized from volatility earlier in the quarter.” Along with reporting its first-quarter financial results, O’Reilly announced that Tom McFall will step down as chief financial officer effective May 9, although he will stay with the company in the role of executive vice president. At that time, Jeremy Fletcher, O’Reilly’s senior vice president of finance and controller, will be promoted to CFO. “After 16 years of dedicated service, Tom has communicated his desire to transition into a different role with the Company,” Johnson said. “Tom has provided exceptional leadership to our company since joining Team O’Reilly in 2006, and we are pleased he will continue to provide valuable guidance and mentorship as he shifts to this new role. Tom will retain his existing responsibilities in the areas of information technology, real estate, legal and risk management, and will continue to provide key strategic and executive leadership. Succession planning has always been an important component of our culture, and Tom has done an extraordinary job preparing Jeremy for his new role.” Fletcher, 45, has been an O’Reilly team member for 16 years. Upon joining the company in 2005, Mr. Fletcher served as financial reporting and budgeting manager and progressed through the roles of director of finance, vice president of finance and controller and has served in his current role as senior vice president of finance and controller for more than five years. The post O’Reilly Reports 7% Increase In Q1 Sales appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

Advance Auto Parts and the Los Angeles Dodgers have announced an exclusive partnership, with Advance becoming the team’s official auto parts retailer. Through the agreement, Advance will have a presence on in-stadium signage for all 2022 regular-season home games. The Dodgers’ marks will be represented in Advance stores throughout the Los Angeles market. Advance and the Dodgers also will collaborate on community activations, including the Dodgers’ Mexican Heritage games. Advance will serve as presenting sponsor for the day-night doubleheader on May 17. As part of the activation, fans attending either game will receive an exclusive Mexican Heritage Dodgers jersey with Advance branding. “Our goal is to align with winning organizations that share our commitment to serving communities,” said Jason McDonell, Advance’s executive vice president of merchandising, marketing and e-commerce. “The Dodgers have a longstanding tradition of excellence on the field and in the L.A. community and their fans are passionate about caring for their vehicles, making this partnership a home run. We look forward to serving L.A. area fans with quality parts and winning service while cheering the Dodgers as they look to advance towards another world championship.” “We’re excited to welcome Advance Auto Parts as our official auto parts retailer to our partnership family,” said Corey Norkin, senior vice president of global partnerships, Los Angeles Dodgers. “We look forward to helping them further their growth in Los Angeles and having them be a part of the very popular Mexican Heritage Night.” The partnership comes as Advance continues its growth in California and the Los Angeles market. The exclusive agreement includes rights for Carquest Auto Parts, an automotive parts retailer owned by Advance, to also serve as the team’s official auto parts retailer. Additionally, DieHard batteries, which are owned and sold by Advance and Carquest, will carry the designation as the Dodgers’ official car battery. The post Advance To Be Official Auto Parts Retailer Of LA Dodgers appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

