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April 30, 2008
- Bids
for Diamond Glass Due June 3 -
glassBYTEs™:
Counsel for Diamond Glass has filed a
document in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware noting
that the bid procedures order erroneously listed the deadline for bids as
June 6, but bids are actually due on June 3, 2008, at noon.
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2008 PPG Course Offerings - More Than 11,000 Students Trained in 2007
- More than 11,000 students participated in PPG Automotive Refinish
training courses in 2007. The classes, ranging in subjects from technical
training to business management and more, were held at PPG training
centers throughout North America and in affiliate locations in over 100
key markets.
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New sponsors support upcoming I-CAR meeting and its new customer-focused
role in the inter-industry - In addition to companies that have
supported I-CAR over the years, several new sponsors are backing the 2008
I-CAR International Annual Meeting and the new opportunities available at
this meeting.
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I-CAR addresses CIC with its new focus within the inter-industry -
Chairman of the I-CAR Board of Directors and interim CEO, John Edelen
addressed the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) on Wednesday, April
16, at the Crowne Plaza in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he spoke
about I-CAR’s recommitment to its core values, its recent
reorganization, and how it is moving forward with a new customer-focused
operating model.
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Arizona Street Rod Association to display vehicles at first ever Cruisin'
Night event - The 2008 I-CAR International Annual Meeting in
Scottsdale will bring a flare of exotic, hand-formed customized vehicles,
and owners for a unique show that will serve as the finale to the
three-day meeting. The public has been invited to join I-CAR,
professionals in the collision repair inter-industry,
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Branding in the high velocity economy - Last week, I gave the opening
keynote for a leading global auto collision repair group, Fix Auto, which
has locations throughout the US, Canada, the UK and France.
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Travelers and MAACO Partner to Provide Enhanced Consumer Finance Options
for Automotive Repair in Canada - Travelers Acceptance Corporation, an
independent, national consumer finance company, and MAACO Systems Canada
Inc., Canada's most popular chain of auto paint and auto body repair
system specialists, announced their strategic partnership to provide
Canadian motorists with enhanced consumer finance payment options.
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FIX AUTO Launches New Revolutionary Patented Internet Marketing
Initiatives - FIX AUTO has launched a revolutionary collision repair
website for consumers.
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AIA ADVOCATE - A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing - The Latest in Auto Repair
Anti-Steering Legislation
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Colorado Governor Issues Executive Order Targeting Greenhouse Gas
Emissions - ASA: Vehicle Emissions Regulations to Be Proposed
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CARB Announces Vehicle Retirement Program Workshop - ASA: Public
Workshop to Consider Development of Enhanced Fleet Modernization
Regulation
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Ford sees weak April auto sales - U.S. auto sales appear to have
fallen further in April after a weak first quarter, and could dip below 15
million units on an annualized basis, Ford Motor Co's chief sales analyst
said in an interview on Tuesday.
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Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com Names 2008 Subaru Impreza a Top 10 Coolest New
Car Under $18,000 - The leading provider of new-and used-vehicle
information announced their picks of vehicles. The list features kbb.com
editors' picks of vehicles that are fun, fuel efficient, practical and
with more amenities than ever before.
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Car owners skimping on maintenance, repairs - Facing high gasoline and
food prices, many motorists are holding off on expensive jobs. They may
pay the price later.
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Maryland Car Dealership Fire Causes $3M in Damage - Deputy State Fire
Marshal Joseph Zurolo says the fire started around 5:45 a.m. Saturday
inside the parts room of the 80-by-115-foot building. It took about an
hour to bring the blaze under control. The cause remains under
investigation.
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Wreck Towing Cons Growing Bolder Than Ever - Some Accident-Chasing Tow
Companies Charging Excessive And Fraudulent Fees
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To Catch A Car Thief - MO: The rising price of a few precious metals
has some body shop owners on high alert.
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Staged Car Accidents Growing Problem In N. Texas - Statistics reported
to the National Insurance Crime Bureau show since 2001 there have been
nearly 350 staged car accident schemes in North Texas alone.
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Driver Gets Ticket For Accident, Admits Fault, Insurer Won't Pay -
This story is about a man involved in a crash and the other driver
admitted fault. Police issued a ticket, but when it came time for
insurance to pay for the damage, that was another story.
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Iowa Session Ends Mixed for Insurers, Says AIA - The 82nd Session of
the Iowa General Assembly adjourned sine die on Saturday, April 26 at
approximately 2:30 a.m.
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Bipartisan Plan to Save Drivers Money on Auto Insurance Unveiled -
Legislation would offer choices, reduce cost and lower number of people
driving with no coverage
April 29, 2008
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Exit Strategies (Pt 2) - AutobodyOnline: Steps to take now – whether
you hope to leave your business in three years or 30 by John Yoswick
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Scam Artist Cons Auto Body Shop Owners - PA: Police say the owners of
two auto body repair shops were scammed by a company from Wilkes-Barre.
The owners of those shops were ordering booths to paint cars. Neither got
what they bargained for. And they fear more victims may be out there.
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I-CAR adds Ultraviolet Curing Technologies to its Online Training Library
- I-CAR and RadTech, the Association for UV and EB technology, have teamed
up to develop the I-CAR Online Training program Ultraviolet Curing
Technologies (UVC01).
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I-CAR Education Foundation Announces date for 2008 Golf Tournament
presented by Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. - The Seventh Annual I-CAR
Education Foundation Golf Tournament, sponsored by Toyota Motor Sales,
U.S.A., Inc., will take place on Thursday, July 24, 2008 in Scottsdale, AZ
at the Tournament Players Club.
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Colorado shop focuses on customers - Operating under the philosophy,
"The better way to go," ASE-certified Perkins Paint and Collision, part of
Perkins Motor City Dodge in Colorado Springs, Colo., has been satisfying
customers at its collision repair shop for more than five decades (since
1957).
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Gas prices affecting more than wallets - Troy, NY: An area auto body
shop owner said his business has slowed to the point he may be driven out
of business.
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The Other America: Not Walking Away - Just about a year ago, the
Castelluccis’ seemed to have it all. Both husband and wife were
college-educated, owned their own home, and ran a successful family
business. But, a tough local economy hit their family-owned auto-body
business hard and the customers simply stopped coming through the door.
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Auction to Bid for Diamond Glass Slated for June 5 -
glassBYTEs™:
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware approved
Diamond Glass' bid procedures for sale of the company's assets and set an
auction date of June 5.
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New NAGS Calculator to Take Effect May 12 - glassBYTEs™:
National Auto Glass Specifications International has begun
distributing its Spring 2008 Benchmark Calculator, which is set to take
effect on May 12.
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Information provider expanding - As one of those Sioux Falls
businesses that operates largely under the radar, CCC Information Services
quietly is expanding its downtown offices. -- CCC, which promotes itself
as a leading supplier of software and communications systems to the
automobile claims and collision repair industries, recently marked its
10th anniversary in Sioux Falls and has 197 employees. It's added 25 jobs
during the past year and plans to bring on eight more in the next few
months, said Jim Kenny, CCC's vice president of operations.
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BumperDoc Awards Second Automotive Reconditioning Center Franchise In
Boise, Idaho - The nation's first auto reconditioning center franchise
is announcing the sale of the company's second franchise to be opened in
the summer of 2008 in Boise, Idaho. BumperDoc Auto Reconditioning Centers
specialize in plastic bumper repair, rapid auto body repair and paintless
dent removal.
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NIC student earns first place at state competition - North Idaho
College Collision Repair Technology Student Ray Hinshaw, from Priest
River, earned first place at the annual Idaho Skills USA state competition
in Boise April 12-13.
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DuPont Performance Coatings voices support for Canadian low-VOC
legislation - DuPont Performance Coatings (DPC) supports the Canadian
government's proposed regulations to lower the volatile organic compound
(VOC) content in automotive refinish and architectural and industrial
maintenance coatings, the company said in a statement released April 26.
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PPG Names Pegg Vice President, Packaging Coatings - PPG Industries
announced the appointment of Douglas S. Pegg to the position of vice
president, packaging coatings, effective May 1.
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GM to lay off 3,550 at 4 pickup truck and SUV factories - The
dwindling U.S. auto market and an accelerating shift from trucks to cars
has brought grim layoff news to four General Motors Corp. factories.
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Ghosn on Nissan-Renault, U.S. Auto Sales - In a candid interview, the
CEO discusses smaller, greener cars and the U.S. market: "The U.S. auto
market is not going to be great again"
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Volvo recalls 65,000 cars over side-impact air bags - Ford Motor Co.
on Monday said it will recall 65,000 Volvo V70 and XC70 cars to adjust the
software that triggers the release of side-impact air bags.
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Gadgets, Gizmos and write offs - UK: Increasingly, we would rather
throw things out than get them fixed. As cars are built with more and more
gadgets, they are in danger of becoming too costly to repair, meaning
significantly more write offs.
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Insurers Boost California Economy By $27.3 Billion - California has a
$1.6 trillion economy that ranks it as a global financial power, thanks in
part to a multi-billion dollar boost from the insurance industry,
according to a new report by the Insurance Information Institute of
California.
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The Hartford Announces First Quarter Net Income Of $145 Million, Or $0.46
Per Diluted Share - Property and Casualty ongoing operations records a
combined ratio of 87.8 percent; Life assets under management grow 10
percent, including assets from the retirement plans acquisitions
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The Hanover Insurance Group Reports Strong First Quarter Results -
The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. today reported net income for the first
quarter of 2008 of $58.5 million, or $1.12 per share, compared to $63.6
million, or $1.22 per share, in the first quarter of the prior year.
April 28, 2008
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Group dents auto body ‘myths’ - Ohio: When Rick Finney, a longtime
auto body repairman, discovered his customers were not being given any
options as to accident repairs, he formed the Choice Autobody Repair Assn.
The group’s purpose is to educate consumers so they – not the insurance
company – make decisions regarding their auto repair.
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Emerging And Future Industry Trends Covered During I-CAR Meeting Technical
Presentations – Can Your Business Afford Not To Attend? - The 2008
I-CAR International Annual Meeting will be an opportunity for the industry
to not only provide feedback to I-CAR, but also receive first-hand
information from a number of vehicle manufacturers and other organizations
covering emerging technologies and trends within the industry.
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New GEICO Auto Repair Xpress Shop Now Open in Sandy, Utah - GEICO has
recently introduced its Auto Repair Xpress (ARX) program to Sandy through
Larry Miller Subaru at 10970 South State Street, to help serve local
customers with collision repairs.
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Kadel's Auto Body promotes Dan Currie - Hillsboro,OR: Don Braden,
president and CEO of Kadel's Auto Body, announces the promotion of Dan
Currie to production manager at the auto body shop on Oak Street in
Hillsboro. Currie recently completed his training at Kadel's Cascade in
Vancouver.
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Annual IGA Conference Approaches -
glassBYTEs™:
The Independent Glass Association's (IGA) annual conference and
Spring Auto Glass Show™ is fast approaching. The conference will run May
1-3 at the Cashman Center in Las Vegas, and the Spring Auto Glass Show
will take place concurrently May 2-3.
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Does your mechanic have the data needed to fix your car? - As more
independent mechanics say manufacturers deny them access to data, states
debate 'right to repair' laws.
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LETTER: Auto bill was not designed for repair shops - After reading
the April 21 story, "Local mechanics fight for auto repair information," I
was concerned that readers will be left with the wrong impression about
the true impact of this legislation. I represent the Alliance of
Automobile Manufacturers, a trade group comprising 10 automobile
manufacturers.
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Inland Empire Auto Repair Review Launches Professional Help Series of
Automotive Articles and Archive Aimed at Helping Consumers -
Automotive Professionals offer their knowledge and experience to benefit
their website visitors on such subjects as fuel economy, tire maintenance,
vehicle safety, and many other automotive related subjects. Website
visitors are invited to suggest subjects for future articles.
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Details of Environment Canada's VOC regulations now available; deadline
moved to 2010 - Canada: The collision repair industry is getting its
first look at the details of low-VOC regulations that will affect almost
all coatings and materials used in the auto refinish sector.
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Prometheus European Compound From Visomax To Be Distributed Exclusively By
SWAF - High-end Polishing System is OEM and Aftermarket Approved by
Ferrari, Aston Martin, BMW, Lotus, Mercedes Benz and Rolls Royce
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2008 Import Color Information Book Released - PPG introduced its
all-new 2008 Import Color Information Book. The book complements the
previously released 2008 Domestic Color Information Book. Together, the
two books provide comprehensive coverage of vehicles being repaired in the
United States today.
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Dupont Recognized by Toyota Motors as Champion of Paint Repair -
DuPont Refinish has been recognized for its customer support provided to
Toyota Motor Vietnam, recently winning the “champion of paint repair”
category in the Toyota Asian Skills Grand Prix held in Bangkok, Thailand.
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High times for heavy metal - Local scrap yards face competition in an
evolving market
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Jasso, overseer of Mexico's auto industry, resigns - Suarez resigned
to accept a job as managing director in Mexico of insurance claims
software company Audatex. He is responsible for Mexico and eight other
Latin American markets.
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Chrysler: Back to the midsize - 100 engineers enlisted to create
future models
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China is challenging, but promises riches to the smartest players - If
imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then to judge by the Beijing
auto show, China's local auto industry is on an unprecedented charm
offensive.
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Most Desirable New Car Features - Technology that is so innovative it
literally grabs the steering wheel and takes over is already available on
some vehicles, but it's not necessarily what consumers want.
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Consumers are not protected with Carfax - Paul Wenske’s article “Risk
of buying a rebuilt wreck won’t go away” (April 16) showed how the
fraudulent sale of rebuilt wrecked and flooded cars continues to be a
major problem.
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State sues Lempster salvage owner - NH: The state has sued a Lempster
business owner, alleging various acts of pollution at a Route 10 salvage
yard.
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Safeco CEO takes brief call at wheel - Spokesman says she pulled over
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Safeco deal must face state, federal scrutiny - Before Boston's
Liberty Mutual can swallow venerable Seattle-based insurer Safeco, the
proposed $6.2 billion deal will have to withstand scrutiny from more than
a half-dozen state and federal regulatory agencies.
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How Will Liberty's Buying Safeco Affect Other Insurers? - Liberty
Mutual Group's proposed purchase of Safeco Corp. creates a larger and
possibly more powerful competitor for other insurers, including Travelers
and The Hartford, but could also spawn sales opportunities for them,
experts said Wednesday.
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California Court Denies Allstate's Request to Avoid $250 Million Rate
Reduction - A San Francisco judge has refused Allstate's request to
block a 15.9 percent automobile insurance rate decrease. According to the
California Department of Insurance, the rate decrease should take effect
immediately, and will result in approximately $250 million in savings for
Allstate customers, or about $124 per year.
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New CFA Study Wrongly Endorses More Restrictions on Auto Insurers -
Drivers Benefit from Competition, Not Stifling Regulation, Says I.I.I.
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Insurers Boost State Economy by $27.3 Billion - California has a $1.6
trillion economy that ranks it as a global financial power, thanks in part
to a multi-billion dollar boost from the insurance industry, according to
a new report.
April 25, 2008
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Auto body repair and the economy - When Ira Hartstone got in a wreck
recently, he had a tough decision to make. Fix it, or trade it in and get
a new ride. Even though his car had close to a hundred thousand miles on
it, Ira decided to have it repaired.
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ASA Launches ‘Open for Business’ Campaign on Behalf of Independent
Repairers - Citing concerns about misinformation surrounding the
“Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act,” the Automotive Service
Association (ASA) is firing back with a campaign aimed at ensuring
consumers that independent repair shops are “Open for Business.”
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Diamond Vendor Payment Motions Approved -
glassBYTEs™:
The judge overseeing Diamond Glass' bankruptcy case in the District
of Delaware approved two motions involving payments to its vendors this
week.
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How our weakening dollar stacks up in a global economy - If you want
to see where the automotive industry is heading, it might be useful to
take a look at the textiles industry.
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3M Reports Net Income of $988 Million; Sales Increase 9 Percent to $6.5
Billion - Automotive Aftermarket abrasives for professional auto body
shops continue to outperform in a competitive market.
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Painting Plastics - Spraying composites can be a big challenge unless
you take the right approach
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San Francisco shop takes earth-friendly approach to repairing hybrids
- Luscious Garage, at 450 Clementina Street, is an earth-friendly repair
shop that works almost exclusively on hybrids.
