July 31, 2009 

• Collision Repair Industry Meets in Nation's Capitol to Discuss Hot Topics - glassBYTEs™: Increasing public recognition of the importance of a particular service; steering; dealing with OEM parts; and working with insurers-these are all topics of concern to many in the auto glass industry. It seems none of these are far from the minds of collision repairers' either, as evidenced by several meetings being held this week in Washington, D.C., as part of I-CAR's 30th anniversary conference.
• Staunton Salvage Yard Worried About Cash for Clunkers - VA: Not everyone thinks the Cash for Clunkers program is a good idea. -- While the owner of a clunker may get a $4,500 rebate to trade in their car to a dealership, an automotive salvage yard can't compete.
• Tulsa Salvage Operator Questions 'Cash For Clunkers' Program - OK: "The way the law reads, we have to crush them.  So, we'll bring them in, drain them and get ready to crush them," said Michael Hibbs with Square Deal Auto Salvage.
• D&D Collision to join Service King Collision - D&D Collision/Callaway’s Collision Specialist has agreed to be purchased by Service King Collision Repair Centers. -- Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
• Tacoma auto body shop adopting 'greener' practices - When you get into a fender-bender, the environment is probably not the first thing on your mind. But one Tacoma body shop owner is picking up greener practices. He's thinking of Mother Earth while they're babying your car.
• How to select a collision repair shop - Insurers Interest: Speed -- Although a fast repair is desirable, high quality collision repair is not a process that should be rushed.
• Custom painter Charley Hutton to appear with PPG at NSRA Nationals - Street rod painter Charley Hutton will sign autographs at the Vibrance Collection Show Truck display for PPG Industries’ (NYSE:PPG) automotive refinish business during the 40th annual NSRA Street Rod Nationals, Aug. 6-9, at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville.
• Business Matters: Mr. B’s Body and Fender Fixes Dings, Restores Classics - Ken Bodtker, better known to longtime Berthoud residents as “Mr. B,” has been removing rust, banging out dents and re-painting cars for over four decades. Bodtker operates out of a small, ordinary looking shop on the corner of Second Street and Mountain Avenue.
• Freedom Automotive Services is Stafford’s First Ask Patty Certified Female Friendly Automotive Service Center - Freedom Automotive Services is pleased to announce they have completed AskPatty.com’s Certified Female Friendly training and is now Stafford, Texas’ first Certified Female Friendly service center and body shop. To achieve certified status, their personnel completed more than 8 hours of training on how to better meet the expectations of the woman consumer.
• EPA offers waterborne coatings webinar - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hosted its 2009 Waterborne Automotive Coatings webinar July 14 for collision repairers, which discussed the switch to waterborne paint.
• Ford approves PPG SX1071 low-VOC etch prime for warranty repairs -“PPG has fully complied with Ford Motor Co. aftermarket refinish specifications,” said Gerry Bonanni, senior engineer, Ford Customer Service Division, Paint and Body Technology Center. “SX1071 has our full approval to be used for Ford dealership warranty repairs.”
• Akzo Nobel net profit down 13 percent in Q2 - Akzo Nobel NV, the world's largest maker of paint, reported Wednesday a 13 percent fall in second-quarter profit, citing weak demand amid the economic downturn, but shares jumped on news that cost-cutting and lower raw materials costs had preserved margins.
• LKQ Corp posts lower Q2 net - LKQ Corp reported a 7 percent decline in net profit, hurt in part by lower commodity prices, but the automobile-parts recycler raised the low end of its 2009 earnings view by a cent.
• Too many clunkers, too little cash - Shortly after launching, the $1 billion Cash for Clunkers program may be almost spent out. Administration weighs next step.
• The paint job cost twice as much as the car - Reassembling the pieces after the car was painted became the painful, prolonged part
• Victory for a Triumph: Classic restored car receives accolades - Dennis Morrison of Wakefield developed a passion for British Triumph sports cars in high school, and they have been a part of his life ever since.
• PPG helps CERTIFIEDFIRST Network conduct continuing education for insurance agents - PPG Industries’ automotive refinish business is helping CertifiedFirst Network collision center owners and managers build relationships with insurance agents through a Continuing Education Instructor Development Training (IDT) program. Four such programs have been held this year, with another scheduled for Sept. 8-9 in Dallas.
• 'Clunkers' insurance rule rattles lawmakers - In a letter Wednesday to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is handling the program, U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) said current Wisconsin law does not require drivers to have car insurance, so the government should not make that a requirement for residents to participate in the program.
• Recent Colorado storms' costs lash insurers - Damage claims in June and July top half a billion dollars, most expensive season since '90
• Billionaire Insurance Exec Attacks Middle Class With Ballot Initiative to Increase Auto Insurance Premiums - The billionaire chairman of Los Angeles-based Mercury Insurance Company is sponsoring a ballot measure that would legalize surcharges of hundreds of dollars for automobile insurance, penalize good drivers for accidents that are not their fault, and lead to more uninsured motorists.