Electric vehicles. E-commerce. Vehicle complexity. Consolidation. Autonomous Driving. Connectivity. How will these and other trends affect the automotive aftermarket over the next decade, and more importantly, how should aftermarket suppliers respond? A new study – “The U.S. Automotive Aftermarket in 2035” – attempts to answer these questions, with aftermarket suppliers “facing more inflection points than we ever have before,” in the words of Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) President and CEO Paul McCarthy. “And the reality is we can’t handle them all,” McCarthy said at the 2022 AASA Vision Conference in Dearborn, Michigan. “So we need to understand which ones are really going to disrupt us and which ones may matter less. Because if there’s one thing we know, the aftermarket in 2035 is not going to look like the aftermarket today.” Conducted by the management consulting firm Roland Berger, the study looks at the current and future states of the automotive aftermarket. One of the most alarming conclusions from the study is that aftermarket suppliers aren’t ready to deal with nine high-impact trends: BEV (battery-electric-vehicle) penetration; e-commerce and o2o (online-to-offline); consolidation; labor shortages; supply chain disruption; data access; autonomous driving; supply chain footprint; and sustainability. Barry Neal, senior partner at Roland Berger, and Neury Freitas, principal at Roland Berger, presented an overview of the study findings at the AASA Vision Conference. Here are some of the highlights. Battery Electric Vehicles How much and how soon will BEVs affect the independent aftermarket? That all depends on which part of the market you serve. By 2035, the study projects that only 2% of 12-year-old vehicles and older will be electric, while 11% of 8- to 11-year-old vehicles will be electric. However, the impact of BEVs will be more pronounced in newer vehicles, with 32% of 0- to 3-year-old vehicles expected to be electric. “The more you are dependent on the OES or OEM channel, the more or sooner EVs will actually impact your business,” Freitas explained. At 100,000 miles, BEVs require 50% fewer service visits than internal-combustion vehicles, based on OEM service recommendations. By 200,000 miles, that gaps shrinks slightly to 47%. “There clearly are services that will disappear in an EV,” Freitas said. “Anything that’s related to the engine, anything that’s related to combustion will go away.” BEVs will need battery coolant, but due to regenerative braking, brake systems typically last longer on electric vehicles. “The tire players are really happy,” Freitas added. “They are waiting for EVs, because either you have a heavier vehicle that needs a stronger structure of the tire, therefore they’re more expensive, or if you use a normal tire, that’s going to wear faster. So, that’s a positive.” Online-to-Offline Business Model The pandemic has accelerated the growth of o2o in the automotive aftermarket, as more consumers embraced buying parts and booking appointments via their mobile devices. The linkage between the offline and online worlds “brings a lot of benefits and a lot of convenience for consumers,” Freitas asserted. The increased convenience for consumers, and the cost savings along the value chain, will continue to drive the growth of o2o in two phases: parts efficiency, as proactive diagnostics and digital parts/service selection and scheduling enable a lower cost structure; and labor efficiency, as advanced booking/scheduling and predictive maintenance improve labor utilization and throughput. “If you get the higher convenience for consumers, together with the potential cost savings, at a first step, if you know which parts will be needed and where they’ll be needed before they are actually needed, you can cut a few steps [from] the value chain and in the supply chain, and you can actually save some real money, as you don’t need hot-shot [delivery], for example,” Freitas explained. “And then in a second step, once we get to a large enough critical mass, and the shops are able to schedule similar services back to back, we might get some efficiencies from the technicians as well.” Consolidation According to Roland Berger, the United States is leading the way in terms of consolidation, with the top 10 distributors in the U.S. independent automotive aftermarket (IAM) commanding 75% to 80% of the total market share. Europe is a distant second, at 30% to 35%, while China is at 5% to 10%. Roland Berger sees more consolidation ahead for parts suppliers and service providers (mechanical and collision). Going forward, there won’t be as many opportunities for large retailers to acquire distributors, Freitas asserted. “Therefore, if one of those big companies has a hiccup over the next 12, 13 years, we see as a chance of two of those top four or five players actually merging and becoming an even larger player,” Freitas added. Labor Availability Looking at the big picture, U.S. unemployment rates were at historic lows in the years leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic. When the pandemic escalated in early 2020, it skyrocketed. Since then, the unemployment rate has been declining steadily. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate in March dropped to 3.6%. Neal and Freitas showed two charts that don’t bode well for the future of the IAM. One chart showed a steady decline in the number of students completing postsecondary degrees for automotive repair since 2010. The other chart showed the imbalance between the supply and demand of technicians since 2010. While the technician shortage is nothing new, the gap between supply and demand is projected to widen in 2025 and beyond. Freitas concluded: “If the industry does not really get organized, we don’t think this problem is going to get solved anytime soon.” Supply Chain The headline here is that China appears to be losing its cost advantage – even without tariffs. For the past decade or so, if you wanted to manufacture products on the cheap, China was the obvious destination. However, when you factor in the rising costs of outbound freight, raw materials, manual labor and other variables, China will lose its cost advantage to Mexico as soon as this year. By 2035, due to the projected increase in China’s labor costs, it will be significantly cheaper to manufacture goods in Mexico compared to China, according to Roland Berger. Not surprisingly, Roland Berger projects that the percentage of U.S. auto parts manufactured in Mexico will grow from 24% in 2020 to 31% in 2035. Data Access By 2035, nearly 100% of new vehicles sold in the United States will be connected, meaning they’ll have the capability to receive and transmit information. Extrapolated to the total U.S. vehicle parc, 66% of vehicles will be connected. How we get to that point – and how it will affect the IAM – is less certain. Currently, the automakers control most of the data generated by vehicles, which is bad for consumers, bad for IAM suppliers and good for the OEMs. In the medium term, Roland Berger anticipates a shift to open APIs (application programming interfaces) and “mixed control” of vehicle data. In the long term, a move toward open APIs and open data would be best for IAM suppliers. However, where we land will likely be determined by federal lawmakers and the OEMs. Action Steps In light of the study’s findings, Neal and Freitas outlined a number of potential steps that IAM suppliers could take. “In terms of individual responsibilities, there’s the importance of reviewing the portfolio and product strategy,” Neal said. “As you look at the influx of new technologies, both in terms of electronics, battery-electric vehicles, ADAS and autonomous, how are you adjusting your portfolio to adapt to those and what is the strategy you have, whether that be a last-man-standing strategy or looking for a third leg in terms of other opportunities, or the development of an EV strategy to attack some of the new opportunities that are coming out?” Regarding the technician shortage, Neal also emphasized the importance of supporting trade schools “as well as supporting of advocacy at the high school and the middle school level for robotics programs and mechanical programs to ensure the interest of that technician force of the future, as well as an industry-level support for new entrants and opportunities, supporting aspects such as augmented reality and remote support for technicians in the field to allow some of those newer solutions to support a broader labor force in the future in terms of the capability set in technology.” The post AASA Vision: What Will The Aftermarket Look Like In 2035? appeared first on Counterman Magazine. 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A recent collaboration between NGK and AutoZone was awarded the 2022 Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) Channel Excellence Award presented by Epicor. The teams shared market research and applied point-of-sale (POS) data and other information to develop an oxygen-sensor program that grows market share, reduces inventory requirements and lays the foundation for future shifts in market demand. Brian Norko, SVP, commercial business operations, NGK and Rob Bell, director, merchandising & customer satisfaction, AutoZone, accepted the award on behalf of their respective companies at the 2022 AASA Vision Conference in Dearborn, Michigan. The annual AASA Channel Excellence Award presented by Epicor recognizes innovation and collaboration between suppliers and channel partners that drive aftermarket growth. “This award is particularly special to NGK as it reflects our core business philosophy of creating mutual success,” Norko said. “Our company was founded on this principle and working together with our customers, delivering quality products and growing our businesses together – this continues to drive us. We are very proud to have been part of growing AutoZone’s O2-sensor business.” Bell added: “We are extremely excited to achieve this Channel Excellence Award with NGK and sincerely thank AASA and Epicor for this tremendous honor. This great recognition would not have been possible without the collective effort of NGK and our amazing AutoZoners across the entire organization. Our phenomenal results show the power of data and the importance of customer feedback when leveraged in a collaborative environment.” NGK and AutoZone identified a sustained increase in demand DIFM customers for OE oxygen-sensor technologies. The companies then utilized POS and other data to build OEM-based O2-sensor families by vehicle application to address this trend. The new approach resulted in a 100% sales increase of NGK’s NTK-brand 02 sensors through AutoZone while eliminating more than 290,000 stocking placements across the AutoZone network. In addition, AutoZone achieved a more than 700-bps shift in DIFM market share in the wideband O2-sensor category. The winning project is featured in a video on the AASA website. The NGK/AutoZone project was one of three joint initiatives by automotive aftermarket companies selected as award finalists. The other finalists were Bosch/NAPA and Dorman with multiple channel partners. Short videos submitted by each of the AASA Channel Excellence award finalist teams were played at the 2022 AASA Vision Conference and are also posted on the AASA website. “This award recognizes the achievements in collaboration and innovation between suppliers and their channel partners to drive growth together,” said Paul McCarthy, AASA president and CEO. “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 NGK and AutoZone for embodying these behaviors and finding a way, together, to greater success in a challenging climate.” “These projects demonstrate the value of collaboration in solving the challenges of a highly complex value chain,” said Tim Hardin, senior vice president and general manager, Automotive, Epicor. “Ultimately, each success builds toward a future where data-driven collaboration isn’t just project based, but a daily part of doing business and optimizing our industry’s contributions to the global economy.” The post NGK, AutoZone Receive AASA Channel Excellence Award appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

The Charles Dickens classic “A Tale of Two Cities” produced one of the most famous opening lines in all of literature: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times … ” More than 150 years after “A Tale of Two Cities” was published, the phrase is an apt description of what life has been like for aftermarket suppliers, distributors and retailers during the COVID-19 pandemic. As Paul McCarthy, president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), kicked off the 2022 AASA Vision Conference in Dearborn, Michigan, he observed that the line “rings true in this age of uncertainty.” “It has been some of the hardest times to simply do our jobs – to just get our products to the customer – yet it has also been some of the greatest prosperity that the aftermarket has ever experienced,” McCarthy said. Stimulus-driven DIY sales have led to the best of times for the aftermarket’s publicly traded parts retailers, and they reported record growth in 2020 and 2021. At the same time, supply chain disruptions have made it challenging for some suppliers and distributors to get their hands on parts and raw materials. “Typically, part of our industry’s appeal is our slow, steady, reliable growth – our consistent cash-flow generation,” McCarthy said. “During the pandemic, we seem to have found another level of demand for our products. And we’ve also been in a battle for availability. The reality over the last two years is that if you could get the part to the customer, they would likely buy it.” While the past two years have been prosperous for many aftermarket participants, it’s also been the worst of times in the sense that the economy has been hit with “a flock of black swans.” Even before this once-in-a-century pandemic hit, the aftermarket was grappling with tariffs on imported Chinese goods as well as the biggest changes to U.S. trade policies in decades. “We haven’t had a supply chain disruption of this magnitude for 75 years,” McCarthy said. “It’s been over 40 years since we’ve seen inflation like this. It’s been decades since we’ve seen a job market this tight. If that wasn’t enough, members tell us that we’ve experienced some of the highest levels of government intervention in the aftermarket, maybe in our history.” On top of that, there’s a land war in Europe, and U.S.-Sino relations are as tense as they’ve been in decades. Potential curveballs on the horizon include more interest-rate hikes, gas-price increases and the specter of Russian cyberattacks. Still, although it’s “an environment where it may not be easy for us,” it’s one “where we can do very well.” “Our ability – despite all these obstacles – to fill orders, to keep our businesses running, to sustain our teams, to work together up and down the value chain, it’s frankly amazing how well the aftermarket has performed,” McCarthy added. “It proves our resilience and our endurance. So don’t expect things to get any easier, but the aftermarket and aftermarket suppliers, we’ve shown that we matter.” A New Golden Age? Despite all the “bumps in the road,” McCarthy posed this question to AASA Vision attendees: “Is there a chance that these strong sales that we’ve seen are not a blip, that instead they are the start of a new golden age?” “The transformative cultural shifts that we’re seeing as a result of the pandemic, we think they bode well for the future of the aftermarket – that we are leaving the pandemic with a more auto-centric lifestyle than when we went into it,” McCarthy asserted. To buttress his point, he noted that used-car prices are higher than they’ve been since World War II; there are more than 280 million vehicles in operation in the United States; and the miles-driven recovery “has exceeded all forecasts.” With commuters and travelers still fearful of mass transportation, “Americans are moving toward more car-centric locales and lifestyles,” he added. “We see it in consumers’ desire for more space. We see it in the house prices, in people moving to the West, to the South, to smaller cities, to exurbs. Coming out of COVID, where most Americans now seem to want to live, they need a car or a third or a fourth car. They need us, the aftermarket.” While technology might be a source of angst for some, “this unstoppable march of increasing vehicle content has been incredibly powerful for the aftermarket ticket,” McCarthy declared. “And we think that will continue.” And the increasing in-vehicle connectivity “is making our time in the car more entertaining, more productive, more appealing.” “We would argue that this is a global opportunity that the pandemic underscored to consumers around the world: the safety, the appeal of individual transport and the freedom that it brings. So we think we could look back in 2040, 2050, and say that this was the start of a new golden age of transportation. And we could say that we grabbed this opportunity and we created new ways forward.” The post AASA Vision: Best Of Times, Worst Of Times In The Aftermarket appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