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CollisionMax gives back to Gloucester - NJ: Donates fire detectors to
fire companies across the county
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Angel investment concept goes rural - "The networking and contacts
are invaluable," said Srack, president and chief executive officer of
Matrix Electronic Measuring Inc., which markets a photographic electronic
measuring system for the automotive collision repair industry.
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Motor Age searching the country for the Top Shops - The annual Top
Shops competition is underway, and we’re looking for the best shops in the
United States.
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Ontario gives $1.2 million in funding to struggling auto parts sector
- Economic Trade and Development Minister Sandra Pupatello announced the
investment Thursday in Windsor, Ont. The money will be shared by the
Canadian Tooling and Machining Association and the Automotive Parts
Manufacturers' Association.
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Another Automotive Parts Supplier Chooses Alabama! - Governor Bob
Riley and Auburn mayor, Bill Ham, Jr. announce German-based, Selzer
Automotive is locating in Auburn.
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Toys for big tots - 55 cars on display in annual SAE car show
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AutoUpLinkUSA Develops Search By Ownership History - Expanded
Partnership With Carfax Prioritizes Vehicle Search Results
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Manheim Unveils Alternative Energy Initiative at New Jersey Facility -
Manheim, the world's leading provider of vehicle remarketing services and
a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, Ga.,
today unveiled the installation of solar panels at its Manheim New Jersey
facility (formerly National Auto Dealers Exchange).
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April hail brings car dealership sales - TX: Several car dealerships
in the Hudson Oaks and Weatherford area posted "hail sale" signs to lure
customers Tuesday.
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Weight Reduction Vital to Helping Automakers Meet Proposed Fuel Economy
Regulations - The following comment in response to the U.S. DOT's proposed
new fuel economy standards can be attributed to Buddy Stemple, Chair of the
Aluminum Association's Auto and Light Truck Group:
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Ford reports $100-million net income in first quarter - The
Dearborn-based automaker today reported net income of $100 million, or 5
cents a share, for the first three months of the year. -- Ford hasn’t
reported a quarterly profit since the second quarter of 2007, so the news
will likely be welcomed by metro Detroit, which has watched its automotive
sector suffer and shrink in the face of foreign competition.
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Wrecked U.S. cars in demand - As the dollar sags against foreign
currencies, exporters are finding an increasing market overseas for
vehicles that can be fixed and resold at a profit.
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Mad Money On the Line: Copart CEO Willis Johnson - In keeping with his Green
Week theme, Cramer took time on Wednesday’s show to speak to the CEO of
Copart Inc., a company that recycles auto parts by way of Internet
auctions. Sound a little far fetched for a green play? It’s actually not.
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Auctions International Inc. Enters Into Alliance With Cherry Auto Inc. for
Joint Marketing of Dealer Inventory - Adds Over 5,000 Vehicle Listings
and 40 Dealers to AutoBidLive.com
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Stings target salvage yards - MO: Agencies perform ‘compliance
inspections’
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Horace Mann School awarded funding for service learning - Claudia
Chaffee and her students have received a $1,000 award to launch a
service-learning project in celebration of Global Youth Service Day, April
25, 26 and 27. Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is one
of 100 State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning Award winners chosen by
Youth Service America and funded by State Farm Companies Foundation.
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Ohio fares well in insurance study - Ohio motorists pay $669 annually
on average for auto coverage, the 39th highest rate in the country.
Nationally, the average is $829.
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Florida auto insurance hikes far outpace nation - Auto insurance rates
in Florida have climbed nearly 50 percent faster than the national
average, according to a new study.
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Study: Calif. drivers saved billions - Good news for drivers: Insured
drivers have saved nearly $62 billion in auto insurance rates over 20
years, thanks to proposition 103.
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California judge won't let Allstate delay cutting auto insurance rates
- On the same day a new study dubbed California the nation's leader in
holding the line on auto insurance rates, a judge in San Francisco denied
Allstate's bid to delay cutting its rates an average of 15.9 percent as
the insurer appeals state action ordering the reduction.
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Mich. Supreme Court limits time to sue insurers - The Michigan Supreme
Court on Wednesday struck down a legal precedent that generally gave
motorists more time to sue their insurance company for unpaid claims under
some circumstances.
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Travelers Earnings Drop 11% in 1Q - Travelers Cos. Inc., one of the
largest property insurers in the United States, said Thursday that
earnings fell 11 percent in the first quarter, as catastrophe losses in
the quarter more than doubled and investment income fell.
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Safeco profits fall for fifth quarter in a row - Safeco, the insurer
that this week agreed to be acquired by Liberty Mutual Group, said profit
fell for a fifth straight quarter as winter storms, tornadoes and the
rising cost of car crashes pushed up claims.
April 24, 2008
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Missouri Sen. Expects Delayed, But Positive, Results from Anti-Steering
Bill Hearing -
glassBYTEs™:
While Sen. Wes Shoemyer, the sponsor of an anti-steering bill in
Missouri, doesn't expect this week's public hearing to necessarily lead to
the passing of the bill, he says a dialogue began with the hearing that he
hopes will have positive results in the future.
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A welcome alliance to address cost control in auto repairs - CA: The
solution being sought is to an issue termed capping, and it is being
pursued by groups that have typically been adversaries – insurance
companies and auto body shop interests.
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ASA Publishes Shop Owner Guidelines for Easier Extended Service Plan
Processing - The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has announced a
new member benefit for ASA shop owners who accept extended warranty work
from their customers. Outlining common practices of extended service plans
(ESPs), ASA’s guidelines include a number of tips and recommendations to
help streamline the repair process and ensure a positive experience for
the customer as well as the repair facility.
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Aardvark Auto battle continues - Bruce Duque, Tina Duque, Francisco
Duque Jr., Esperanza Duque and Jonathan Wille were sued by the state in
2007, claiming fraudulent business practices. They did business as
Aardvark Auto Sales, State Street Car Co., The Motorhaus, Auto Kings, Uba
Auto Repair, Ura Auto Repair and The Car Boys.
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Kitemark achievement for garage - UK: The Kitemark is a joint
initiative between Thatcham, the home of the crash test dummies, the
British Standards Institute and vehicle repair bodyshops.
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Sustainable construction a growing trend in non-residential projects -
WI: Many area businesses currently are pursuing green policies. Examples
include: Superior Auto Body in Eau Claire claims to be the first car
repair facility in the state to use waterborne technology through PPG
Industries in the refinish process of auto body repairs. The
environmentally friendly process is the first step in a three-year
greening process new owners Dave and Cindy Savage have adopted.
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All New Paint Booth at Gino's Auto Body -
Susanville, CA: It's a state-of-the-art CMC
Concord Bake Booth.
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BASF launches new R-M waterborne product in Canada - BASF Canada has
launched a new member of its popular R-M brand. Onyx HD is a high
performance waterborne automotive refinish coating that is compliant with
upcoming Canadian environmental regulations.
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BASF Enters a Challenging 2008 with a Record First Quarter - The BASF
Group has continued on its successful path in the first three months of
2008. Having posted a further record quarter, it is confident with regard
to the coming months.
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For the Second Time Ever, Two Females Compete in Statewide Auto Repair
Championship in Houston, TX - Texas Student Techs Team Up in Houston
to Be Best in State
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St. Clair Tech Center Seniors Are Michigan's Best Young Auto Techs -
Alex Super of St. Clair and Bob McClain of Ruby, seniors at St. Clair Tech
Center, took first place in the Michigan state final of the 15th annual
Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition, held today at the Macomb
Community College Expo Center in Warren.
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Recycling Cars is Big Business - By the end of this year the
Automotive Recyclers Association predicts that 11.4 million cars will be
recycled.
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Former CFO of Keystone Automotive Operations Inc named Wolverine World
Wide chief financial officer - Wolverine World Wide Inc. named Don
Grimes senior vice president and chief financial officer, the branded
clothing wholesaler said Tuesday.
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Pep Boys appoints new CEO and CFO - In a surprise shake-up of its
leadership ranks today, Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack named a new chief
executive officer, its fourth in less than two years.
-
TIA Accepting Hall of Fame Nominations - The Hall of Fame is open to
individuals in the tire industry, including manufacturers, inventors,
publishers, equipment suppliers, tire association executives, tire
dealers, tire and rubber recyclers, and retreaders.
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AAIA Urges Congress to Say “Yes” to H.R. 5638 - Legislation Would
Amend Patent Law for Vehicle Restoration
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GM gets on the hybrid highway - General Motors is far from being a
market player with hybrid vehicles, but it may be in a position to deliver
down the road, according to some industry analysts.
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Toyota topples General Motors as global auto sales leader - There's a
new No. 1 in the auto industry. Toyota took the global automotive sales
lead from General Motors in the first quarter of 2008.
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Toyota shuffles top management - Toyota Motor Corp announced on
Thursday a reshuffling of its top management, including the assignment of
founding family scion Akio Toyoda to take on overseas on top of domestic
operations as executive vice president.
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Bradshaw Automotive owner is a finalist for Dealer of the Year award -
The American International Automobile Dealers Association announces that
William Bradshaw, owner of the Bradshaw Automotive Group in Greer, is
among five finalists for AIADA’s 2008 Dealer of the Year Award, presented
by Newsweek.
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Quarterly NADA AuctionNet(R) Summary: Used-Vehicle Prices Decline, Volume
Increases in First Quarter '08 - The average prices of used vehicles
sold at auctions declined in the first quarter of 2008 from the fourth
quarter of last year, reflecting a tightening economy and shift in demand
by dealers and consumers, according to AuctionNet(R) data released by NADA
Used Car Guide -- the industry standard in used-vehicle valuation and
information.
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California Tops in Car Theft - Some older cars like the 1989 and 1990
Toyota Camry are stolen to use the parts in fraudulent automotive repairs,
Scafidi said. Cut rate body shops often look for car parts that they can
sell on the black market to people who want to have their cars fixed for
less money than a legitimate body shop would charge.
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Toyota’s New Tundra Faces Quality Concerns - TundraHeadquarters.com, a
Toyota Tundra enthusiast Web site, announced today that a growing number
of its readers have noted rust on the chrome parts of their new and
late-model Toyota Tundra trucks. This issue, combined with Toyota’s recent
issues with rust forming on the Tacoma pickup, raises concerns that
Toyota’s quality is declining.
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Man Killed When Car Falls On Him - Omaha, NE.: A man was killed
after a car fell on top of him at a local auto body shop on Tuesday,
police said.
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Auto claims clinics hit town - Mineral Wells, TX: Several insurance
agencies are hosting car clinics to process the thousands of claims that
they've received since Thursday's hail storm. -- “They were calling within
five minutes of the hail hitting,” said Phil Luker, of State Farm
Insurance.
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AARP Efforts for Safer Roads Hits a Bump in Illinois - Legislation
Making it Easier to Take Nation's Most Successful Driver Safety Program
Greeted with Opposition from Insurance Industry
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Crawford Completes Claims Management System Integration with Xactware(R)
- Integration improves speed and efficiency of claims handling
-
Allstate 1st-qtr profit drops 77 pct - Allstate Corp , the largest
publicly traded car and home insurer in the United States, said Wednesday
first-quarter net income dropped 77 percent, hurt by larger-than-expected
catastrophe losses.
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Erie Insurance looks to more change - Erie Insurance Group, which
ranks as the nation's 20th largest property and casualty insurer, saw the
number of policies in effect during 2007 rise by 6 percent and the policy
retention rate top 90 percent. On the financial side, net income rose 4.4
percent to $212.9 million.
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Liberty Mutual Pays Up for Safeco - The 51% premium may inspire awe,
but Liberty Mutual may have a plan to improve Safeco's auto insurance
business
April 23, 2008
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New York: Car Repair Shops Can Rebate Deductibles - Allowing car
collision repair facilities to pay all or part of a deductible to an
insured does not constitute a rebate prohibited under New York law,
lawyers for the state's insurance department have said.
-
Higher Level of Satisfaction With Independent Repair Shops Than
Dealerships - According to the May 2008 issue of Consumer Reports,
more Americans (71 percent) are very satisfied with independent repair
shops for vehicle service than new car dealers (53 percent). To ensure
that car owners can continue to choose who will repair their vehicles,
Congress introduced the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act (H.R.
2694).
-
Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation Donates $2,500 To I-CAR Education
Foundation - The Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation has contributed
$2,500 to the I-CAR Education Foundation and its new mission to support
philanthropic and collision repair education activities that promote and
enhance career opportunities in the industry.
-
Female racer up to speed - Lakeisha Moore honed her skills in the body
shop and on the drag strip with help from her father and Jack Starkey,
owner of Jack’s Body Shop. Starkey recently gave Moore’s Mustang a paint
job. -- “I learned a lot from him,” Moore said. “I grew up with him, and
he is an excellent driver. He just recently painted my car and it is
beautiful.”
-
New paint - Chatham,Ontario,Canada: Tilbury Carstar Collision is in
the process of switching to "waterborn'' paints, which is becoming
mandatory in the industry. Mary Larente is office administrator.
-
Automotive shop owner approaches 40th anniversary - CA: Gary Liberti,
owner of Liberti's Automotive in southern Milpitas, has enjoyed working as
a mechanic of foreign and domestic cars for almost 37 years.
-
Diamond Needs 21st-Century Business Model, Anonymous Source Says -
glassBYTEs™:
An anonymous source, who wished to remain unnamed for fear of
reprisal, told glassBYTEs.com™/AGRR magazine that he thinks Diamond Glass'
business model is what caused the company to reach the point of filing for
Chapter 11.
-
Nordstrom's to open self-service parts center - SD: Nordstrom's
Automotive, a longtime Garretson auto parts recycling firm, announced it
is opening a self-service auto parts center called Ewe Pullet.
-
Warren Tech to auto parts training - CO: Warren Tech, a career and
technical high school for Jeffco Public Schools, has opened a CARQUEST
parts jobber store this fall as part of its auto parts specialist tract in
the Automotive Technology program.
-
Gas prices can't keep car fans away - PA: Gary Eucker, 58, attends
every one of Carlisle's big car shows, and he isn't letting gas prices
keep him away this week. -- Attendance now hits about 120,000 a year. The
82-acre fairgrounds and many surrounding properties overflow with cars,
trucks, parts and memorabilia.
-
Automotive Consumer Attitude Study Needs Participants, Win Free $25 Visa
Check Card - Hedges & Company, in partnership with Aftermarket
Business magazine has launched the 12th Annual Consumer Attitude Study to
gather information from thousands of consumers who have purchased auto
parts and accessories in the past year.
-
BASF Corporation earns Ford World Excellence Award - BASF Corporation
today announced that it received a Ford World Excellence Recognition of
Achievement Award in the area of Corporate Responsibility.
-
Renewable High Performance Polymers, Lightweighting and Design for
Reliability Highlight DuPont Automotive Presentations at SPE Automotive
Conference - New, renewable bio-based materials; materials and design
ideas to take the weight out of load-bearing components; and materials to
help ensure moving parts are designed for maximum performance and
reliability are three themes to be delivered by DuPont Automotive
technical experts at the Automotive Engineering Plastics Conference (EPCON).
-
PPG Wins 2008 Automotive News PACE Award - PPG Industries , the
world's leading manufacturer of transportation coatings, was named a 2008
Automotive News PACE Award winner for Green Logic paint detackifier. This
marks the sixth time PPG has received the award, which recognizes
automotive suppliers for superior innovation, technological advancement
and business performance.
-
Akzo says feels economic chill, shares drop - Rival U.S. paint makers
like PPG Industries and Sherwin-Williams have been hit by the sagging U.S.
housing market and weakening global economy.
-
Market spotlight: Overseas demand to help auto suppliers 1Q - With
U.S. auto sales and production still on the skids, stronger overseas
demand for auto parts and benefits from a weak U.S. dollar could add some
fuel to what might otherwise be lackluster first-quarter results for U.S.
auto suppliers.
-
Magnesium, Aluminum Will Play Big Role in Auto Weight Reduction -
Automotive engineers love the new plastics but favor lighter, thinner
metals when the rubber meets the road
-
Nippon Steel Seeks 38% Increase in Prices on Costs, Nikkei Says - The
company will ask customers such as automakers for an increase of 30,000 yen
($290) a ton, the Japanese newspaper said, citing Shoji Muneoka, president of
the Tokyo-based steelmaker. Nippon Steel spokesman Hiroshi Nakashima declined to
confirm the increase.
-
Ogihara America sells local auto supply plant - NC: Cosma, a unit of
Ontario-based Magna International Inc., said it has signed an agreement to
acquire Ogihara's 460,000-square-foot stamping and sub-assembly plant in
north Birmingham to expand its footprint in North America.