July 29, 2009 

• Collision Association Partners with Two Local Non-Profits to Bring Vehicle Donation Program to Connecticut Four Families in Need to Be Served - The Connecticut Collision Repair Specialists Association, a member of the National Auto Body Council (NABC), is pleased to announce a vehicle donation partnership, “Recycled Rides” with two Connecticut non-profits: Hands On Hartford and New Haven Home Recovery, Inc.
• CCC Convenes Initial Meeting of Repair Advisory Panel - CCC Information Services Inc. today announced it held the initial meeting of its new Repair Advisory Panel. The inter-industry group is comprised of collision repairers, insurers, automotive OEMs, paint companies, I-CAR(R) and MOTOR(R). Formalized in April, the group reviews and discusses potential modifications or enhancements to CCC's estimating products to provide the Company with direct input into how new or revised solutions may impact the various participants.
• Office of National Insurance Proposed; Office Would Monitor All Aspects of Insurance Industry, Also Would Gather Data - glassBYTEs™: The U.S. Treasury released detailed information on the proposed Office of National Insurance last week as part of the latest Systemic Risk Legislation sent to Capitol Hill by the Obama administration. According to the report, the Office of National Insurance would be a part of the Department of the Treasury, and would "monitor all aspects of the insurance industry, including identifying issues or gaps in the regulation of insurers that could contribute to a systemic crisis in the insurance industry of the financial system."
• Director of the Jim Ellis Collision Center Receives Certificate for "Unwavering Loyalty and Support" from the US Department of the Army - Marc Sizemore, Director of the Jim Ellis Collision Center in Atlanta, receives certificate for "Unwavering Loyalty and Support" from the US Department of the Army thanks to his patriotism shown to Iraq veteran, Doc Scheffler.
• Four New Franchisees Join the CARSTAR Family - Facilities from Texas, Florida, Maryland and Nevada to Offer Latest Collision Repair Technology, National Warranties, Rental Vehicles and More for Their Residents
• Pittman's Paint & Body gets greener - Quite a few things have changed along N. Columbia Street since the mid 1970s.
• Hetrick Auto Body goes green with PPG waterborne paint - Hetrick Auto Body has taken a proactive stand in protecting the environment by going green with its paint finishing system. The collision center recently switched to a low-VOC PPG waterborne basecoat from a conventional solvent-based system.
• Auto Body Shop in Los Angeles takes Pride in Protecting the Environment - More recycling, less waste and safer products reduce unhealthy by-products being released into the atmosphere
• Americans Open to Vehicles From China and India - Newly released research shows fifteen percent of new car buyers in the United States say they would consider purchasing their next vehicle from China, and eleven percent would consider buying a car from India, without knowing specific brands or vehicles. This compares with sixteen percent who said they would consider a vehicle from Korea, which has been marketing vehicles in the U. S. since the 1980s.
• Clunker Bill Stimulates Economy Before the Government Cuts the First Check - Automotive Stimulus Program Pumps Millions of Dollars into the Economy Through Spending By Manufacturers and Dealers Preparing To Cash in On the $1 Billion Opportunity
• Mileage change throws some clunkers in and out of voucher plan - A last-minute update of federal fuel economy data caused confusion today among shoppers looking at cash-for-clunkers deals, making some old cars and trucks ineligible just as the program launched.
• EPA provides list of new clunkers - The federal government late today released a list of 164 vehicle models whose eligibility for the cash-for-clunkers rebate program was changed by updated fuel economy data last week.
• Urgent Recall Alert: BMW 1, 3-Series - BMW is recalling every 2008 1-Series and 3-Series car to correct a defect that could cause an airbag failure.
• Recall Alert: Subaru Baja - Subaru has issued a recall notice for 2005 and 2006 Baja trucks due to a fuel line defect that could lead to a vehicle fire.
• Recall Alert: 2001 Honda Accord, Civic - Honda has issued a recall notice for 2001 Honda Accord and Civic coupes and sedans in order to correct an airbag defect.
• Recall Alert: BMW X5, X6 - BMW has issued a recall order for all 2009 X5 and X6 SUVs to correct a brake defect that could compromise the vehicles' ability to stop.
• What are the top 10 foods that cause car wrecks and higher premiums? - Eating while driving is one of the most distracting things you can do, according to a study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.
• Distracted Driving the Top Reason that 35 Percent of Drivers Feel Less Safe than Five Years Ago, According to the AAA Foundation - Eighty-Seven Percent Rated Texting or E-mailing a Very Serious Threat, Ranked Almost Even with Drunk Driving
• Liberty Mutual profit declines - Liberty Mutual Group Inc., the policyholder-owned insurer that purchased Safeco Corp. last year, said profit fell for the second straight quarter on the decline in the value of private equity investments.