Autolite announced the completion of its “Home Garage Makeover Sweepstakes” renovation for Sharon Ashmore of Stanley, North Carolina. Selected from hundreds of entrants in a random drawing, Ashmore won a garage renovation project worth more than $10,000. Over the course of three weeks, Garage Experts of Charlotte installed new flooring, cabinets and three-slat walls in Ashmore’s home garage. This project also included the delivery of a new air compressor, Autolite stools and a lighted vintage Autolite sign. “Not only will my garage have more storage and free space to work, it’s now one of my favorite places to hang out in my home,” said Ashmore. “Garage Experts did a wonderful job – the brand-new flooring, sleek cabinets and Autolite accessories make for a polished, comfortable environment.” The Autolite Home Garage Makeover Sweepstakes entry period ran from June through mid-August of 2021. The purpose of the sweepstakes was to celebrate how special home garages are for automotive DIYers and tinkerers of all kinds. “We are so excited to see the finished project, courtesy of Garage Experts of Charlotte,” said Carl Weber, senior marketing director, First Brands Group. “Because of our passion for automotive maintenance and culture, it is an honor to make someone’s home garage a more useful, beautiful environment.” To see photos from the Autolite Home Garage Makeover Sweepstakes renovation, go to the Autolite Facebook and Instagram pages. To learn more about Autolite spark plugs, visit autolite.com. The post Autolite Reveals Completed Home Garage Makeover appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

Judge Douglas Woodlock of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued a notice on April 15 of another delay to provide a decision on the Right to Repair court case in Massachusetts. Citing “the resurgence of a demanding criminal trial schedule, resumption of long delayed in-court non-trial proceedings coupled with insistent writing responsibilities in other matters,” Woodlock extended the date to resolve the matter and invited the defendant (the commonwealth of Massachusetts) to “make a further modified stipulation to adjust the relevant date necessary for an appropriate period of consideration in support of a fully satisfactory opinion until no later than July 2, 2022, to bring this case to an appealable final judgement.” The judge previously stated that he would issue a final judgment no later than April 15, 2022. Approved by Massachusetts voters on Nov. 3, 2020, by an overwhelming 75% to 25% margin, the new Right to Repair law would require manufacturers to provide vehicle owners both access and control of the diagnostic and repair data generated by their vehicles. Subsequent to the vote, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation filed a lawsuit (Alliance for Automotive Innovation vs. Maura Healey, Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts) in November 2020 asking the court to overturn the data-access ballot question based on a host of allegations including cybersecurity concerns, insufficient time to comply with the new data-access requirements and their contention that the ballot initiative is preempted by federal law. The Auto Care Association says it continues to fight for consumers’ right to choose where they get their vehicle maintained and repaired through both state and federal legislation. The post Massachusetts Right to Repair Ruling Delayed Again appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

Continental announced it was awarded the highest grade for the fourth time in a row as a global leader in reducing emissions in the supply chain (“Supplier Engagement Rating”) by international non-profit Carbon Disclosure Project (CPD). This makes Continental one of the 8% of companies evaluated who were awarded the highest grade for supplier commitment to climate change. Continental says it was recognized for its holistic approach of working closely with its suppliers in Automotive, Tires, and ContiTech group sectors to achieve comprehensive improvements by involving as many stages of the supply chain as possible. “We look at the entire value chain of our products, from material sourcing to recycling. This is the only way we can achieve truly sustainable supply chains that conserve resources and support important climate protection goals at the same time,” says Claus Petschick, head of Sustainability at Continental Tires. “Continental’s goal is to achieve fully sustainable supply chains by 2050 at the latest. Innovative technologies and digitalization are the primary tools we use to make environmental risks transparent and to reduce these risks within our complex supply chain.” Sustainable and Renewable Raw Materials in Tire Production The use of sustainable raw materials for tire construction has long been a high priority at Continental, the company says. For example, Continental and its partners are intensively researching the industrialization of the Russian dandelion (Taraxacum koksaghyz) for the extraction of natural rubber, a project known as Taraxagum. In the future, the aim is to be able to grow part of the natural rubber required for production close to the company’s own plants in order to reduce CO2 emissions caused by long transport routes and to conserve valuable resources. The use of sustainable raw materials also includes the use of recycled polyester from recycled plastic bottles, which Continental is currently introducing into the series production of its tires, as well as the use of silicate from the ash of rice husks, an agricultural waste product, Continental explains. Plant-based oils and resins also reduce the proportion of crude oil-based materials already today. Continental’s goal is to successively use 100 percent sustainably produced materials in its tire products by 2050 at the latest. Continental says it is also ensuring sustainability of its natural rubber sourcing. Since 2018, Continental has collaborated with German development organization GIZ to promote a digital system for the traceability of natural rubber. Small farmers involved in the project in Borneo, Indonesia, are able to increase quantities, quality, and yields through learning sustainable cultivation, thereby improving their incomes. A cultivation strategy based on sustainability also prevents logging and deforestation, conserving valuable resources. The pilot project in 2018 began with 450 farmers, and is now expected to grow to 4,000 by 2024, Continental says. The post Continental Recognized For Commitment To Sustainability appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

Carterhas introduced six new parts to its popular line of Rapid Fit engine water pumps and three additional standard water-pump part numbers, each covering a variety of vehicle applications. Part numbers W1982RF, W2092RF, W9099RF, W9144RF, W9350RF and W9038RF comprise the new SKUs for the Rapid Fit water pumps, while the standard engine water pumps include part numbers W2700M, W2826M and W2828M. Carter offers a full catalog of industry-leading Rapid Fit, mechanical and electrical water pumps and fuel pumps featuring the brand’s engineered quality, according to the company. The new water-pump SKUs are engineered to reliably meet the demands of both gasoline and diesel engines across many vehicle models. “We engineer, manufacture and test our parts in-house. Those capabilities allow us to consistently meet and exceed consumers’ needs,” said Ryan Gernheuser, repair group director, product management/aftermarket engineering at First Brands Group. “This process enabled us to innovate quickly and with quality to introduce new water pumps in Carter’s Rapid Fit line that cover several Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ford, Lincoln and Nissan models. We’ve also introduced an array of new standard water pumps for applications among modern Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Audi and Volkswagen vehicles. Carter’s full line of water pumps cover 95% of domestic and import VIO and offers limited lifetime and 12-month warranties for select products to provide added peace of mind. For more information, visit carterengineered.com. The post Carter Expands Line Of Water Pumps appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

