J. D. Power and Data Resources Form Joint Venture to Forecast Auto Trends

J. D. Power & Associates, a Westlake Village-based auto-marketing research firm, said it has formed a joint venture with Data Resources of Lexington, Mass., an economic forecasting firm. The venture will forecast auto-industry trends.

Although the two companies will publish reports jointly, they have no plans to merge, said Linda Hirneise, a spokeswoman for J. D. Power. The joint venture will at first produce four reports--on the California market, automotive market share, light vehicles and parts suppliers.