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Bill Hanvey: ‘A National Apprentice Program Is Long Overdue’
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By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view announced the expansion of its Variable Valve Timing (VVT) program. SMP said the program offers more than 600 part numbers for import and domestic vehicles, with new numbers added each month.
link hidden, please login to view added its complete VVT Program features Sprockets, Solenoids, Oil Control Valves, and Blue Streak VVT Solenoid Kits and Service Kits, as well as related parts like VVT Spool Filters, Chain Tensioner Kits, Adjuster Magnets and more. Each component is subjected to “extensive testing” in the lab, on vehicles, and end-of-line tested to ensure that they correctly integrate with the complex VVT systems found on today’s vehicles, according to SMP. The company added that recently released Standard VVT Solenoids are now available for popular General Motors vehicles like the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, the 2020 Chevrolet Blazer, and the 2020-19 Cadillac XT4, as well as the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross through 2022. New Standard® VVT Sprockets are also available for many Subaru, Volvo and Volkswagen vehicles. This coverage includes the 2022-20 Subaru Crosstrek, 2023-14 Volvo XC60 and 2021-16 Volkswagen Jetta. Additionally, to further round out the program, Oil Control Valves have been released for Hyundai, Kia, and General Motors cars and SUVs, and VVT Spool Filters are new for Honda vehicles like the 2019-15 CR-V and 2017-13 Accord, SMP said.
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By Counterman
Americans seem to be hitting a breaking point with air travel, with 67 percent saying they’ve had a trip negatively impacted or ruined because of problems with air travel during the last 12 months, according to new data from Atomik Research, released by
link hidden, please login to view. From losing precious time – 44 percent citing that delays and other problems traveling by air has cost them vacation time – to safety concerns – 32 percent feeling less safe flying compared to a year ago, Americans are saying “enough!” This summer they’re trading wings for wheels: 70 percent say they are more likely compared to a year ago to choose traveling by automobile over flying due to the current state of air travel, the survey said.
The “baggage” that comes with air travel continues to stack up and now outweighs the benefit of faster travel time for many Americans, according to the survey. 66% say the number of hours they’re willing to drive before choosing to fly has increased in the past 12 months and 24% say they would drive 10 or more hours for summer vacation before choosing to fly.
Heeding consumers’ preference for summer vacation by automobile, Advance is encouraging travelers to “Check Your Battery, Not Your Bag” so they can achieve what matters most – enjoying their well-deserved summer vacation.
Beginning National Road Trip Day tomorrow, Friday, May 24 through Monday, May 27, participating
link hidden, please login to viewstores nationwide will surprise randomly selected customers with free Advance gift cards to purchase DieHard batteries, wiper blades or other road trip essentials, no previous purchase necessary. Complimentary curbside services are available every day throughout the year to customers at all participating Advance stores, including battery checks and installation, wiper blade installation and check engine light scanning. “With all the concern about air travel and more people planning to travel by automobile – including willing to drive longer for their summer vacations – it’s critical they prepare their vehicles, and we want to make that as easy as possible,” said Junior Word, Advance’s executive vice president, U.S. stores. “Safety and reliability are at the center of ease, so our team of automotive experts are offering travelers a one-stop preparation shop – from car care essentials to curbside battery checks and installs on us.”
The great majority (85%) of survey respondents indicate they will prepare a pre-road trip checklist for their vacation.
To further support motorists, Advance said it is providing “Rules of the Road (Trip)” – a free checklist outlining car preparation basics designed to help both light DIYers and gearheads alike – available on
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By Counterman
Genuine Parts Co. (GPC) reported full-year 2023 sales of $23.1 billion, a 4.5% year-over-year increase.
Net income was $1.3 billion, or $9.33 per diluted share, an increase of 12.3%.
Full-year net sales in the Automotive Parts Group, which includes NAPA Auto Parts, were $14.25 billion, up from $13.67 billion in 2022.
Fourth-quarter automotive sales were up nearly 1% to $3.5 billion.
While GPC’s international automotive businesses posted positive sales growth in local currency, the U.S. automotive segment saw a dip in sales, GPC President and COO Will Stengel noted during the company’s Feb. 15 conference call.