When it comes to advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), there’s good news and bad news for the automotive aftermarket. First, the good news. The total addressable market for ADAS replacement parts and service is projected to skyrocket from $317 million in 2021 to $1.1 billion in 2030 – expanding at nearly 17% compound annual growth rate. Those projections come from Innovatrium, an Ann Arbor, Michigan-based consulting firm that conducted a study on ADAS opportunities in the aftermarket. The Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) commissioned the study, which included interviews with 350 repair shops, an in-person focus group and a review of 91 journals, articles and academic papers on the subject. Speaking at the AASA Vision Conference, Jim Fish, lead partner at Innovatrium, asserted that ADAS is “singularly the highest growth opportunity in the aftermarket.” In 2021, more than 1 million vehicles required ADAS service in an aftermarket shop, according to the Innovatrium study. And now for the not-so-good news: More than 90% of ADAS work that comes into mechanical shops is outsourced to a dealership. On the collision repair side, the researchers found that more than 75% of ADAS services coming into an auto body shop are performed elsewhere. In 2021 alone, auto body shops outsourced $177 million worth of ADAS calibration work. While mobile technicians might pick up some of that work, the majority likely goes back to a dealership. The researchers concluded that ADAS features such as automated emergency braking, blind-spot detection, lane-departure warnings and rear cameras will lower crash rates by 20% in 2030. What’s noteworthy about that data point is that 45% of ADAS features are deactivated by the consumer. Factoring in the independent aftermarket’s limited capabilities for ADAS service – and the likelihood that some consumers will forego ADAS repairs if their vehicles are drivable – the total “likely” ADAS opportunity for the aftermarket is $236 million by 2030. “This is a radical reduction from the total available market to the total likely market,” said Matt Ballard, head of research at Innovatrium. “ … We’re starting off with this low capability in the aftermarket, and it’s growing slowly. And presently, there doesn’t appear to be anything that would change that.” Still, the researchers concluded that ADAS is a problem worth solving. They identified three major problems that are inhibiting growth of ADAS business in the independent aftermarket. Problems Worth Solving 1. Cost of ADAS Repairs The cost of ADAS replacement parts and equipment are out of reach for most shops, the study found. In many cases, only OEM parts are available, and the lack of standardized calibration processes add to the complexity of performing ADAS work. “Our call to action is we need aftermarket alternatives,” Fish said. “We need parts that can do this. … And then standardized processes are going to increase aftermarket adoption.” 2. Low Shop Competency ADAS is a new and intimidating technology that requires a high-end diagnostic skillset to properly service it. Some shops say there isn’t enough volume of ADAS work to develop in-house capabilities. The researchers asserted that more training for technicians is needed to bring shops’ ADAS competency up to speed. 3. Consumer Usage of ADAS More and more mass-production vehicles now come standard with potentially life-saving ADAS features. However, the real-world application of this technology is troubling, with 45% of ADAS features being deactivated for various reasons. According to the study, 41% of consumers are shutting off ADAS features because they don’t believe they actually work, while another 41% find these features distracting and 30% believe they’re not needed. The researchers recommend a combination of consumer education/information; regulations to ensure that ADAS features are being used as they were designed to be used; and verification. Fish argued that ADAS is on a trajectory that’s similar to the aftermarket’s gradual adoption of the SAE J2534 standard for reprogramming vehicle ECUs. Fifteen years ago, most ECU reprogramming was being sent to a dealership. Today, 80% of mechanical shops with six or more bays are performing their own J2534 reprogramming. “We have a long way to go, but we’re not going to get there unless we do something about it,” Fish said. “And no one company is going to solve this. It’s just not going to move the needle. We really need all of us together.” The post AASA Vision: Aftermarket Missing Out On ADAS Opportunity appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

The Auto Care Association, Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), CAR (Consumer Access to Repair) Coalition and Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) applaud U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) for co-sponsoring the Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act. Introduced in February 2022 by U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) to provide consumers rights to their vehicle’s repair and maintenance data and safeguard a free and fair repair market, the REPAIR Act (H.R. 6570) is the only federal Right to Repair legislation that addresses this critical need in the automotive industry. Davidson is an automotive industry alumnus who ran his family business: a small-batch machining and fabricating business that was transformed into a high-volume contract fabrication and injection molding manufacturer during his tenure. “By prohibiting vehicle owners from accessing and sharing data they generate, manufacturers stop consumers from accessing third-party repair shops,” said Davidson. “American vehicle owners have a right to control their data, and a right to access third-party repair shops, tools and parts. This bill would end manufacturers’ anti-competitive practices and restore consumer property rights.” “Thanks to Congressman Davidson, the bill is now a bipartisan effort,” said Bill Hanvey, president and CEO of the Auto Care Association. “We thank the representative for recognizing that consumers deserve the right to choose where they get their vehicle repaired. In a time where Americans rely on their vehicles more than ever and are keeping their vehicles longer due to economic uncertainty, we hope that other legislators follow suit.” “AASA applauds Rep. Davidson for joining Rep. Rush on this critical legislative push,” said Paul McCarthy, president and CEO of AASA. “The consumer’s ability to continue to have choice in where to repair, service and maintain their vehicles is at stake. The bipartisan support from this bill, as we saw with the bipartisan-supported ‘Nixing the Fix’ report from the FTC, speaks to the fact that this automotive right to repair effort is not partisan, it is to support consumers, competition and free markets. Without action, consumers will face rising costs and fewer options. We look forward to working with both representatives on this important effort.” “The CAR Coalition applauds Rep. Davidson for co-sponsoring the REPAIR Act,” CAR Coalition Executive Director Justin Rzepka said. “This bipartisan legislation is critical to protecting the rights of consumers in the post-collision auto repair market. It is also crucial to ensuring the security and accessibility of vehicle data. As the cost of cars and repairs rise, consumers need more choices, not fewer, when it comes to repairing their own vehicles. The CAR Coalition looks forward to working with Rep. Davidson and Rep. Rush to advance the REPAIR Act on behalf of consumers across the country.” “SEMA and the specialty automotive aftermarket appreciate Representative Davidson standing up for free and fair competition for consumers looking to service, repair, or modify their vehicle,” said Daniel Ingber, vice president, government and legal affairs, SEMA. “The bi-partisan REPAIR Act must be passed to protect access to vehicle systems, tools and information necessary for independent repair and modification services for millions of consumers.” Automotive aftermarket companies can urge legislators in their district to also co-sponsor the bill by visiting autocareadvocacy.org/take-action-tell-congress-support-right-to-repair, aftermarketsuppliers.org/repairact, carcoalition.com or semasan.com. The post Ohio Republican Co-Sponsoring REPAIR Act appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