-
Axle: UAW rejected proposals - Supplier says plans paid more than
rivals; GM to restart Hamtramck plant with new parts source.
-
Ford's recovery gaining traction - Against the odds, Mulally pushes cultural
change on all fronts to move carmaker to profitability
-
Correction: Area Toyota plant is not closing - A main headline and
secondary headline for an April 18 story on the North Long Beach Toyota
plant was incorrect. The North Long Beach plant, which contains a Hino
assembly line employing more than 50 people and a Toyota parts-making
operation employing more than 600 people, is not closing.
-
Sneaky Ways To Get Better Gas Mileage - Motorists looking to save as
much as 32 cents on a gallon of gas needn't drive across state lines in
search of cheaper prices at the pump.
-
Co-operative Insurance's eco-car show launches new Ford - UK:
Co-operative Insurance has announced that Ford will debut its new
environmentally-friendly car at its Sexy Green Car Show.
-
No. 1 in auto theft: Modesto, Calif. - Insurance crime group reports
that western states still lead the nation in car theft.
-
Celebration Fizzles As Court Says It Erred In Allstate Order - FL:
State Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty was one happy man Monday - for
a few minutes, at least - after getting word that an appeals court sided
with him in barring Allstate companies from conducting new business in
Florida.
-
Judge dismisses fraud claim against State Farm - A federal judge on
Monday dismissed fraud claims against State Farm and vendor E.A. Renfroe
in a key Hurricane Katrina lawsuit that accused State Farm Fire & Casualty
Co. of altering an engineering report to minimize the loss.
April 22, 2008
-
Mitchell Announces 2008 "Full Speed Ahead!" Auto Collision Road Show -
This Year's Road Show Visits More Cities and Includes More Educational
Seminars to Help Collision Repair Technicians and Shop Owners Increase
Business Performance
-
Missouri Senate Committee to Review Anti-Steering Bill at Public Hearing -
glassBYTEs™:
The Missouri Senate's Small Business, Insurance & Industrial
Relations Committee will hold a hearing today at 1 p.m. Central Standard
Time to review a bill that would require insurers to inform vehicle owners
immediately on first contact that they have the right to choose the repair
facility of their choice to repair their vehicles.
-
Missouri Collision Industry Day at the Capitol Results in Hearing for
SB775 - Missouri Associations AASP of Missouri, ASA MOKAN and SCRS
MOKAN hosted a Day at the Capitol in Jefferson City, Missouri for the
collision industry. This was the first time that the collision repair
industry had descended on the capitol to express their concerns on issues
that impact the consumer and the independent business community.
-
Unlocking repair information access - ABRN: NASTF discusses Secure
Data Release Model with locksmiths, OEMs
-
Bill would force manufacturers to release auto repair information -
MA: Local auto mechanics are hoping the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to
Repair Act, which would grant them access to certain manufacturer
information they are not currently allowed to obtain, passes. The bill is
currently in committee in the state legislature and is expected to be
acted on by late May.
-
Mechanic fights for fix - Automakers hoard info
-
Spreading the word about right to repair - Canada: More than 130
technicians, shop owners, jobbers and affiliates from the Owen Sound area
gathered on April 9 to learn how right to repair affects their businesses
and their industry. The information session was organized by the Grey
Bruce Independent Automotive Repair Association (GBIARA).
-
Collision Repair Registrations Surge At Canada's Largest Autobody School
- A skills shortage of new collision repair technicians in Canada? Not at
Canada's largest autobody and collision damage repair technician training
school at Toronto's Centennial College.
-
Keeping the Home Furnaces Burning -
glassBYTEs™:
One of the items that took place over the past week but was little
noted was the completed purchase by Zeledyne of the Carlite glass holdings
from Ford. Mr. Robert Price, the principal investor of Zeledyne, promised
to keep the two U.S. manufacturing plants open and productive. Taking him
at his word, I would like to thank him and to offer any and all support to
him. —Neil Duffy
-
CAP says technology and rapid depreciation increase motor insurance
write-offs - UK: Their growing technological sophistication, coupled
with increasingly rapid depreciation, means cars involved in relatively
minor collisions are more likely to be written off than ever before, said
used car values specialist CAP and motor repair experts at the recent RISC
conference focusing on increasing accident repair costs.
-
DuPont Reports First Quarter Earnings Growth of Over 20 Percent -
Coatings & Color Technologies: Sales increased 6 percent to $1.6 billion
as weakness in North American motor vehicle and construction markets was
more than offset by higher USD selling price outside North America.
-
BASF Coatings trainees acquire expertise with European friends -
Trainees in the area of process technology and automotive painting from
companies in Denmark, Spain, the Netherlands and Norway met in Elgoibar,
gathering theoretical and practical experience in their areas of work that
will play a major role in their future careers.
-
Alter Trading Acquires Mississippi Salvage Yard - Alter Trading has
acquired Jake’s Auto Parts, a salvage yard based in Mississippi. The
facility will now be known as Alter Metal Recycling. Alter’s acquisition
enables Alter’s continued growth in the southern United States. -- Alter
will continue to accept all types of ferrous and non-ferrous materials
including old cars and catalytic converters.
-
American Axle strike hits 2 more General Motors factories - As the
strike at American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc. lingers into its
eighth week, workers on the picket line and even the president of the
United Auto Workers say the longer they're out, the better the settlement
they will expect.
-
FordPerformance.com brings Blue Oval enthusiasts together - Ford
enthusiasts have a new home on the 'Net today, as Ford has launched its
new FordPerformance.com website that focuses on Ford clubs and performance
aftermarket parts and accessories.
-
Seeing Double - China's Automotive Copycats
-
What's driving Toyota Canada's success? - CIO reveals all -- For Hao
Tien, CIO of Toyota Canada Inc. the two Japanese phrases Genchi Genbutsu
(go and see) and Kaizen (continuous improvement) capture it all.
-
VinSolutions.com and Visible Customer Form Strategic Alliance -
Dealers are the clear winners when VinSolutions.com's seamlessly meshed
CRM, ILM and Inventory systems carry VisibleCustomer's turnkey customer
loyalty and retention services into dealerships across the nation.
-
Carl Junction man gets 8 years for wire fraud - A Carl Junction man
was sentenced Thursday to eight years in federal prison for a wire fraud
and money laundering scheme in which he used bad checks and false
documents to buy 21 used cars at an auto auction. -- King pleaded guilty
in January 2007 to defrauding Adesa Auto Auction in Tulsa, Okla., by
bidding $215,170 for 21 vehicles at an auction in 2005, according to a
news release from U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri.
-
Police Trying to Unravel Chop Shop Organization - NV: A chop shop
operation raided by Metro Police may reach farther than Las Vegas.
Detectives now are unraveling how the massive illegal operation worked.
Police found not only parts of cars, but construction equipment inside the
warehouse.
-
Seven Arrested in Calif. for Automobile Arson, Fraud Scams - Insurance
Commissioner Steve Poizner announced the arrests of seven individuals for
their alleged involvement in automobile arson and insurance fraud. The
arrests are the result of two automobile "give-up" investigations.
-
Senator pushing bill that gets tough on insurers - Some Florida
lawmakers cast property-insurance companies as the villain. Others portray
them as the hope.
-
Committee nixes auto insurance bill - CO: The House Business Affairs
and Labor Committee on Monday killed an auto insurance bill intended to
help reimburse hospitals, doctors and ambulance companies that deal with
car accident victims.
-
GEICO honors 6 associate teams with Corporate Quality Awards - GEICO
honored six teams of associates from around the country with the company’s
highest honor, the Corporate Quality Award, during special ceremonies
today in Washington, D.C.
-
Financial Service Subcommittee Considers Insurance Reform Proposals -
ASA: The U.S. House Financial Service Subcommittee held Part III of its
hearing on insurance regulation recently. -- The purpose of the hearing
was to consider a variety of state and federal proposals on insurance
reform.
-
Rep. Kanjorski: Feds Must Learn About Insurance Before Regulating It -
A key Congressman involved in insurance regulation issues says that
Washington does not have the knowledge of the insurance industry it needs
to regulate the business and he has proposed a new federal insurance
information office to remedy the situation.
-
AXA Insurance appoints Audatex UK as its vehicle management technology
partner - The partnership between AXA and Audatex takes effect 1st
October 2008 and will see the phased implementation of a full range of
claims management solutions to AXA’s Vehicle Claims Management teams and
Approved Repairer Network.
April 21, 2008
-
Exit Strategies (Pt 1) by John Yoswick - AutobodyOnline: Steps to take
now – whether you hope to leave your business in three years or 30
-
ACH Files Objection in Diamond Case; Motions for "Setoff Rights" to be
Honored -
glassBYTEs™:
Automotive Component Holdings LLC (ACH) has filed an objection in
the bankruptcy case of Diamond Glass.
-
On the Move: Automotive - Collision Plus Auto Body Repair, which has
locations in Belleville, Swansea, O'Fallon and Glen Carbon, ranked No. 1
in the country on customer satisfaction survey compiled by the
International Network of Collision Repair Shops.
-
CARSTAR Pledges $25,000 to AMI - CARSTAR joined the Automotive
Management Institute’s (AMI’s) resource development and industry
partnership, EXCEL, with a Charter Guarantor commitment of $25,000. The
commitment to AMI will be combined with other leadership contributions to
continue AMI’s mission of providing and promoting practical business
management education tailored to the automotive service and collision
repair industry.
-
Wayne's Body Shop expands in 40th year - Wayne's Body Shop and
Collision Center, a key business fixture along Warfield Boulevard, is
celebrating its 40th anniversary with a major physical expansion. --
Through the years, Abrams has also become a Clarksville business and
community leader.
-
Cool paint job - Reflective paint and glaze can reduce the need for
A/C in your car
-
Voke Students Transform Car for Cops - Medford Vocational Technical
students in the Automotive Collision repair department have been hard at
work transforming an old corvette confiscated by the Medford Police and
used for their DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) unit into a
traditional black and white cruiser.
-
Local movement aims to allow small auto repair shops to stay competitive
- The clerk at the parts counter was a friend, so he whispered a warning
to Stan Morin. “You’ll be back.” -- He was right. Mr. Morin quickly
learned that, even though he already had paid hundreds of dollars to get
repair information and parts for a Volkswagen with a bad speedometer, he
still had to shell out $150 to learn how to reprogram the vehicle’s
computer to get the car running again.
-
MechanicAdvisor.com Announces the Release of a New and Improved Website
- Revamp of Website with new design and additions allow consumers to find
auto info with ease.
-
BumperDoc Announces Opening Of New Auto Reconditioning Center In
Escondido, California - BumperDoc is glad to announce the opening of
the first franchise location in Escondido, California on May 17th, 2008.
BumperDoc Auto Reconditioning Centers specialize in plastic bumper repair,
paintless dent removal and rapid auto body repair.
-
VW/Audi Tech Center to Open at Manheim PA - After four or five years
of planning and development, Manheim Pennsylvania is now ready to open its
new state-of-the-art technical operations center for Volkswagen
Credit/Audi Financial Services. Officials claim this new facility will be
the largest for the brands in North America.
-
Speedy Corp acquires 91 Minute Muffler outlets - An automotive repair
franchise that operates in most Saskatchewan cities will soon have a new
corporate owner after a 91-store, Canada-wide acquisition by Speedy Corp.
-
Daytona Beach-area reality show to recall glory of muscle cars -
Street rods return in high definition at Fender Mender
-
Attendees Focus On Team-Building, Personnel Management At SEMA National
Education Conference - At the recently concluded SEMA National Education
Conference, member attendees were treated to leadership and management
insights as well as employee evaluation, retention and supervision
techniques.
-
SEMA-Model Custom Vehicle Legislation Approved By Tennessee Legislature;
Moves to Governor For Signature - The Tennessee State Legislature has
approved a version of SEMA-model legislation to create a vehicle
registration and titling classification for custom vehicles. The bill
defines a custom-built car as a vehicle that is built for private use and
is not constructed by a licensed manufacturer or remanufacturer.
-
PPG still looking to sell auto glass business - PPG Industries has
fielded inquiries from potential buyers for its automotive glass business
but has yet to enter negotiations to sell the operations, which include
PPG's historic glass plant in Creighton, PPG's chairman said Thursday.
-
Rohm and Haas to up monomer production - Specialty materials company Rohm
and Haas has increased efforts to supply bulk and drum quantities of acrylate
and methacrylate hydroxyalkyl monomers, which serve a wide variety of needs
including use in automotive finishes.
-
Auto parts manufacturer to invest $2.8 million in Corunna, Mich. plant
- Machine Tool & Gear Inc., which supplies automotive companies with
machined and manufactured parts and assemblies, is making a $2.8 million
investment in its 114,000 sq. ft. facility in the Corrunna, Mich.
Industrial Park.
-
China stalls North American auto move - Long-anticipated entry delayed
several years amid regulatory hurdles; Chery and Geely to focus on booming
domestic and emerging markets
-
Nissan CEO holds to U.S. industry forecast - Nissan Motor Co. chief
executive Carlos Ghosn said on Sunday that he was not revising down his
forecast for 2008 U.S. industry vehicle sales of 15.5 million units. -- "I
don't believe it will be below this," Ghosn told reporters on the
sidelines of the Beijing Auto Show.
-
Jaguar, Land Rover CEO dies - Jaguar and Land Rover's Chief Executive Geoff
Polites, who is credited with steering the storied British luxury brands through
the sale process to India's Tata Motors Ltd., has died. He was 60.
-
Audi Works with ESI Group and HP to Advance Auto Safety Standards with
Auto Industry’s Fastest Supercomputer - Crucial in optimizing car
safety, the new system is based on ESI Group’s PAM-CRASH 2G simulation
software and an HP Cluster Platform 3000BL system, providing 15.36
teraflop/s of computing performance for crash simulation models of Audi.
The supercomputer implementation places the leading premium car
manufacturer at No. 123 on the TOP500 list of the world’s fastest
supercomputers, making it the auto industry’s fastest system.
-
Hybrid owners reach record number in U.S. - Kim Fenske drives a bus
in Colorado by day, but when he's not working, he zooms around the
mountains in a 2007 Toyota Prius.
-
BMW Facing Lawsuit Over X5 Airbags - A lawsuit filed against BMW
claims the company requires vehicle owners to keep quiet when BMW dealers
fix faulty airbags.
-
Older U.S. cars stolen - After a long-running infatuation with
Japanese makes, car thieves in Charleston are going American.
-
ICBC managers got paint jobs at shop, says former worker - ICBC
managers brought their own cars into the corporation's Burnaby auto-body
training centre for paint jobs, says a former worker.
-
Investigation into cause of fire at Oceanside body shop - A fire
Saturday at the Novak Body Shop in Oceanside has been deemed unsuspicious,
but the Nassau County Arson/Bomb squad is continuing an investigation into
the cause.
-
Fight Over Cruisers' Paint Job Not Just a Black-and-White Issue - MD:
What started as a simple request for a new paint job for the Calvert
County Sheriff's Office cruisers has turned into a sharp battle between
the county's legislative body and its top law enforcement official.
-
AG says local lawyers and chiropractors conspired on bogus crashes -
Andover attorney James Hyde and North Andover chiropractor Michael Kaplan
were in Salem Superior Court yesterday because they allegedly had too much
in common — four car accidents that the state attorney general's office
says were phony.
-
Improve driving skills at auto accident prevention course - OK: In an
effort to make the roads, streets and highways in Washington County and
the surrounding area safer for everyone and help members and others save
money on their auto insurance, the Washington County Farm Bureau members
organization is hosting an Auto Accident Prevention Course that is open to
all people of driving age and those preparing to drive soon.
-
Allstate records raise yet more questions - Lawyers and consumer
advocates say consultant's documents from Allstate lift the curtain on
some of the insurance giant's procedures, but they still would like more
details.
April 18, 2008
-
Rep. Lofgren Introduces Bill to Lower Cost of Vehicle Repair Parts -
Washington, D.C. –Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) recently introduced H.R. 5638, a
bill creating an exemption for repair parts in U.S. patent law. This bill
applies only to repair and replacement parts that restore an article’s
original appearance.
-
AGC Restructures, Plans to Focus on Auto Glass and Solar Cell Operations
-
glassBYTEs™:
Asahi Glass Co. Ltd. (AGC) has announced that it will stop operations
on three float glass production lines and two architectural coating lines
from April to December of this year, and will sell the glass fabrication
business.
