Bloomberg News

Automakers to Speed Parts-Validation Process

By Craig Trudell
April 24, 2012

Companies Mentioned

  • GM

    General Motors Co

    • $33.42 USD
    • 1.03
    • 3.08%
  • F

    Ford Motor Co

    • $15.08 USD
    • 0.44
    • 2.92%
  • HOG

    Harley-Davidson Inc

    • $59.48 USD
    • 1.51
    • 2.54%
  • PCAR

    PACCAR Inc

    • $54.54 USD
    • 1.77
    • 3.25%
Market data is delayed at least 15 minutes.

Automakers led by General Motors Co. (GM) and Volkswagen AG (VOW) drafted a plan to expedite their parts validation processes as the industry tries to counter a shortage of resin used for making fuel and braking components.

GM, Volkswagen, Ford Motor Co. (F) and Chrysler Group LLC were among the automakers that developed and support the plan to speed the use of alternate materials as the industry runs short of PA-12, also called Nylon-12, according to an e-mailed statement yesterday by the Automotive Industry Action Group. A follow-up meeting to approve the plan is scheduled for April 30.

Automakers and their suppliers are studying ways to find and test alternative materials and avoid losing vehicle output after the March 31 explosion at chemical maker Evonik Industries AG, which halved global capacity to make Nylon-12. Evonik’s Marl, Germany, factory made a base ingredient used in the resin called Cyclododecatriene, or CDT, and supplied the material to other makers of Nylon-12 such as France’s Arkema SA. (AKE)

Hyundai Motor Co. (005380), Kia Motors Corp. (000270), Honda Motor Co., Harley-Davidson Inc. (HOG) and Paccar Inc. (PCAR) also support the plan to speed validation of parts, according to yesterday’s statement.

To contact the reporter on this story: Craig Trudell in Austin, Texas, at ctrudell1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jamie Butters at jbutters@bloomberg.net

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