Supply and Demand

Automotive Industries, June, 2000

Magna Sells Shares To Webasto

Magna International based in Auburn Hills, Mich., agrees to sell Webasto AG its 50% interest in Webasto Sunroofs Inc. (WSI) of North America. This transaction will conclude a 16-year association between Magna and Webasto AG.

MechSoft.com Receives Certification

MechSoft.com based in Austin, TX., has completed the Certified Gold Product testing for Solidworks 2000. The SolidWorks Certified Gold Product Program brings together products designed to maximize the productivity of SolidWorks users. MechSoft.com includes five specific applications: Group Manager, Calculations, and the On-line Engineers Handbook.

New Sales And Marketing Team Formed

Hayes Lemmerz International based in Northville, Mich., combines its sales and marketing forces into a North American Wheels Group Sales and Marketing team, in a move to maximize the synergy between the Company's North American Fabricated and Cast Wheels Business Units.

Meritor To Join Covisint

Meritor Automotive Inc. announces it intends to participate in Covisint, the planned global Internet-based business-to-business communication system General Motors, Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Renault and Nissan are forming, pending all governmental and legal approvals of the new venture. The agreement marks Meritor as one of the first suppliers to announce its intention to join the new Internet exchange.

Meritor will become a member of Covisint's Customer Advisory Council. This will allow Meritor to actively participate in the development of the exchange, says the company.

Ford And e-STEEL's Agreement

Ford headquartered in Dearborn, Mich., and e-STEEL will e-enable complex procurement programs with the automaker's global Tier i suppliers. Approximately 5 million tons of steel and steel-related products will be purchased via e-STEEL for metal stamping suppliers over the course of the contract.

VW Sets Up Digital Market

Volkswagen AG will build a global digital business-to-business marketplace in partnership with IBM, i2 Technologies Inc. and Ariba Inc. Volkswagen's e-market will enable it to order parts, tools and office equipment via the Net.

Spatial Announces Internet Alliance

Spatial Inc. of Rosemont, Ill., and CAD/CAM Publishing, publisher of its Rapid Prototyping Directory, forms a partnership. Spatial's PlanetCAD will publish the directory using its Bits2Parts.com web application service. The service will allow manufacturers and service bureaus to exchange request for quotation and bid information for rapid prototyping, rapid tooling and rapid manufacturing.

Ford Partners With Mail.com

Mail.com says Ford will implement MailZone, its e-mall firewall service, to protect the automaker's worldwide corporate e-mail boxes against viruses, "spare," offensive and threatening content and inappropriate attachments.

Burgmann Revamps Website

Burgmann Dichtungswerke GmbH, a German maker of automotive sealing systems revamps its website (www.burgmann.com) to be more user-friendly. An integrated glossary with over 20,000 keywords offers valuable information on mechanical seals, the company claims. It is also completing a new R&D and testing center at its headquarters in Wolfratshausen.

NORTH AMERICA

Penske Forms Alliance

Penske Automotive based in Los Angeles, Calif., and UnitedAuto Group announces an alliance with CarsDirect.com. The organizations intend to jointly build an automated transaction system that links the companies in a streamlined vehicle sourcing and fulfillment solution.

Wolverine Awarded Contract

Wolverine Tube, Inc. based in Huntsville, Ala., acquires a contract from Radicon Co. in Thailand to supply the company with fabricated products. It will supply Radicon with precision drawn and cut copper alloy tube from its fabricated products facility in Altoona, PA.

Honda Invests

Honda takes a stake in an U.S. digital satellite radio broadcaster to be launched by GM for motorists. Honda will invest $500 million in XM Satellite Radio. XM Satellite develops a service that will beam up to 100 channels of news, music and other entertainment throughout the U.S.

GM Wireless Communications

Motorola based in Northbrook, Ill., has teamed with OnStar and Saturn Electronics & Engineering to develop and produce Telematics devices for GM vehicles. GM plans to offer advanced wireless products on virtually every GM car and truck beginning with the model year 2001.

Visteon, Sirius Partner

Visteon's agreement with Sirius Satellite Radio integrates Visteon's vehicle systems and multimedia expertise with Sirius' 100-channel audio entertainment service. Sirius will broadcast digital audio service directly from its three satellites to audio products created by Dearborn, Mich., based Visteon.

Dana Supplies Ford

Dana located in Toledo, Ohio, begins production of axle assemblies and driveshafts for the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac vehicle. It will provide the independent aluminum front axle and wheel-ends. In addition, Dana's Spicer Division will provide its new one-piece, driveshaft for all Sport Trac models.