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The 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division is introducing a new tool designed to enable autobody technicians and distributor sales staff to get answers to their collision repair questions on their mobile devices. Available on the Apple App Store, the free app provides quick access to 3M collision repair product information, process guides, application videos and standard operating procedures. In addition to product-ordering information, users can find technical data sheets, safety data sheets, new product announcements, special offers and promotions and news and events. The mobile app also lets users bookmark their favorite content and email content to others. “We designed this app to be a clean and user-friendly platform where our user customers and the sales people who call on them can quickly find the product information, technical advice and news they need, on the device they have with them everywhere – their smartphone,” said Dale Ross, U.S. marketing operations manager for 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division. “Initially, this is available for Apple phones but will soon be available for Android phones as well.” The 3M Collision Repair App runs on iOS 9.0 or later and is fully compatible with the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Source: http://www.aftermarketnews.com/3m-automotive-aftermarket-division-introduces-free-collision-repair-app/

PTC has expanded its product offering and updated its packaging on its all new filter program. This includes air filters, cabin air filters, fuel filters, oil filters, PCV valves and transmission filters. PTC says some of the key features and benefits include: KEY FEATURES & BENEFITS True OE design, fit and function for easy installation & long dependable performance Over 90% market coverage for all makes and models, including Domestic, Japanese, Korean and European applications (more numbers are continuously being added throughout the year) Bold new graphic packaging helps stimulate POP sales New detailed application catalog available (applications also available online) AIR FILTERS • CABIN AIR FILTERS • FUEL FILTERS OIL FILTERS • PCV VALVES • TRANSMISSION FILTER KITS New detailed application catalog available (applications also available online) For more information, go to ptcauto.com or call 800-626-8333.

O’Reilly Automotive Inc. has announced record revenues and earnings for its second quarter ended June 30, 2017. Sales for the second quarter increased $114 million, or 5 percent, to $2.29 billion from $2.18 billion for the same period one year ago. Gross profit for the second quarter increased to $1.20 billion (or 52.4 percent of sales) from $1.13 billion (or 51.8 percent of sales) for the same period one year ago, representing an increase of 6 percent. Net income for the second quarter increased $25 million, or 10 percent, to $283 million (or 12.3 percent of sales) from $258 million (or 11.8 percent of sales) for the same period one year ago. Diluted earnings per common share for the second quarter increased 17 percent to $3.10 on 91 million shares versus $2.65 on 97 million shares for the same period one year ago. The company adopted a new share-based compensation accounting standard during the first quarter of this year, which requires excess tax benefits from share-based compensation payments to be recorded in the income statement. O’Reilly’s second quarter ended June 30, 2017, diluted earnings per common share of $3.10 includes a 9-cent benefit from the adoption of the new accounting standard and a 6-cent benefit from the reduction in legal accruals. Greg Henslee, O’Reilly’s CEO, commented, “As we announced in our press release earlier this month, we faced a more challenging sales environment during the second quarter than expected, resulting in a disappointing second quarter comparable store sales increase of 1.7 percent. While there are several factors that drive demand in our industry that can result in soft performance in any given period, it is clear that we continue to face headwinds from a second consecutive unseasonably mild winter, which did not generate the rate of parts failure we would normally expect through this point of the year, combined with continued soft consumer demand across our industry. During difficult market conditions, such as the ones we faced in the first half of this year, our team remains absolutely dedicated to providing consistently high levels of service to our customers. Our long-term commitment to exceptional customer service is the key to our past and future success, and I would like to thank Team O’Reilly for their relentless dedication to taking care of every customer who calls or walks through our doors every day.” Year-to-Date Financial Results Sales for the first six months of 2017 increased $174 million, or 4 percent, to $4.45 billion from $4.27 billion for the same period one year ago. Gross profit for the first six months of 2017 increased to $2.33 billion (or 52.4 percent of sales) from $2.22 billion (or 52.1 percent of sales) for the same period one year ago, representing an increase of 5 percent. SG&A for the first six months of 2017 increased to $1.47 billion (or 33.1 percent of sales) from $1.38 billion (or 32.3 percent of sales) for the same period one year ago, representing an increase of 6 percent. Operating income for the first six months of 2017 increased to $861 million (or 19.4 percent of sales) from $844 million (or 19.7 percent of sales) for the same period one year ago, representing an increase of 2 percent. The company’s results for the six months ended June 30, 2016, included a benefit from one additional day due to Leap Day in February 2016. Net income for the first six months of 2017 increased $35 million, or 7 percent, to $548 million from $513 million for the same period one year ago. Diluted earnings per common share for the first six months of 2017 increased 13 percent to $5.93 on 92 million shares versus $5.24 on 98 million shares for the same period one year ago. The company’s first six months of 2017 diluted earnings per common share of $5.93 includes a 32-cent benefit from the adoption of the new accounting standard. Henslee said, “We opened 105 net, new stores during the first half of 2017, and we are well-positioned to hit our target of 190 net, new store openings by the end of the year. We continue to be pleased with the performance of our new stores and remain very confident in our opportunities to grow in existing and new market areas. While our comparable store sales growth for the first half of 2017 is below our expectations, we continue to strongly believe in the long-term strength of our industry, supported by a growing and aging vehicle fleet, which has now reached an average age of 11.6 years, and steady, sustained increases in annual miles driven, now trending at over 3.2 trillion miles per year. More importantly, we remain extremely confident in our ability to increase our market share, driven by our team’s ability to provide industry-leading parts availability and unsurpassed technical knowledge and service levels to our customers.” Source: http://www.aftermarketnews.com/oreilly-automotive-reports-2nd-quarter-2017-results/