-
PPG MVP Business Development Training Series receives new accreditations
- PPG Industries’ automotive refinish business announced today that the
MVP Business Development Training Series has been approved for inclusion
in both the I-CAR Industry Training Alliance™ and The Automotive
Management Institute (AMI). The MVP Business Development Series includes
courses encompassing all aspects of managing a profitable collision repair
business, from marketing and estimating to administration and production.
-
I-CAR Addresses CIC With Its New Focus Within The Inter-Industry -
Chairman of the I-CAR Board of Directors and interim CEO, John Edelen
addressed the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) on Wednesday, April 16,
at the Crowne Plaza in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he spoke about I-CAR’s
recommitment to its core values, its recent reorganization, and how it is
moving forward with a new customer-focused operating model.
-
Right to Repair Video - ASA Taking the Hill
-
Helping car customers after collisions - Corlett Auto, which has been
in business in Madison County for 25 years, is part of the Collision
Repairers for Consumer Choice, a new organization created to educate
Alabama consumers in need of collision repair.
-
CCC Hastings Student Receives NABA/J. D. Casey Scholarship - A
Hastings, Nebraska collision repair student was awarded the NABA - J.D.
Casey Scholarship for outstanding student of collision repair technology.
-
Farmers Insurance Circle of Dependability Shops to Use AutocheX for
Customer Satisfaction Indexing - Mitchell International, a leading
provider of performance management solutions to the automotive insurance
claims and collision repair industries, today announced the launch of a
customer satisfaction measurement program with Farmers Insurance Exchange.
AutocheX, Mitchell's voice-of-the-customer performance management unit,
will implement and manage the program.
-
Len’s Automotive in Bellevue Earns AAA Top Shop Award - Each year, AAA
Washington evaluates the quality of repair work, courtesy of employees,
and the shop cleanliness of each AAA Approved Auto Repair facility in
Washington and northern Idaho.
-
PPG first-quarter profit hurt by acquisition costs - U.S. paints and
coatings maker PPG Industries Inc said on Thursday quarterly earnings fell
because of one-time costs related to its SigmaKalon acquisition.
-
PPG chairman notes accelerated transformation, record sales at annual
meeting - PPG Industries’ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Charles
E. Bunch discussed steps the company took in 2007 to become a more focused
coatings and specialty products company at its annual meeting of
shareholders today.
-
Solera Holdings, Inc. Schedules Third Quarter Fiscal 2008 Earnings Announcement and Conference Call - Solera Holdings, Inc., an
integrated group of leading automotive claims solutions companies, today
announced that it will release its financial results for the third quarter
of fiscal 2008 on Thursday, May 8, 2008 after the market closes. A
conference call will be hosted by Tony Aquila, Solera's founder, chairman
and CEO, and Jack Pearlstein, the Company's CFO, at 5:00 p.m. EDT that
afternoon.
-
Auto parts supplier Dana names ex-Toyota executive as CEO - Gary
Convis, who served as chairman of Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Kentucky
before retiring last year, will take over a company that emerged from
bankruptcy protection in January following nearly two years of
restructuring.
-
GM says auto parts won’t be a problem - A General Motors executive
said he does not foresee problems obtaining parts to keep producing the
hot-selling Chevrolet Malibu amid a strike at American Axle &
Manufacturing.
-
GM faces strike at key crossover plant - Yet another labor dispute disrupted
General Motors production plans on Thursday, but this time it wasn't a few
thousand blue-collar workers at some other company throwing a wrench into the
supply chain.
-
Toyota to close Long Beach truck factory - Hino commercial line, which
employs about 700 and also makes parts for other models, will move to West
Virginia.
-
Carroll Shelby Receives the Automotive Executive of the Year Lifetime
Achievement Award and Tells 200 Industry Leaders that 'The Greatest Time
is Right Now' for American Automotive - The 2008 Automotive Executive
of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to design innovator
and racing legend, Carroll Shelby, at the Detroit Athletic Club (DAC) on
April 16. The Award is sponsored by DNV Certification and the Automotive
Industry Action Group (AIAG).
-
Study: Auto collision, lane departure systems show promise - Collision
warning systems and lane departure alerts are among the most promising new
safety technologies and could potentially prevent thousands of fatal
accidents, according to a new study by an insurer-funded group.
-
Court document alleges how auto fraud scam worked - MA: Chris Ortega
claims he and other "runners" could make $300 for picking up patients from
crashes that never happened and driving them in his van to Haverhill
Family Chiropractic. After getting paid in cash by Dr. Troy Wheelwright,
he said the clinic owner would ask questions about the accident report and
instruct him to make sure the crash participants knew where they were
"injured."
April 17, 2008
-
Rhode Island legislature targets discounts on deductibles - The Rhode
Island legislature is considering a new bill that would give the state the
power to revoke or deny the license of a body shop that offers customers
rebates or discounts to offset their insurance policy deductibles.
-
Bill to give choices on auto repair lacks teeth - CA: Key provisions
stripped from state proposal to let drivers, not insurance companies, pick
shops
-
Collision Repair Association of California Video for SB 1059 - See what
you can do.
-
Lubner Says Belron "Has Interest" in Purchasing Diamond -
glassBYTEs™:
Gary Lubner, chief executive officer of the United Kingdom-based
Belron, the largest auto glass company in the world, said his company is
exploring the possible purchase of Diamond Glass in the United States. "We
do have some interest in looking at it," said Lubner, in an exclusive
interview with glassbytes.com™/AGRR magazine last evening. "We haven't
gotten any more information than anyone else at this point, but we will
see whether or not we can move that forward."
-
ASA Announces Benefit Agreement with NPC to Offer Credit Card Processing
- The agreement includes special pricing for eligible ASA member
businesses. NPC is exclusively focused on small- and medium-sized
merchants with services that include the electronic acceptance of credit,
debit, gift and loyalty cards, and electronic checks.
-
CCIF announces partnership with Skills Canada - At various Canadian
Collision Industry Forum (CCIF) meetings during the last 18 months Skills/Compétences
Canada and concerned industry representatives have discussed the need and
the opportunity for involvement in the skills competitions organized by
Skills/Competences Canada.
-
Insurers Can Use Web to Speed Auto Repairs, Scene Genesis Writes -
Insurers can leverage the power of the Web and online communities by
involving customers as an active part of the repair process and letting
them select their autobody shop online, Chrisa Hickey, director of product
management with Scene Genesis, Inc., writes in the April 14 National
Underwriter.
-
'Green' business plants roots in town - NE: A new auto collision repair
center has opened in Papillion.
-
PPG names Single Source, Inc., Platinum Distributor of the Year - PPG
Industries’ automotive refinish business honored Single Source, Inc., of
Roswell, Ga., with the PPG Platinum Distributor of the Year Award during the
annual PPG Platinum Distributor Conference at the Green Valley Ranch Resort
in Las Vegas
-
BASF Coatings Earns PACE Honorable Mention - BASF Coatings Solutions
today announced that it received an Automotive News PACE (Premier
Automotive Suppliers’ Contribution to Excellence) honorable mention at a
ceremony held April 14 in Detroit. The 14th annual PACE Award is jointly
presented by Automotive News, Microsoft, SAP and Transportation Research
Center Inc.
-
Parts suppliers unite against counterfeiting - A number of
international automotive parts supplier associations have come together to
issue a statement of cooperation on safeguarding against counterfeiting
and intellectual property rights violations (IPR) in the global automotive
industry.
-
Doyle bill aims to deter theft, sale of catalytic converters - RI: At
an average cost of $300 each, automobile catalytic converters are becoming
a hot commodity, with the emphasis on the word hot. -- In news story after
news story, from New England to the west coast, indications are that more
and more thieves are targeting the converters, reselling them to chop
shops or other disreputable parts dealers and making a significant amount
of money, if only for the precious metals contained in the converters.
-
General Motors is organizing 8 brands into 4 divisions - General
Motors Corp. is organizing its eight brands into four divisions in order
to streamline product development and sales and further differentiate the
brands, the automaker announced Wednesday.
-
Honda Plans Exports of U.S.-Built Pilot SUV to Russia - Honda Motor
Co., aiming to boost North American plant production rates, will ship
Pilot sport- utility vehicles built in Alabama to Russia, the first U.S.
model the carmaker will export to that growing market.
-
Funding For a Toyota Center Study is Pending - WA: On Tuesday night
Kennewick's City Manager Bob Hammond asked the council to consider using
$250,000 of this year's budget to start the first stages of a future project.
-
GM moving OnStar call center to Pontiac - General Motors is moving an
OnStar call center with a staff of 600 to the south side of Pontiac.
-
Huge Recall, but Many Cars Unfixed - After six recalls to correct
problems with millions of Ford Motor Company cruise-control switches
blamed for almost 1,500 fires, the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration took an unusual step. In February, it issued a consumer
advisory urging owners whose vehicles had not yet been fixed to have the
switches disconnected immediately.
-
Honda Recalls 353,000 U.S. Accords to Fix Windshield-Wiper Flaw -
Honda Motor Co., Japan's second- largest automaker, is recalling 353,000
Accord sedans in the U.S. to fix a windshield-wiper flaw that may allow
water to leak into the wiper motor, eventually disabling it.
-
Hyundai Recalling Cars - Car maker Hyundai is recalling nearly 400,000
Sonata passenger cars. The company says it needs to fix a problem with the
air bag system. The recall affects 2006 to 2008 Sonatas with an advanced
air bag system.
-
Report: Some auto safety gear's value limited - Some pricey new safety
gear that automakers have billed as technological breakthroughs that will
save lives may have only limited protective value, the Insurance Institute
for Highway Safety concludes in a report out Thursday.
-
Risk of buying a rebuilt wreck doesn't go away - Lance Scott shelled
out $14,900 plus $1,475 for an extended warranty when he bought a used
Ford Explorer in 1994. -- It took nearly a decade of negotiations and
lawsuits, but last month a Jackson County jury ordered a dealer to pay
Scott $300,000 in punitive damages following testimony that a salesman
knew the Explorer was totaled in a rollover, but hid that fact from Scott.
-
ICBC shop problems covered up - Victoria,BC,Canada: Friends and
relatives as well as ICBC employees and managers purchased vehicles from
ICBC's research and training facility, the corporation's chairman said in
a letter to the B.C. government Wednesday.
-
AIA Opposes Prior Approval Bill In Colorado - A bill before the
Colorado House of Representatives (HB 1389) would change the insurance
rating system from file-and-use to prior approval for auto insurance,
thereby reducing competition in the auto insurance market and potentially
increasing costs for Colorado consumers, said the American Insurance
Association (AIA).
-
Congressional Hearing to Explore Federal Oversight of Insurers - A
congressional panel will hear testimony today on a plan endorsed by
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Allstate Corp. that would simplify
industry regulation and eliminate most oversight by the 50 U.S. states.
April 16, 2008
-
CA Factory Parts Bill 1059 Gets Boost As Bill Passes After An Amendment
Toughens its Provisions - Autobody News: Despite howls of protest from
lobbyists representing insurers and aftermarket companies, the California
Senate Judiciary Committee not only approved the CRA-sponsored SB 1059, it
also added new muscle to the bill.
-
Ohio Governor Announces Board Appointments - Governor Ted Strickland
recently announced the appointments four new board members to the Ohio
Board of Motor Vehicle Collision Repair Registration.
-
Nebraska Autobody Association Builds Unique Legislative Momentum - The
Nebraska Autobody Association (NABA) announced that it will continue to
build on its legislative momentum that began with a briefing at the State
Capitol that was attended by of over half of all Nebraska senators.
-
Auto center, restaurant try to be environmentally friendly - Dan
Sullivan of DJ Sullivan Collision Center on Route 139 has been making
little changes at his auto body shop, and the new one he’s building a few
doors down, that add up to big changes for the environment.
-
Zeledyne Plans to Make Glass "Core Business," New CEO Says -
glassBYTEs™:
Zeledyne LLC, which company officials announced yesterday had purchased
Ford Automotive Components Holdings glass business and its plants, plans
to make glass its "core business," Michael McCarney, the chief executive
officer (CEO) for the Tulsa-based company, told glassBYTEs.com™/AGRR
magazine today.
-
San Diego Auto Body Shops Cited for Widespread Labor Violations - The
Labor and Workforce Development Agency today announced that Economic
Employment Enforcement Coalition (EEEC) investigators issued 41 citations
for labor violations – with fines totaling more than $226,000 – in a
recent sweep of 28 San Diego auto body businesses.
-
Auto shop owner pleads guilty to bilking customers - VA: Charles E.
Perry Jr., 45, of Suffolk, admitted in court that he used his All Tune and
Lube auto repair shops as a conduit for fraudulent activities, including
stealing customers' identities for financial gain and performing deceptive
repair jobs.
-
Copart Adds Fourth Facility in Missouri - Copart, Inc. announced the
acquisition of Bob Lowe’s Salvage Pool in Sikeston, Missouri. This latest
addition to Copart’s growing footprint marks the company’s fourth facility
in Missouri, the 130th facility in North America, and the 145th facility
world-wide.
-
New Innovative Training for the Auto Recycler - The Automotive
Recyclers Association’s Educational Foundation (ARAEF) has added two new
innovative training programs to its online university.
-
Audatex Training Academy Introduces Effective Management Course for
Bodyshops - UK: The first of the Audatex Training Academy’s management
development courses is aimed at progressive bodyshops and their leaders or
leaders of the future; focusing on developing business and management
skills, both intellectually and commercially. Areas covered by the course
include: managing performance, the principles of finance, recruitment and
discipline, and customer care.
-
Two Industry Representatives to Serve on Diamond Unsecured Creditors
Committee -
glassBYTEs™:
The U.S. Department of Justice's Office of the United States
Trustee for the District of Delaware has created a "Committee of Unsecured
Creditors" in Diamond Glass's bankruptcy case, filed on April 1. Among the
five people chosen for the committee are two glass industry
representatives, Jacqueline Lumley of the SIKA Corp., and Jeffery Bowman
of Pilkington North America Inc.
-
Tire Industry Association Strongly Supports Passage of 'Right to Repair'
Legislation - Servicing Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) Requires
Ready Access to Repair Information
-
Sterling St. Thomas begins using PPG paints - Daimler Trucks North
America has selected PPG Industries, Inc. for OEM and aftermarket paint
needs for heavy-duty truck production at the Sterling St. Thomas Plant.
-
Magna exec predicts more suppliers will fail - The co-CEO of North
American auto parts giant Magna International Inc. said Monday that
deteriorating market conditions will accelerate auto supplier failures.
-
Parts and systems fine-tuned; firms will go green gradually - The
engineers, designers and pitchmen at this year's SAE International World
Congress are going green piece by piece.
-
Chery Auto, Chrysler Are in Talks on China Venture - Chery Automobile Co.,
China's largest maker of own-brand cars, and Chrysler LLC are in talks about
forming an automaking venture to tap demand in the world's second-biggest
vehicle market.
-
Forest Hills Ford dealership closing - PA: Biondi Parkway Ford is
closing down. -- The Biondi family has decided to sell its Ford franchise,
located at 475 Ardmore Boulevard in Forest Hills near the Parkway East,
back to the Ford Motor Co. at the end of this month. Ford plans to close
the dealership as part of a nationwide consolidation strategy.
-
Feds Probe Unintended Acceleration in Toyota Sienna Minivan - Missing
retainer pin can cause problems
-
California judge approves settlement compensating 800,000 Ford Explorer
owners - A California judge on Tuesday approved the settlement of a
class-action lawsuit that will compensate about 800,000 Ford Explorer
owners whose vehicles lost value because of a perceived rollover danger.
-
Head of Auto Safety Division Is Transferred - A Maryland State Police
commander who said he was ordered to reinstate the license of a Prince
George's County automotive inspection station has been reassigned, a
police spokesman confirmed yesterday.
-
OnStar system stops stolen cars in their tracks - Several police
officers tried out as car thieves Tuesday as part of a demonstration of a
new anti-theft system that can stop stolen vehicles during a pursuit.
-
Allstate seeks rehearing on suspension - Allstate Corp. asked a
Tallahassee appeals court late Monday to rehear its suspension by Florida
regulators. -- Until the court completes the rehearing, Allstate can
continue to write new policies. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
has until Wednesday to file its reply with the court.
-
House passes auto insurance bills - MI: The Democrat-led state House
has passed bills supporters say could make auto insurance more affordable
for some Michigan residents. -- The bills approved Tuesday would give
state regulators power to order refunds if it's determined that customers
have been overcharged. Customers also would have more leeway to sue
insurance companies for code violations.