July 27, 2009 

• Sustainability the Focus at IBIS 2009 - A new strategy for reducing the number of total losses would be an incredible boon to the repair industry. How such a strategy would work was just one of the topics under discussion at IBIS 2009.
• Patriotism at its Height: Detroit Shop Owner Names Business after President - glassBYTEs™: “If someone forgets the name Obama, something’s wrong with them,” says Terry O’Neal, the owner of Obama Auto Glass & Electric in Detroit.
• Oahu auto body shops go green - Four, auto body shops on Oahu are now doing their part, to help the environment. -- For more than 20 years, they've been friendly competitors in the industry: Roland Kuroda of Kuroda Autobody, Van Takemoto of Island Fender, Eddie Okahara of Oka's Auto Body and Dwayne Nasu of Acme Fender. Now, they've formed a new partnership.
• Arnold's Body Shop to Receive Air Quality Awards - On Wednesday, July 29, 2009, Governor Chet Culver will honor the business for the results of its efforts with the 2008 Governor’s Iowa Environmental Excellence Award at a ceremony in the State Capitol in Des Moines.
• Leading Auto Body Shop Announces New "Greener" Collision Repair Solutions For Eco-Friendly Consumer - A local Tucson entrepreneur is offering consumers an affordable and greener solution to car maintenance.
• Auto Collision Repair Shop: Build A Relationship With Mechanics - It may be one of many people’s nightmares to have to go and seek out the correct body shop, having to find a good body shop or fender bender as some may call them is not always easy.
• What's Up: Mike Kronk knows about auto parts - If you want auto body parts from a man who knows how they're used, you want Mike Kronk.
• Bay Area has had long love affair with the car - With the fate of the Nummi auto plant in flux and car dealerships foundering, a gleaming, souped-up chapter of Bay Area history is shifting into lower gear.
• Why Woz's TV spot for auto body shop is wonderful - In a world where nerds are supposed be a little on the inhuman side, there's something curiously refreshing about one of the great uber-nerds doing something just because he wants to, just because he is doing someone a favor (Woz donated his fee to the March of Dimes charity), and totally without embarrassment.
• Longtime repair shop finds new location in Gary - Joe Allande found he didn't have to look far to find a new home for his auto and truck repair business after being forced out of his Miller location of 25 years.
• Auto Dealers Report Boost in Sales From Cash for Clunkers - In a nationwide survey conducted this week, three out of ten dealers report having made a sale involving a "Cash for Clunkers" voucher.
• AIAM Praises Start of Cash for Clunkers Program - The Association of International Automobile Manufacturers, Inc. (AIAM) released the following remarks by Michael J. Stanton, President and CEO, on the first day of the U.S. government's "Car Allowance Rebate Program" (CARS), also known as "cash for clunkers."
• From jalopy to shiny new, with a hand from Uncle Sam - ``I had a [16]-year-old vehicle only worth $1,000 in the Kelley Blue Book, and I thought that this was a way to triple my value,'' said Wallace, who was one of the first in South Florida to trade in a ``clunker.''
• CARS Updates: Uninformed Dealers, Ugly Clunkers, Angry Aftermarket Association - The "Cash for Clunkers" CARS program is upon us. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has released a 136-page online document explaining the program in detail -- something that's been lacking thus far.
• Video: Kbb.com's 'Cash for Clunkers' Calculator Features More Comprehensive Consumer Resources as Federal Program Takes Effect - Kbb.com Calculator Now Connects Consumers with Dealers to Get Price Quotes on Qualifying New Vehicles
• Toyota Launches 'Cash for Clunkers' Program and Advertising Campaign, Special Lease Rates - Toyota will begin airing national and regional television commercials today in support of the government's Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) by informing consumers that the Toyota family of cars and trucks has 25 models that qualify for federal rebates ranging from $3,500 to $4,500.
• Japan Sends Letter to U.S. Over Concerns About "Buy American" Legislation - Japan, a country known for its protectionist trade policies in the 1970s and 1980s, has sent a letter to the United States over concerns that the "Buy American" provisions in a Congressional appropriations bill for energy and water development go against the World Trade Organization's principle of non-discrimination.
• Second gear: Is green the next color for Alabama auto industry? - Almost overnight, Alabama became a key U.S. center for vehicle production, and now, amid the growing pains of the global automotive industry, a new challenge is emerging.
• A Cliffhanger to See if a G.M. Turnaround Succeeds - A successful G.M. turnaround could rank as one of the greatest restructuring efforts in business history, said Michael Useem, a professor of management at the University of Pennsylvania.
• Lawmakers To Study Auto Industry - Hearing Set For Dayton
• Travel Continued to Rise in May - glassBYTEs™: Travel on all roads and streets throughout the United States was up 0.1 percent in May 2009—an increase of .2 billion vehicle miles from May 2008, according to the latest statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHA). This is the second month in a row the FHA has reported increases in the number of miles driven.
• Weekly father-and-son trip turns deadly for Taconic crash victims Michael and Guy Bastardi - The elder Bastardi was a Korean War veteran who once owned an auto body shop in the Bronx. -- Guy Bastardi owned an auto body shop in Yonkers.
• Insurers Missing Boat On Subrogation Claims - Insurers are failing to take advantage of subrogation opportunities in auto claims cases as a potential means of offsetting losses, maximizing revenue and positively affecting customer retention, a survey of carriers has found.
• Ohioans to pay more for auto, home insurance - The average rates for Ohio’s top home and auto insurers have risen substantially in the past year, state officials announced Friday.

