Friday - April 13, 2007

• AASP/NJ, Travelers Insurance still at odds over estimating practices - One thing that collision repairers and insurance companies often butt heads over is estimating procedures. In New Jersey, however, many collision repairers are just banging their heads against the wall, thanks to clashes with Travelers Insurance company that have, thus far, been largely unresolved.
• What You Need to Know About Auto Body Shops - Whether the accident is your fault or the other guy's, make sure you go to an appropriate repair shop -- and ask for what you require.
• ASA Urges Rhode Island Repairers to Contact State Senators - The Automotive Service Association (ASA) is urging Rhode Island auto repair shop owners to contact their state senators to ask that they support Senate Bill 899, legislation that would prohibit insurers from having an ownership interest in an auto body repair facility in Rhode Island.
• Business Ownership Isn't for Sissies - Business ownership does come with some advantages. You are your own boss, you make the decisions, and you do it your way. It is the dream of everyone working for someone else. Little do they know the real deal. Owning your business is mostly about hard work.
• ABRA Auto Body & Glass Announces Wahlin Promotion - ABRA Auto Body & Glass, a national damaged vehicle repair company, announced today the promotion of Mark Wahlin to the position of Vice President of Franchise Development. Wahlin will be responsible for actively pursuing and awarding new franchises within the ABRA system.
• Former Owner of Neb. Glass Company Charged with Insurance Fraud - The Nebraska Department of Insurance recently reported that Douglas County Attorney Donald W. Kleine filed criminal charges against Thomas J. Dimitroff, the previous owner of Metro Glass Incorporated, an Omaha-based provider of auto glass replacement and repair.
• Apogee Q4, Full-Year Earnings Increase Significantly; FY08 Guidance Raised - "We finalized our strategic plans to exit the auto glass segment, with the fourth quarter decision to sell the RV and bus windshield business," said Russell Huffer, Apogee chairman and chief executive officer.
• Raw (Materials) Deal - The volatility of the world’s political climate, the unpredictable weather in North America and El NiÑo in the Pacific Ocean are having very expected outcomes in terms of the cost of raw materials for the tire industry.
• Bayer, Krauss-Maffei Process Cuts Molding Costs - RIM teams with injection molding for automotive interior parts
• Automotive supplier to expand Novi site - MI: Toyota Boshoku builds interior systems for cars
• Valeo Studied Visteon Tie Before Rejecting Merger - French car parts group Valeo made a high-level study of a possible tie-up with U.S. peer Visteon prior to deciding that an all-out merger would carry too much risk, the company's annual report showed.
• Visteon's 2007 SAE Papers Offer Global Insight Into Vehicle Climate Control, Lighting and Electronics Trends - Visteon Corporation product experts from Europe, Asia and North America have collaborated to deliver global perspectives on automotive trends and advancements at the 2007 SAE World Congress, April 16-19 at Detroit's Cobo Center. These engineers have co-authored technical papers related to automotive climate control, lighting and electronics  technologies that will be presented during the Congress.
• Auto Suppliers Post Mixed Day - Shares of auto supply companies posted mixed results Thursday as speculation continued to swirl about the future of DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler unit.
• Toyota puts American on board - Toyota Motor Corp. named a non-Japanese to its Board of Directors for the first time Thursday, appointing American Jim Press, president of the automaker's North American operations, amid growing fears of a political backlash for its booming U.S. sales.
• German bank buys big block of DCX - Analysts question WestLB's 14 percent share of automaker, but DaimlerChrysler said it's no big deal.
• Buyer Beware at Chrysler - With the entrance of billionaire Kirk Kerkorian into the bidding for Chrysler Group, the struggling carmaker is starting to look like a hot property. But buyer beware. Whoever ends up purchasing the U.S. company from German parent DaimlerChrysler (DCX) might find themselves a few parts shy of a complete car company.
• Officers charged with forging report - MI: Prosecutors allege two police officers in Jackson County conspired to defraud an insurance company by doctoring an accident report. -- "Interviews with numerous persons who witnessed the real crash, and the subsequent statements made by the body shop and insurance claims department, convinced the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office to issue warrants for both officers," Cottrell said in a prepared statement.
• Farmers Insurance Promotes Bill Martin to Senior Vice President - Auto Product Management - Paul Hopkins, chief executive officer of the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies, has announced the appointment of Bill Martin to Senior Vice President - Auto Product Management in the Home Office.
• State Farm honored for supporting its employees in the military - State Farm has been recognized for supporting our nation's troops. The Illinois Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve has given the insurance company the Pro Patria Award.

Thursday - April 12, 2007

• Caught on Tape - A Fox news affiliate in Albany, NY recently aired a report highlighting alleged steering practices by insurance companies in the upstate New York area.
• New Bill Strengthens Regulation of Auto Repair Shops - State lawmakers voted to strengthen regulation of auto repair shops, in no small part, because of a Channel 8 I-Team investigation.
• Exemption for salvage law gains support - MO: Consumers would benefit from a bill exempting older cars from being declared salvage when they are damaged, auto repair shop owners testified Wednesday.
• Recycled Parts? With the Right Incentive... - Using more recycled OE parts may be good for the environment, and good for the insurer's bottom line, but it is not always good for repairers yet. To get collision shops choosing recycled more often, insurers need to make recycled parts a more profitable option.
• Update on Collision Repair Parts - The Automotive Service Association's Collision Division Operations Committee studies certified and alternative parts.
• Counterfeit Auto Parts: A Growing Industry Epidemic - AutoInc: What you don't know about counterfeit parts can seriously jeopardize your shop.
• Daru: Auto Body Repair Worker - CO: The only thing worse than getting into a fender bender is perhaps getting the damage from that fender bender fixed.