http://www.tirebusiness.com/article/20170706/NEWS/170709985/pep-boys-adds-stores-in-nyc-philly-metro-areas PHILADELPHIA — Pep Boys has acquired PJ's Auto & Tire Center in Franklin Square, N.Y., and opened a Service & Tire Center in Bordentown, N.J., increasing its presence in the New York and Philadelphia metro markets. Pep Boys, a subsidiary of Icahn Automotive Group L.L.C., described PJ's Auto & Tire — a family-run business since 1980 — as a six-bay shop located in a high-traffic neighborhood in Franklin Square on Long Island. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Pep Boys did not elaborate on the status of the dealership's owners or staff. The greenfield store in Bordentown also is a six-bay shop, Pep Boys said. Bordentown is a community of about 3,900 inhabitants bordering Trenton, N.J. Both locations will use the Pep Boys Service & Tire Center identity. Pep Boys now has 16 stores on Long Island and nearly 30 in the New York metro area. The new stores push Icahn Automotive's network of stores closer to the 1,500 mark. This is Pep Boys' third acquisition of 2017. In mid-May the Philadelphia-based retailer acquired Mathis Tire & Auto Service and Direct Tire Distributors in Memphis, establishing a retail position in that market for the first time with a dozen locations and a 6,000-unit warehouse. In January Pep Boys bought Just Brakes L.L.C., an automotive repair and maintenance chain with 134 stores throughout the U.S. southern tier, and said it planned to convert those stores to the Service & Tire Center brand.

