Automotive aftermarket hub to start business by end of March

LAKELAND, Fla. (Jan. 9)—AIM-CMB Marketing, the automotive aftermarket buyers group, plans to begin operations on a trading hub to service distributors and auto parts makers by the end of the first quarter. By year-end, AIM-CMB anticipates it will have 30 percent of its membership buying and selling across the hub, said Dick Palmer, vice president of operations. The group includes 1,400 parts distributors and more than 200 automotive parts suppliers, including Dana Corp., Delphi Automotive Systems, Federal-Mogul Corp. and Goodyear. AIM-CMB´s purchases total $1.5 billion annually, the association said. Instead of dialing up 17 different hubs, distributors will be able to dial into the one, the AIM-CMB hub, Palmer said.