• Kustom Klassics gives scholarships - AR: Several ASU-Beebe Students in the Auto Body Repair Program at ASU-Searcy recently received scholarships from Kustom Klassics.
• Dana supplier may seek hefty claims in contract dispute - Auto parts maker Dana Corp. could be on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars if it decides to part company with its largest supplier over the cost of component parts.
• Kerkorian past with Daimler hurts bid - DCX welcomes Magna, two firms, but not Tracinda
• GM puts brakes on new rear-wheel drive vehicles - General Motors Corp. is holding off on plans for virtually all new rear-wheel drive cars in response to the threat of far stricter fuel economy standards from the federal government.
• Nissan Recalls About 113,000 Minivans - Nissan Motor Co. said Thursday it is recalling about 113,000 minivans over an exhaust pipe problem.
• Kelley Blue Book Posts Resale Values for Every New Vehicle on kbb.com - Find Out What Your New Car Will Be Worth Five Years From Now
• NADA Urges Senate to Make Insurance Data on Flooded, Totaled, Stolen Vehicles Available to Consumers - The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) called on the Senate today to bring more transparency to the used car-buying process by requiring insurance companies to provide consumers access to data on severely damaged, stolen and flooded vehicles.
• Thieves Steal Rims, Tires Of Dealership Cadillacs - MD: Anne Arundel County police are looking for the people involved in the theft of more than a dozen auto parts taken from brand new Cadillacs at an Annapolis dealership.
• Houston Police Bust Suspected Car Theft Ring - A new trick for stealing cars and trucks was used during a recent car theft bust by the Houston Police Department, KPRC Local 2 reported Tuesday.
• Shrewsbury Man Sentenced for Automobile Insurance Fraud Reports U.S. Attorney - A Shrewsbury man was sentenced late yesterday in federal court on mail fraud, health care fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, in connection with false billings to automobile insurance companies for medical tests.
• 2nd Circuit Overturns Ex-Lawyer's Insurance Fraud Conviction - The erroneous admission of damaging lay opinion testimony about an attorney's alleged insurance fraud led a federal appeals court to reverse his conviction on several counts Wednesday.
• State Farm wanted to skew Katrina reports, attorneys say - Chip Merlin, a Tampa, Fla.-based attorney who has sued State Farm on behalf of dozens of homeowners, said the e-mails are ''the first paper evidence we've got where you can see engineers expressing concern about being pressured to change reports.''
• Bills would change auto-insurance rate-setting - The state's auto insurers want you to know that there's a surcharge tacked onto your insurance bill to subsidize coverage for drivers deemed too risky to insure.
• Study: Class Actions Against Insurers Surged in 1990s; Many Resolved Behind Closed Doors - The number of class action lawsuits filed against insurance companies in the U.S. increased sharply during the 1990s prior to the passage of the federal Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 (CAFA), according to a RAND Corp. report.
• Progressive Shares Rise on 1Q Income - Shares of Progressive Corp. spiked Wednesday after the car insurer reported first-quarter income that topped Wall Street's estimate.

Wednesday - April 11, 2007

• WIN Conference Sells Out - The conference, scheduled for April 29-May 1, 2007 at the Hilton Airport, Phoenix, Arizona, received its 100th registrant—the official sellout mark—nearly a month before the start of the conference.
• Licensing Legislation Introduced In Texas - ASA Asks Texas Shops to Contact Legislators for Support
• Shop not in need of repair - Airbags save lives, but they're killing collision repair companies, said Dennis Klimisch, whose auto body repair shop celebrated 60 years in business last month.
• Orso's Suing For Defamation Over Website - Two websites, with two very similar names, have two very different opinions about the work done at a Syracuse auto body shop.
• Coolest new car colors - A car that changes from pink to white as it drives by? The latest developments in manufacturing make all sorts of hues possible.
• Automotive fair to feature BioConcept Car project - The Hanover Trade Fair for the automotive industry will feature a BioConcept project where high demands are required for painting most of the racing cars biogenic parts.
• Henkel to Showcase Automotive Solutions at SAE World Congress - Henkel will display its innovative automotive solutions at the 2007 SAE World Congress, April 16-19, 2007, in Detroit. Technologies include the world's first non-phosphate nanoceramic pretreatment for automotive metals, as well as the latest advances in the company's structural solutions.
• Mygrant Glass Company Announces 3.5% Price Increase On All Glass Parts - Effective April 16th, 2007 Mygrant Glass Company will implement a 3.5% price increase on all glass parts.
• Discount Room Rates for the IGA Show Extended - The IGA has extended its discounted per night room rate with the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino for the 2007 Independences’ Days & Spring Auto Glass Show™, being held May 17-19, 2007 at the Cashman Center in Las Vegas.
• Visteon increases loan to $1.5 billion - Automotive supplier Visteon Corp. said Tuesday it added an incremental $500 million tranche to its existing $1 billion seven-year secured term loan that expires in June 2013.
• Hyundai Santa Fe is Ranked Among the Best Small SUVs Tested By Consumer Reports - Santa Fe now ranked just below CR's top-rated Toyota RAV4; Dodge Nitro posts disappointing "Fair" score
• Japan automakers create Japan jobs while 'Big Three' slash U.S. jobs - At a time when Detroit's “Big Three” are closing plants and slashing jobs to revive their ailing business, their Japanese counterparts are busy opening plants in Japan for the first time in decades.
• U.S. Takes Piracy Pushback to WTO - Intellectual-property rights violations in China cost the U.S. billions each year, leading to complaints to the World Trade Organization
• Ford recalls Escape SUVs because of brake trouble - Ford Motor Co. said today it was recalling more than 500,000 Ford Escape sport utility vehicles after receiving reports of engine fires linked to corrosion on antilock brake connectors.
