Where Tower goes, others may follow.(Column Tower Automotive won't rebid on Explorer frame)

Automotive News Europe,  January, 2003  by Crain, Keith

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Byline: Keith Crain

LAST MONTH, US supplier Tower Automotive did what some might consider suicide. It said it would not bid again on the next Ford Explorer frame.

Tower and a company it bought in 1997, A.O. Smith, have been making frames for the Explorer as long as there has been an Explorer.

Everyone knows that you don't say no to an automaker - ever. And yet this may be just part of a movement that will put even greater pressure on automakers and their suppliers. Michelin has already said it won't bid on supplying some future PSA/Peugeot-Citroen vehicles.

Someone out ...

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