Centric Parts has released the latest addition to its award-winning range of brake friction ­TACTICAL Police Duty Brake Pads by StopTech with proprietary Mu500 Chemically Enhanced Friction Performance and Silent On Arrival noise abatement technology. These AMECA-approved brake pads have been specially engineered to provide superior and silent braking performance under the most extreme driving conditions experienced by officers in pursuit and patrol situations, says the company. The engineers at StopTech have developed friction formulations that incorporate Silent On Arrival technology that help provide stealth when needed, while the blue Mu500 friction surface enhancement provides maximum bite from the very first stop, eliminating the need for an extended bed-in period, says the company. TACTICAL Police Duty Brake Pads by StopTech are available for all current police pursuit/patrol vehicles: CHEVROLET Caprice, Impala and Tahoe; DODGE Charger; FORD Crown Victoria, Police Interceptor (Explorer) and Police Interceptor Sedan (Taurus). For more information, call 800-758-3004, email Centric at [email protected] or visit centricparts.com and stoptech.com. TACTICAL Police Duty Brake Pads Police-Specific Friction Formulations Extreme Temperature Fade Resistance Silent-On-Arrival Technology Mu500 Provides Optimal Initial Bite OE Design Slots and Chamfers OE Design Hardware Included NRS Backing Plates for Max Pad Retention Mechanically Attached Multi-Layer Shims StopTech is Centric's ultra performance division, a leading innovator of world class brake components and systems for production-based racing cars and high performance vehicles on the street and track.

Mevotech LP has launched a new marketing campaign and website to offer a deeper understanding of Mevotech’s engineered designs and commitment to innovation and quality. The “Over-Built” campaign highlights Mevotech’s engineering expertise, proving the durability and strength of its full line of chassis parts. Mevotech engineering begins with a full benchmarking of OE fit, form and function. Then, the Over-Built process activates, identifying application-specific improvements to maximize performance, durability and bay efficiency. These upgrades are the foundation of the Over-Built campaign. “The North American chassis aftermarket is filled with a lot of misleading information regarding product quality and technology. It can sometimes be confusing for the customer to understand the real facts,” said Scott Stone, executive vice president, sales and marketing at Mevotech. “We are inviting you to check the facts and review our Over-Built information at mevotechfactchecker.com so you can draw your own conclusions. We stand behind our results, which are both factual and transparent.” The company says the fact checker website reinforces Mevotech’s engineering expertise and releases relevant test results, proving the durability and strength of the company’s products. The fact-checker website also highlights Mevotech’s connection to the installer through LaborSaver efficiencies and Over-Built product enhancements.

I prefer weather tech as well. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Learn From The Master Techs Get Master Support Stay on top of industry trends and new techniques with the help of the Garage Gurus. Through world-class automotive training, you can enhance your skills or learn new ones. Master technicians will guide you every step of the way. Designed specifically for the auto technician, choose the way to learn that works best for you and your schedule - onsite, online or on-demand. Your go-to source for training, Garage Gurus gives you access to a comprehensive suite of support tools. Get the training and answers you need to advance your career or keep that next repair job on-track. Courses cover the topics that matter the most to you. Online steering and suspension courses include topics like alignment and steering system basics while webinar topics include Mastering Truck Ball Joints and Using your Alignment Machine as a Diagnostic Tool. Workshop courses give you the opportunity to learn directly from a Garage Guru Master Technician at one of the Garage Guru technical support centers. You’ll get the hands-on experience you need to solve real-world issues you’ll see in the garage. Steering and Suspension Service and Advanced Suspension System Diagnostics are designed to help you with those steering and suspension service jobs. Check out all of the Garage Guru courses now!

Heavy-duty engine filter findings: Inside Wix Filters NanoPro Media

Some of the most well known auto parts manufacturers submit their parts catalog data to a third party platform called ShowMeTheParts. It's a great resource to find the right auto parts for cars, trucks, light duty and heavy duty. the catalog features fitment data as well. http://www.showmetheparts.com/catalog.html