“In North America, while results fell short of our expectations, we remain focused on our strategic initiatives and continue to make solid progress,” GPC Chairman and CEO Paul Donahue said during the call. “We’ve undertaken a comprehensive review of the NAPA business to identify key issues, and we have taken action to improve the performance at NAPA. We are confident we are focused on the right initiatives to positively impact our performance in the quarters ahead.”
Coinciding with the release of its full-year and fourth-quarter 2023 financial results, GPC said the company is launching a global restructuring “to better align the company’s assets and further improve the efficiency of the business.”
The restructuring includes a voluntary retirement offer in the United States, along with “a rationalization and optimization of certain distribution centers, stores and other facilities,” according to the company.
Through the restructuring, GPC said it expects to realize approximately $20 million to $40 million of savings in 2024, and approximately $45 million to $90 million on an annualized basis. The company also expects to incur costs of approximately $100 million to $200 million related to the restructuring efforts in 2024 and will report the restructuring costs as a non-recurring expense.
“The primary objective of the global program is to continue to simplify and streamline our operations consistent with our overall business strategy,” Stengel explained during the conference call. “When we simplify, we increase the speed of local service, deliver operational productivity, improve the efficiency of our teams and reduce our overall cost to serve.”
Stengel noted that the restructuring initiative “is a similar playbook to our previous GPC program implemented in fall 2019 that delivered positive results.”
“Aspects of the restructuring are already in flight, and some will take place in the months ahead,” Stengel added.
Focus on NAPA
Stengel talked at length about efforts to revitalize GPC’s NAPA Auto Parts business.
GPC has identified three areas of improvement for NAPA: improving fill rates in key product categories, “operational rigor in our stores” and capitalizing on commercial growth opportunities, Stengel explained.
Adjustments to “certain key suppliers to improve fill rates” boosted fourth-quarter “category trends,” Stengel said, adding that “we’re encouraged by the positive momentum.”
“Second, our in-store service levels measured by on-time delivery to customers have significantly improved as a result of increased focused on last-mile operating disciplines,” Stengel said.
Stengel noted that efforts to improve commercial sales growth are “ongoing.” GPC recently appointed Tom Skov to the newly created role of executive vice president, sales & store operations, North America.
“He’s an automotive-parts expert and has a deep understanding of our customers field sales and store operations,” Stengel asserted. “We’re excited for the strong leadership Tom will bring to our sales and store operations field teams.”
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By Counterman
The VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies announced that industry veteran Candy Daume has joined its team as a new program manager.
Daume will be working with the company’s supplier partners to refine and develop parts-purchasing programs for its distributor network, VIPAR noted.
Daume has more than 25 years of heavy-duty aftermarket experience, including experience as COO of a large distributor with responsibility for multiple locations and nearly 100 employees.
“We’re excited Candy is joining our team and the wealth of experience and expertise she brings to our organization,” said Larry Griffin, VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies’ vice president of program management. “She will be instrumental in serving our VIPAR Heavy Duty and Power Heavy Duty distributors, as well as our supplier partners, through development of innovative programs to ensure our network’s continued success.”
Daume is a graduate of Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois.
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By Counterman
new national survey by Atomik Research reveals 91% of American motorists say they’ve experienced a dead battery, but nearly two-thirds (65%) of motorists admit they don’t think about having their car battery checked until it’s too late.
To raise awareness of the importance of having a reliable car battery, Advance Auto Parts is giving away free DieHard batteries on National Battery Day, which is Sunday, Feb. 18.
Advance said it will surprise randomly selected customers with a free DieHard battery, including those getting their current battery tested, at participating stores nationwide.
As part of National Battery Day, Advance is partnering with Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield to encourage motorists to get their car batteries tested.
“Checking the performance of your car battery can prevent unfortunate and even unsafe events caused by dead batteries,” said Junior Word, Advance’s executive vice president, U.S. stores.
Additional data from the national Atomik survey commissioned by Advance in January underscores the need to remind motorists to get their car batteries checked:
Sixty-five percent of motorists say they’ve missed or been late to something due to a dead car battery; nearly 10% say they missed or were late to an important life event – such as a wedding, funeral or birth of a child. Only 2% of motorists indicate they’ve had their car battery checked before a cross-country road trip. Only 5% of motorists report having ever checked their car battery when there is a drop in temperature. The post
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