Arch Auto Parts announced the opening of a new store on Coney Island in Brooklyn, marking its 18th location in greater New York. The locally owned and operated company currently services Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Nassau County. The location at 1706 Mermaid Avenue is just blocks from the famous Coney Island Boardwalk, the original Nathans Famous Hot Dogs, and Maimonides Stadium – the home of Cyclones baseball – a New York Mets Single-A affiliate. The store’s recent grand opening received a warm welcome from this dynamic neighborhood. Arch Auto Parts says it has been a local favorite for auto parts for more than 43 years. Arch not only knows about each community it serves, but the stores have also become a fundamental part of the community. “We are excited by the warm neighborhood welcome our Coney Island store has received,” said Moe Ali, senior vice president, Sales. “Coney Island is a vibrant neighborhood with a historic past but what doesn’t change is that customers want an auto parts store they can trust for high-quality auto parts at discount prices, and a counter staff to help them quickly get the right parts for their cars.” New York’s neighborhood auto parts stores, Arch Auto Parts has been able to expand and thrive in the culturally distinct communities of Queens, the Bronx, Nassau and now with a seventh location in Brooklyn. “The important factor to being New York’s Neighborhood Auto Parts Store is in earning community trust by operating locally from CEO to counter staff,” says CEO Chris Bodh, who has lived in the neighboring Queens borough for more than 46 years. “Our staff are the neighbors of the customers we serve. We’re like one big family.” Arch offers a large array of OEM parts as well as aftermarket brands allowing professional installers and retail customers a choice. With the increasing support from the communities Arch currently serves, Arch has plans for continued expansion in the boroughs of New York City. The post Arch Auto Parts Opens New Store On Coney Island appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.) wanted to make a difference during the time spent in New Orleans for NGK’s first National Sales Meeting in three years. The meeting started with an icebreaker and team event to kick things off, where the associates prepared hygiene kits for Covenant House, a homeless shelter. “Hygiene products are one of our greatest needs,” said Haley Khoury, development & communications associate, Covenant House New Orleans. “Every year, over 800 youth walk through our doors in need of a place to stay and other necessities of life – including basic hygiene items. Being able to meet our youths’ immediate needs with these kits makes a big difference for us, especially when we can direct funds that would have been used for these items elsewhere. Additionally, our outreach team can give the items to folks who are actively living on the streets but are either unable or not yet wanting to come to Covenant House. In this way, the kits help us do the most basic parts of our work with people facing homelessness.” The kits assembled contain items that many of us take for granted. They comprise recycled soap and bottled amenities discarded by the hospitality industry and repurposed through the Clean the World Foundation. The kits symbolize a fresh start and sustainability. Through the Clean the World Foundation: • 63 million soap bars have been distributed • 6 million hygiene kits have been assembled • 23 million pounds of waste have been diverted from landfills With the help of NGK Spark Plugs team members, associates assembled 1,350 kits, each with a handwritten, inspirational note. “Personally, I’ve never seen a team so enthusiastic putting together 1,350 kits in less than an hour,” said Carol Padgett of Accent Orleans, who helped organize the effort. “The teamwork and enthusiasm were inspirational. NGK Spark Plugs made a difference to New Orlean’s homeless and those who suffered much loss due to Hurricane Ida.” The post NGK Spark Plugs Associates Support Covenant House New Orleans appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

With more than 250 locations across the country, Christian Brothers Automotive is one of the fastest-growing independent repair chains in the United States. But don’t expect to see that number multiply to 2,000 locations – or even 1,000 – anytime soon. According to CEO Donnie Carr, the company’s goal is to have 350 shops by 2025. And between 2020 and 2025, Christian Brothers wants to donate $25 million to charities. Carr’s father, Mark, co-founded Christian Brothers in 1982. During the “Voice of the End Customer” session at the AASA Vision Conference in Dearborn, Michigan, Carr provided a glimpse into the company’s people-first philosophy, which is anchored in “the desire to love our neighbor as ourself.” “Automotive is not what gets me up in the morning,” Carr declared. “It’s not the thing that I’m most excited about, but I’m proud to be a part of it. The thing that gets me most excited is the opportunity to grow and develop people. “And so at Christian Brothers Automotive, our passion, our desire, is that no matter how long you spend with the brand – whether it’s three days, three weeks, three years or three decades – that you leave better off than you came. We want you to be the best version of yourself. And that’s not just as a franchisee, a technician, a service writer. It’s as a parent, it’s as a spouse, it’s as a community member.” With that as a backdrop, Carr shared his six keys to success in life. Carr said he shares these six principles twice a month during training sessions for service writers and technicians. He also shared: “I fail at these things on a regular basis. And one of the things that I love is talking about it, because it’s great accountability for me to attempt to do these things.” 1. Take action and follow through. Carr referenced leadership guru John Maxwell, who has said that out of 100 people, 99 are problem spotters, and one is a problem solver. “In life, if we can be that problem solver, we will be that much more successful,” Carr added. 2. Come prepared. Carr offered a couple great examples. One came from a documentary he saw about golf legends Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player practicing on the driving range in the wee morning hours prior to the start of the 2020 Masters Tournament. Nicklaus and Player were the honorary starters, meaning they each hit one tee shot to begin the tournament. “So at 5:30 in the morning, 50 degrees out in a light drizzle, these gentlemen are on the driving range, hitting practice shots,” Carr said. “Now, mind you, this is in 2020. And in 1974, they were inducted into the [World Golf Hall of Fame]. What that says to me is that these gentlemen, who have achieved excellence and still reach for it, they come prepared. They spend that little bit of time to make that effort.” 3. Always look for the opportunity in a situation. “One of the things that’s been tough for me in life is I have two close family members who are bipolar,” Carr explained. “And I love those people, but in life it has created some additional challenges. It’s been a little extra difficult at times, but my awareness, my empathy, my ability to handle those who struggle with anxiety or depression or those with mental illnesses is so much greater now. And I am thankful for that because I know that was an opportunity for me to grow and improve as a person.” 4. Own your financials. “When you own your finances, you make the decisions and they don’t,” Carr said. “When your payments make your decisions, you’re going to make bad decisions.” Carr also talked about the power of compound interest, asserting that “one of the greatest multipliers of wealth is time.” If you save $200 a month for 20 years, and earn a 10% annual return on that investment, you have $96,000, he explained. If you save the same amount for 40 years, and earn a 10% annual return, you have more than $1 million to show for it. 5. Surround yourself with amazing people. “One of my favorite Proverbs is Proverbs 13:20: Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. If you can surround yourself with fantastic people – people who are going to hold you accountable, speak truth and love to you – you are going to be that much more successful.” 6. Being intentional. In life, your attitude and your time are among the few things “that you have close to 100% control over,” according to Carr. “I don’t think we realize often enough the impact in life that we can have with a great attitude. I don’t think we realize that person sitting next to us or that random interaction that we had, if we can do that with grace and love and with a great attitude, we will be that much more successful in life.” Regarding time, Carr has jettisoned the phrase “I didn’t have time” from his vocabulary. In its place, he says, “I didn’t make time.” “When I look at my son, Hank, and I missed his basketball game, and I say, ‘Hey buddy, I didn’t have time for that,’ it’s an easy conversation. But what I say now is, ‘I didn’t make time for that,’ because I own my time. And when I have to have that same conversation with my 6-year-old son and I have to look him in the eyes and say, ‘Hey Hank, I missed your basketball game because I didn’t make time for that,’ that’s a different conversation.” The post AASA Vision: Christian Brothers CEO Shares 6 Keys To Success appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

