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6 Undercar Digest • Order Fill Vendor of the Year – Hastings • Education & Training Vendor of the Year – Standard Motor Products • Marketing Vendor of the Year – Dorman • Sales Representation Vendor of the Year – Brake Parts Inc. • Electronic Cataloging Vendor of the Year – Cardone U.S. Aftermarket to Grow at 3.6% Annual Rate The U.S. automotive aftermarket is expected to grow at a compound annu- al growth rate (CAGR) of 3.6% through 2018, according to the "2015 Joint Channel Forecast Model" produced joint- ly by the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) and the Auto Care Association. The 2015 Joint Channel Forecast Model also predicts that the total aftermarket sales will grow from $246.7 billion in 2014 to $284.3 billion in 2018, an increase of near- ly $38 billion over the four-year period. "The forecast model demonstrates that despite strong new-vehicle sales, moderating gas prices and a slight improve- ment in miles driven, our industry can ex- pect to see continued steady growth," said Kathleen Schmatz, Auto Care Association president and CEO. "Why? The average age of vehicles, now up to 11.5 years, is the oldest ever, and the age mix of ve- hicles continues to favor older vehicles, creating a robust sweet spot for service and repair." The market sizing and forecast is based on the U.S. Census Bureau's Economic Census, IMR and Polk data, and propri- etary IHS Automotive's economic analy- sis and forecasting models. It is available at the AASA website, www.aftermarketsuppliers.org, and in the Auto Care Association's 2016 Digital Auto Care Factbook, available today at www.autocare.org. ASA Names Tony Molla VP The Automotive Service Association recently named veteran technician, com- Answers on page 40 ? Questions Nothing's New! 1. What was Chrysler's "Highway Hi-Fi?" 2. The Hartford (Connecticut) Electric Light Co. pioneered a pro- cess that made using electric trucks for in-town delivery practi- cal from roughly 1911 to 1916. What service did HELCO offer its EV truck-driving customers? 3. Which of these features was not present on Cadillac's first pro- duction model, which debuted to- wards the end of 1902: inboard brakes; rack-and-pinion steering; variable intake valve lift; electric starting? 4. What was unique (for the time) about the drivetrain of the Woods Dual Power, built in Chicago, 1911-18? 5. ALCO (American Locomotive Co.) built prestigious cars in Providence, R.I., early in the 20th Century. The 1908 ALCO pictured was built with two brake pedals. Why? Photo by Paul Zangari 6. J. Walter Christie, perhaps best known for developing a drive system used in tanks employed by several of the world's armies, used what kind of drivetrain in his racing cars, including one that competed for the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup? Send your answer to jwilder@undercardigest.com. Z a n g a r i ' s A u t o T r i v i a Paul Zangari municator and author Tony Molla vice presi- dent of the association. Molla most recent- ly was vice president of communications for the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). According to Dan Risley, ASA president/ex- ecutive director, Molla's duties will involve participating in indus- try events and building industry relations, including those with original-equipment manufacturers. He will work closely with members of ASA's mechanical and colli- sion divisions on their projects and activ- ities, as well as perform many other functions, such as overseeing the Secure Data Release Model, a data exchange sys- tem conceived and designed coopera- tively by automakers and the independent repair, insurance and law-enforcement communities. Industry Loses Former GPC President & COO Bill Hatcher William Claud "Bill" Hatcher, longtime leader in the automotive aftermarket as former president and COO of Genuine Parts Co. (GPC) and former president and board chairman of board of NAPA, died June 17. "While the word is often overused, in this case it is appropriate: Bill Hatcher was an icon in our industry. He spent his en- tire career with Genuine Parts Co. and stood shoulder to shoulder with those who were instrumental in the growth and development of the automotive aftermar- ket," said Steve Handschuh, president and chief executive officer of MEMA. "It was well known within GPC that if you en- countered Bill in the hallway, he was going to ask you what you were work- ing on. It was not a casual question. You'd better be prepared to tell him ex- actly what you were doing and how it would benefit NAPA Auto Parts stores. That intense focus on advancing the busi- ness interests of NAPA store owners and employees was relentless. Bill Hatcher will be missed but his legacy will never be for- gotten." ■ Tony Molla