July 23, 2009 

• Ford Warns Against Reinstalling Salvage Seat Belts - In an updated position statement on the repair and replacement of safety belt assemblies, Ford Motor Co. clearly comes out against the practice of collision repair shops re-installing seat belts taken from salvage or damaged vehicles.
• NASTF Improves Information Request System - The National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) announced today that a new, more accessible Information Request System is available to allow individuals to submit information requests for any incidents of missing service information they may encounter. The new module also allows anyone to view the history of information request submissions since December 2004.
• Collision Industry Conference Meeting Agenda - July 29th andt 30th in Washington, DC -- General Meeting Held in conjunction with I-CAR
  Meeting held at: Omni Shoreham Hotel
• Extension of Safelite Hours Could Be on a Market-Based Basis, Says Feeney - glassBYTEs™: Safelite Auto Glass currently is looking at expanding hours throughout the United States, as reported previously by glassBYTEs.com™/AGRR magazine, but according to company president and chief executive officer Tom Feeney, any possible extension of hours would likely be done on a market-by-market basis. It would be based on the needs of customers in each particular market.
• Sterling Autobody expands - IL: Sterling Autobody Centers announced the completion of a 20000-square-foot expansion to its Rolling Meadows location. -- The Rolling Meadows store is also the first location to implement Sterling's 24-Hour Express Repair Process.
• Green coats of paint: Body shop switches to environmentally friendly process - Patrick Motoplex Certified Collision Repair Center at 15- N. Green River Road has gone all green , including in its paint line down to its paint sanders.
• Auto buffs racing to prove Elvis Cadillac - Elvis Presley bought, drove and gave away some 200 Cadillacs. -- And one of them just may have been discovered at a Charlotte Harbor auto restoration shop.
• GNB Voc-Tech collision repair champ is driven to succeed - Eric Goncalves is on a collision course — with success. -- He's already a national champ in collision repair and there's no doubt he is driven to do his very best.
• Keystone Automotive Grabs 106,000 SF - Keystone Automotive Industries Inc. has leased 106,000 square feet of distribution space here. The company will locate in the North Plainfield Park Distribution Center, part of a the 10-building, 5.6-million-square-foot industrial park owned by ProLogis. -- Keystone Automotive, which specializes in aftermarket collision replacement parts, is a subsidiary of LKQ Corp.
• LKQ Creates Program to Support Cars (Car Allowance Rebate System) or Cash for Clunkers - LKQ Corporation and its vehicle recycling operations have created the LKQ Assured CARS Disposal program to assist automobile dealers that accept trade-in vehicles under the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS). LKQ will provide certification of proper destruction, free towing services and payment upon pick up of the trade-in units accepted by automobile dealers.
• Chrysler to boost cash-for-clunkers deal - Chrysler Group LLC, looking to clear out sales of 2009 models, will double the federal government’s cash-for-clunkers program that will launch Thursday.
• NADA Response to Comments by the Head of the White House Auto Task Force - Today's characterization by the head of the White House Auto Task Force with regard to the position of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) on the question of dealer cuts is inaccurate.
• Fiat chief: 'Chrysler will be profitable' - In the six weeks since Fiat SpA and Chrysler Group LLC concluded their alliance, the new partners have moved quickly to integrate their automotive operations.
• West Virginia Toyota Plant Set to Produce Highlander Engines - Despite a still sluggish auto market, things are looking up at Toyota’s West Virginia engine plant.
• Unsafe Cars or Unsafe Drivers? - Today’s idea: Nobody really knows whether federal auto-safety recalls justify their cost, an industry lawyer writes. So why the single-minded focus on vehicles when the “root cause” of nearly all crashes is human error?
• Study: Crash Test Results Can Differ for Two, Four-Door Cars - Buying a new small car?  Don't assume that crash tests performed on a sedan apply to the coupe version of the same car.  That's one important takeaway from a new round of crash tests.
• Clean-up begins after overnight metro Denver storm - By noon Tuesday, State Farm had received more than 1100 auto claims.
• The Hartford Rolls Out AARP Auto Product Through Independent Agents - Previously, the insurance was only available directly from The Hartford by phone, Internet or mail.

