Consolidation Will Accelerate

Tony Cristello, Senior V.P., BB&T Capital Markets Equity Research, says consolidation will always be a factor in the automotive aftermarket, and in fact will accelerate. There will always be someone looking for a way to make a more efficient model. And manufacturers will look for distributors with the most efficient systems. The smaller you are, the more difficult it's going to be for you, with the growing number of SKUs.

Midtronics Solutions

Battery and electro system diagnostics are mainstays of Midtronics business. During the 2007 AAPEX show in Vegas representatives Todd Stukenberg and Steve Marek introduced us to the company's newest innovation -- the inGEN Diagnostic Data Recorder. Go to www.midtronics.com to learn more about Midtronics.

Dr. Neon for Snap-on 2

Snap-on wanted to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the '57 Chevy this year by hiring Dr. Neon to do a custom build of the classic. A self-proclaimed Snap-on fanatic, Dr. Neon opted for a Chevy Nomad and high performance parts that maintain that 1950s appeal. Go to http://www.aintstreetlegal.com to learn more about Dr. Neon's Chevy Nomad project, courtesy of Snap-on.

True Flow XDI Air Intake

True Flow's Jason Cobb talks about True Flow's new, high performance XDI air intake system. With dyno testing that shows up to 27 horse power and 62 foot pounds of torque, the XDI offers excellent performance, awesome looks and a great tone. Go to www.trueflow.com to learn more about TrueFlow.

The Latest in Performance from Advance Engine Management (AEM)

With roots in engineering and racing, Kirk Miller discusses the features and benefits of AEM's performance filters, water alcohol injection kit, and fuel ignition controller systems, among others. Go to http://www.aempower.com to learn more about AEM and its product line.

NHRA

Tony Thacker, Executive Director of the NHRA Motorsports Museum, announces his SEMA debut of the John Force simulator, where attendees can sit in it and see the history of SEMA through its Hall of Fame. He also pays tribute to Wally Parks, founder of the National Hot Rod Association, who is honored with a shrine at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, CA. The NHRA is the largest motorsports sanctioning body in the world, with 2 million racers and 80,000 members. Go to http://www.nhra.com for more information.

NASCAR Performance

NASCAR's Odis Lloyd talks about the value of the NASCAR Performance licensing program and the new NASCAR Performance Network benefiting automotive repair facilities and parts stores nationwide. Go to http://www.nascar.com to learn more about NASCAR Performance.

Aftermarket Heal Thyself by John Washbish

Auto aftermarket companies battling aggressive OEMs for market share can help themselves by helping independent shops compete with dealers, says John Washbish, president Under Vehicle Group and Customer Relationship Management, Affinia Group. Namely, they should assist shops with presenting a more professional image by helping with training, emphasizing business education for technicians and making sure techs have access to the best tools and equipment.

Carmakers: The Real Aftermarket Threat

David Caracci, chairman of the University of the Aftermarket Foundation and President of Caracci Aftermarket Strategies, considers OEMs to be the largest threat aftermarket companies face as they try to compete for consumer repair dollars. In this interview Caracci explains how new technology, such as telematics, is helping return consumers to dealership bays.

Globalization: a threat and an opportunity

Jay Burkhart, senior vice president, global aftermarket for Federal-Mogul Corp., believes the aftermarket needs a stable core of manufacturers in order to survive. Burkhart also explains how labor rates, medical costs and other factors are taking their toll on the global marketplace. He also sees globalization as a huge opportunity.

Global Sourcing Will Benefit Domestic Manufacturers

Global sourcing of parts for numerous industries is growing, as companies expand facilities abroad in different countries every year. But Dick Morgan, president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Parts Alliance, says that isn't a bad thing for the aftermarket's domestic vendors. Global sourcing will make domestic vendors better because they will learn how to compete.

Investing in the Auto Supply Chain

Auto aftermarket companies that want to win the market-share battle must invest heavily in the supply chain, according to Michael Cardone III, vice president of supply for Cardone Industries. Speaking during the most recent Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium, Cardone told us the most efficient businesses within the supply chain will win over the long term.

3M's Newest Refinish Solution

3M's Karla Anderson demonstrates application of 3M's Smooth Transition Tape, a new painting solution that helps eliminate hard paint lines from doors, fenders and quarter panel jambs, and cut down on extra work associated with the refinish process. Go to http://solutions.3m.com/en_US/ to learn more about 3M.