Eaton Combines Auto, Truck Units

Vehicle parts manufacturer Eaton Corp. said it is combining its auto and truck groups into one operating unit.

Eaton said the new organization will be known as the vehicle group and will be led by Joseph Palchak, current president of its automotive group.

The new group will continue to be part of the company’s industrial sector, to which both the automotive and truck groups belonged, along with Eaton’s aerospace and hydraulics businesses.

“As our truck and automotive operations continue to expand into global markets, it’s critical that we leverage the natural synergies that exist between the two businesses,” Craig Arnold, chief operating officer of Eaton’s industrial unit, said in a statement.

Palchak has served as the president of the automotive business since June, 2008 and has been with Eaton since 1973.

Eaton, which builds drivetrains, transmissions, hydraulics and pneumatic systems for commercial vehicles, reported sales of $15.4 billion last year.