April 15, 2008
-
I-CAR Returns to Its Roots as It Works With The Collision Industry -
Under the leadership of Chairman of the I-CAR Board of Directors and
Interim CEO, John Edelen, I-CAR staff members are joining forces with the
collision repair inter-industry as the nearly 30-year-old organization
re-examines its commitment to those it serves.
-
New Auto Body Frame Machine Rolled Out: Signature Hybrid Combines Features
Most Wanted by Auto Body Shops - CJJ, Inc. has announced its latest
innovation in auto body repair equipment -- the Signature Hybrid frame
machine. The automotive frame straightener takes its inspiration from
previous designs, combining the most desirable features in a machine with
versatility and pulling power.
-
Body shop likes green - When they opened in March 2006, CrashMaster
installed a water-borne paint system that emits fewer volatile organic
compounds than traditional solvent-borne paints.
-
Auto Body Shop Going Green - Superior Auto Body of Eau Claire is
switching to water-based paints for cars. -- Using water-based paints is
already mandatory in California and Canada. The switch is part of a
three-year plan for the auto body shop to go completely green, from
lighting to recycling.
-
Is the independent automotive service and repair industry recession proof? -
ASA President's Blog: While we’re not officially in a recession, the
mainstream media seems intent on declaring we will be soon. In the past,
our industry was deemed “recession proof,” but the market is certainly
more complex today than in years past.
-
What downturn? - For healthy, recession-proof companies like Santa
Rosa's G&C Auto Body, now's the time to expand.
-
End of the road comes later for cars - Call car repair shops and each
one has another story about the economy's impact on their business. --
Drivers are hanging on to their cars longer.
-
Teaming up to find a cure - TX: Christian Brothers Automotive on
Atascocita Road is teaming up with the Avon Bluebonnet Crusaders to help
find a cure for breast cancer. -- From now through the end of April, they
are donating 8 percent of the labor for automotive work done at their
Atascocita location.
-
For vehicles, a brutal winter season - NH: This winter's weird weather
that included near-record snow has laid waste to many roads in the Lakes
Region and area automotive repair facilities are saying motorists are
being hit in the wallet as a result.
-
Body shops busy after storm - MS: The storm slammed Joel Lofton's
Ridgeland business, like many others, on Friday afternoon but the
aftermath didn't hit until Monday.
-
“Get Under the Hood” Marketing - AutobodyOnline: If you've ever worked
on the mechanical side of the auto repair industry, you know that most
people don't really want to know what's under the hood.
-
AAA Says Car Costs Are Up - AAA has some new information out about how
much it actually costs you to drive your car each year. Dealerships in the
area are already seeing a big shift in what their customers want.
-
Freedom suit aimed at auto repair shop - PA: Freedom borough has sued
an auto repair and towing company, claiming the business owner keeps junk
vehicles in violation of the borough code.
-
Zeledyne Announces Purchase of ACH -
glassBYTEs™:
Zeledyne announced today the purchase of Ford Motor Company
Automotive Components Holdings (ACH) glass business and its plants in
Nashville, Tenn., and Tulsa, Okla., its subsidiary Vidriocar in Ciudad
Juarez, Mexico. Also included are the leases for a warehouse in Lebanon,
Tenn., and engineering offices in Allen Park, Mich.
-
IGA Annual Conference & Spring Auto Glass Show Pre-Registration Closing
Friday -
glassBYTEs™:
Pre-registration for the 2008 Independent Glass Association (IGA)
Annual Conference and Spring Auto Glass Show™ will close this Friday,
April 18. The event will be held May 1-3 at the Cashman Center in Las
Vegas.
-
Guardian Industries to buy Siegel-Robert Automotive - Siegel-Robert
Automotive claims to be the largest plastic chrome-plating company in the
world and the No. 1 producer of plastic chrome-plated parts in North
America. The business produces decorative trim products for automotive and
non-automotive customers. It also is a leader in chrome-plated and painted
door handles.
-
BC Insurance Company Hosts Autobody Career Fair - Facing an impending
shortage in the autobody industry, the Insurance Corporation of British
Columbia (ICBC) has teamed up with the College of New Caledonia's (CNC)
Career Technical (CTC) program and local business partners to attract
students into the field.
-
Dupont Performance Coatings Supplies Global Skills Competition - DuPont
Performance Coatings (DPC) recently supplied the 39th WorldSkills
International Competition in Shizuoka, Japan, with Standohyd® -- a
waterborne basecoat system -- and additional products as one of its
special suppliers.
-
Tremblay becomes manager of refinish business at DuPont - Mario
Tremblay has been promoted to the role of refinish business manager at
DuPont Performance Coatings (DPC) Canada. Tremblay takes over the position
from Brian Edwards, who has been managing the Refinish Business as well as
his role as DPC Canada country manager.
-
BASF Coatings’ paint brand continues BioConcept car sponsorship in 2008
- Smudo’s super racer hits the track in R-M finish for another year –
successful start into new racing season
-
Henkel Aquence(TM) Coating Systems Meets Challenging California
Environmental Standards - Coating technology approved for use in Thule
Towing Systems California facility
-
Akzo Nobel U.S. unit raises surfactant prices - Dutch industrial group
Akzo Nobel N.V. said its surfactants America unit will raise prices, with
amines and some derivatives increasing $0.05 to $0.40 per pound.
-
Ford Scientists Look to Nanotechnology for Performance, Fuel Economy
Improvements - Ford scientists are embracing the burgeoning fields of
nanotechnology in developing paints, plastics, light metals and catalysts
that allow Ford to reduce vehicle weight and improve fuel economy without
sacrificing quality.
-
Wade Houston to speak at Global Automotive Conference - Wade Houston,
executive vice president of Houston-Johnson Inc., has been added as a keynote
speaker at the 2008 Global Automotive Conference. -- Other speakers for the
event include Mark Fields, president of American operations for Ford Motor Co.;
Ralph Gilles, a vehicle designer for Chrysler; and Ron Gettelfinger, president
of the United Auto Workers.
-
Panel kicks off SAE International conference in Detroit - Automakers and
suppliers are working furiously to increase fuel efficiency and reduce costs in
all facets of their companies, executives said Monday at the kick-off of the
annual auto engineering conference at Cobo Center.
-
Cherokee, DeKalb teams entered in auto skills competition - AAA and
Ford are giving high school students the keys to start their careers in
the automotive repair industry as they team up to test students’
automotive knowledge and technical skills.
-
Chrysler, Nissan broaden auto ties - Detroit carmaker will build truck
for Nissan, which will make small car for Chrysler.
-
Tesla Motors Files Suit Against Competitor Over Design Ideas - Tesla Motors,
the Silicon Valley maker of electric sports cars, filed suit in San Mateo
Superior Court on Monday against a competing company and two of its employees,
saying they stole some of Tesla’s design ideas and trade secrets.
-
Plant Tour: Building The Ultimate Shelby Mustang - It’s like the
1960’s all over again in a modest looking warehouse complex at the
intersection of Speedway Boulevard and Interstate 15 in Las Vegas. The
only indication that something special goes on here is the word “SHELBY”
in blue letters at the top of the building. The more you look around you
begin to notice an abnormally high ratio of Shelby Mustangs parked around
the place. You are at the center of modern day Shelby history.
-
The Top Drops on Convertible Sales - "Feel-good" cars like
convertibles fall to the bottom of the priority list during an economic
downturn
-
Volkswagen not ashamed of labelling 2009 Jetta a 'wagon' - Vehicles
that ride and handle like sedans but offer more space for cargo than one
would find in a typical car's trunk are the hot items in the Canadian
market. The segment is broadly called crossovers, but marketing spin
masters are having a field day dubbing these vehicles all manner of names
and acronyms. Let's call these models what they really are: wagons.
-
BMW's MyInfo connects your Bimmer to Google Maps - Google Maps users
are familiar with the direction getting process: enter your starting and
ending locations, let Google Maps calculate your route, and then wait for
the directions to print out or - more commonly - hastily scribble them
down on the back of the nearest scrap of paper and hope you can read it
whilst driving. A new service called MyInfo from BMW and Google Maps is
making that process much less time consuming and more reliable.
-
Airbags, seat belts, helmets can save lives - If Benton firefighter
David Moore had his druthers, his driveway would be lined with Toyota
Priuses.
-
IIHS study contradicts government on roof crush—more lives could be saved
- Consumer Reports: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has
recently published a report looking at vehicle roof strength and its
relation to protecting people in rollover crashes.
-
Methuen towing company worker charged with insurance fraud - MA: An
employee of Martineau's Towing Service created bogus invoices for towing
and rental costs totaling $11,000 after a company vehicle was involved in
a crash a year ago, police said.
-
Minn. lawmakers OK compromise on suing home, auto insurers - The
Minnesota Legislature has approved a compromise bill giving consumers more
clout in court when they disagree with their home and auto insurance
companies.
April 14, 2008
-
CCC Information Services and Mitchell International to Merge -
glassBYTEs™:
CCC-Mitchell Inc. to Focus on Enhancing Value for Customers Through
Increased Innovation and Network Connectivity
-
Herrera Expects Mitchell Merger to Bring Limited Changes (If Any) to NAGS
-
glassBYTEs™:
Mitchell International, the parent company of National Auto Glass
Specifications International (NAGS), announced the signing of a definitive
agreement under which they will combine in a merger-of-equals transaction
valued at $1.4 billion this afternoon. Jesse Herrera, senior vice
president of product management and marketing, told glassBYTEs.com™/AGRR
magazine that few, if any, changes are expected for the NAGS business.
-
Collision Repair Registration Enforcement Update
- The Ohio Board of
Motor Vehicle Collision Repair Registration and Attorney General Marc
Dann’s Office filed injunctions on twenty-three separate collision repair
facilities in late 2007.
-
Florida Autobody Shops Invited to Join US Launch of Web Referral Network
- Membership in SceneExchange from Scene Genesis Helps Shops Win More Jobs
-
Sam Malatesta to Moderate Body Shop Panel at 2008 PBES Spring Conference -
Sam Malatesta, president, Malatesta Capital Corp., Toronto (ON), Canada,
will moderate the Body Shop Panel at the 2008 Paint, Body and Equipment
Specialists (PBES) Spring Conference, May 12-14, at the Embassy Suites
Hotel Phoenix-Scottsdale in Phoenix, Ariz. Malatesta will be sponsored by
BASF Automotive Refinish Solutions.
-
AAIA Elects New Officers and Board of Directors - The Automotive
Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) elected its new officers and board
of directors for 2008-2009 at its Spring Leadership Days, April 9-11, in
Bonita Springs, Fla.
-
South of the Border Support For Right to Repair - Following the
announcement of two new sponsors last week, the Motor Vehicle Owners'
Right to Repair Act (HR 2694) gained three more supporters this week; it
was announced today by Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO of the
Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA).
-
Cordova Automotive Shop Sells for $1.8 Million - The Christian
Brothers Automotive service center property at 2859 Houston Levee Road,
just south of U.S. 64 in Cordova, has sold for $1.8 million. The deal
closed March 31.
-
Offutt Collision Repair Adds Rapid Delivery Service to Decrease Cycle Time
- Collision-Insight: In an effort to further decrease cycle times, Offutt
Collision Repair, in Nebraska, has added a Rapid Delivery Service to
include technicians repairing vehicles until 2:00 am. Because OCR’s
production is set up in an assembly line manner, night shift technicians
are literally able to pick up where the day shift leaves off.
-
New auto body shop opens its doors - IA: Jeff Waddell, owner of the
Shenandoah Collision Center has the experience and equipment to make an
old beater look new.
-
AASP-MN Names Scholarship Recipients - AutobodyOnline: The Alliance of
Automotive Service Providers, Minnesota (AASP-MN) is pleased to announce
that the following students have been selected to receive a $500.00
scholarship award to support their continued studies in the automotive
industry:
-
WNS Assistance Recognizes Best Auto Repair Companies - Leading
specialist insurance BPO services provider honours South of England
bodyshops for excellence in accident management service
-
Krantz joins solar surge - 'Wave of the future' effective even in
snowy Wisconsin -- Mike Willett, owner of Dependable Carstar, said H and H
Electric of Madison installed a solar-powered system about two years ago
that heats water using a system of tubes atop his 221 Paoli St. shop.
-
Pair decides they had 'better get Maaco' - Having a well-established
business and firm knowledge of the industry has helped the new owners of
Maaco Collision Repair and Auto Painting make a smooth transition from its
previous owner.
-
Diamond Petitions to "Incentivize" Senior Management to Tune of $656,000
-
glassBYTEs™:
Diamond Glass has filed a motion for an order "authorizing payment
of incentive pay to senior management." The motion will be reviewed at the
next scheduled hearing in the case on April 24.
-
Women squeezed by SBA's cash crunch - To serve the fast-growing ranks
of female business owners like Kathy Macias, who runs a Riverside auto
repair shop, the Small Business Administration has added more than two
dozen assistance centers in the last two years.
-
Environment Tops Cost as Top Auto Industry Challenge - A new survey
conducted by DuPont and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) shows
that environmental issues top the list of challenges facing the automotive
industry, outranking cost reduction for the first time in 14 years.
-
Valeo CEO rejects fund's break-up proposal - French car parts group
Valeo on Friday rejected a break-up proposal mooted by its biggest
individual shareholder as a bad idea lacking industrial logic.
-
Dealer fees must hit the road, car buyers say - Note to Florida car
dealers and legislators: Car buyers are fed up with dealer fees.
-
Consumer Advocates Criticize Allstate's Claims Practices - A
California consumer advocate group is condemning Allstate for allegedly
"systematically underpaying claims to policyholders, or forcing them into
protracted court battles to secure a fair settlement."
April 11, 2008
-
Fight to Protect Your New Car Warranty From Insurers - Collision
Repair Association of California: Fight to Protect Your New Car Warranty
From Insurers Who Want to Repair Your Car with Non-Factory Parts. Support
SB 1059 by State Senator Carole Migden. -- The State Senate Judiciary
Committee will vote on SB 1059 on Tuesday, April 15 at 1 p.m. in Room 112
of the State Capitol.
-
More Congressional Support for 'Right to Repair' - Following the
announcement of two new sponsors last week, the Motor Vehicle Owners'
Right to Repair Act (HR 2694) gained three more supporters this week; it
was announced today by Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO of the
Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). Reps. Richard Neal
(D-MA), Carol Shea (D-NH) and Ike Skelton (D-MO) have joined a growing
list of the bill's sponsors.
-
Low Cost Repair Shops Working With Insurers: Drivers' Options or
Substandard Work? - Auto body shop owners say insurance companies are
improperly steering drivers towards low-cost repair shops that work with
insurers.
-
NASTF Plans Secure Data Release Model (SDRM) Panel at Spring Meeting -
The National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) has scheduled a
discussion panel for the Spring General meeting to address questions
regarding the new Secure Data Release Model (SDRM), which was released
January 1, 2008. The Spring meeting will be held on April 15 at 2:00 pm in
the Mackinac East/West Room at the Marriott Renaissance Center, Detroit,
MI.
-
Emergency Hearing Held in Diamond Case to Review TPA Motion -
glassBYTEs™:
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware held an
emergency hearing this morning in the case of Diamond Glass Inc.'s
petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 to review a supplement to
Diamond's motion authorizing them to honor or pay pre-petition customer
obligations.
-
ALLDATA signs 70,000th customer - ALLDATA LLC has signed its 70,000th
customer, an automotive repair shop in Bufford, S.C. -- The company is
"improving productivity at the counter and at the fender," says Jeff
Lagges, president. "That's 70,000 customers accessing us every day."
Customers sign a first year subscription to ALLDATA's vehicle repair
information service, after that they can decide any day to cancel.
-
Annual job fair draws record crowds to city - Taunton, MA: It’s a
little nerve-wracking hearing that,” said Jan Lombardi, human resources
manager for the northeast division of Keystone Automotive Industries,
which operates a facility in the industrial park. -- Job openings
yesterday ranged from entry-level warehouse to administration and
engineering.
-
Industry demand for vehicle damage assessment satisfied - UK:
Thatcham’s Chief Operating Officer, Jason Moseley, who was instrumental in
establishing Thatcham’s first regional training base, said “The new
Automotive Academy is further evidence of Thatcham and the motor insurer’s
commitment to facilitating safe vehicle repair, the basis of which is
accurate vehicle assessment.
-
Exatec expands US facility’s range - Exatec has expanded its operation
and broadened the range of coating technologies it offers for production
of polycarbonate vehicle glazing.
