Company News (July 01, 2005)

ACDelco has announced a major rewards promotion and their third quarter Heritage Calendar. Until the end of August, Canadian Independent Service Centres can qualify to earn rewards by tracking their ACDelco purchases and submitting a redemption form. ISCs can earn Apple iPod shuffles, HBC reward dollars or a portable DVD player. See an ACDelco Distributor for a redemption form and more details. Also from ACDelco through September is the 2005 ACDelco Heritage Calendar Promotion. All Independent Service Centres and ACDelco Total Support Service members who purchase a minimum amount of ACDelco parts during July – September 2005, will be eligible to earn a Gordon Drysdale collectable print. Quantities are limited. See your ACDelco Distributor for more details.

NGK Spark Plugs Canada Limited has re-launched the NGK Wire Sets program, now offering complete and comprehensive full line coverage, including all GM, Ford, Chrysler and European applications. NGK has completely redesigned the packaging with a new look to compliment the introduction of their full line program. The newly expanded line includes cylinder identification on each wire and a lifetime warranty.

Mister Transmission has announced a new long-term 5-year 100,000 km Transmission Nationwide Warranty. “Warranty is a key element in the automotive repair industry and Mister Transmission understands the consumer’s need for longer term warranty coverage,” says Randall Moore, vice president of Franchise Operations. “We place emphasis on ongoing employee training so our licensed technicians can provide our customers with the expert service they have relied on for over 40 years,” he adds. “The 5-year warranty protection provides added value, peace of mind and demonstrates Mister Transmission’s high level of confidence, expertise and commitment to customer satisfaction.” Contact participating dealers for terms and conditions.

General Motors of Canada’s Oshawa No. 1 plant is the most productive vehicle assembly plant in North America, according to “The Harbour Report North America 2005.” Oshawa No. 1 took the No. 1 spot for assembly productivity with 15.85 hours per vehicle. In total, GM has three of the top five assembly plants including the Oshawa Car Plant No. 2 which placed fourth. Mike Quinton, plant manager of the Oshawa Car Plants said, “Top rankings from the 2005 Harbour Report are testimonial to our highly skilled people who work hard to achieve the highest levels of quality in the most efficient plants in North America. This award is in addition to the recently announced 2005 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study that rates GM Canada’s Oshawa Car Assembly Plant as the best in North and South America for the third time in four years.”

Buzz Hargrove, president of the Canadian Auto Workers said, “Oshawa Car Plant employees can be proud of their number one ranking in productivity on top of their world renown quality awards. Our Canadian members are well positioned to play in the very challenging automotive global arena of quality and productivity.”

GM also leads in eight of the study’s 14 vehicle segments, three of them in cars and five in trucks. Last year, GM’s vehicle assembly plants improved productivity by 2.5 percent, driving GM to become the most improved manufacturer for the last five years at a total rate of 28 percent.

Oshawa Car Plant No. 1 produces the Chevrolet Monte Carlo and Impala passenger cars. Plant No. 2 produces the Buick Allure and Pontiac Grand Prix passenger cars. Headquartered in Oshawa Ontario, General Motors of Canada employs over 20,000 people nationwide.

Findlay, Ohio-based Cooper Tire and Rubber Company has launched two interactive microsites geared toward auto enthusiasts and tuner fanatics. “We launched these microsites as the first phase of a strategic rebranding initiative targeted to a valuable group of niche consumers,” said Dave Craig, director of North American advertising for Cooper Tire & Rubber Company. “The sites’ development will allow Cooper to quickly enhance and personalize each audience’s Web experience, and allow them to get exactly what they’re looking for without clutter or overload.” Features include automobile performance advice, weekend drive-and-dine recommendations in a section called “Drives,” and an interactive Q&A with Cooper Tire Performance Advisor Johnny Unser. Technical information is also available on Cooper’s enthusiast-tailored products. Both microsites are available through the portal, zeontires.com.