Tighter transport rules and workplace safety mandates are making leaded brass and antimony increasingly costly for friction manufacturers. The industry response is shifting from simple substitution to synergistic reformulation strategies.
Meneta North America LLC has appointed Frank Oliveto as General Manager and Chris Caza as Technical Account Director to lead regional growth and technical support in the automotive brake industry.
EBC Brakes offers Ultimax2 pads, Greenstuff pads, and Standard D Discs as aftermarket brake upgrades for classic car owners seeking modern stopping performance with OEM-compatible specifications.
Tesla Service Bulletin SB-26-33-002 addresses front brake rotor squealing on 2025–2026 Giga Berlin Model Y vehicles, requiring rotor replacement and brake burnishing on units under 50,000 km.
MEYLE has appointed Karl Varley as Head of Sales for the UK and Ireland, promoting the 15-year industry veteran from his Account Manager role to lead regional growth efforts.
FMSI's 2026 Brake Weekend in Naples features Auto Care Association CEO Bill Hanvey as keynote speaker, a tribute to three industry icons, and open registration for non-members.
Hyundai Mobis showcases its next-generation integrated braking system and core steering technologies at its 20-year-old Swedish winter testing facility for 10 global automaker customers.
Otto Zimmermann's rd:z brake pads use organic fiber compounds to nearly double service life, reduce fine dust emissions, and minimize NVH — meeting ECE R90 standards for conventional and electric vehicles.
Palmer International appoints Julie Catalano as Chief People Officer to lead organizational design and talent strategy. Catalano will remain on the Board of Directors while reporting to CEO Alvaro Vaselli.
Friction One expands its North American team with five industry veterans to drive sales and engineering growth, supporting its strategy to become a vertically integrated, total brake solution provider.
Hyundai faces a class action lawsuit alleging the 2025 Tucson and Tucson Hybrid possess a "phantom braking" defect. The suit claims the FCA system incorrectly triggers emergency braking at high speeds.
TMD Friction is opening a new Valencia warehouse in Q1 2026, expanding its Spanish logistics alongside existing brake shoe manufacturing to strengthen Iberian aftermarket distribution.
Apec expands its Red and Black braking ranges with 82 new parts, including 54 calipers, brake pads, hoses, and high-performance discs for key vehicle applications.
First Brands Group laid off 146 corporate employees at its Cleveland headquarters amid its Chapter 11 bankruptcy, citing collapsed sale negotiations and sudden withdrawal of potential bidders.
ATE introduces free augmented reality Remote Support, enabling live video collaboration between workshops and technical experts to resolve complex brake service issues faster.
Nissan earned the 2026 Parents Best Family Cars award for standard safety features, with ProPILOT Assist and Safety Shield® 360 recognized for intuitive operation and broad availability.
A proposed class action filed February 18, 2026, accuses GM of an undisclosed brake vacuum pump defect in Equinox, Terrain and Envision models. The failure causes sudden loss of assist and a hard pedal, raising emergency stopping risks for owners.
PureForge expands its reseller program with Guardian Fleet Safety, bringing high-performance brake systems to Midwest public safety fleets through integrated upfitting channels.
EBC Brakes offers road-legal Yellowstuff and Bluestuff pads alongside GD, USR, and BSD sport rotors for performance-focused weekend drivers seeking upgraded braking without sacrificing street compliance.
Wilwood releases front and rear big brake kits for the 1989–98 Nissan 240SX with six-piston front calipers, external MC4 parking brake, and two rotor size options.