-
Partnership with Sportservice Lorinser for over 10 years - For over
ten years, Sportservice Lorinser from Winnenden in South Germany and
Glasurit, BASF Coatings’ refinishing brand, have been partners. Marcus
Lorinser’s loyalty to Glasurit is clear: “At my bodyshop, Glasurit is the
only way to go."
-
DuPont raises first-quarter estimates - DuPont says growth overseas
will more than offset weakness in the U.S. housing and automobile markets.
-
RML renews partnership with DuPont Refinish - RML Group will again
enjoy high-level technical support from DuPont Refinish in 2008 following
its highly successful year as an official supplier to the team last
season.
Both companies enjoyed triumph on and off track in 2007, sealing the
decision to continue the link-up for a further 12 months.
-
Quality gain has hitch for Ford dealers - With less warranty work,
automaker develops programs to raise parts sales, service.-- General
Motors Corp. is seeing some decline in warranty work at its U.S.
dealerships and also is working to expand dealers' retail service
business. Chrysler LLC said it is not a major issue.
-
Axle 'disappointed' with UAW offer - American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings
Inc. was "disappointed" in an offer from the United Auto Workers union that
would have paid workers double the market rate, the company said Thursday.
-
United States: Steel prices hard on GM, Ford - General Motors Corp.,
Ford Motor Co. and auto-parts suppliers could see their costs increase on
rising prices for steel, analysts say. Higher demand for steel could add
$250 million U.S. to GM's costs in 2008 and $200 million to Ford's, New
York-based Deutsche Bank AG analyst Rod Lache said. The run-up in steel,
plus rising costs for platinum and aluminum, may raise the net cost per
vehicle in North America by $406, one research note said.
-
Toyota and General Motors Recall 660,000 Vehicles for Window Defect
-The recall is due to defective side window hardware on roughly 540,000
Toyota Matrixes and Corollas, and some 123,000 Pontiac Vibes.
-
Criminal complaint filed against local auto repair shop owner - A
complaint filed April 7 includes charges of one count of criminal damage
to property, one count of obstructing an officer, one count of disorderly
conduct and a final count of violating unfair trade general orders.
-
Allstate lays off 109 IT workers - Northbrook-based Allstate Insurance
Co. said Thursday it has laid off 109 area employees in its information
technology department as it re-evaluates its resources and on-going
projects.
-
Connecticut Supreme Court Allows State's Damages Suit against Marsh -
Connecticut's Attorney General Richard Blumenthal can attempt to recover
damages from Marsh & McLennan Inc. for harming the economy of the entire
state, the state's Supreme Court ruled. -- Connecticut is one of only a
handful of state's that allows regulators to seek damages for
anti-competitive business practices that harm generally the economy of the
state.
April 10, 2008
-
Rally Protests Steering To Insurers' Preferred Body Shops - CT: More
than 40 tow trucks and other vehicles were driven around the state Capitol
Wednesday around lunchtime with horns blaring in support of legislation
against steering of customers to auto insurers' preferred body shops. --
The event, sponsored by the Auto Body Association of Connecticut, began
with a rally at the Connecticut Expo Center and featured comments by
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal. After gaining attention at the
Capitol, the group continued its protest at insurer Progressive's
"concierge" claim center in Newington.
-
Drivers beware: Insurers often cloak their collision-repair practices
- CA: If Shakespeare had been a consumer advocate, he might have written:
"For want of a factory radiator, an engine warranty was lost." But the
bard didn't have wheels, so it's up to legislators like Senator Carole
Migden (D-San Francisco/North Bay) and consumer groups to warn car owners
about insurance companies that hide certain collision repair practices
from their policyholders.
-
Akzo Nobel seeks candidates for Most Influential Women award - Akzo
Nobel is accepting nominations for the 2008 Most Influential Women in the
Collision Repair Industry. The 2008 program will mark the 10th anniversary
of this recognition program.
-
I-CAR changes name of I-CAR World Headquarters - Estates, IL location
has been renamed the "I-CAR Training Support Center" to better reflect the
location's role in the mission of the organization. The use of the former
name, "World Headquarters," will be discontinued.
-
ALLDATA Supports I-CAR Education Foundation - ALLDATA LLC, has
announced that it will contribute a portion of each ALLDATA Collision(sm)
sale to the I-CAR Education Foundation.
-
Vehicle data site expands - Elk Grove-based ALLDATA LLC has added
factory information from Honda and Acura models to its do-it-yourself
automotive diagnostic and repair site.
-
Dented vehicles fill body shops - OK: David Miller, owner of the
Trinity Restoration auto body shop, knew he was in for a lot of repair
work just hours after Monday's hail storm. -- "We had 150 cars in our lot
that were finished or waiting to be repaired that got hit," he said.
-
Guggenheim Willing to Finance Competitive Bidders in Diamond Sale -
glassBYTEs™:
Guggenheim Corporate LLC, the company with whom Diamond Glass has
entered into a debtor-in-possession agreement in its petition for
reorganization under Chapter 11, is willing to provide financing for
competitive bidders in the sale of the company, according to Michael
Richman of Foley & Lardner, acting as pro hac counsel for the Kingston,
Pa.-based company.
-
Belron US Promotes Douglas to CIO -
glassBYTEs™:
In his new role as CIO, Douglas will be responsible for all
information technology services and initiatives for Belron US. These areas
include application development, computing infrastructure,
telecommunications and network communications to enable Belron employees
to meet the needs of consumers and insurance carriers in scheduling.
-
NuGen IT Launches New Generation E-Commerce Solution for Auto Claims
Processing - NuGen IT, an information management authority to the
insurance and collision repair industries, is pleased to announce the
availability of its new business-to-business e-commerce platform for auto
claims. The company's innovative Non-Network Portal (NNP) will allow
insurance companies and other authorized businesses to communicate
electronically with all collision repair facilities, even those outside of
their approved Direct Repair networks.
-
Responding vs. Reacting - AutoInc: It's so easy to react. But
responding takes another set of skills that every manager should have.
-
CARQUEST improves WHI Solution's On Demand Distribution Management -
WHI Solutions and CARQUEST have successfully installed Exploris,
CARQUEST's private-labeled version of WHI's Nexpart Distribution
Management, in 2,000+ locations including more than 500 of the independent
and locally owned CARQUEST Auto Parts Stores.
-
ASA Celebration of Excellence, AMI Graduation to be Held During 2008
Annual Convention - AutoInc: ASA's 2008 Annual Convention will be held
May 1-3 at the Hyatt Regency in Santa Clara, Calif. Among the highlights
of the event will be ASA's annual Celebration of Excellence - a special
evening function dedicated to honoring the achievements of ASA members.
-
Daimler Trucks North America selects PPG Industries as paint supplier for
Sterling - Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) announced today that it
has selected PPG Industries as its OEM and aftermarket paint supplier for
the Sterling manufacturing facility in St. Thomas, Ont.
-
Asian auto suppliers eye U.S. companies - Asian auto parts suppliers
hoping to gain a foothold in the North American market are eyeing U.S.
companies as acquisition targets, an emerging trend expected to pick up
speed in the coming years.
-
New Ford Mirror Design and Radar Systems To Minimize Blind Spot Risk -
Ford will be first to market with the Blind Spot Mirror, answering
customers' demands for better visibility as they change lanes or parallel
park.
-
Chrysler recalls 212,347 cars worldwide - Chrysler LLC is recalling
212,347 cars worldwide to fix an electrical problem that could lead to
engine stalling and other issues.
-
New crash tests of midsize cars: protection in side impacts improves, but
most cars tested still afford marginal or poor protection in rear crashes
- IIHS: Occupant protection in side impacts of midsize cars is improving
as automakers introduce safer designs and add side airbags as standard
equipment.
-
Florida Reviewing Allstate's Document Release - Allstate has put about
150,000 pages of documents related to its pricing policy on its Web site,
but it didn't appear Monday to satisfy the state, which has suspended the
insurance giant's right to do new business in Florida.
-
Ahead of the Bell: Allstate - Allstate Corp. may miss first-quarter
profit expectations when the nation's second-largest property and casualty
insurer reports quarterly results later this month, according to one
analyst.
-
Auto insurer Progressive Q1 profit beats estimates - Progressive Corp,
one of the largest U.S. auto insurers, on Wednesday posted a 34 percent
drop in quarterly profit as premiums declined. -- Still, the profit drop
was less than analysts expected and the company's stock rose 2.5 percent.
April 9, 2008
-
Independent Glass Association to Introduce Anti-Steering "Comic Book" at
Annual Conference, May 1-3 -
glassBYTEs™:
The IGA took the advice of consumer advocate Ralph Nader and
commissioned a fully illustrated comic book to explain steering to
consumers. Don’t Get Steered was written by IGA staffers and with artwork
by illustrator Susan Meyers. Don’t Get Steered will be available
exclusively to IGA members. It will be used to educate consumers,
lawmakers and others about the issues they face everyday trying to compete
in a market that is controlled by competitor-administrators.
-
SCRS petitions information providers for BMS extract - The Society of
Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) is asking collision repairers to sign
a petition that will be sent to the information providers asking them to
offer a system that will address security data issues.
-
2008 I-CAR International Annual Meeting Update - Register now and join
professionals from around the world as the collision industry gathers for
the I-CAR International Annual Meeting, July 24 – 26 at the Fairmont
Scottsdale Princess in Scottsdale, Arizona.
-
I-CAR reevaluates operating needs, announces limited workforce reduction
- “As with many businesses during these difficult economic times, I-CAR
has had to re-evaluate its operating performance and its strategic
position in meeting the training needs of the industry,” said I-CAR Board
Chairman John Edelen.
-
ALLDATA Collision Tops 1,000 Customers - More than 1,000 customers
have purchased the ALLDATA Collision program subscription service since it
was introduced nationally in September, according to Dan Espersen, ALLDATA
senior program manager, collision. -- Two of the company's biggest
customers are Fix Auto Network and ABRA Auto Body and Glass.
-
Callaway’s Collision Specialist is a 2007 Premier Achiever for customer
satisfaction - TX: Callaway’s Collision Specialist has achieved an
extraordinary customer satisfaction rating for the Autochex CSI program in
2007, well above the norm in their market section or region. Autochex has
performed thousands of customer surveys throughout 2007; their organization
is among only a handful that rated best in consistently delivering top-notch
service. (Last news brief on page)
-
Maaco Collision Repair & Auto Painting Offers Advice in Recognition of
National Car Care Month - In recognition of National Car Care Month
this April, Maaco Collision Repair & Auto Painting is providing advice on
how to take better care of your vehicle before it starts looking its age.
-
Reaching Out to Female Consumers - AskPatty.com's mission is to turn
women into automotive experts. What can you learn from their team to
become a more female-friendly business?
-
Battle brewing over repair information - RI: There’s a battle between
competing political philosophies in the auto service industry. -- With new
cars and trucks increasingly complex and computerized, repair shops need
access to highly technical information and software.
-
AIAG's Auto ID/RFID Showcase Presents Defenses Against Counterfeiting
- In a continuing effort to inform the automotive supply chain about
current and future applications of automatic identification (auto ID) and
radiofrequency identification (RFID) technologies -- including those to
protect intellectual property and guard against counterfeiting -- the
Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) will hold its 13th annual Auto ID/RFID
Showcase on April 30, 2008, at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi, Mich.
-
Change to 'green' is viewed as a business opportunity - The dire news
about global warming and soaring energy prices could translate to
lucrative market opportunities for businesses that figure out how to
capitalize on developing products for the green movement, environmental
experts told PPG Industries employees yesterday.
-
PPG Industries updates financial details regarding SigmaKalon acquisition
- William H. Hernandez, senior vice president, finance, and chief financial
officer of PPG Industries, provided updates today on various financial
details related to the company’s Jan. 2 acquisition of SigmaKalon Group.
-
CARQUEST Improves Store Operations and Customer Service With WHI
Solution's On Demand Distribution Management - Nexpart Store
Management's ease of use, lower costs and increased functionality are a
success in JV and independent auto parts stores with over 2000
installations completed
-
GotEngines.com Launches: A Next Generation Replacement Engines Store,
Specializing in New and Used Engines - Announcing the launch of
GotEngines.com, an online replacement engines store, selling refurbished
and used engines at discount prices, for all makes and models, including
domestic and foreign cars.
-
Advantage Partners Announces Definitive Agreement to Purchase GST
AutoLeather from SILLC Holdings, LLC - Advantage Partners, LLP,
(Advantage Partners) an Asia-based private equity firm, today announced
that the funds that it services have entered into an agreement to acquire
100% of GST AutoLeather, Inc. (GST), a leading global supplier of
automotive leather, from SILLC Holdings, LLC. GST is a premier global
provider of leather upholstery for automotive seating and trim and
supplies many of the world’s major automotive original equipment
manufacturers, including Toyota, Honda, General Motors, Chrysler, Ford,
Volkswagen, SAIC, and Nanjing, among others.
-
Parting shot: Delphi exec Steve Miller blasts UAW in new book - Delphi Corp.
Executive Chairman and former CEO Robert S. "Steve" Miller blamed the bankrupt
auto supplier's woes on its largest union in a memoir to be released Tuesday.
Miller defended his tenure at the top of Delphi and his decision to recommend
that the company file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2005, comparing
himself to a surgeon and Delphi to a "desperate patient who waited too long to
seek treatment."
-
Heat is on to settle Axle strike - UAW, supplier meet today in first
formal talks in three weeks.
-
Chrysler Recalls Sebrings, Avengers - Chrysler is recalling 180,963
2007 to 2008 model year Sebring and Dodge Avengers that are equipped with
the standard tire pressure monitoring system. The wiring in the system can
corrode causing a short circuit, according to the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA).
-
Shop Owner Discovers Car Involved In Hit-And-Run - Cornelius McLamont
said he never intended to call police on his son. But Saturday, when
McLamont arrived for work at his auto body shop in Fort Lauderdale, he
spotted a car that matched the description of a car involved in a hit and
run. The crash left a 4-year-old Sunrise girl dead Friday.
-
AAA Analysis Finds Teen Crashes Cost Society More Than $34 Billion
Annually - A first-ever analysis from AAA finds that crashes involving
teen drivers ages 15 to 17 cost American society more than $34 billion
annually in medical expenses, lost work, property damage, quality of life
loss and other related costs in 2006.
-
Man Crushed by Truck at Auto Auction - NY: It happened Tuesday morning
around 10:30 at the Adesa Auto Auction in Newstead. Police say the victim,
54-year-old William Bushnell of Gowanda, was at the auction working for an
auto dealer, and he was walking through the bays where the vehicles are
displayed to potential bidders when a worker who was pulling a truck in a
bay lost control.
-
Flooded-Out Vehicles Cause of Concern For Region 8 - AR: Doug
Matthews makes his living working as a certified technician of used
cars. He says that purchasing a flood damaged car is the worst. "These
cars now days are just fully electronic and they may work first for a
little while but corosion takes over and its a never ending process after
that one thing can go bad and then another" said Matthews.
-
Insurance agent sentenced to 37 months in prison - An insurance agent
who lives in Troutman will serve a prison term of 37 months and has paid
restitution of more than $1 million after pleading guilty to insurance
fraud.
-
Farmers Insurance Appoints Mhayse Samalya Executive Vice President and
President, Farmers Business Insurance - Robert Woudstra, President and
Chief Operating Officer, Farmers Group, Inc., announced the appointment of
Mhayse Samalya, former Farmers Senior Vice President Farmers Group, Inc. &
President, Farmers Business Insurance, to Executive Vice President,
Farmers Group Inc. & President, Farmers Business Insurance.
-
Auto Insurers Paying Up - For auto insurers, 2008 is shaping up to be
another tough year. -- Insurance prices are being driven down by tough
competition even as accident costs are edging up after years of steady
declines. The price of competition is rising, too, with the top insurers
spending around $500 million a year to keep their names in front of
potential customers.
-
Colorado Legislation Threatens Auto Insurance Savings, Insurers Say -
The Colorado Legislature is considering a bill that would add bureaucratic
red tape and costs to the state's automobile insurance system, claims the
Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI), which is opposing
the bill.
April
8, 2008
-
Anti-Steering/"Right to Repair" Bill Tabled in Massachusetts -
glassBYTEs™:
Massachusetts bill designed to entitle consumers to their
choice of repair shops has been tabled for the current time.