• Range Rovers focus of safety probe - Ford Motor Co.’s Land Rover sport-utility vehicles are being investigated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration because of a faulty drive shaft or front axle part that could cause the vehicles to stop while they’re being driven.
• How airbags work - Welcome to the world of airbags. An airbag is an explosion designed to protect rather than to destroy.
• Accident-prone - A crash course in automobile safety
• Where You Live And What You Drive Can Impact Your Auto Insurance Costs - We all know that there are many factors that can affect your auto insurance costs.

• Aurora Capital Wraps Up Mitchell Acquisition - Mitchell International Inc., a San Diego-based maker of software serving the auto insurance and collision repair industries, was acquired for $500 million by Aurora Capital Group, according to a story last month by The Deal.com, a business news Web site.
• PPG Launches MVP Webinar Series - PPG Automotive Refinish is launching the MVP Webinar Series, an educational program of online seminars for owners and managers of collision repair shops, and their PBE distributors.
• Washington Anti-Steering Legislation One Step Away From Law - The Washington IGA anti-steering legislation only has to clear one more hurdle to become law after the state's House of Representatives passed it by a vote of 95-0 last Wednesday and Lt. Gov. Brad Owen signed it on Friday.
• ASA Calls on Repairers to Support Repeal of McCarran-Ferguson Act - The Automotive Service Association (ASA) urges automotive repairers to contact their U.S. senators and representatives to voice support for the repeal of the McCarran-Ferguson Act.
• New collision repair association formed in the Ozarks - The Body Shop Alliance (BSA) has been formed by a group of dedicated and concerned industry leaders from around southwest Missouri. The inaugural meeting was held April 4 at the Library of Transportation in Springfield, Mo.
• Electromagnetic fields and collision repair - European law could set precedent for U.S.
• Myth of Free Air - Without proper compressor technology, plants face premature failures, high maintenance costs, additional compressor unit purchases and exorbitant downtime.
• Automotive Distribution Network Signs Agreement with Identifix - Identifix, one of the nation’s premier sources of online and hotline diagnostic and repair information, today announced it has been recognized as a Preferred Provider to the Automotive Distribution Network. The Automotive Distribution Network is one of the largest program groups in the automotive aftermarket, consisting of 46 members, 248 WD locations and $2-billion-plus in annual sales throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada.
• SRP Announces Expanded Sales Representation In Canada - Shat R Proof (SRP) recently announced that it has entered into a formal sales representation agreement with Canadian distributor National Sales Incorporated (NSI) to distribute the SRP product line of auto glass adhesive and accessories.
• Laser Welding Gains Traction in Plastics Joining - Laser welding accelerates for under-the-hood automotive electronics enclosures and other plastics joining methods
• Visteon CEO Gets $5.27M Despite Losses - Michael F. Johnston, chairman and chief executive officer of Visteon Corp., received compensation valued at $5.27 million in 2006, according to an analysis of a federal regulatory filing made Monday.
• Toyota Mobility Donates Vehicles to Young Vets Wounded in Iraq - Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. and auto show management presented two modified vehicles to veterans wounded by improvised explosive devices during their tours in Iraq at the opening ceremonies for the New York International Automobile Show this week.
• Consumer Reports Annual April Auto Issue - The April issue of Consumer Reports highlights winners and losers culled from more than 250 tested vehicles and nearly one million responses to the magazine's annual subscriber survey.
• Farmers Insurance applauds efforts to mandate ESC as a vehicle standard - Farmers Insurance Group of Companies today announced full support of the new Federal motor vehicle safety standard #126 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  The standard mandates electronic stability control (ESC) systems in all vehicles by the 2012 model year. 
• AIG Auto Insurance Launches GPS-Based Teen Driver Pilot Program - The program will initially be piloted in New Jersey, as well as Arizona, Illinois, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Washington, and uses GPS technology to allow parents of teen drivers to monitor the location of the teen’s car and driving.
• Farmers Insurance Appoints Ron Coble to Senior Vice President - Legislative and Regulatory Affairs - Paul Hopkins, chief executive officer of the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies, has announced the appointment of Ron Coble to Senior Vice President - Legislative and Regulatory Affairs.
• Judge Rejects Federal Antitrust, Racketeering Charges in Account Steering, Brokerage Suit - Plaintiffs in a class action suit against commercial insurers and brokers for alleged bid rigging and account steering have failed to show that the defendants' actions amounted to fraud under federal racketeering statutes or violated federal antitrust laws, a federal judge in New Jersey has ruled in dismissing the charges.

• Mitchell Reports Record Sales of ABS(TM) Shop Management Solutions in First Quarter 2007 - Adoption of ABS as Preferred Shop Management Solution Eclipses Record Pace of Sales Achieved in 2006
• Rhode Island Auto Collision Repair Licensing Advisory Board - The Independent Glass Association (IGA) has learned that the Rhode Island Auto Collision Repair Licensing Advisory Board is discussing windshield cure time. The issue was raised during a January meeting of the board.
• Fixing Production Problems - Shops using 22-year-old business theory to break down production bottlenecks
• Insurance Giants Accused of Bullying Customers - Some New York auto body shop owners are accusing big insurance companies of illegally steering loyal customers.
• CARSTAR Letter to the Industry - Enjoying close relationships with over 370 shops across North America, we at CARSTAR recognize a heightened air of tension across our franchise system that we believe represents the emotional state of our entire industry these days.
