Carmaker exchange gains momentum.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

The automotive online exchange that just this week was christened Covisint has received key membership boosts with one ``yes'' and one ``maybe.''

Meritor Automotive Inc., a Troy, Mich.-based supplier of such parts as sunroofs and suspension systems, is the first parts supplier to publicly declare it will participate in the exchange formed by General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and other automakers.

Meritor, with sales of $4.5 billion in 1999, will also receive a seat on the exchange's customer advisory council. That seat is to be held by S. Carl Soderstrom, Meritor's senior vice president of quality, procurement and engineering.

The exchange, which …