http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news.asp SupplierBusiness is a business research company, focused on automotive supply base issues. We publish exclusive coverage of the global automotive supplier community in our weekly Insight or monthly Analysis newsletters, as well as in reports and databases on the global supply base. en-uk Tue, 9 Mar 2010 23:00:00 GMT Tue, 9 Mar 2010 23:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news.asp 5 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10488 Johnson Controls has completed its public offering of US$500m of aggregate senior notes that was announced on 5 March 2010. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10488 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10489 Toyota has announced to lower the price of steel products it sells to suppliers from 1 April 2010. Rising automotive demand, graced by part of the cash-for-clunkers program, has pushed the steel prices higher. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10489 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10490 Bosch has declared a lock out of its plant located in Naganathapura, near Bangalore (India) after the company failed over wage revision discussion with workers. The Naganathapura plant has a headcount of 900 and manufactures starters, generators, spark plugs and alternators for the auto industry. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10490 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10482 Kongsberg Automotive Holding has been awarded a contract worth €65m for the production of automatic Tue, 9 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10482 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10483 Bergstrom, a supplier of climate control systems for commercial vehicles, has acquired the heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) business of Modine Manufacturing in North America. Financial details of the acquisition have not been disclosed. Tue, 9 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10483 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10484 Teruyuki Minoura will become the Chairman of Toyota Boshoku in June 2010, replacing the Tue, 9 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10484 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10485 Dana has sold majority of its global Structural Products business to Metalsa, a subsidiary of Grupo Proeza, for US$147m. The divestment is aimed to focus on the light-, medium-, heavy-duty vehicles and off-highway markets. Tue, 9 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10485 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10486 In an attempt to lessen its dependence on auto parts suppliers such as Bosch and Magneti Marelli, GM has developed a diesel engine control unit (ECU). The company claims itself to be the first automaker in the world to make its own diesel-engine ECUs. Tue, 9 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10486 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10487 Fitch Ratings has reaffirmed its debt and credit ratings on Cummins. The agency has maintained its BBB+ ratings on the US-based engine supplier's issuer default rating (IDR), senior unsecured debt rating and senior unsecured credit facility. Tue, 9 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10487 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10477 India's leading tiremaker MRF Limited is expanding its production capacity. The company announced that it has started construction work on a new manufacturing plant in Trichi, Tamil Nadu (India) a month ago. This will be the company's seventh manufacturing plant in India. Mon, 8 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10477 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10478 Toyota's loss from the recent recall of more than 8.5 million vehicles would get offset by higher sales of its premium cars laden with Autoliv's safety products. This has been opined by Autoliv whose 6% of 2009 sales came from Toyota. Autoliv is a supplier to Toyota both in Japan and the US. Mon, 8 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10478 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10479 Grupo Antolin has announced to set up a new plant near St. Peterburg (Russia) by the end of 2010. The production will take place at MLP Utkina Zavod logistics complex within an area of about 10,000m2. Mon, 8 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10479 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10480 The popular Geneva International Motor Show returned for its 80th year in Switzerland this week, and amongst the traditional glitzy array of new models, it's the small cars and hybrids that are making the headlines. Automakers from around the world are exhibiting their new generation of eco-friendly cars; while Nissan revealed its small car model Micra intended for developing markets, Tata introduced its Nano Electric model to European customers. The luxury side of the market has also succumbed to hybrid hype. Mon, 8 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10480 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10481 Round-up of the week's stories as featured in SupplierBusiness Insight, in PDF format. Click the link below to open it, or right-click and choose "Save Target As..." to save it to your hard drive. Mon, 8 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10481 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10464 Alpine Electronics has collaborated with Nokia and Navteq to introduce a new connected technology called Terminal Mode to car infotainment systems. Fri, 5 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10464 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10465 Rane TRW Steering Systems has opened a new manufacturing plant in Pantnagar, Uttrakhand (India) to manufacture power steering and pump, primarily for commercial vehicles. The company is a joint-venture (50:50) between TRW and Rane Group of India. Fri, 5 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10465 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10466 Autoliv has acquired the radar system business from Visteon Corporation. The company paid US$5m for the transaction which includes the physical assets, intellectual property, order book and five specialist engineers. Fri, 5 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10466 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10467 Tower Automotive Inc plans to raise US$100m from the initial public offering (IPO). The privately-held supplier has filed the necessary documents with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to go public. Fri, 5 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10467 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10468 Fuel Systems Solutions sales for year ended 31 December 2009 were up 18% to US$452.3m, compared with US$382.7m in 2008 Fri, 5 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10468 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10469 Johnson Controls has announced that the company is publically offering US$500m of principal amount as senior notes. Fri, 5 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10469 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10470 Linamar has reported 5.18% decline in net sales to CAD451.9m (US$430.6m, 31 December 2009) in the fourth quarter ended 31 December 2009, compared with CAD476.6m (US$390m, 31 December 2008) over the same period in the previous year. Fri, 5 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10470 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10471 Key Plastics has acquired certain assets of Germany-based moulder Paulmann & Crone, for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition adds to Key Plastics' in-mould decorative parts and thermostat businesses. Fri, 5 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10471 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10472 Cooper Tire is increasing its stake in the Chinese joint-venture (JV), Cooper Chengshan (Shandong) Tire Co, to 65% from the existing 51%. The JV plant, located in Chengshan (China), produces tires for passenger vehicles and trucks and has an annual production capacity of nine million units. Fri, 5 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10472 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10475 Moody's Investors Service has raised TRW's corporate family and probability of default ratings to "B2" from "B3" earlier. The agency also upgraded the component supplier's outlook to "positive" from "stable". Improved financial performance in the fourth quarter of 2009 has been the key reason behind the upgradation in the ratings. Fri, 5 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10475 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10474 Continental Tire Americas will supply tires for Chrysler's Ram medium-duty Chassis Cab trucks starting 2010 for the new 2011 model year trucks Fri, 5 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10474 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10476 Shriram Pistons and Rings announced plans to invest INR7bn (US$152.8m, 5 March 2010) in its proposed new plant in Pathredi, Rajasthan (India). Fri, 5 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10476 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10456 Mazda plans to launch its Sky family petrol and diesel engines in Europe in 2012. Earlier in September 2009, the company had announced plans to launch the engines in Japan in 2011. Thu, 4 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10456 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10457 Saehaesung Alabama, Inc., a tier 2 auto components supplier, announced plans to expand its operations in Andalusia, Alabama (US). Thu, 4 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10457 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10458 Jackson Plastics announced plans to close its plant located in Kentucky (US). Jackson Plastics is a supplier of plastic injection moulding located in Nicholasville, Kentucky (US). Thu, 4 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10458 http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10459 Seating component supplier Jay Mid-South LLC has announced plans to temporarily lay off 75 employees at its manufacturing plant in Gadsden, Alabama (US). The lay-off is expected to start from the beginning of July 2010. Thu, 4 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.supplierbusiness.com/news_endpoint.asp?id=10459