A native of “Honeymoon City” Niagara Falls, New York, Charles Harris began his aftermarket career after graduating with degrees in both Business and Marketing from Northwood University in Midland, Michigan. An experienced sales executive, Harris has spent more than 30 years in the automotive aftermarket, holding executive management roles at such well-known names as Tenneco, Monroe, TMD Friction and ASC Airtex before joining NTN. Harris joined NTN in 2019 as the director of sales – Automotive Aftermarket and in October 2021 was promoted to vice president of sales and marketing. In his tenure with NTN, he has overseen the restructuring of the automotive aftermarket sales team and the growth of NTN’s market share in the traditional automotive aftermarket, heavy-duty, and fleet market channels. Throughout his career, Charles has focused on the value of people and developing their ability to communicate and execute, which generates organizational growth. In the podcast, Harris shares that his work with his team is his proudest accomplishment: “I think my proudest achievement has to do with my people and the teams that I’ve built. When I look back now on some of the people and how they excelled under my leadership in the business – not only becoming just regional managers, being sales directors, being VPs within the industry – that that’s what makes me most proud.” In this exclusive “AMN Drivetime” interview, Babcox Media CEO Bill Babcox sits down with Harris to learn more about what makes a great salesperson successful today, how to stay ahead of the curve, where Charles gets his motivation and more. In this episode, Bill and Charles talk about: 1:52 What makes a great salesman in the aftermarket today? 2:48 Most memorable story from early days on the road 5:25: How to stay ahead of the curve in today’s fast-evolving industry 6:30: Proudest moments in Charles’ career 8:38 A closer look at the NTN Sales & Marketing team 10:04 What motivates Charles to stay focused (spoiler alert: It’s his grandkids!) 11:05 Drivetime’s new Lightning Round! Watch the episode Listen to the podcast The post ‘AMN Drivetime’ Chats With NTN’s Charles Harris (Video) appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

A native of “Honeymoon City” Niagara Falls, New York, Charles Harris began his aftermarket career after graduating with degrees in both Business and Marketing from Northwood University in Midland, Michigan. An experienced sales executive, Harris has spent more than 30 years in the automotive aftermarket, holding executive management roles at such well-known names as Tenneco, Monroe, TMD Friction and ASC Airtex before joining NTN. Harris joined NTN in 2019 as the director of sales – Automotive Aftermarket and in October 2021 was promoted to vice president of sales and marketing. In his tenure with NTN, he has overseen the restructuring of the automotive aftermarket sales team and the growth of NTN’s market share in the traditional automotive aftermarket, heavy-duty, and fleet market channels. Throughout his career, Charles has focused on the value of people and developing their ability to communicate and execute, which generates organizational growth. In the podcast, Harris shares that his work with his team is his proudest accomplishment: “I think my proudest achievement has to do with my people and the teams that I’ve built. When I look back now on some of the people and how they excelled under my leadership in the business – not only becoming just regional managers, being sales directors, being VPs within the industry – that that’s what makes me most proud.” In this exclusive “AMN Drivetime” interview, Babcox Media CEO Bill Babcox sits down with Harris to learn more about what makes a great salesperson successful today, how to stay ahead of the curve, where Charles gets his motivation and more. In this episode, Bill and Charles talk about: 1:52 What makes a great salesman in the aftermarket today? 2:48 Most memorable story from early days on the road 5:25: How to stay ahead of the curve in today’s fast-evolving industry 6:30: Proudest moments in Charles’ career 8:38 A closer look at the NTN Sales & Marketing team 10:04 What motivates Charles to stay focused (spoiler alert: It’s his grandkids!) 11:05 Drivetime’s new Lightning Round! Watch the episode Listen to the podcast The post ‘AMN Drivetime’ Chats With NTN’s Charles Harris (Video) appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

A native of “Honeymoon City” Niagara Falls, New York, Charles Harris began his aftermarket career after graduating with degrees in both Business and Marketing from Northwood University in Midland, Michigan. An experienced sales executive, Harris has spent more than 30 years in the automotive aftermarket, holding executive management roles at such well-known names as Tenneco, Monroe, TMD Friction and ASC Airtex before joining NTN. Harris joined NTN in 2019 as the director of sales – Automotive Aftermarket and in October 2021 was promoted to vice president of sales and marketing. In his tenure with NTN, he has overseen the restructuring of the automotive aftermarket sales team and the growth of NTN’s market share in the traditional automotive aftermarket, heavy-duty, and fleet market channels. Throughout his career, Charles has focused on the value of people and developing their ability to communicate and execute, which generates organizational growth. In the podcast, Harris shares that his work with his team is his proudest accomplishment: “I think my proudest achievement has to do with my people and the teams that I’ve built. When I look back now on some of the people and how they excelled under my leadership in the business – not only becoming just regional managers, being sales directors, being VPs within the industry – that that’s what makes me most proud.” In this exclusive “AMN Drivetime” interview, Babcox Media CEO Bill Babcox sits down with Harris to learn more about what makes a great salesperson successful today, how to stay ahead of the curve, where Charles gets his motivation and more. In this episode, Bill and Charles talk about: 1:52 What makes a great salesman in the aftermarket today? 2:48 Most memorable story from early days on the road 5:25: How to stay ahead of the curve in today’s fast-evolving industry 6:30: Proudest moments in Charles’ career 8:38 A closer look at the NTN Sales & Marketing team 10:04 What motivates Charles to stay focused (spoiler alert: It’s his grandkids!) 11:05 Drivetime’s new Lightning Round! Watch the episode Listen to the podcast The post ‘AMN Drivetime’ Chats With NTN’s Charles Harris (Video) appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

A native of “Honeymoon City” Niagara Falls, New York, Charles Harris began his aftermarket career after graduating with degrees in both Business and Marketing from Northwood University in Midland, Michigan. An experienced sales executive, Harris has spent more than 30 years in the automotive aftermarket, holding executive management roles at such well-known names as Tenneco, Monroe, TMD Friction and ASC Airtex before joining NTN. Harris joined NTN in 2019 as the director of sales – Automotive Aftermarket and in October 2021 was promoted to vice president of sales and marketing. In his tenure with NTN, he has overseen the restructuring of the automotive aftermarket sales team and the growth of NTN’s market share in the traditional automotive aftermarket, heavy-duty, and fleet market channels. Throughout his career, Charles has focused on the value of people and developing their ability to communicate and execute, which generates organizational growth. In the podcast, Harris shares that his work with his team is his proudest accomplishment: “I think my proudest achievement has to do with my people and the teams that I’ve built. When I look back now on some of the people and how they excelled under my leadership in the business – not only becoming just regional managers, being sales directors, being VPs within the industry – that that’s what makes me most proud.” In this exclusive “AMN Drivetime” interview, Babcox Media CEO Bill Babcox sits down with Harris to learn more about what makes a great salesperson successful today, how to stay ahead of the curve, where Charles gets his motivation and more. In this episode, Bill and Charles talk about: 1:52 What makes a great salesman in the aftermarket today? 2:48 Most memorable story from early days on the road 5:25: How to stay ahead of the curve in today’s fast-evolving industry 6:30: Proudest moments in Charles’ career 8:38 A closer look at the NTN Sales & Marketing team 10:04 What motivates Charles to stay focused (spoiler alert: It’s his grandkids!) 11:05 Drivetime’s new Lightning Round! Watch the episode Listen to the podcast The post ‘AMN Drivetime’ Chats With NTN’s Charles Harris (Video) appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