• ASA Blog: Divide and Conquer - Dick Cross, CEO of CARSTAR issued a "letter to the industry" this week asking collision repairers to address the real challenges of aggressive insurance claims management policies. His letter has taken some harsh criticism. The truth is that we are all in this together and regardless of who is stepping up to bring attention to the issues, we should focus on the message not the messenger. Mr. Cross is asking who will step up, and it will be revealing to see who answers the call and who decides to stand by and criticize.
• Collision repairers utilize video-sharing Web site YouTube to post promotional messages - Posting an online video featuring your shop on YouTube can greatly expand the reach of your promotional message, some in the collision repair industry are finding out.
• NASTF Board establishes Collision Repair Committee - At its March 2007 meeting, the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) Board of Directors approved the formation of the NASTF Collision Repair Committee (CRC), with the mission of identifying and reporting gaps regarding unique collision repair information, or information that is not already covered by the other committees.
• Judge rules 3 body shops face last dents rules no more dents for body shops - Three local body shops have been ordered by a county judge to stop performing collision repair work by a county judge because they have failed to register with the state. -- The Ohio Board of Motor Vehicle Collision Repair won the decision against Rapid Auto Body and Jeff’s Auto Body in Lorain and the now-closed Fender Mender in Amherst last month.
• Taking auto repairs to the extreme - CT: Mike DiPreta and Sandro Malagisi grew up liking the same things: cars and motorcycles. -- After working separately for many years at other shops, the pair decided to open a business together called Extreme Auto Body & Auto Repair.
• Car modified here wins GM award - IN: Revenge has been rewarded. Decatur-based Revenge Designs, which modifies current versions of Pontiac GTOs into souped-up vehicles that sell for $46,000 to $56,000, won the 2007 award from General Motors for Best Overall Exterior Design of cars or trucks in the entire GM system.
• Weather's aftermath proves profitable - NC: Hailstorm lures dent-repair companies
• Uni-SelectUSA Strengthens Its Automotive Aftermarket Recruitment Efforts through Partnership with Alfred State College - Uni-SelectUSA, a leading distributor of national brand automobile aftermarket parts, is donating $150,000 to assist Alfred (NY) State College in developing an automotive parts technology program.
• Improvements needed at IU, instructors say - PA: Students in Ed Pollack’s auto body and collision repair class at the Schuylkill Technology Center have learned to work together like a well-oiled machine.
• Antitrust Modernization Commission Releases Report on U.S. Antitrust Laws - After three years, the Antitrust Modernization Commission (AMC) has released its report on U.S. antitrust laws to President George W. Bush and the U.S. Congress.
• Invention Support Announces a Great New Invention for Auto Mechanics Known as the "Porta-Shop" - Invention Support has signed a strategic alliance with Darrel Prophet, the inventor of the new device known as the Porta-Shop in order to introduce this great new invention into the general marketplace. The Porta-Shop is a great new idea which offers solutions to the common problems that millions of mechanics are presently suffering from.
• Plastics breakthrough for automotive fender module - Plastics innovations from Borealis for the automotive industry with the development of new plastics used in the first fully integrated fender module.
• The Dodgers and Earl Scheib want you to drive Dodger Blue - The Los Angeles Dodgers are partnering with Earl Scheib, the official paint and body shop of the Dodgers, to offer fans the ultimate opportunity to show their "Blue Pride"-by actually driving Dodger Blue. Dodger fans can join "The Big Blue Car Crew" by having their cars painted with specially formulated Dodger Blue premium acrylic polyurethane auto paint, offered exclusively at Earl Scheib's Southern California retail locations. The promotion marks the first time that auto paint will be produced based on a professional sports team.
• State entrepreneur takes small company international - Today, Armor Coat has found its way into the hands of distributors in Canada, Germany, Italy, Spain, Ireland, South Korea, China and Kuwait a result of many successful trade missions lead by Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., on behalf of Montana businesses and in conjunction with the Montana World Trade Center.
• Mitchell Software Certified To Offer GLAXIS Parts Availability, Ordering Technology - Mitchell Glass, a division of Mitchell International, has been certified to offer parts availability and ordering technology by GLAXIS in an upcoming version of its GlassMate software for auto glass repair and replacement retailers.
• He's back! Kerkorian bids $4.5 billion for Chrysler - Billionaire joins the field, says unions will have ownership stake
• Watchdog rips deal in Carfax lawsuit - An auto safety advocacy group is objecting to the proposed settlement of a class-action lawsuit against Carfax Inc. that claimed the company's title searches for used cars were misleading.
• Anticrash Tech Gets Nod from Regulators - According to Barry McCahill, a retired National Highway Traffic Safety Administration official, the ruling to require Electronic Stability Control, or ESC, is arguably the most important regulation the NHTSA has ever issued. The safety benefits of ESC are massive and the ESC rule ushers in a new era where preventing a crash is paramount, he explained.
• Judge denies automotive industry's attempt to close parts of emissions trial - Federal Judge William Sessions said Friday there will be no closed-door hearings in the upcoming trial challenging Vermont’s effort to limit greenhouse gas emissions by new cars.
• Safety Foam Has Nascar Drivers Worried - Technical data sheet on the Dow Automotive Web site states that the “IMPAXX foam characteristics remains stable at extreme cold temperatures,” and it also issues this warning: “CAUTION: IMPAXX 700 Energy Absorbing foam is combustible and should not be exposed to flame or other ignition sources.”
• Bi-City Salvage auto dealer arrested - AL: 10 stolen cars found at salvage, towing business
• Tracking Device Aids Troopers In Recovering Stolen Items - TX: Troopers said they followed a signal from a tracking device at an auto repair shop to recover a host of stolen trucks and auto parts Thursday. -- When troopers inspected the salvage yard of Rick's Auto Repair shop, they found the truck, 11 other stolen vehicles, and some auto parts.