-
Supreme Court Will Not Hear Allstate’s Appeal - AutobodyOnline: Will
more state bans on insurer-owned shops follow Supreme Court decision?
by John Yoswick
-
SCRS MO-KAN Chapter Introduces "The Collision Repair Job Connection" -
The Society of Collision Repair Specialists of Missouri & Kansas has
launched “The Collision Repair Job Connection”, a forum for the top
technical school collision repair students to connect with SCRS MO-KAN
member shops that are seeking employees. There are currently over 20
technical schools that are in the network representing over 400 students
that plan to seek employment in the collision repair industry.
-
I-CAR Staff And The Collision Industry Work Together - Starting at the
beginning of the year, I-CAR formed Market Segment Teams (MSTs) and is in
the process of building Industry Segment Advisory Councils (ISACs) for
each of the inter-industry segments. The MSTs (cross-functional teams of
I-CAR staff) and the ISACs (experts in the inter-industry) will work in
concert with each other.
-
Collision center plans open house - A new business in Ontario -
Caliber Collision Centers - says it can fix your ride right away. The
collision repair center will host its open house and ribbon-cutting
ceremony Tuesday to show off its new state-of-the-art facility.
-
MISSION POSSIBLE: How to Write a Mission Statement - AMI Alumni Blog:
The importance of a company's mission statement is not to be
underestimated.
-
Insurance Auto Auctions Opens in Sioux Falls and Fargo - Insurance
Auto Auctions, Inc., a leader in automotive total loss and specialty
salvage remarketing services in North America, today announced the opening
of two new auction centers, each co-located with ADESA (a leading
remarketing auction for institutional sellers and dealers) in the Sioux
Falls, S.D. and Fargo, N.D markets.
-
R-M, refinish brand of BASF Coatings and GARGASH ENTERPRISES sign contract
in Dubai - Gargash Enterprises, the authorized distributor for
Mercedes-Benz in Dubai, Sharjah and the Northern Emirates, can claim that
when it comes to vehicle repair, their state of the art bodyshops are the
first choice of some of the most wealthy and influential individuals in
Dubai.
-
Henkel Showcases Automotive Innovations at SAE World Congress - SAE
display will show vast portfolio of new and innovative solutions to the
automotive industry; technical presentations will demonstrate advances
in product technology
-
Nissan invests $118M to add truck line at Canton plant - Nissan is making a
big bet that Americans still love trucks.
-
GM To Restart 2 Pickup Plants - GM Monday confirmed that it will
restart pickup truck plants in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Oshawa, Ontario.
-- Both have been closed since late February because of the American Axle
strike.
-
Ford says its quality is equal to Toyota and Honda - According
to study findings, Ford's domestic brands averaged 1284 "things gone
wrong" per 1000 vehicles during the first three months of ownership,
compared to 1250 for Toyota and Honda. Ford says that the figures are
statistically equal, as the two figures are within three percent of each
other.
-
2009 Dodge Journey earns top safety ratings from the NHTSA - The
brand's first ever crossover is set compete for market share against the
Ford Flex and Saturn Outlook, and is offered with either a 173 horsepower
2.4 liter inline-four or a 3.5 liter V-6 that produces 235 horsepower.
-
Corvette Z06: Chevy's 'Bargain Supercar' - With 505 horses, a top
speed of 198 mph, and no optional automatic transmission, the Z06 is a
blast—but not a car for the timid.
-
Toyota pickup probe pushed - Sudden acceleration claims hard to pin
down
-
7 charged in auto insurance scam - MA: Two attorneys, two
chiropractors and the three alleged ringleaders of an auto insurance scam
were indicted by an Essex County jury.
-
We’re Not Double-Dipping” - Competitors charge that Anthony Monaco
opened a sham “new” towing company next door to his original one in order
to get extra city business. Monaco denied it — and said there’s more to
the story. -- Owners of five New Haven towing companies wrote a letter to
City Hall complaining about Monaco’s new business. The city’s looking into
the complaint.
-
How a get-tough policy lifted Allstate's profits - Thousands of pages
of Allstate documents reviewed by the Herald-Tribune detail how the
nation's second-largest insurer systematically cut payments to customers
as a way to boost profits.
-
Consumer Advocates Call for Refunds, Rate Reductions, for Allstate
Policyholders After Company Releases Internal Documents Revealing It
Intentionally Underpaid Customers - Documents Show Consumers Need
Better Regulation of Insurance Industry; California Rate Cut Shows the
Way
-
Main Street America Adds States to Personal Auto Program - The Main
Street America Group introduced its new Personal Auto MVP (multivariate
rating program) product to its independent insurance agents in Maryland
and Tennessee, bringing the total now to nine states.
April
7, 2008
-
CRA Factory Parts Bill Passes Key Senate Committee - In one of the
California collision industry’s finest political moments, a powerful
California State Senate Committee approved CRA-sponsored legislation
yesterday to stop insurers from mandating the use of aftermarket parts on
new cars undergoing collision repairs.
-
Congressional Support for 'Right to Repair' Grows - The Motor Vehicle
Owners' Right to Repair Act (H.R. 2694) gained two more co-sponsors in
recent days. The new legislators supporting Right to Repair are Reps. Bob
Filner (D-CA) and Peter Welch (D-VT).
-
AASP-MN Announces 2008-’09 Board of Directors - Voting for open seats
on the AASP-MN Board of Directors concluded on March 3, 2008.
Congratulations to Roger Bonn, Peter’s Body Shop, St. Cloud and Tom
Aldridge, Dale Feste Automotive, Hopkins, on their election to the AASP-MN
Board of Directors.
-
Amica Mutual Selects Gerber National Glass Services as In Program Auto
Glass Administrator -
glassBYTEs™:
Amica Mutual Insurance Company, based in Lincoln, Rhode Island, has
selected Gerber National Glass Services (GNGS), a subsidiary of The Boyd
Group Inc. to provide glass claims management solutions for their
customers.
-
Five auto shops get "Green" designation - AZ: Five local auto-repair
shops recently were certified as "Green Shops" under a volunary program of
the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, the Automotive Service
Association of Arizona (ASAA) said.
-
Flavio Battilana becomes COO of Collision Solutions Network - Flavio
Battilana has joined Collision Solutions Network (CSN) in the newly
created position of chief operating officer. Battilana has more than 15
years of collision repair experience.
-
Deaf students, instructor learn plenty in auto repair class - Don
Twomey, 47, could barely keep up with his students as they fiercely
blasted the rust off a 1977 El Camino with sanders. Trotting among eight
teenagers who have hearing loss, Twomey showed them how to run their hands
along the car's body to locate dents and then how to smooth the bumps with
plastic filler.
-
PPG adds DITZLER BIG FLAKE pigments to VIBRANCE COLLECTION finishes -
PPG Industries' automotive refinish business recently introduced Ditzler
Big Flake pigments to its Vibrance Collection finishes line of custom
colors and special effect coatings.
-
Dimet sees potential for car-paint sales - Dimet Siam Plc, a paint
manufacturer listed on the Market for Alternative Investment, plans to
expand to the car paint market, said president Suraphol Rujikarnchana. --
Dimet recently signed a three-year agreement with PPG Coating (Thailand)
to become the sole distributor of the Bilux car paint brand.
-
Akzo Nobel Q4 Results Beat Expectations - Akzo Nobel NV, the world's
biggest producer of paints, posted forecast-beating fourth-quarter results
in March, boosting its shares as its coatings business grew despite the
U.S. housing market crisis.
-
Nice work if you can get it: CEO makes $3.5 mil in 3 months - Mike Burns,
CEO of the embattled parts supplier Dana of Toledo, OH, stepped down on March 31
after four years on the job. After adding up all compensation he was entitled
to, the executive walked away with $3.5 million for his three months of work in
2008, which comes out to approximately $583,000 for every paycheck, or nearly
$39,000 per day.
-
UAW blasts Ford's bonuses - Gettelfinger upset with $60 million in
higher compensation given to five senior executives.
-
Volkswagen recalls 410,000 1999-2005 model year Passats - Volkswagen
Group of America Inc. says it's voluntarily recalling about 410,000
gasoline powered Passats because of potential problems including damage to
a heat shield.
-
Car Manufacturers Warn Against Remanufactured Wheels - Though often
taken for granted by motorists, wheels and tires are two of the many
components that can greatly affect your vehicle's safety. In recent years
there has been much written about the need to keep your tires properly
inflated, rotate them regularly and check for wear, but the role of your
wheels-especially if your vehicle has been in a collision-has drawn far
less attention.
-
Consumer group challenges Ford Explorer settlement - The claim stems
from a class action suit filed on behalf of more than 414,000 Californians
who bought Explorers and later claimed they had lost resale and trade-in
value because of reports about rollover accidents and a nationwide recall
of Explorer Firestone tires in 2000.
-
AAA Reports That Cost of Owning & Operating a New Vehicle Is Now 54.1
Cents per Mile - The Automobile Club of Southern California's 2008
edition of "Your Driving Costs" shows the cost of driving a passenger
vehicle in the United States has increased 1.9 cents per mile in the last
year and now averages 54.1 cents per mile.
-
Thefts are a big headache for auto dealers and legislature - In less
than half a minute, a thief can crawl under a vehicle and pop off a
catalytic converter and be on his way to instant cash.
-
As fight with insurer drags, crash's toll mounts - The car accident
was just the start of the unraveling of Christopher Thompson's life.
-
Allstate Suspension Upheld, Florida Commissioner Says - The ruling
``probably'' allows Allstate to write new business for 15 days while it
decides whether to apply for a rehearing, said McCarty in a news
conference. He previously said in a statement today the suspension was
going into effect ``immediately.''
-
Allstate Releases McKinsey Records Sought by Critics - Allstate Corp.,
the second-biggest U.S. home and auto insurer, released 150,000 pages of
documents sought by opposition lawyers and company critics related to
McKinsey & Co.'s review of claims-handling practices.
-
AIG CEO takes pay cut in 2007 - The chief executive of American
International Group Inc., the largest insurer in the U.S., received
compensation the company valued at about $13.9 million in 2007, nearly
half of what he earned a year ago.
-
WNS Acquires Auto Insurance Claims Processor Call 24/7 - WNS
(Holdings) Limited , a leading provider of global business process
outsourcing (BPO) services, today announced it has acquired Call 24/7
Ltd., an auto insurance-claims-processing services provider in the United
Kingdom. -- In November 2007, WNS Assistance was awarded “Best Accident
Management Company” for market leadership in motor claims processing
solutions by the Auto Body Professionals Club, a UK automobile trade
organization.
April
4, 2008
-
Keystone Automotive Industry, an LKQ Company, announces Jan Huskey
Promoted to Director of Industry Relations - "Jan's experience in the
collision industry will bring significant value to the Industry Relations
team by driving awareness of salvage and reconditioned parts, aftermarket
parts, Platinum Plus and new products that have an impact on our customers
and partners," said Joe Holsten, President and CEO of LKQ Corporation.
-
I-CAR(R) Education Foundation and CCC Information Services Inc. Announce
Third offering of Student Repair Technician Scholarships - Originally
introduced as the CCC Outstanding Student Technician Scholarship in 2006,
CCC Information Services, in conjunction with the I-CAR Education
Foundation, is again offering the CCC Michael Salvatore Memorial Student
Repair Technician Scholarship Program.
-
Fast Moving Session Involves Playing Defense As Well As Offense: by
AASP-MN lobbyist, Kevin Walli - AASP-MN has three pieces of
legislation in play in the 2008 Legislative Session. A collision licensing
proposal (H.F. 3864/S.F. 3510), a bill to prohibit insurers from owning
repair shops (H.F. 3823/S.F. 3509) and a bill that would prohibit
manipulation of estimating systems (H.F. 3822/S.F. 3508) have all been
introduced this year.
-
AASP-MN 14th Annual Golf Outing Registration - June 16, 2008 - 3M’s
Tartan Park - Lake Elmo, MN
-
IGA Annual Conference & Spring Auto Glass Show Pre-Registration Closing
Soon -
glassBYTEs™:
Pre-registration for the 2008 Independent Glass Association (IGA)
Annual Conference and Spring Auto Glass Show™ will remain open for only
two more weeks.
-
Diamond Debtor-in-Possession Motion Granted -
glassBYTEs™:
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware has granted
Kingston, Pa.-based Diamond Glass's motion that it be allowed to act under
a "Debtor-in-Possession" (DIP) agreement with Guggenheim Corporate Funding
LLC during the period of reorganization under Chapter 11.
-
Audatex Releases Industry Trends Publication for Vehicle Insurers and
Collision Repairers - Solera Holdings, Inc., an integrated group of
leading automotive claims solutions companies, today announced that its
North American subsidiary, Audatex, has released a new, quarterly
collision repair publication. The publication, Audatex Directions,
provides vehicle insurers and collision repairers with in-depth trends and
analysis on the auto physical damage market as well as global
best-practice processes that can be implemented locally, in both the U.S.
and Canada.
-
Mitchell International Acquires Fair Isaac Medical Bill Review Business
Unit - Mitchell International, Inc., a leading provider of
information, workflow, and performance management solutions to the
property and casualty claims and collision repair industries, today
announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the workers
compensation medical cost containment business of Fair Isaac Corporation.
-
Roland and 3M Partner to Offer Turnkey Computerized Paint Protection Film
Solutions - Roland Advanced Solutions Division (ASD) has teamed up with
3M’s Automotive Aftermarket Division to offer a turnkey paint protection
film solution. -- “Auto dealerships and restyling professionals now have a
complete computerized paint protection film solution that combines the
industry’s best digital cutters and film products,” said Gerald Hiller,
Roland ASD managing director. “Automotive aftermarket professionals will
benefit tremendously, getting the best possible results at a great value.”
-
Akzo Nobel Completes On Sale To Henkel - Amsterdam, the Netherlands:
Akzo Nobel N.V. has today completed the on sale of the Adhesives and
Electronic Materials businesses, part of the former ICI's National Starch
business, to Henkel KGaA for GBP 2.7 billion (EUR 4 billion) in cash.
-
Defend Your Company From Knockoffs With These Strategies - SEMA: Is
your company under siege by counterfeit products and illegal knock-offs?
Are your trademarks or patents being infringed? Are your marketing
materials being copied? Then mark your calendar, and plan to tune in for a
timely discussion on how to implement a legal strategy to protect your
intellectual property—your company’s patents, trademarks, copyrights and
trade secrets.
-
Schnitzer Steel Reports 34% Increase in Second Quarter Earnings Per Share
- “The Auto Parts Business continued to show year over year improvements in
both revenues and operating income through our ongoing focus on increases in
vehicle purchases,” added Carter. “The Steel Manufacturing Business
benefited from positive supply and demand dynamics as selling prices
increased due to shortages in finished steel resulting from a low level of
imports,” he concluded.
-
Bankruptcy court: Johnson Rubber may shutter auto-parts unit - A
bankruptcy judge has approved Johnson Rubber Co. Inc.'s plan to shut down
its auto-parts business after its customers, including Ford Motor Co. and
Toyota Motor Corp., found other suppliers.
-
GM Announces Retirement of Global Sales VP John Middlebrook - General Motors
Corp. says its vice president of global sales, service and marketing operations
is retiring.
-
Advanced ID to track Chinese tires - Advanced ID Corporation will
produce a minimum of 2 million RFID tags, along with an unspecified number
of readers, for major Chinese tire manufacturer Qingdao Mesnac.
-
Safety Concern Cited on Smart Micro Car - A government crash test of
the 2008 Smart Fortwo micro car, the fuel-sipping vehicle that made its
debut in the United States this year, found a safety concern in
side-impact testing, officials said Thursday..
-
Publicity is the last thing insurance monopoly wants - Canada:
Whenever ICBC has uncovered frauds and ripoffs in the auto industry,
they've been quick to go after the bad guys and publicly pat themselves on
the back for doing it.
-
Amoroso Wins 'Insurance Woman of the Year' Award - The Association of
Professional Insurance Women has named Rebecca C. Amoroso as its Insurance
Woman of the Year. -- Amoroso is vice chairman and U.S. Insurance Industry
Group Leader at Deloitte, where she has worked for 22 years. Her first
eight years in the insurance industry were spent with American
International Group and Insurance Services Office.
-
Louisiana Suit Vs Insurers Over Katrina Stays In US Court -
Policyholders may not be entitled to recover any money from a sweeping
antitrust lawsuit that former Attorney General Charles Foti filed against
some of the nation's largest insurers after Hurricane Katrina, a
plaintiffs lawyer said Wednesday.