Mevotech announced the introduction of 154 new part numbers. Focusing on continually providing engineered solutions for the professional technician, the new part numbers cover a wide range of domestic and import passenger vehicles, trucks and SUVs up to 2021. The release expands both the premium Supreme and ultra-engineered TTX programs, with additional control arms, ball joints, inner and outer tie rod ends, stabilizer bar links and wheel hub assemblies. These parts feature X-Factor design and material upgrades for higher durability and a longer service life, according to the company. Additionally, professional technicians now have access to more replacement bushing options for control arms, steering knuckles and stabilizer bars. Highlights from the release include: 2021-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 Mevotech Supreme Front Upper Control Arms (L/R) Greaseable self-lubricating sintered bearings replace the OE-style for increased durability.Forged control arm body has an enhanced profile and recesses filled-in for improved assembly strength.Anti-corrosion coated hardware, including frame bolts, are in the box for a quick and complete install. 2020-2018 Toyota Camry and 2021-2019 Lexus ES300H Supreme Front Lower Control Arms (L/R) Greasable self-lubricating sintered bearings replace OE-style plastic for increased durability.Pre-fitted ball joint and hardware compared to the bare OE control arm provides increased value and quicker installation.Improved boot design seals against contaminant ingress. 2021-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe and 2021 GMC Yukon XL and 2021 Cadillac Escalade/ESV TTX Tie Rod End Patented directional bearing technology in a directional housing ensures proper orientation and better load distribution.Greaseable self-lubricating sintered bearing means less wearExclusive hex forging improves assembly strength.Patented locking dust boot shuts out contaminants.Repel-TEKT anti-corrosion coated hardware, including jam nut, makes installation quicker and easier. To learn more about Mevotech, watch an overview video here. Sign up to receive monthly Mevotech updates, including new product releases, webinars, videos and animations, tech tips and more here. The post Mevotech Introduces 154 New Parts Numbers appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

Photo caption: Eric Lough, VP, business development, FCP Euro (left) and Brent Berman, vice president, repair products, First Brands Group. By now we’re all well-aware of how the pandemic turbocharged the adoption of online shopping. According to the Auto Care Association and the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), e-commerce adoption in the automotive aftermarket grew from 6.5% in 2018 to 12.1% in 2021, representing a nearly 100% increase. At the AASA Vision Conference in Dearborn, Michigan, a panel was set to debate whether the level of pandemic-induced e-commerce growth is sustainable in the future. As it turns out, there wasn’t much of a debate. “We’ve set an expectation during the pandemic with e-commerce that I don’t think we go back from there,” asserted Eric Lough, VP, business development, for FCP Euro. “I think we only go forward. I believe that our customers not only want to be served that way online, but they now expect to be served that way online.” Brent Berman, vice president, repair products, for First Brands Group, agreed, adding that e-commerce has become a legitimate sales channel that the aftermarket needs to take seriously. “We all remember when the independent aftermarket expanded into the retail segment … and we had to manage those channels. We had to create those mechanisms in our four walls to manage those channels,” Berman said. “And I think we all have to look at [the online] channel. We expect continued growth; I think everyone sees it. We have to manage the content, the people – it’s different people. It’s not the same as the salesperson driving around in Texas; it’s a different engagement. I think we have to assess those teams and build those teams out if we want to participate in the channel properly.” With Hedges & Co. forecasting that online sales of auto parts in the United States could hit $38 billion in 2022 (a 9.7% year-over-year increase), the online channel certainly can’t be ignored. Still, simply having an online presence isn’t enough, the panelists asserted. “I think the days being transactional online – that doesn’t work anymore, Lough said. “We can’t be there just to sell auto parts to our customers and say we’ve done a good job. We need to be there to solve their problems. Selling parts is just one piece, or just a sliver, literally, of that entire experience for our customers. “So I think where we go from here is creating solutions for our customers online, with automotive parts being just one piece of the puzzle.” When we talk about the aggressive adoption of online shopping over the past two years, the image of the pandemic DIYer – stuck at home with nothing but time and cash on their hands – immediately comes to mind. But Chris Gardner, senior vice president of operations for AASA, noted that there seems to be “growing appetite” for online ordering on the DIFM side as well. Berman agreed, adding that “the habits are already there – maybe more than we think.” A big reason for the growth of e-commerce adoption on the DIFM side is the “generational shift” that’s been taking place in recent years, Lough asserted. Shop owners are retiring and handing over their businesses to their sons and daughters, who have grown up in the age of smartphones and Amazon. “I think the generational shift, the [pandemic-driven] forcing function of buying online and the technology have all got to the point where we’re seeing this perfect storm where shops are finding it advantageous to buy online and to service their customers and gain that efficiency,” Lough said. “Because how does the shop make money? Well, it’s throughput. Every minute that that lift isn’t used, that’s an opportunity cost. So I think we’re really seeing shops be more in tune and amenable to buying online.” For parts sellers and suppliers, one of the key challenges in this increasingly digital marketplace is preserving the brand equity they’ve worked so hard to build through decades of doing business. As e-commerce sales continued to grow, ow can aftermarket players avoid being commoditized? “I think what’s going to happen is that e-tailer or that brick-and-mortar – or click-and-mortar – kind of [parts] store will win, just like in any retail business, with the service, with the smile on their face, with the dependability, the reliability and things like that,” Berman added. “That’s kind of the way I think about that. And the technicians and the shop owners will tell us over the course of the next few years who’s doing a job good.” Lough believes it’s all about partnerships. “When you’re dealing with a pandemic, supply chain shortages, price increases, it’s very easy to start pointing figures and getting frustrated, instead of leaning in and saying, ‘Look, I know you’re having a tough time. We’re having a tough time too. How do we have a tough time together for our customer and really grow a partnership here so that I’m bringing value to you, you’re bringing value to me, so we can both bring value to our customers?’ “I think that’s how you kind of differentiate your brand and add value to it. I don’t think you do it in a silo. I think you do it as a partnership with your manufacturers and with your vendors.” The post AASA Vision: E-Tailing Beyond The Pandemic appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