Source: http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/fake-auto-parts-and-road-safety/ ANY legitimate car nut would tell us not to scrimp on automotive parts, especially counterfeit ones, since the “savings wouldn’t be worth the headache”. Lately, there is clamor within the domestic auto-parts industry about the proliferation of fakes being sold by unscrupulous auto supply shops. Most are imported from abroad and costs only a fraction of original parts but bear very identical packaging. Current available data from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) tallies 7,690,038 registered vehicles across the country, bulk of which are in National Capital Region. Even a third of that figure would be a very lucrative market for fake parts. Fakes are not to be confused with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts. OEM parts undergo the same rigid quality and performance testing standard procedures as original ones. Besides, some of a vehicle’s components are actually made by separate OEM companies as contractors to huge car manufacturers, like Toyota, Mercedes Benz, BMW, or Honda. Examples of top 100 global OEM companies are JTEKT Corp., Bosch GmbH, Denso Corp., Yazaki Corp., BASF SE and NTN Corp. Independent bogus manufacturers may counterfeit both original and OEM parts. Recently, auto enthusiast and veteran journalist Rey Langit hosted auto parts advocate lawyer Noven Joseph Quioc in one of his programs. Lawer Quioc said the Philippines unfortunately lacks facilities for accident and fatality analysis, such as those in developed countries like the US, making efforts to understand the cause of accidents difficult. Quioc said fake auto parts are not treated at the same level as spurious drugs or food items since they don’t seem to have an immediate lethal or health impact. Langit said it is quite alarming that some of the most commonly counterfeited parts are directly related to passenger safety than cosmetic value. Examples are mag wheels, tires, bearings, brake discs, brake pads, rubber rings, axle boots, oil filters and under chassis components, such as tie rods, rack ends and ball joints. In most cases, consumers are unaware that they are buying a fake part since the packaging of counterfeits is almost like that of original products. There are times that a consumer would consciously prefer a fake auto part for the fraction of a cost in order to save. That’s why many car enthusiasts suggest to only purchase parts from reliable and reputable auto supply shops. These shops usually have posters or flyers that show comparisons of packaging and product quality of parts in order to help consumers identify if what they are buying is fake. More often that not, fake products have misspellings, grammatical errors or design inconsistencies, such as misaligned texts or inaccurate colors in the packaging. The quality of the boxes and hologram/security stickers are of substandard quality. Some parts are also plastic-sealed to avoid tampering. “Fake car parts compromise the safety of everyone in the vehicle. For instance, buying fake rims, tires or brakes may not seem much, but many thrifty car owners forget to understand that these parts keep direct contact with the road. Should these parts fail, the accident will most likely be catastrophic, if not cause of traffic,” said Jose Nicolas Calanoc, deputy editor of C! Magazine. “Those who are buying fake automotive parts should ask themselves: are their and their passenger’s lives worth that amount they get to save?” he said. Arnel Doria, president of Safety Riders Association of the Philippines and Safe-T Ryders Training Center, said in a recent news conference that the menace of fake auto parts is not just restricted to loss of life but translates into a loss of revenue for an industry, as well. It also means less taxes and revenues for the government because the firms that make these fake parts do not pay taxes. Worse, many of these fake parts are smuggled into the country. That’s why international and local auto parts makers are coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to raid and seize these items. The law-enforcement agency has been at it for almost two decades now, following complaints. Once caught, importers, distributors and retailers of fake parts will be charged in violation of the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines. Recently, the National Bureau of Investigation conducted simultaneous raids in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Davao and Tagum, resulting in a rich haul of fake automotive parts. Again, would you rather risk your life and your loved ones for a fraction of a price? To reach the writer, e-mail [email protected].

