Supply and Demand

Automotive Industries, May, 1999

As the auto industry goes global, companies are gaining business, building plants across the world and creating joint ventures. Following are the most recent changes.

NORTH AMERICA

Venture Buys Peguform

Venture Holdings Trust of Detroit, Mich., signs an agreement to purchase Peguform GmbH, Botzingen, Germany. Peguform is a supplier of interior and exterior automotive systems, including bumpers, dashboards, door modules and door panels.

Navistar, Siemens Form Venture

Navistar International of Chicago, Ill., and Siemens Automotive of Auburn Hills, Mich., finalize plans for a joint venture to develop and manufacture diesel fuel injectors. The injectors incorporate digital valve technology.

Toyota Adds to Headquarters

Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America (TMMNA) of Erlanger, Ohio, will make a $15.4 million investment to expand its headquarters. TMMNA is responsible for managing Toyota's North American manufacturing operations.

Fiat Acquires PICO

Fiat S.p.A.'s acquires Progressive Tools and Industries Co. (PICO) of Southfield, Mich. The combined companies will be active in body assembly and pressing systems, handling and mechanical assembly systems, product and process engineering, as well as production system maintenance services.

AAM Purchases Colfor, MSP

American Axle & Manufacturing (AAM) of Detroit, Mich., purchases two forging companies, Colfor Manufacturing of Ohio, and Michigan-based MSP Industries Colfor specializes in machining and precision cold, warm and hot forging. MSP manufactures precision forged powertrain, driveline and chassis.

Guide Gains Contracts

Guide Corp. of Anderson, Ind., secures two vehicle-lighting contracts from GM. The contracts are for the design and production of automotive signal lighting and forward lighting systems for two model-year 2003 vehicle lines.

JCI, Plastech Form JV

Johnson Controls Inc. (JCI) of Plymouth, Mich., and Plastech Engineered Products of Dearborn, Mich., establish TrimQuest, L.L.C. TrimQuest will supply integrated vehicle overhead systems and headliners to Ford.

Superior Wins Contract

Superior Industries of Van Nuys, Calif., announces that its European joint venture company, Softtec, in partnership with Otto Fuchs of Tatabanya, Hungary, has a multi-year contract to supply cast-aluminum road wheels to the Rover Group, U.K., for several vehicle lines.

DCT Wins Order

DCT of Warren, Mich., receives an order to supply a sheet-metal blank washing system to Ford. It will be installed at Ford's stamping plant in Maumee, Ohio.

Lear Acquires Peregrine

Lear Corp. of Southfield, Mich., acquires certain assets of Peregrine Wmdsor Inc. of Windsor, Ontario, Canada The plant produces just-in-time seat assemblies and door panels for several GM models.

ASIA

GM, APL Ink Deal

General Motors Thailand and APL Logistics sign a contract that allows APL to manage the flow of parts to the assembly line on a just-in-time basis. GM will use the parts to build seven-passenger Zafira compact vans at a new plant outside of Bangkok.

EUROPE

Autoliv Builds Plant

Autoliv Inc. of Stockholm, Sweden, begins constructing a new plant in Turkey. It will produce seat belts, airbags and steering wheels both for the Turkish and European markets.

Tomkins Signs Agreement

Tomkins PLC of London, England, signs a definitive agreement to acquire ACD Tridon of Canada. ACD manufactures fully integrated windshield wiper systems and hose clamps.

Continental's New Investment

German tire manufacturer Continental AG invests $86 million to expand Continental Mabor based in Lousado, vila Nova de Famalicao, Portugal. The expanded plant will produce 10 million tires per year.