The 2013 International Biennal Exhibition of Automotive Equipment and Aftermarket Products -- otherwise known as Autopromotec -- is ready to welcome visitors. The trade fair will open its doors in Bologna, Italy, on Wednesday, May 22nd.

Tags: 2013 Autopromotec, Trade show

Donald B. Rice Tire Co. Inc. has promoted Steve Gray from the position of Director of Sales & Marketing to the new position of Vice President – Sales & Operations.

Tags: Donald B. Rice Tire, Steve Gray

King Tony America says repair techs can increase productivity with the new Swivel Head Quick Release ratchet from KT Pro. With a 360-degree swivel head and 5-degree ratcheting action (72 teeth), the ratchet allows work in tight spaces.

Tags: King Tony America, Shop Tools, Swivel Head Quick Release Ratchet, Wrenches

Legislation (LD 453) that prohibits a person from selling or offering for sale gasoline that contains corn-based ethanol as an additive at a level greater than 10% by volume has been signed into law by Maine Gov. Paul LePage.

Tags: E10 Gas, E15 Gas, Ethanol Gas, Ethanol Gas Ban, SAN, SEMA

Country focus United States is one of the educational sessions scheduled to take place during Autopromotec 2013, the bi-annual international automotive aftermarket trade show in Bologna, Italy, May 22-26.

Tags: Arlene Davis, Autopromotec, Micheal Barratt, Roy Littlefield, Tire Industry Association

The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) on the 2008-10 Honda Civic consists of four tire pressure sensors, a TPMS control unit, a low tire pressure indicator, a message indicator (Insight) and a TPMS indicator. The TPMS control unit monitors all four tires, the system, and alerts the driver if there is a large change in the tire pressure or a system problem by illuminating the appropriate indicator.

I think I ended up a marketing guy because I was born a curious kid. I always wanted to understand how and why. Part of why is how, and part of how is why.

Tags: Counter Intelligence, Internet, Internet Marketing, Social media, Wayne WIlliams

Northwest Tire Factory LLC is truly built from the bottom up in the western United States. The 154 independent dealers who make up the would-be cooperative run the show, and CEO John Kreidel — a non-dealer — wouldn’t have it any other way.

Tags: Brad Olson, Dealer meeting, Tire Factory LLC

This year, American Tire Distributors Inc. (ATD) chose to hold 21 different regional meetings for its Tire Pros dealers instead of hosting one main event, as it did in 2012. If the idea behind doing this type of meeting was to create a highly personalized discussion with its dealers, then it worked.

Tags: American Tire Distributors, ATD, Tire Pros

For over a decade, the car dealer channel has been on the rise. Once barely an “also ran,” the channel has steadily increased retail market share in the U.S. from 1% in 1998 to a respectable 7% in 2012. That puts car dealers within closing distance of company-owned stores which stayed at 7.5% share in 2012 and within shouting distance of warehouse clubs that posted 8.5% (from Modern Tire Dealer’s Facts issues).

Tags: Bob Abram, Car dealerships, Competition