Uni-Select has entered into an agreement to purchase of the assets of Beck/Arnley Worldparts Corp. and its Canadian subsidiary Beck/Arnley Worldparts Canada ULC, both automotive replacement parts distributors specialized in parts for foreign nameplate vehicles. According to Uni-Select, the acquired business will be the cornerstone of a strategic initiative to improve parts coverage in order to better service the growing import nameplate component of the North American fleet of vehicles and will be the start of a new Foreign Nameplate Division at Uni-Select Inc.

The automotive aftermarket is big business, Northwood University President Keith Pretty commented during Thursday’s dedication of the Sloan Family Building for Aftermarket Studies. “In fact, it’s very big business,” he said, adding the industry’s annual revenues are approaching $300 billion. “This is bigger than the gross national product of many nations around the globe.” And Northwood is an integral part of the equation to help keep the economic engine of the automotive aftermarket humming along, Pretty believes.

Standard Motor Products has reported its consolidated financial results for the three months ending March 31. Consolidated net sales for the first quarter of 2008 were $208.1 million, compared to consolidated net sales of $199.8 million during the comparable quarter in 2007. Earnings from continuing operations for the first quarter of 2008 were $13.3 million or 68 cents per diluted share, compared to $2.9 million or 16 cents per diluted share in the first quarter of 2007.

Federated Auto Parts presented its most prestigious member awards at its annual meeting held April 23-26 in Dallas. Mike Jacabacci of Woodbury Automotive Warehouse was presented with the Art Fisher Memorial Membership Award. Cliff Hovis of Hovis Auto & Truck Supply was named the Co-Man Member of the Year and Duke Young of Pat Young Service Co. was selected as the Outstanding Marketing Member of the Year. The late Marvin Mastroff, a longtime Federated member, was honored with a special Art Fisher Memorial Award, which was accepted by his son Russell Mastroff.

Each week, The Pulse provides insight into the buying, sourcing and brand-loyalty habits of counter personnel and professional technicians. This week, using Babcox Research, we look at the trends for stocking and selling custom wheels.

An informational meeting regarding automotive service information was held this week on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., for congressional offices. Donny Seyfer, AAM, co-owner of Seyfer Automotive in the Denver area and chairman of the Automotive Service Association's (ASA) Colorado affiliate, led the meeting on behalf of the ASA. The purpose of the meeting was to educate legislators and staff members on the availability of service information to automotive repair shops.