Archive for the ‘car part’ Category.

American Axle & Manufacturing Announces the Appointment of David C. Dauch as President & Chief Operating Officer

DETROIT, May 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc. (AAM), today announced the appointment of David C. Dauch as president & chief operating officer, effective June 1, 2008.

Dauch has 26 years of automotive experience beginning as a manufacturing co-op student at Chrysler Corporation while still attending Miami University (Ohio).

Dauch joined American Axle & Manufacturing in July 1995 as manager, Sales Administration. He was appointed director of Sales, GM Full-Size Truck Programs in May 1996, and was named vice president, Sales & Marketing in August 1997. Dauch also served as vice president, Manufacturing, Driveline Division; senior vice president, Sales, Marketing & Driveline Division; senior vice president, Commercial; and executive vice president, Commercial & Strategic Development. Dauch most recently served as executive vice president & chief operating officer.

Dauch obtained a bachelor of science degree with a dual major in production/operations and purchasing management from Miami University (Ohio) and a master of business administration from Michigan State University.

“We are extremely pleased to announce David’s promotion to president and chief operating officer,” said AAM Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO Richard E. Dauch. “This appointment is part of AAM’s strategic organizational development that will provide the leadership to guide AAM to its next level of profitable global growth. David’s understanding of AAM’s core business, strategic global growth plans and the challenges faced by today’s global Tier One suppliers, will strengthen AAM as we continue to expand our product portfolio, customer base, served markets and global manufacturing footprint.”

AAM is a world leader in the manufacture, engineering, design and validation of driveline and drivetrain systems and related components and modules, chassis systems and metal-formed products for trucks, sport utility vehicles, passenger cars and crossover utility vehicles. In addition to locations in the United States (Michigan, New York, Ohio and Indiana), AAM also has offices or facilities in Brazil, China, Germany, India, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Poland, South Korea, Thailand and the United Kingdom.

Certain statements contained in this press release which are not historical facts contain forward-looking information with respect to the Company’s plans, projections or future performance, the occurrence of which involves risk and uncertainties that could cause the Company’s actual results or plans to differ materially from those expected by the Company which include risk factors described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

WILLIAM L. KOZYRA NAMED CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF TI AUTOMOTIVE

WARREN, Mich., May 29, 2008 – Bill Kozyra has been named chairman and CEO of TI Automotive.

Kozyra’s appointment follows the planned retirement of former Chairman and CEO Bill Laule.

Kozyra comes to TI Automotive with more than 30 years of automotive experience, including leadership positions at Budd Company, Allied Signal, Bosch, ITT Automotive and Continental AG. Kozyra most recently was president and CEO of Continental AG’s NAFTA operations and a member of the company’s executive board.

In his new position with TI Automotive, Kozyra will be responsible for TI Automotive’s Global Fluid Carrying Systems, HVAC and Global Fuel Systems businesses from its Michigan headquarters, overseeing approximately $3 billion in revenues, more than100 facilities and approximately 18,000 employees.

Kozyra holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Detroit and a master’s degree in business administration from Michigan State University.

bridgestone—Safety Scholars Video Contest For Teens To Begin Accepting Entries May 27

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 22, 2008) – It’s time to fire up the video cameras and get the creative juices flowing. The 2008 Safety Scholars Video Contest, presented by Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC, will start accepting student-made, safety-themed videos on May 27.

The company is again turning to America’s teens for solutions presented in a creative format to help make roads safer for everyone. The Safety Scholars Video Contest now includes a chance for young video producers to have their auto safety videos broadcast as a public service commercial. The contest will award three $5,000 college scholarships for the most compelling and effective videos that drive home life-saving messages on auto and tire safety. The top 10 filmmakers will also receive a new set of Bridgestone tires.

“Because car crashes claim the lives of more 16- to 21-year-olds than any other cause, we feel safety education is a priority,” said Christine Karbowiak, Vice President of Public Affairs, Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc. “After challenging young people last year to create their own videos about auto and tire safety, we were extremely impressed with the talent, skill and passion of our nation’s youth. We are proud to continue Safety Scholars as a contest for teens created by teens.”

Three unique stars of last year’s winning Safety Scholars videos included robots with road rage, text-messaging nutcracker dolls and seatbelt-savvy Lego® figurines.

Delphi Wins New Data Connectivity Business

A Major North American Automaker Designated Delphi Its Sole Data Connectivity Supplier for Models with Production Start Dates Beginning in 2010 and Beyond

TROY, Mich.—Delphi Corporation (PINKSHEETS: DPHIQ) won 100 percent of a major North American automaker’s new data connectivity systems business and will begin supplying componentry for models built on several platforms as soon as model year 2010.

