Midwest Motor Factors Becomes Full Range Supplier of Arvin Timax Exhausts and Catalysts
New President at SMMT
Faurecia Expands in Poland
Mahle Appoints Edinburgh Motor Factors

Midwest Motor Factors Becomes Full Range Supplier of Arvin Timax Exhausts and Catalysts

Midwest Motor Factors of Bilston, West Bromwich, Willenhall and Brownhills, has become a full range supplier of Arvin Replacement (Timax) exhausts, EuroCat and Metal'Cat catalyst products and fittings. The general factor of car and light commercial parts offers a fast-response exhaust delivery service and will now also be able to offer a counter service for exhaust supplies at all four depots for customers requiring urgent supplies. Midwest Motor Factors maintains a 14000 sq ft capacity central warehouse at Bilston and was recently named 'Factor of the Year' by Filtrauto UK Ltd. Midwest has also recently expanded its Brownhills operations with a move to a larger 3,000 sq ft depot site close to the A461.

New President at SMMT

John Neill CBE, Deputy Chairman and Group Chief Executive of Unipart Group of Companies, has been inaugurated as the new President of The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Hesucceeds Sir Ian Gibson CBE, President of Nissan Europe, to lead the trade association for the next twelve months. On his appointment as President, Mr Neill paid specific attention to the role of the automotive industry's technological know-how in the British economy, stating that "SMMT has a key role to play in communicating the strategic contribution that our industry makes to the British economy, and I hope that we will be able to play a leading and constructive role in this process with Government, resulting in a more creative and dynamic relationship." The new President also thanked Sir Ian Gibson for his leadership during his term as President and said that he will look forward to continuing to work closely with his predecessor.

Faurecia Expands in Poland

Faurecia has signed an agreement to invest in the Walbrzych economic zone in Lower Silesia, western Poland. The company's recent commercial successes and the automobile industry's growth in eastern Europe has led the Group to make new investments in Poland in addition to its Grojec plant, which opened in 1998. The agreement enables Faurecia to build a new plant on a 72,000m² site, for the manufacture of metal components for seats. Production is scheduled to begin in early 2002. The total investment will be 30 million euros and 570 jobs are to be created. Sales are expected to exceed 30 million euros over a full year.

Mahle Appoints Edinburgh Motor Factors

Mahle moved a step closer to full representation in the Scottish aftermarket this month with the signing of a leading Lothian region independent car parts distributor. Edinburgh Motor Factors, which already distributes parts for Allied Signal, Sachs/Boge and Walker Exhausts, has been appointed as first line distributor for all Mahle automotive filters for the Edinburgh territory. West Midlands-based Mahle Filter Systems is looking to appoint distributors in key strategic locations throughout Scotland following the addition of 40 new products to the company's UK applications catalogue, which now covers 1,170 part numbers.