July 21, 2009 

• Consumer Group Warns Against Insurance Industry Bill To Allow "Hard Sell" For Insurer-Controlled Auto Body Shops - Group Urges California Assemblywoman Hayashi To Protect 2003 Anti-Steering Law
• Cool Cars Workshop Scheduled for September 16 in Calif.; CARB to Develop Performance-Based Test Procedure for Solar Heat Gain Reductions - glassBYTEs™: This will be the group's first workshop since the Board approved the "Cool Cars" regulations, which call for new cars sold in California, starting in 2012, to be equipped with glass that reflects or absorbs the sun's rays.
• Minnesota Assignments of Benefits Cases Reversed and Remanded to District Courts - glassBYTEs™: The Minnesota Supreme Court has reversed several recent cases involving the assignment of benefits clause in an auto insurance policy and how it relates to auto glass shops.
• Right to Repair Act Allows Small Businesses to Compete on Level Playing Field - Passage of the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act (HR 2057) will allow small businesses to compete on a level playing field and ensure the long term survival of a competitive automotive repair industry, according to Paul Fiore, executive vice president of the Service Station Dealers of America and Allied Trades (SSDA-AT).
• Shops debate the place of insurers in the repair process - As vehicle designs have evolved and become more complex and costly, insurance companies have become increasingly involved in the collision repair process.  
• Number One Laguna Fan - When we asked readers to meet us at the Goodguys event in Columbus, we lucked out when one of our biggest fans turned up.
• Helping makes good guy feel good - Dave Adams did not put me up to this. -- He doesn't have a PR agent. He doesn't send out press releases. -- World acclaim is not why he fixed those cars. -- Dave runs an auto-body repair shop, G/3 Collision Auto Repair, on the west side of the freeway in Orem.
• A family business that's mixing the old with the new - Art, Al and Bud Morgan, three of the owners of Mid-Southern Restorations, moved to Cookeville from Wyoming in the spring of 2005 and took over an existing automobile-restoration business. Their passion for older vehicles dates back to when they were watching their father repair cars from the fifties.
• Body shop fixes 'Dog Days' pups good as new - Usually, the body shop at Bill DeFouw Chevrolet is reserved for vehicles with four wheels. - But this summer, about 15 four-legged creatures have come in for repairs at the Lafayette dealership and garage.
• Obituary:  Jeffry A. Dorr - Dexter NY:  Jeffry A. Dorr, 45, of Dexter died Friday in an accident at his auto body shop when a car jack slipped and the vehicle fell on him. -- Jeffry worked for his father in Dorr’s Body Shop and took over on his father’s retirement.
• Obama Seeks Ways to Aid Auto-Parts Makers, Locke Says - The Obama administration is seeking ways to aid auto-parts suppliers unable to obtain credit, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said.