-
Allstate CEO Thomas Wilson receives $10.7 million in compensation last
year - Former CEO gets $18.8 million in compensation, $25.4 million in
retirement benefits
-
Insured get relief in Ohio, Michigan - Prices are going up at the pump
and the grocery store, but Ohio and Michigan residents may be catching a
break this year on their auto and home insurance premiums.
-
The Hartford Continues Strong Commitment To Its Communities Through Its
2007 Corporate Giving Program - Grants supporting education highlight
The Hartford's philanthropic efforts
April 3, 2008
-
PPG Canada and Mitchell announce vendor partnership - PPG Canada Inc.
and Mitchell International Inc. have announced a preferred vendor
partnership. The partnership gives the PPG CertifiedFirst network of
collision repair centres access to the line of Mitchell management
systems.
-
Mitchell 1 Accepting Applications for its 2008 Automotive Technology
Outstanding Student Scholarship - Application Deadline is May 15th -
Mitchell 1 announces it is accepting applications through May 15th for its
annual $2,500 Automotive Technology Outstanding Student Scholarship to be
awarded through the North American Council of Automotive Teachers (NACAT)
Education Foundation at its annual conference. The scholarship will
recognize one U.S. high school senior for outstanding achievement in
automotive technology/auto shop repair scholastics.
-
Connecticut Anti-steering Bill Heads to Full Vote - A Connecticut bill
that restricts auto insurers from directing clients to certain car repair
shops – legislation opposed by insurers and agents alike – is headed for a
floor vote in the state's General Assembly.
-
Automotive Service Council (ASC) of Kentucky, Inc. Newsletter for April 2008
- The newsletter this quarter is all about hope. With shining examples of
how much can be accomplished when we work together for a common cause. --
Includes: Allstate Behaving Badly Again! -- Would You Put Your Family
in a Vehicle You Repaired? --
more
-
Diamond President Cogswell Sounds Optimistic in Light of Chapter 11 Filing
-
glassBYTEs.com™: Despite today's announcement that Diamond
Glass filed this morning for voluntary Chapter 11 reorganization, company
president Bill Cogswell sounds optimistic.
-
PPG, Greenville Glass and Mygrant Among Largest Glass Industry Creditors
Listed in Diamond Filing -
glassBYTEs.com™: PPG Industries, Greenville Glass Industries
and Mygrant Glass Co. Inc. are among three of the largest industry
creditors listed in Diamond Glass's filing for restructuring under Chapter
11.
-
Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes Announces 11 Recent New Store
Openings - New Branches Expand Presence and Service to Collision
Repair Specialists and Car Enthusiasts Throughout North America
-
Ford Motor Company Gives Technical Approval to Sherwin-Williams' AWX™
Waterborne Paint System - Ford Motor Company recently approved the AWX™
waterborne refinish system from Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes Corp.
for collision repair centers on a global basis. The AWX system has
undergone the extensive technical certification process to meet the Ford
WSS-M2P100-D standard. The Ford Group sets this technical standard to
assure that its vehicles are repaired using automotive refinish products
of the highest quality.
-
Rare Mercedes Gullwing restored for hit US TV series - The Gullwing
will be completely restored and finished with Glasurit brand paints from
BASF Coatings. To maintain the Gullwing’s original appearance during
restoration, the car will be finished in an original 1957 Mercedes color,
using the waterborne Glasurit 90 Line.
-
Three SFHS guys have Skills - UT: Zach Taylor, the teacher at SFHS
Auto Body and Collision Repair, and Lou Crandall, the teacher of
commercial photography at SFHS are proud to announce that Tyson Robertson
placed 1st in Photography, Bryce Taylor placed 1st in Collision Repair,
Devin Nelson placed 1st in Automotive Refinishing, and Garrett Robarge
finished 3rd in Automotive Refinishing!
-
400 Chrysler tech jobs go - Detroit: Metro positions will be lost when
computer technology tasks are outsourced to companies in India, Virginia.
-
Ford Reorganizing Engineering Centers To Speed Devt - Ford Motor
Co. is reorganizing its design and engineering centers in a move to make
the company more global and cut the time it takes to get a new car or
truck into showrooms.
-
Carmakers fight fuel rules state by state - Industry hopes to convince
them not to adopt Calif.'s tougher emissions regulations.
-
Toyota sets up program to aid some Tacoma truck owners - If you own a
Toyota Tacoma from the model years 1995 to 2000, you might be eligible for
a vehicle repair or better yet, a vehicle buy-back from the manufacturer
under a special program. -- The decision to repair or repurchase will be
at the discretion of Toyota, said spokesman Bill Kwong. -- If the truck is
repurchased, Toyota will give owners 11/2 times the Kelley Blue Book
Value's ``excellent condition'' retail price for the vehicle, regardless
of the vehicle's condition. In most cases, dealers use Kelley Blue Book
wholesale values, which are much lower, for trade-in.
-
Stolen-car ring busted - Canada: Dozens of people in the Eastern
Townships, including the owner of a used-car dealership in Sherbrooke, are
alleged to be part of a large stolen-car ring dismantled by police
yesterday.
-
Homeowner and auto insurance too expensive, consumer groups say - Both
men, and other New Yorkers, are paying too much for homeowner and car
insurance, according to some consumer groups. Now, state officials are
predicting that New York's auto rates, the third highest in the country
after New Jersey and Washington, D.C., will rise this year after four
years of relative stability.
April 2, 2008
-
Ford Launches National Sweepstakes for Independent Installers and Body
Shops - Ford Customer Service Division has introduced the "2008 Summer
of Savings," a national program exclusively for independent auto repair
and body shops.
-
ICBC fires staff over sell-a-wreck scandal - Canada: ICBC is under
growing fire after revelations some employees and managers manipulated
auctions to outbid other buyers of vehicles rebuilt by an ICBC repair
centre.
-
Diamond Glass Files for Voluntary Chapter 11 Reorganization -
glassBYTEs.com™: DIAMOND GLASS announced today
that it filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under chapter 11 of
the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, together with a debtor-in-possession financing
commitment by its senior secured lender Guggenheim Corporate Funding, LLC
to provide necessary liquidity during the chapter 11 process.
-
California Air Resources Board Passes Amendment Increasing Zero-Emissions
Vehicles - ASA: The California Air Resources Board (CARB) voted March
27 to triple the amount of zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs) proposed for
production by automakers from 2012 through 2014. CARB staff members
originally proposed a requirement of 2,500 vehicles but the board
increased this to 7,500.
-
ACC and AISD join forces to build automotive program - ACC and AISD
partnered on the $2.4 million renovation project "to address a regional
shortage of skilled workers in high-demand areas such as automotive
service and repair," according to ACC.
-
Vandals Drive Auto Repair Shop Out of Business - CA: Buddy’s Clutch and
Brake, a Felton auto repair business, closed up shop last weekend after the
owner reportedly had told customers that the cost of a series of vandalism
incidents was driving her out of business.
-
Man kidnapped from his Long Beach business returned - A
kidnapping-for-ransom victim hustled out of his auto shop in North Long
Beach was reunited with his family today, authorities said.
-
Visteon cuts CEO pay - Visteon Corp., the parts maker spun off from
Ford Motor Co., cut total compensation for CEO Michael Johnston by 22%
last year as losses more than doubled.
-
Computer Hacker Hits Advanced Auto Parts - Advance Auto Parts says
more than 50,000 customers' financial information may have been taken by a
computer hacker. The company says customers who were affected shopped at
14 stores in Mississippi and other states from December 2001 to December
2004. The other stores affected are in Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, New
York, Tennessee, Ohio, and Virginia.
-
O’Reilly to Acquire CSK Auto for $1.0 Billion - O’Reilly Automotive,
Inc. (“O’Reilly”) and CSK Auto Corporation (“CSK”) today announced that
the two companies have signed a definitive merger agreement under which
O’Reilly will acquire all of the outstanding shares of CSK common stock
pursuant to an exchange offer, in a transaction valued at approximately
$1.0 billion, including approximately $500 million of debt.
- Uptake of
Remanufactured Parts in the North American Automotive Industry Driven by Lower
Prices - The large array of new, salvage and rebuilt parts has eroded
the market for remanufactured engines, transmissions, clutches, CV driveaxles
and fuel injectors.
-
GM adds new OnStar perks - Navigation system will complement on-call
direction service with Mapquest features.
-
Auto sales plummet; worse may be ahead - 12% market drop reflects
economic ills; Demand for SUVs, trucks continues downward spiral
-
Auto industry focus continues to shift to emerging markets - This year will
provide further evidence that the auto industry’s focus is shifting to emerging
markets from the mature markets of North America and Western Europe, according
to the latest Global Auto Report released by Scotia Economics.
-
Coakley Warns Of Flaws In Auto Insurance Web Site - Boston, MA: The
state's Web site that gives motorists a place to compare automobile
insurance rates does not give consumers accurate price comparisons,
Attorney General Martha Coakley said Tuesday.
-
GAINSCO Deploys Guidewire ClaimCenter
- Guidewire’s leading end-to-end claims system garners real-time
visibility into operations
April 1, 2008
-
2008 SCRS Annual Meeting Features Two Presentations of Importance to
Repairers - A pair of presentations on topics vital to today’s
collision repairers highlight the 2008 Annual Meeting of the Society of
Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS), scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday,
April 15th and 16th, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. If you would like to attend these presentations, please RSVP
to Linda Atkins in the SCRS Administration Office via phone 877-841-0660
or by email to info@scrs.com by April 4th.
-
Mitchell Releases Next Generation Collision Estimating and Reference
Guides That Include Quick Reference Paint and Materials and Air Bag
Information - The Guides now contain valuable Paint and Materials and
Air Bag information for new model vehicles, providing technicians and
estimators with a comprehensive supplement or stand-alone reference that
gives them the tools and information they need for a more efficient repair
process.
-
California House Member Introduces Bill to Amend U.S. Patent Law for Crash
Parts - The U.S. House of Representatives has introduced new
legislation aimed to create an exemption in the U.S. patent law to enable
the production of aftermarket automobile parts. H.R. 5638, introduced by
Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., creates an exception from infringement for
certain component parts used to repair another article of manufacture. The
bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee.
-
Keystone Automotive Operations, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal
2007 Results - Keystone Automotive Operations, Inc., a leading
distributor and marketer of automotive aftermarket accessories and
equipment in North America, today announced financial results for the
fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 29, 2007.
-
Progressive Opens Concierge Claims Center North of Philadelphia -
Progressive has opened a new service center in Pennsylvania where insureds
with damaged vehicles can drop off their cars, get a ride to a rented one
and hand off the processing a repair job to the company. -- The Willow
Grove site is Progressive's 54th; the company received a patent for the
concierge claims method last year.
-
AGRSS Council Issues Alert Regarding Recent Recalls -
glassBYTEs: The Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standards
(AGRSS) Council has issued an alert to its registered shops regarding the
recent recall of tempered glass parts from DOT No. 430 and DOT No. 628.
-
A Positive Way to Destress - AutobodyOnline: Can You Prepare Yourself
to Handle the Bad Things in Life?
-
Kidnapped auto shop owner still missing - CA: A man who is being held
from ransom by kidnappers after he was reportedly hustled from his North
Long Beach auto shop last week is still missing, authorities said Monday.
-- Maurilio "Willie" Robles, owner of an auto body shop on the 2300 block
of East 70th Street, hasn't been seen since he was shoved into a gold
import sedan shortly before 3:30 p.m. last Thursday, authorities said.
-
Slippery Roads Means More Trips to Auto Body Shops - SD: After a
winter of slipping and sliding on area roads, many of you are probably
ready to say good-bye to winter. But all the fender benders caused by the
slick roads mean more business for those who fix the damage.
-
Owner: Scrap Yard Fire Could Have Been Prevented - Scranton, PA: Jeff
Kurtz looked over the charred mess at his scrap yard Monday near
Elysburg. A fire Saturday burned through about 100 of the vehicles on the
lot of Jeff's Auto Body and Recycling.
-
Why Cars Have Become Difficult -- And Expensive to Repair - Popular
Mechanix Blog: It turns out amateurs like me aren't the only ones
wondering why some of today's vehicles are such bears to repair. The
difficulty of replacing broken parts or restoring vehicles damaged in
collisions is a growing concern to the auto service and collision trades
and the insurance industry.
-
Sikkens Automatchic 3 catches the color the smart way - Sikkens has
developed the best color measurement tool to date: the Sikkens Automatchic
3. This lightweight device delivers the most accurate color match ever,
making the task of color matching faster and easier for every professional
bodyshop.
-
China's Paint Industry Becomes World's 2nd Largest - China has become
the second largest paint producer and consumer in the world propelled by
booming real estate, auto and shipping building sectors. -- Global paint
manufacturers have moved their production capacities to China in recent
years.
-
World champion - How Marty McQuade leads global expansion at DuPont
Automotive Systems by cultivating relationships across the planet
-
DTT Targets Paint Customers at Uzbekistan Seminar - DuPont and a joint
venture Decorimex recently held a technical seminar for current and
potential customers in the coatings and paints industry in Tashkent,
Uzbekistan, to increase awareness of Ti-Pure® -- DuPont’s brand name for
titanium dioxide.
-
Hella lights up S.C. auto industry - Hella makes headlamps and fog
lamps for BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors vehicles, as well as
heavy-duty trucks made by Kenworth, Mack and Peterbilt. The plant's
biggest customer is the Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama, Hella officials
said, but the single vehicle for which Hella makes the most lamps per day
is the Chrysler Town & Country minivan.
-
UK airbag manufacturer moves work to Poland - A major manufacturer of
air bags for the auto industry has indicated that production jobs could be
lost in the UK. Management at the Airbags International plant in Congleton,
Cheshire wants to move manufacturing of the air bags to plants in Poland
where costs are lower.
-
GM Toledo Plant Is 30th Shut by American Axle Strike - General Motors
Corp. shut its plant in Toledo, Ohio, for a second time in four weeks,
bringing to 30 the number of factories idled or partially closed by a
strike at supplier American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc.
-
Chrysler retirees lose life insurance - Chrysler LLC's white-collar
retirees are losing free life insurance benefits but are eligible for a
one-time pension boost of up to $4,000, according to a letter retirees
should receive this week.
-
California Trio Arrested for International Auto Insurance Fraud -
Three individuals have been arrested in California for allegedly being
involved in a five-person conspiracy that resulted in a vehicle owned by
one of the conspirators driven to Mexico where it was "chopped" (i.e.,
taken apart so that its parts can be used or sold separately), according
to the California Department of Insurance.
-
State Farm trial over denied policy benefits ends with $44k judgment -
A Jefferson County jury ordered State Farm to pay a woman more than
$44,000 in damages for injuries she received in a 2003 auto wreck.
-
Pieler and Hunter: When it comes to auto insurance, Texas should favor
competition to help consumers - Opinion: If you want an object lesson
in how messed up our ways of regulating insurance in the U.S. are, just
take a look at a recent Supreme Court decision—or rather, nondecision. By
turning down an appeal in the case of Allstate v. Abbott, the Justices de
facto upheld Texas law barring linkage of insurance companies and auto
repair shops. One obvious result is a reduction in the choices available
to drivers seeking post-collision repairs once their claims have been
honored.
-
Legislation seeks insurance changes - Denver, CO: Rep. Morgan Carroll,
a Democrat from Aurora, said insurance companies currently are allowed to
increase rates at will and get approval from the Division of Insurance
later. She said they are rarely punished if increases are found to be
unjustified. -- Carroll said she is considering adding auto insurance in a
separate measure. -- House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver, is
sponsoring a bill that would impose penalties if a claim is improperly
denied.
-
Industry Lines Up 'Pro and Con' on Bush Plan for Federal Insurance
Regulator - Insurance industry groups are lining up quickly with
responses to the Bush administration's proposed overhaul of the way the
government regulates the nation's financial services industries, including
insurance.
-
Paulson Proposes Insurance Agency to Cut Bureaucracy - Treasury
Secretary Henry Paulson proposed allowing insurance companies to select
the federal government as their main regulator for the first time in more
than a century as part of a plan to cut bureaucracy. -- Federal oversight
would allow insurers more flexibility to set prices, rather than negotiate
possible increases with agencies all over the country, and would end most
supervision from the states, which have been the primary insurance
regulators for more than 135 years. Paulson's proposal today was part of a
broader plan to overhaul U.S. financial regulation.
-
Insurer State Farm favors U.S. federal proposal - U.S. insurer State
Farm said on Monday it supports a proposal to revamp the current system of
state-by-state insurance regulation in favor of a choice between federal
or state regulation.
March 2008
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