BRIEFCASE SUPERIOR SECURES GM PARTS CONTRACT.

Byline: - Staff and Wire Services

VAN NUYS - Superior Industries International Inc. will soon be rolling on a General Motors order, as the parts maker announced a new supply contract Tuesday.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Superior indicated it would handle new aluminum wheels for the Hummer H2, painted and chrome wheels for Buick LeSabres and chrome numbers for Cadillac's upscale Escalade sport utility. It will also handle replacement parts for the Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra and Cadillac Deville.

Mattel renews deal with driver

EL SEGUNDO - Mattel Inc. announced Tuesday that it has renewed an exclusive licensing deal with NASCAR rookie driver Ryan Newman to continue creating Hot Wheels die-cast merchandise.

Mattel has extended Newman's multiyear contract for exclusive mass retail channel distribution of all die-cast vehicles associated with Newman and the Alltel/Penske team.

Newman is the leader in the NASCAR Rookie of the Year standings.

With headquarters in El Segundo, Mattel has offices and facilities in 36 countries and sells its products in more than 150 nations around the world.

NHTSA steps up 1997 Jeep inquiry

WASHINGTON - The federal government announced Tuesday that it is stepping up its investigation into the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee because its hood might open unexpectedly while the vehicle is moving.

Nineteen people have complained about the problem, but no injuries or accidents have been reported.

The investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration covers 262,135 vehicles.

NHTSA began a preliminary inquiry May 17 that covered the 1996-1998 model years of the Grand Cherokee. The agency found that most of the complaints and claims to insurance companies for the problem were for the 1997 model year.

Charter executive put on paid leave

ST. LOUIS - Charter Communications Inc. placed Chief Operating Officer David G. Barford on paid leave Tuesday as a federal grand jury investigates the cable company's accounting practices.

Charter President and Chief Executive Carl Vogel has assumed Barford's responsibilities on an interim basis, the company said. It was not clear what role Barford has in the grand jury's probe and a second company statement on the matter late Tuesday did not elaborate.

``The company determined that the most appropriate course of action at this time is to place Mr. Barford on paid leave pending the result of the investigation, after which this status would be reviewed,'' Charter said.

In August, Charter spokesman David Andersen said the subpoena sought documents related to how the company accounts for costs for current and former cable subscribers. St. Louis-based Charter - controlled by Microsoft Corp. co-founder Paul Allen - is the nation's fourth-largest cable company, with 6.8 million customers in 40 states.

The company said it continues to cooperate with the subpoena and believes that its financial statements comply with generally accepted accounting principles.