Photo caption, from left to right: Brandon Igdalsky, NASCAR managing director, touring & weekly series; Ben Kennedy, NASCAR senior vice president, racing development & strategy; Ryan Blaney, driver of No. 12 Advance Auto Parts Ford Mustang; and Jason McDonell, Advance Auto Parts chief marketing officer. Advance Auto Parts, entitlement sponsor of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series (NAAPWS), announced the return of its “Advance My Track Challenge,” a program that spotlights NASCAR’s short tracks in communities across North America. During the program, race fans are invited to vote for their favorite NASCAR home track, with the most popular track winning a $50,000 grand prize. The voting window is open on AdvanceMyTrack.com, with 21 NAAPWS tracks across the United States and Canada eligible to win. The first round of voting concludes Friday, May 6. The top six tracks receiving the most votes will move on to the final round, taking place May 9-13. The track with the most fan votes in the final round will win the grand prize, courtesy of Advance. The track finishing with the second-most votes will receive $15,000, and the third-place track will win $10,000. Teams at winning tracks may use winnings for facility enhancements or to establish community-based programs with schools, nonprofits or other local organizations. “We are thrilled to bring the Advance My Track Challenge to race fans for a second year,” said Jason McDonell, Advance’s executive vice president of merchandising, marketing and e-commerce. “NASCAR’s home tracks and the Weekly Series play a critical role in our sport, giving local racers and future superstars the opportunity to put on a great show for their communities. This program helps advance historic grassroots racing venues while recognizing the communities with loyal and passionate racing fans.” “The Advance My Track Challenge is a great partnership with Advance Auto Parts that puts a well-deserved focus on our weekly tracks and the development of their infrastructure to enhance facilities in local communities,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR senior vice president, racing development & strategy. “Our roots in racing at the local level are a key part of NASCAR’s history and future success, and this is instrumental in engaging more fans at weekly tracks.” In support of the program, Advance My Track Challenge branding will be featured on Team Penske’s No. 12 Advance Auto Parts Ford Mustang driven by Ryan Blaney at this Saturday’s race at the Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia. “Short-track racing has been part of my family for generations, and we’ve had great memories at the track,” said Blaney, a third-generation race car driver and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series race winner. “Ensuring the success of local tracks is something that’s important to me and my family, so it’s exciting to have a partner like Advance who is making it their mission to support NASCAR’s Home Tracks. We look forward to racing with Advance My Track Challenge on our Ford at Martinsville, one of NASCAR’s most iconic grassroots-style tracks.” The Advance My Track Challenge launched in 2021, with the $50,000 grand prize awarded to Berlin Raceway, a 7/16-mile paved oval track located just outside Grand Rapids, Michigan. More than 122,000 votes were cast by race fans during last year’s voting window. Advance’s support of NASCAR’s home tracks extends beyond the Advance My Track Challenge. The retailer is using its season-long sponsorship of Blaney’s No. 12 Ford to showcase NASCAR-sanctioned short tracks across the United States and Canada. Each week, two different tracks will be featured on Blaney’s car. For every Blaney Cup Series victory, the winning track(s) on his car each will receive $1,200 from Advance. Through Blaney’s three NASCAR victories last season, Advance awarded winnings to six different NASCAR home tracks. The post NASCAR’s Home Tracks Battle For $50,000 In Advance Challenge appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article

BMW, Porsche, Mini, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Audi. You’re probably familiar with these brands, but how familiar are you with their parts? European vehicles need repairs just as often as American or Asian vehicles, if not more often. They also boast an extremely strong following among tuning enthusiasts. You’re almost guaranteed to find modified VWs, Audis and BMWs at just about any car show or meet you pull up to. So, what is it that sets these vehicles apart from the rest? Let’s take a look at what makes these vehicles so desirable to owners, and what we as parts pros need to know in order to help them buy the right parts for their needs. German Engineering Yes, that’s a reference to Volkswagen’s advertising campaign from the mid-2000s. These commercials capitalized on the popularity of automotive TV shows like “Pimp My Ride” and “Overhaulin.” They were cheesy, over the top and downright funny. All jokes aside, there’s something special about the phrase “German engineering.” German automakers have long led the industry with pioneering and innovative technology. The Benz Patent-Motorwagen (“patent motorcar”) was built in 1885 by the German Carl Benz, so you could say that cars were invented by the Germans – but it didn’t end there. Nearly every modern automotive system has been influenced or refined by German engineering and innovation: everything from seat belts to air bags, adaptive cruise control to antilock brakes and traction/stability control. The list goes on and on. There’s another trait that I associate with German engineering (and all European vehicles), but it comes in the form of an expression: “10 pounds of stuff in a 5-pound bag.” While it seems that cars aren’t getting any bigger, automakers are finding ways to fit more and more systems, parts and control modules into them than ever before. If you’ve ever looked under the hood of an Audi S6 or S7 with the 4-liter turbocharged V-8 engine (pictured above), you’ll know what I’m talking about. These engines don’t look like any other V-8 engine in the world, and they’re a good example of how creative automakers have to be in order to fit their powerplants into modern vehicles. Complexity There are, of course, a few drawbacks to this sort of innovation and creativity: namely, complexity. Complex systems tend to utilize more individual parts, and this means that they may be more vulnerable to part failures. What we mean by this is the more hoses, pipes or connectors automakers add to vehicles, the more likely it is that any of these parts could leak or fail and need to be replaced. Let’s look at an example of this complexity: the cooling circuit from an S55-powered BMW M3 or M4 (Fig. 1). This diagram shows the number of hoses, pipes and heat exchangers that are needed to cool the engine, the incoming charge air and the engine oil. While this system is designed to hold up to a lot of abuse, a single faulty connection or leaking hose could cause a breakdown. Lightweight Materials Plastics and composite parts are replacing steel and aluminum parts in the interest of weight savings and fuel economy. Unfortunately, this sometimes comes at the cost of durability. The turbocharged 1.8-liter and 2-liter engines found in modern VWs and Audis feature radiator hoses with plastic connectors on either end. These connectors are known to become brittle and crack after years of heat-cycling under the hood. You might find that the lower radiator hose on these same engines has a coolant-temperature sensor built into the connector in the interest of saving space. Plastic isn’t the only lightweight material being used by modern automakers. The bolts that secure the thermostat to the water pump on the N54-powered BMW 335i are aluminum and cannot be reused once they’re removed. Aluminum bolts also are used to secure the transmission pan on the Mercedes-Benz 722.9 seven-speed automatic transmission. As parts professionals, it’s our responsibility to always “sell the whole job” to our customers. If a customer comes in for a radiator because the original one cracked, you should suggest that they replace other parts such as the hoses, since they may be just as brittle as that radiator was when it failed. If your customer is replacing a component that’s secured with aluminum bolts or hardware, be sure to sell it to them so they have everything they need before they start the repair. Remove and Discard Let’s dive deeper into hardware, because it’s especially important on European vehicles. Torque-to-yield (TTY) fasteners are far more common on these applications, used everywhere from suspension points to drivetrain mounts, and everything in between. TTY fasteners are torqued to extremely high values. This literally causes the bolts to stretch nearly to the breaking point, but in exchange it’s able to apply the maximum clamping force possible. Since these bolts are stretched out when torqued, they should not be reinstalled, as they could snap when tightened. Fasteners with locking splines or nylon locking rings, or pre-applied threadlocking compounds, help to prevent them from loosening. These types of fasteners are rather common in European applications, and most cannot be reused once installed. It’s always a good idea to check your parts catalog for suggested hardware, and then pass that information to your customer. If you come across a repair in which you needed to replace the hardware, share that experience with your co-workers. Sharing your combined experiences will only benefit you, your team and your customers. Double Vision I’d like to conclude with a unique example I found while working on a 2017 BMW M4 with the S55 inline-6 engine. The vehicle was in for a boost-tap install so the customer could monitor boost pressure from a gauge mounted in the A/C vent. The boost tap was a billet aluminum spacer that mounted between the MAP sensor and the intake manifold. A hose connected the boost tap to a gauge inside the vehicle. The customer had installed the boost tap, but it was only reading boost pressure, not engine vacuum. During a visual inspection I quickly spotted the problem: The boost tap had been installed into the wrong location. There are actually two MAP sensors on this engine: One is located on the charge-air cooler on top of the engine, and the other is mounted on top of the intake manifold. The MAP sensor on top of the intake manifold is almost impossible to see because the charge-air cooler is in the way, but it’s the only one capable of reading engine vacuum since it’s located after the throttle body. This was a quick and easy fix, but it’s a good example of how easy it can be to miss something obvious in such a busy engine compartment. Redundant sensors can be common in European vehicles like the M4 from this example. So, be sure to ask your customer the right questions and really get to the bottom of what it is that they’re working on, and what they need to fix it right the first time. The post Replacement Parts For European Vehicles appeared first on Counterman Magazine. View the full article