• Unanimous Senate passes new tow truck regulations - IL: Pirate towing companies that prey on accident victims would be subject to state regulations under a measure that passed the Illinois Senate by a unanimous (58 to 0) vote.
• This car bill could kill you, say consumer advocates - Insurance companies, auto repair shops and Gov. Matt Blunt's lobbyist brother Andy are close to winning passage for legislation critics say would put more dangerously damaged cars on the roads. -- Insurers sell millions of wrecked cars a year. Most are rebuilt and resold. If a buyer is lucky, he or she is forewarned about concealed damage if a car carries a "salvage" title.
• State Farm CEO: 2006 was ‘break-even’ year - State Farm Insurance Cos. rewarded its leader with an 82 percent pay raise after profits hit an all-time high last year.

• Insurance Fraud, Massachusetts Labor Rates Legislative Updates, Paint and Materials Controversy Take Center Stage - Insurance fraud, Massachusetts labor rates Legislative updates, Paint and Materials controversy and other key industry issue affecting the automotive and repair industry are discussed. The majority of the seminars are free because local industry associations are sponsoring them for their members and industry as a whole.
• Keystone Automotive Acquires Tulsa-Based Aftermarket Parts Business - Acquisition Enhances Keystone's Market Position in Region
• LKQ Corporation Announces First Quarter 2007 Earnings Audio Webcast Scheduled for Thursday, April 26, 2007 - LKQ Corporation, the largest nationwide provider of recycled light vehicle OEM products and related services and the second largest nationwide provider of aftermarket collision replacement products and refurbished wheels, will release its first quarter 2007 financial earnings results on Thursday, April 26, 2007 before 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
• GTS Offers Three-Tiered Software, Glassquoter.Com Web Tool For Glass Shops - GTS Services LLC recently released a tiered version of its GlasPac®LX software featuring the following versions: enterprise, professional and small business editions. All of which include a new Web-based quoting and contact-generation tool called GlassQuoter.com.
• Clarks Service Center recognized - AR: Clarks Service Center, in Mountain Home, has been appointed by AAA as an Approved Auto Repair facility. AAA's designation follows the completion of a rigorous inspection into the shop's practices, competence and customer service.
• 400 more parts jobs lost - Critical need for intervention from Ottawa, Queen's Park, says CAW
• Taiwan hosts Asia biggest auto parts show - Taipei AMPA 2007 and Taipei International Auto Parts & Accessories Show 2007 expected to fielding 995 exhibitors with 2301 booths
• Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association (APRA) supports Automechanika Canada - Automechanika Canada has announced a cooperation agreement with the Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association (APRA). APRA will promote this year’s Automechanika Canada event to more than1800 member companies worldwide and to readers of its publications.
• Ontario recyclers meeting generates positive energy - About 250 people participated in the Ontario Automotive Recyclers Association annual meeting in March, more than the event has ever drawn.
• Offer by Copart, Inc for Universal Salvage Plc - Copart, Inc. today announced that it has reached agreement with the board of Universal Salvage Plc, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol UVS, with respect to a recommended cash offer (the “Offer”) by a wholly-owned Copart subsidiary organized under the laws of England and Wales (Copart UK) to acquire the entire issued share capital of Universal. Full details of the Offer are contained in an announcement made today in the United Kingdom under Rule 2.5 of the U.K. Takeover Code.
• Salvage yard gets no-go in Gurnee - The owners of Auto Parts City, which has operated on the north side of Washington Street in Gurnee for more than two decades, wanted to relocate to a bigger piece of land on the south side of the street so the company could modernize its operations. - But residents in bordering Park City said moving the salvage yard next to their homes would threaten their health, property values and residential peace.
• Ford Licenses Color Kinetics' Patents For Automotive Lighting - While single color LED sources have been applied in automotive lighting for a number of years, Ford was one of the first to capitalize on the digitally controllable nature of LEDs when it introduced the MyColor color-changing instrument panel in its Ford Mustangs.
• US Automakers Launch New Website on Japan's Yen Subsidy Damage to U.S. Auto Industry - The Automotive Trade Policy Council (ATPC), whose members include General Motors, Ford and DaimlerChrysler, announced today the launch of a new website focused on the harm that the Japanese Government's "yen subsidy" -- resulting from the continuing misalignment of the Japanese yen -- is causing to U.S. automakers and the U.S. economy.
• Chrysler sale looks certain - DaimlerChrysler CEO Dieter Zetsche told German shareholders what they wanted to hear Wednesday when he confirmed that negotiations were under way to sell the Chrysler Group.
• Flex appeal: Ford aims to 'define crossovers' - Ford Motor Co. unveiled its successor to the minivan Wednesday in the Big Apple. -- The 2009 Ford Flex, with a slew of special features and a distinctive design, will be classified as a large crossover and effectively replaces the Ford Freestar minivan in the automaker's lineup.
• Steer Away from Flood-Damaged Vehicles - Evidence of Flood Damage Often Hides in Obscure Places
• Key autos fail whiplash test - Restraints didn't prevent neck injuries in rear crashes
• Allstate to revive vacant call center - WI: Nearly two years after Lands' End closed a telephone center here -- eliminating some 375 full- and part-time jobs -- a replacement employer has been found.
• State Farm: Like a good neighbor? - Robert Laubershimer of Herriman called his State Farm insurance agent last month with an unusual request. -- His pickup truck was stolen out of his garage March 25, and was recovered the next day. But the spare key that was in the truck was missing. -- To have the locks changed, the dealer will charge $135. But the insurance agent said that's too much, so State Farm won't cover it. -- If the thief comes back and steals the truck with that key, however, State Farm will be happy to replace the $40,000 vehicle. And, the agent said, the company will even pay for a key to replace the one that was stolen.
