TRW Automotive Aftermarket and ArvinMeritor Announce Joint Venture
TRW Automotive Aftermarket, a successful division of TRW Automotive Holdings Corporation, has promptly announced that it has formed a partnership with ArvinMeritor. The joint venture would involve the distribution of Gabriel and TRW brands of shock absorbers for the European independent aftermarket community, and for which the operation and actual distribution is slated to begin by January of next year.
Francois Augnet, TRW Automotive Aftermarket Vice President in the European and Asia Pacific Territories, has been quite receptive to explain the company’s goals for such an alliance: “Shock absorbers are an integral element of our core chassis portfolio. We already offer a comprehensive TRW branded range to our European customers and are committed to enhancing it with the Gabriel programme to maintain and develop our leading chassis position in the European aftermarket.”
“By combining the strengths of ArvinMeritor’s engineering and manufacturing competencies and the Gabriel brand name with TRW’s extensive sales and distribution network we are confident that we can roll out successful shock absorber programmes for the European independent aftermarket.”
As with the term ‘joint venture’, TRW Automotive and ArvinMeritor will jointly manage the sales, marketing, and distribution divisions of the TRW and Gabriel aftermarket programmes. As with the two company’s working plans, there is the objective that this joint partnership would flourishingly permeate all throughout Eastern, Western, and Central Europe.
Marlen Silverii, ArvinMeritor General Manager for the Global Ride Control Aftermarket Division, has this to say: “This is a great example of how both partners can share in the investment, as well as reap the benefits. The Gabriel aftermarket product line is technically very strong, and when partnered with TRW’s growing aftermarket presence, it will offer our aftermarket customers a strong chassis alternative.”
As a backgrounder relative to the two companies concerned, hereunder are brief company profiles as part of the press release statements. For additional details and information, please visit the sites also indicated below:
About TRW
TRW Automotive Aftermarket is a leading provider of high quality replacement parts, Aftermarket Performance Parts, service, diagnostics and technical support to both the independent aftermarket (IAM) and the vehicle manufacturer service (VMS) channels.
With 2006 sales of $13.1 billion, TRW Automotive ranks among the world’s leading automotive suppliers. Headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, USA, the Company, through its subsidiaries, operates in 28 countries and employs approximately 63,800 people worldwide. TRW Automotive products include integrated vehicle control and driver assist systems, braking systems, steering systems, suspension systems, occupant safety systems (seat belts and airbags), electronics, engine components, fastening systems and aftermarket replacement parts and services. TRW Automotive news is available on the Internet at http://www.trwauto.com/.
About ArvinMeritor
ArvinMeritor, Inc. is a premier global supplier of a broad range of integrated systems, modules and components to the motor vehicle industry. The company serves light vehicle, commercial truck, trailer and specialty original equipment manufacturers and certain aftermarkets.
Headquartered in Troy, Mich., ArvinMeritor employs approximately 19,000 people in 25 countries. ArvinMeritor common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ARM. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at http://www.arvinmeritor.com.