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RAND BLANC, Mich. – ACDelco is giving away hundreds of prizes – including a Las Vegas trip and a new car – as part of its “Ride, Race, Rewards” sweepstakes. Technicians and do-it-yourself mechanics who purchase select parts from the General Motors replacement brand will have the chance to win a trip to Las Vegas and a new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac vehicle, among other prizes. To participate, log onto www.ACDelcoRideRaceRewards.com, from July 1 to Sept. 30, to register each eligible ACDelco part purchased as an entry in the sweepstakes. Eligible part categories include ignition and emissions, batteries, brakes, air conditioning, fuel pumps, rotating electrical, spark plugs, filters and chassis parts. “Customers select ACDelco time and time again for our quality, durability and performance, and this is a way for us to give them a unique chance to win an exclusive trip to Las Vegas or a brand new GM vehicle,” said Heather Waszczenko, national brand manager for ACDelco. “Almost anyone who buys an eligible ACDelco part can enter to win, and each part purchased counts as one entry, so customers that purchase multiple parts will receive multiple contest entries.” Winners will be drawn monthly. On Oct. 5, ACDelco will select a grand-prize winner, who will get to choose between any new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac vehicle with an MSRP of up to $60,000. Three other winners get a trip for two to Las Vegas, which includes passes to the SEMA Show and AAPEX. They also will get to take part in the Ron Fellows Performance Driving School at the Spring Mountain Motor Resort and Country Club. Winners will have the chance to get behind some of the fastest Corvettes in the world and experience its true on-track performance capabilities, ACDelco said. Hundreds of winners each month will receive exclusive ACDelco merchandise including dartboards, pub table sets, vintage wall signs and more. Eligible participants include U.S. employees and customers of aftermarket repair facilities, customers of dealership service departments as well as do-it-yourself mechanics. One entry per ACDelco part purchased per customer. Multiple entries can be submitted for different parts purchased with no limit to the number of entries submitted during the promotional period. GM employees, ACDelco distributors and GM dealership employees are not eligible to participate. However, customers receiving service at a dealership are eligible. Source: http://www.counterman.com/acdelco-launches-ride-race-rewards-sweepstakes-technicians-diyers/

A national automotive parts provider has entered the Greater Cincinnati market by opening three stores that will add up to 50 employees. The expansion by Autopart International is part of a strategic growth plan for the Norton, Mass.-based company that provides 43,000 products to automotive professionals in the region. Autopart International stores partner with independent repair facilities to help grow their businesses. Autopart International has entered the Greater Cincinnati market by opening three stores. Here are the Greater Cincinnati locations: Roselawn, 7749 Reinhold Drive Fairfield, 4115 Thunderbird Lane Queensgate, 914 Dalton Ave. Grand opening events are planned 3-7 p.m. June 27 in Roselawn; 3-7 p.m. June 28 in Queensgate, and ­3-7 p.m. June 29 in Fairfield. The stores will be open 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday. Autopart International, a subsidiary of Advance Auto Parts, has more than 180 stores nationwide.

Source: http://www.vagazette.com/news/vanews-o-reily-auto-parts-and-auto-parts-supply-to-merge-20170710-story.html O'Reilly Auto Parts and Auto Parts Supply announced plans to merge on Monday. The merge is expected to be completed by next week, according to a news release. After the merge, the store will be operated from the O’Reilly Auto Parts, located at 834 Merrimac Trail. For more information on either store, call Auto Parts Supply at 757-229-3580 or O'Reilly Auto Parts at 757-565-2485. O’Reilly was founded in 1957 and has stores in 47 states. “O’Reilly has been successful for 60 years by relentlessly focusing on providing consistently high levels of service to our customers. We would like to welcome the Auto Parts and Supply employees to Team O’Reilly, and we are excited about the opportunity to continue to provide top-notch service to all of Auto Parts and Supply existing customers, as well as new customers, in the Williamsburg and surrounding communities,” said Scott Kraus, O’Reilly’s Senior Vice President of Real Estate and Expansion, in a news release.

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In January 2001, Oscaro was founded when one man realized that there had to be a simpler and less expensive way to provide the DIY community with high quality genuine auto parts. His solution was found online. Since that modest start Oscaro has grown to a company that can procure the highest quality parts from leading parts manufacturers and now delivers tens of thousands of orders per month to individual consumers worldwide. Oscaro Inc. serves customers in North America and is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area at: Oscaro Inc.111 N Market StreetSuite 300San Jose, CA 95113-1116 [email protected] Call (855) 867 2276Monday - Friday5:00 am - 5:00 pm PT

As of 7/5/2017, the parts authority line card is attached and available here: http://www.partsauthority.com/index.php/products ProductLines.pdf