• Insurers must honor their commitment - Will your insurance company be there when you need it most?

• CCC Information Services Inc. Acquires Integrated Collision Management - Move continues CCC's commitment to delivering leading workflow solutions to collision repairers
• Maryland House Bill 1084 Goes to Summer Study - The Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association (WMABA) is pleased to announce that Maryland House Bill 1084, which was introduced by Delegate Rick Impallaria on behalf of Maryland collision repairers, was voted to be withdrawn from this session in favor of an amendment to hold a summer study under the Economic Matters Committee. The purpose of the initial bill was to require the Maryland Insurance Commissioner to appoint an independent auditor to establish, on an annual basis, an average market rate for labor, parts, paint and materials through a statistical, confidential survey of all repair facilities in established geographic markets in Maryland.
• Advantage Online: Free access to GM collision repair information - The main focus of the site is vehicle-specific collision repair information, including partial and full replacement procedures. GM lines featured on this site include Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Hummer, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and Saturn.
• Shifty Business - Not getting paid properly? Cost shifting is not the solution, and is just plain bad business.
• Akzo Nobel is awarded a Technical Approval from General Motors Europe - Akzo Nobel Car Refinishes announced that they have received approval from General Motors Europe (GM) on the Sikkens brand paint system. The approval extends to GM’s collision repair centers as well as collision repair centers doing work on GM products as Chevrolet/Daewoo, Vauxhall and Saab.
• Plastic Parts Painting - In the light of changing material structures and technologies in motor manufacture and, in particular, the increase in the ratio of plastic to metals, Audatex is working with cross-industry members of its Technical Committee to explore the impact of these changes.
• Audatex Boosts Estimating Performance - Building upon the successful roll-out of its AudaEnterprise estimating solution to over 7,000 insurer and bodyshop users, Audatex UK is now trialling an updated software release with customers which introduces a range of value-added features and system enhancements.
• ABRA Auto Body & Glass Promotes Nguyen to Vice President - ABRA Auto Body & Glass, a national damaged vehicle repair company, announced today the promotion of Toan Nguyen to the position of Vice President of Information Technology. Nguyen will be responsible for IT strategies, managing ABRA's IT support staff, and supervising the purchasing, installation, and maintenance of all hardware, software and networks.
• How to Ensure Your Windshield is Installed - Experts rank the windshield as the third most important safety component in today’s car. Along with seatbelts and airbags, ranked first and second, all three components are part of what automobile engineers refer to as a vehicle’s safety restraint system (SRS).
• Sneakers go on, legs start moving and bodies get a workout - PPG Industries Inc. is one of the more enthusiastic corporate backers of the American Heart Association's campaign. -- PPG's health awareness programs begin today with a screening for cholesterol for its employees.
• Universal Technical Institute Announces New Training Contract With Nissan - Universal Technical Institute Inc., a provider of technical training, today announced that the company has signed an extension of its existing training contract with Nissan North America Inc.
• Midnight Holdings Group Announces Oklahoma Acquisition, Expansion Plans - Midnight Holdings Group, Inc. today announced that it has purchased the assets of the three franchised All Night Auto operations in Oklahoma and added the three service centers to it's All Night Auto Stores, Inc. operations.
• Judge urges more negotiations between Dana and unions - Dana Corporation needs to cut labor costs and retirement obligations to emerge from bankruptcy and compete with cheaper overseas suppliers, say its lawyers.
• Delphi to outsource salaried jobs to India - Delphi Corp. said Tuesday it would outsource 650 salaried jobs in the United States and Europe as part of its effort to reduce its global salaried headcount by 25 percent, or 8,500 jobs.
• Ford, GM, Chrysler sales down in March; Toyota, Mazda, Honda post big gains - Domestic auto makers continued their 2007 trend, posting lower sales figures today for March compared to the same period last year. March was the best sales month in 2006 for the industry.
• Bids for Chrysler on table - The Blackstone Group and Cerberus Capital Management, two of the nation's largest private-equity firms, have made formal bids to buy the Chrysler Group from German automaker DaimlerChrysler AG, according to people close to the talks.
• Ford may shake up sales unit - Top marketing exec likely to be replaced as automaker misses its first quarter targets.
• New Ford Taurus Delivers Best Overall Value - The new 2008 Ford Taurus -- the most powerful, refined, roomiest and safest Taurus ever -- will have a base manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $23,995, including destination and delivery. Comparably equipped, Ford's iconic family sedan will be priced thousands of dollars less than sedans like the Toyota Avalon and the Chrysler 300.
• Honda Named 'Greenest Automaker' by Union of Concerned Scientists - America's Most Fuel Efficient Car Company Earns Fourth Consecutive Title
• U.S. DOT Solicits Consumer Input - The U.S. Department of Transportation called on automakers, safety advocates and consumers to help the federal government develop a new and more effective five-star safety rating program used by many consumers when deciding which vehicles to buy.
• Jean Jennings of AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINE Wins 2007 Ken Purdy Award for Excellence in Journalism - President of AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINE Recognized with International Motor Press Association’s Highest Honor for Outstanding Achievement in Automotive Reporting
• Insurance Profiling Faces Ban - Florida regulators are preparing draft legislation to ban the use of education and occupation in setting auto insurance rates they say leads to higher rates for minorities.

• ASA Supports Nevada Bill Opposing Insurer-Owned Shops - The Automotive Service Association (ASA) testified before the Nevada State Assembly Transportation Committee this week. ASA testified in support of Nevada State Assembly Bill 185, which would prohibit an insurance company from having ownership interest in a garage or body shop.
• Nevada legislature holds hearings on insurer-owned shops - Nevada may be on its way to becoming the next state to ban insurer-owned collision repair shops. The state legislature’s Transportation Committee held hearings last week on a proposed bill that would prevent insurance companies from owning body shops in the state, modeled closely on similar legislation in Texas that withstood court challenges from the insurance industry.