“In this particular business win, Delphi has been designated the sole supplier for USB cables, ports and headers for this automaker,” reports John Yurtin, product line manager for Delphi Connection Systems, Delphi Packard Electrical/Electronic Architecture.

As sole supplier, Delphi will provide all of the USB cable assemblies, integrated consumer ports and headers for vehicles built on a variety of platforms and slated to go into production between 2010 and 2013.

As part of the agreement, Delphi is prohibited from identifying the automaker before the models on which Delphi’s data connectivity systems will be included are in production.

Data connectivity systems make it possible for passengers to connect consumer devices such as iPods® and MP3 players to consumer interfaces in the vehicle and listen to the music stored on them through the vehicle’s audio system. They can also provide a means to connect computers, charge cell phones, view images stored on photo cards, play video games and watch movies.

“Owning 100 percent of the business to supply these data connectivity systems is not typical,” Yurtin says, but demonstrates the desirability of Delphi’s products over those of other suppliers. Delphi’s leadership in the industry and ability to provide complete systems, including all of the componentry from the device to the end-user interface—systems that meet the unique specifications of every vehicle—increase that desirability.

“The innovative ideas and technologies Delphi offers help provide its customers with the ability to provide features that are extremely appealing and that excite consumers,” Yurtin observes. “These are the things that give our customers a marketing advantage over their competitors.”

Delphi’s ability to maintain a close working relationship with the original equipment manufacturer as well as the automaker’s other suppliers was crucial to securing the business, Yurtin continues. “This is a hot new item and they want to get it on the market as soon as possible. Meeting such a tight schedule requires teamwork—that’s the key to successful implementation.”

Although this new business is not Delphi’s only experience providing data connectivity systems to a high-volume customer, Yurtin says winning this business further secures Delphi’s position in the industry. And, he points out, being an established supplier for complete data connectivity systems for high-volume production positions Delphi to win more business as the company prepares its next generation of products. The next generation of Delphi data connectivity products will enable automakers to expand the types and varieties of protocols included in their production vehicles.

For more information on Delphi Data Connectivity Systems, visit www.Delphi.com/dataconn.

Delphi Packard Electrical/Electronic Architecture delivers power and signal distribution networks for today’s increasingly complex vehicles. Delphi engineers act as master architects by using proprietary design tools and software to create a virtual model of a vehicle’s E/E architecture—down to the last connector, electrical center, electronic module and wiring harness. In doing so, they evaluate the impact of various trade-offs to deliver a fully optimized E/E architecture system backed by Delphi technical centers and manufacturing facilities in 31 countries around the globe.

For more information about Delphi Corp. (PINKSHEETS: DPHIQ), visit www.delphi.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release, as well as other statements made by Delphi may contain forward-looking statements that reflect, when made, the Company’s current views with respect to current events and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are and will be, as the case may be, subject to many risks, uncertainties and factors relating to the Company’s operations and business environment which may cause the actual results of the Company to be materially different from any future results, express or implied, by such forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue,” the negative of these terms and other comparable terminology. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern; the ability of the Company to operate pursuant to the terms of the debtor-in-possession financing facility and to obtain an extension of term or other amendments as necessary to maintain access to such facility; the Company’s ability to obtain Court approval with respect to motions in the chapter 11 cases prosecuted by it from time to time; the ability of the Company to consummate its Amended Plan which was confirmed by the Court on January 25, 2008 or any other subsequently confirmed plan of reorganization; risks associated with third parties seeking and obtaining Court approval to terminate or shorten the exclusivity period for the Company to propose and confirm one or more plans of reorganization, for the appointment of a chapter 11 trustee or to convert the cases to chapter 7 cases; the ability of the Company to obtain and maintain normal terms with vendors and service providers; the Company’s ability to maintain contracts that are critical to its operations; the potential adverse impact of the chapter 11 cases on the Company’s liquidity or results of operations; the ability of the Company to fund and execute its business plan (including the transformation plan described in Item 1. Business “Plan of Reorganization and Transformation Plan” of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) and to do so in a timely manner; the ability of the Company to attract, motivate and/or retain key executives and associates; the ability of the Company to avoid or continue to operate during a strike, or partial work stoppage or slow down by any of its unionized employees or those of its principal customers and the ability of the Company to attract and retain customers. Additional factors that could affect future results are identified in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors in Part I. Item 1A. Risk Factors. Delphi disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events and/or otherwise. Similarly, these and other factors, including the terms of any reorganization plan ultimately confirmed, can affect the value of the Company’s various prepetition liabilities, common stock and/or other equity securities.