Parts Authority has announced the acquisition of Mainline Auto Parts. Mainline Auto Parts has been one of the premier auto parts distributors in the Baltimore area for the past 30 years. According to Randy Buller, CEO of Parts Authority, the decision was simple. “Marvin Miller and his team at Mainline Auto Parts, share the same philosophy and strategy for doing business in the ‘Do It for Me’ channel along with large branded inventory, expert counter people, fast delivery service and synergy with its wide installer customer base,” said Buller. For Mainline Auto Parts, Parts Authority delivers inventory support and buying power, access to its many locations in Maryland, Washington D.C. and New York, and excellent growth opportunities for its team members. The current staff of Mainline will continue to run the operation under the direction of Parts Authority. Marvin Miller is the president of Mainline Auto Parts. Source: http://www.aftermarketnews.com/parts-authority-acquires-mainline-auto-parts/

Published on Jul 5, 2017 TheStreet's Action Alerts PLUS Portfolio Manager Jim Cramer said there needs to be mergers in the auto parts retail space, which includes companies like AutoZone , O'Reilly and Advanced Auto Parts AAP .

O'Reilly Automotive Inc. (ORLY) fell 20% on Wednesday and led industry rivals lower after it said its second-quarter comparable store sales rose 1.7%, falling well short of its guidance of 3% to 5%, and announced the release date for its full second quarter 2017 results "Our second quarter comparable store sales results of 1.7% represent an improvement over our first quarter, but fell below our guidance of 3% to 5%, due to what we believe were continued headwinds. The comparable store sales shortfall will also have a consequent impact on our operating profitability, which we will report in our full second quarter earnings release on July 26th," the company's CEO Greg Henslee said in a press release We3dnesday. O'Reilly shares fell 20% on Wednesday losing $43 to trade $177.16. AutoZone (AZO) and Advance Auto Parts (AAP) also fell in early trade, dropping 3% and 5%, respectively.

SOURCE: http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2017/06/23/layoffs-website-littered-with-comments-from.html Current and former employees of retailer Advance Auto Parts (NYSE: AAP) have been taking to social media and TheLayoff.com to air grievances about a recent round of layoffs allegedly initiated companywide starting June 19. However, top executives and a company spokeswoman from Advance Auto have so far not responded to multiple emails and phone calls requesting confirmation of the layoffs and more details about the terminations. Posters to TheLayoff.com estimate that close to 900 employees mostly in middle-management positions –and some who have been with the company for 20 years or more – have been affected. Most of the positions were from the company’s sales and distribution centers, including several from its Raleigh corporate center. Advance Auto has not yet filed a worker adjustment notice in North Carolina, but a WARN notice would not be required if fewer than 50 employees were affected in a 30-day period.

SOURCE: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2017/06/27/advance-auto-parts/431468001/ Advance Auto Parts cut nearly 500 jobs as it seeks a turnaround predicated on store upgrades after two consecutive years of sales declines. The Roanoke, Va.-based retailer confirmed Tuesday that it had eliminated 475 positions in corporate, supply chain and field management. The company, which has more than 5,000 stores, employed about 74,000 workers as of February, according to a public filing. Advance Auto Parts spokesperson Laurie Stacy said the company had not cut any positions at its stores, where the company has been focusing its investments. "These organizational changes ensure our structure and resources are properly aligned with our short- and long-term strategic business plan," she said in an email. "We are focused on productivity enhancements in areas that do not affect our customers while also significantly improving the customer experience." The move came after a tough first quarter for Advance, whose sales at stores open at least a year fell 2.7%. The company blamed the timing of its quarterly period and a lighter second half of winter for undermining sales. The performance "served as a reminder that its turnaround will have plenty of puts and takes along the way," UBS analyst Michael Lasser said in a May 25 note. But, Lasser said, Advance boasts a "long-term growth story" that "remains attractive."