• re: Alice Walker-May, auto shop manager - Building on what her father started, she does estimates, dabbles in 'R & I'
• Hertz Enters Into Partnership With the New Jersey Alliance of Automotive Service Providers - The Hertz Corporation has partnered with the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey, an organization of 500 New Jersey-based collision and mechanical repair shops, to provide car rental services, including free pick up and return service, and an expanded benefit program to the Alliance's network of service repair shops.
• Norwest Equity Partners Invests in Mitchell International - Leading Software and Information Services Provider Joins NEP Portfolio
• Crawford & Company Subrogation and Recovery Services, Inc. and Trover Solutions, Inc. Join Forces - Crawford & Company, the world's largest independent provider of claims management solutions to insurance companies and self-insured entities, and Trover Solutions, Inc., the largest claims recovery specialist in the United States, have entered into a service agreement to provide superior subrogation and recovery results for Crawford clients.
• Taken for a ride? - Brookhaven vehicle chief gave $1.4M in auto repair contracts to shops that donated to his son's campaign.
• 2007 Aftermarket Legislative Summit - This biannual event provides an opportunity for aftermarket professionals to come to Capitol Hill to meet with key congressional leaders about issues that affect and impact their businesses.
• Body Language: How to Talk the Designers’ Talk - Vehicles are said to have styling cues that prompt viewers to recognize models by their resemblance to other family members — a brand’s characteristic shapes and flourishes, the form of its grille or the arc of the roofline.
• Tuffy Auto Service Centers Signs Agreement with Identifix - Identifix, one of the nation’s premier sources of online and hotline diagnostic and repair information, today announced it has been recognized as a Preferred Provider to Tuffy Auto Service Centers, a growing automotive service franchisor with over 250 locations nationwide.
• Private Equity Firm Invests More Than $360 Million in Belron - It was recently announced that the Private Equity Firm RBS Greenwich Capital has committed to investing more than $360 million dollars in Belron SA.
• Belgium's D'Ieteren raises stake in Belron - Belgium's largest car distributor D'Ieteren said on Friday it had exercised a call option for 31 million euros ($41.36 million) to raise its interest in vehicle glass replacement business Belron.
• Cooper-Standard Automotive Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2006 Financial Results - The company is a leading manufacturer of body sealing, fluid handling, and noise, vibration, and harshness control parts for the automotive industry.
• Cadence Innovation Signs Agreement to Acquire Collins & Aikman Plastics Business - Cadence Innovation LLC ("Cadence" or "the Company") announced today it has signed an Asset Purchase Agreement ("APA") to acquire substantial assets and operations of the Collins & Aikman ("C&A") Plastics Business with the understanding that Cadence will take over production of a substantial portion of the programs currently sourced to C&A Plastics.
• Ford agrees to sell auto parts plant - Automaker Ford Motor Co. said Monday it has entered into an agreement to sell a Michigan auto parts plant to an affiliate of a China-based company, while it has closed the sale of a Mexico factory to another company.
• DURA Proposes Closure of Four Facilities and Sale of Two Businesses as Part of Restructuring Turnaround Plan - DURA Automotive Systems, Inc., today announced that as a continuation of the company’s strategic restructuring initiative called 50-cubed, it is proposing to close the following four manufacturing facilities: Brownstown, Indiana; Bracebridge, Ontario; Hannibal South, Missouri; and Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.
• Factories Go South. So Does Pay - Mexico's auto industry is booming, but parts outsourcing is keeping a lid on wages
• Is Cerberus bidding for Chrysler? - Cerberus has quietly positioned itself as the firm most likely to reshape the troubled U.S. auto industry.
• GM says 1st quarter sales in China rise 25 percent - General Motors Corp. and its joint venture partners said Tuesday their combined sales in China jumped 25 percent in the first quarter, a boon for the U.S. automaker struggling to revive sales at home.
• Auto Industry Reacts to Court Decision - Automakers called for an economy-wide approach to global warming in reaction to a Supreme Court decision Monday that could give the government the authority to regulate emissions of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases from cars.
• DaimlerChrysler Agrees to Pay $1.2 Million to Settle Mercedes Environmental Lawsuit - DaimlerChrysler AG has agreed to pay a $1.2 million fine to settle allegations that it did not promptly alert the government about emissions problems in some Mercedes automobiles. -- As part of an agreement with the Justice Department filed in federal court Sunday, the automaker agreed to institute a new program to monitor its cars for emission defects and said it would file regular reports to the government.
• AIADA Applauds Trade Deal Between U.S. and South Korea - American International Automobile Dealers Association President Cody Lusk today commended the Office of the United States Trade Representative for its work in reaching a comprehensive free trade agreement with the Republic of South Korea in the final hours of 14-month negotiations on Sunday. Agreement on trade in the auto sector had been among the critical components of completing the deal.
• Hidden fees hurt local car buyers - NV: Five local suits allege pattern of consumer fraud
• 'Key Code' Bill Offers Help for Stranded Motorists - A pair of bills under consideration by the Texas state legislature would help replace stolen, disabled or lost keys safely, securely and more quickly. Senate Bill 1371 is sponsored by Senator John Carona (Dallas), and House Bill 2295 is sponsored by Representative Joe Driver (Garland) and supported by AAA Texas. HB 2295 is scheduled for a hearing in the House's Law Enforcement Committee today.
• Counterfeit Auto Insurance Cards Among Documents Seized in N.C. - Hoke County, N.C. authorities raided three houses last week and arrested three illegal immigrants, also seizing phony documents and equipment used to make them.
