Short Lines (September 01, 2001)

London, England-based auto industry forecaster Autopolis predicts that he global auto market has yet to bottom out, with global vehicle sales dropping by 6.5 percent in 2001 to 50.7 million units. North American NAFTA vehicles sales are predicted to decline from 19.8 million in 2000 to 17.7 million in 2001, with further declines for 2002.

Ford Motor Company has removed the General Ameri 550 A/S tire in the P235/70R16 size from the firm’s list of acceptable replacements for Firestone Wilderness AT tires involved in Ford’s unilateral tire recall. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a preliminary evaluation of the Ameri 550 A/S examining alleged tread separation incidents. The tire has been one of the OE fitments on Ford’s F-150 pickup.

Honda will join General Motors and Ford in offering a night vision system, with rollout targeted inside three years. Honda’s system uses a grille-mounted infrared camera which feeds a signal to a windshield display. An audible tone sounds in case of a possible collision.

Mr. Glenn Bragg has been appointed national sales manager for Concord, Ontario-based Merithian Products Corporation. Bragg was formerly Eastern regional sales manager for Dominion Automotive Inc. Merithian Products supplies Thermafix heat shrinkable tubing, terminals, wiring accessories and specialty products for mobile A/C.

The E.R.I. Group has announced the opening of a new Western Canada distribution centre. Independent Parts Warehousing Inc. opened for business in Edmonton, Alberta on September 4, according to Russ Thomlison, Edmonton Branch Manager and Rick Miller, President and General Manager of the E.R.I. Group.

The address of the new facility is:

#100, 17835-106A Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T5S 1V8; Telephone: (780) 455-8889 Fax: (780) 455-8950 Wats: 1-866-484-4866