• A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Safety Group and Safety Insurance Group; Assigns Ratings to Safety Property and Casualty - A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and the issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of Safety Group (Safety) and its inter-company pool members, Safety Insurance Company (Safety Insurance) and Safety Indemnity Insurance Company (Safety Indemnity). In addition, A.M. Best has assigned an FSR of A (Excellent) and an ICR of “a” to Safety’s other inter-company pool member, Safety Property and Casualty Insurance Company (Safety P&C).
• N.Y. Approves 21st Century to Sell Auto Policies - "Competition helps lower insurance rates for drivers," New York Acting Superintendent Eric R. Dinallo said. "Aggressive fraud-fighting has already helped New Yorkers save a half billion dollars a year in insurance premiums. Now, the power of the marketplace is adding to the pressure to reduce rates, a move that will benefit New York businesses and consumers."
• Allstate's Liddy Gets $17.4 Million - Allstate Corp. Chief Executive Edward Liddy received compensation valued at $17.4 million in 2006 as the insurer racked up record profits during his last year running the company, according to a proxy statement filed Monday.

• MABA files legislation to enforce 1963 Consent Decree in Massachusetts - The Massachusetts Auto Body Association (MABA) has filed legislation that would enforce major provisions of the landmark federal 1963 Consent Decree within the state of Massachusetts. -- A state-by-state approach to codify relevant sections of the Consent Decree is unique and, in light of the unwillingness or inability of current federal officials to act, offers an alternative approach for those who have spent years trying to convince the U.S. Department of Justice and other federal officials to enforce the agreement, according to MABA.
• Repealing McCarran Ferguson - Back in the 1960's Don Randall was ASA's Washington legal counsel and for most of his years in that position he was always pushing for repeal of the McCarran Ferguson act, a law that gives insurers certain exemptions from anti-trust laws.
• Registration Deadline for SCRS 25th Anniversary Event Rapidly Approaching - The registration deadline for the Society of Collision Repair Specialists’ (SCRS) 25th Anniversary Celebration is on the horizon, with April 5th, 2007 being the last day that registration forms will be accepted. If you haven’t signed up yet, there’s little time left to waste. 
• CARSTAR Connecticut hosts I-CAR Mobile Qualification Test - The CARSTAR Connecticut group of repair facilities recently hosted the Inter-IndustryConference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) Automotive Steel GMA (MIG) Welding Qualification Test (SWQT) at the Berlin, Conn., CARSTAR location.
• CARSTAR announces new director of insurance relations - CARSTAR Franchise Systems has announced Jason Clark as the new director of insurance relations.
• Replacing auto parts presents problems - Aftermarket products can lower trade-in value
• Green auto repair shops grow in Tucson - It's the latest trend in protecting the environment.
• South Carolina Hearing Proves Insightful - A recent hearing about steering the South Carolina legislature provided an interesting glimpse into how different industry factions view the issue and led to, as the committee's chairman put it, "diametrically opposite viewpoints from each side." -- The first speaker was Cynthia Young from South Carolina Department of Insurance. She stated that her agency had received approximately 25-30 complaints from glass companies alleging that consumers were being steered. She said that her division had investigated these complaints and found that none of the consumers with whom she spoke were now alleging steering had taken place. "Everyone I talked with told me they were not steered," she said.
• ADCO Hires New Midwest Account Manager - Adhesive and Sealant manufacturer ADCO Products Inc., announced today that Kirk Morrison has been hired as ARG Account Manager for the Midwest.
• Volkswagen Group and Audatex Provide Estimating Accreditation - The Volkswagen Group UK (Ltd) is working with Audatex to provide its Approved Paint and Body Network with a unique, Volkswagen Group Estimator Accreditation Programme. This move is part of the Volkswagen Group’s ongoing investment in its Approved Paint and Body Network.
• TRW Automotive CEO Earns $10.38M in 2006 - TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. President and Chief Executive John Plant received compensation for 2006 that the auto parts supplier valued at nearly $10.38 million, according to a regulatory filing made Friday.
• Auto parts workers await decision on plants - As interested buyers start piecing back together the automotive parts industry, area folks are wondering whether Rantoul will be part of the puzzle.
• smart USA Launches $99 Vehicle Reservation Program - Consumers Can Reserve a smart fortwo Before They Go On Sale in 2008
• More Mustang Power: Ford Shelby GT500KR 'King of the Road' Returns in 2008 - Ford and Shelby Automobiles are at it again, this time in celebration of the fortieth anniversary of the 1968 Shelby Cobra GT500KR. This will be the most powerful Mustang to date and will once again mark Mustang as 'King of the Road.' The GT500KR will be unveiled at the 2007 New York International Auto Show in April.
• No triumphal March for auto sales - Forecast: Cars up, trucks down for U.S. carmakers
• Anger over new safety rules for cars - Federal regulators are expected to announce new stability control systems for vehicles, but critics say the rules fall far short of the protections carmakers are already installing.
• Nissan Recalls 1 Million Cube, March Cars in Japan - Nissan Motor Co. asked customers to return 1.01 million cars in Japan for repairs to defective fuel tanks, the automaker's second-biggest single domestic recall.
• OP caller threatens to kill auto CEOs - A man who left messages threatening to harm auto company executives on the voicemails of two Oakland Press employees is now facing misdemeanor charges.
• State Farm Insurance California: Customers Paying Too Much - California State Farm Auto Insurance policyholders may have paid an illegal accident surcharge if they bought their car insurance with the company any time from 1997 to 2002. The fee was charged to people who were either previously uninsured or who could not prove that they had insurance prior to buying insurance from State Farm.
• Change pushed by insurers - NC: A Senate bill seeks to strip insurance commissioner's authority to set rates