• Va. company buys Honda of Lake Norman - Priority Automotive takes over bankrupt dealership -- Priority operates Chevrolet, Toyota/Scion, Hyundai, Acura and Honda dealerships in the Chesapeake region and owns Priority Toyota/Scion and the Priority Used Car Super Center in Richmond.  The company also runs collision repair centers in Chesapeake and Richmond.  Priority Honda of Huntersville is the company’s first venture outside of Virginia.
• Surviving The Economy - Car sales down, car repairs up in Grand Rapids
• Toyota says it's no longer profitable in North America - Toyota's top executive in the United States said Monday the company was reviewing its entire operation here, including whether to close a factory in California and when to open a factory in Mississippi.
• Insurer, 3 auto repair shops win $2.9M suit over transmission fluid - A jury Friday awarded $2.9 million to three local automotive repair businesses and an insurance company after they sued a Michigan oil company for supplying the auto shops with contaminated transmission fluid.
• SEC Charges 5 with Insider Trading Ahead of Liberty Mutual-Safeco Merger - The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged that five individuals, including a former investment banker at Goldman Sachs & Co., illegally tipped or traded on confidential information ahead of an announcement in April 2008 that Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. would acquire Safeco Corp., a Seattle-based insurance company.

July 17, 2009 

• Few plaintiffs in Ford case use coupons as lawyers reap millions - So far, the dollar value remitted to plaintiffs in the Ford Explorer rollover class-action lawsuit has added up to about $37,500. Meanwhile, squadrons of lawyers from 13 firms from Sacramento to Woodbridge, N.J., have raked in more than $25 million in attorneys' fees and expenses.
• NCOIL Property-Casualty Insurance Committee Meeting - The following was the testimony presented by Stephen Behrndt, on the legality of NCOIL activities.
• State Farm discontinues test of electronic parts ordering program - Some repairers in two states plan to continue its use
• Equalizer Industries Announces the Launch of New and Improved Website, Equalizer Fusion - glassBYTEs™: Equalizer Industries Inc. is pleased to announce the launch of its new and improved web site, Equalizer Fusion. Equalizer Fusion is a secure, web-based shopping system that interfaces directly with Equalizer's internal ordering process.
• 21st Century Changes Dealer Glass Policy - glassBYTEs™: 21st Century Insurance has changed its dealer glass policy, according to an announcement issued by its glass claims administrator, LYNX Services, this week.
• Dent repair association concerned by insurer steering - Members of the National Alliance of Paintless Dent Repair Technicians (NAPDRT) board have received numerous calls from its small business technician members and collision shop clients concerned about some insurance companies requiring body shop owners to use the insurer’s preferred vendor providers for paintless dent repair (PDR) instead of the shop’s preferred PDR technicians.
• 'CCC Insight' Thought Leadership Publication Assesses Influence of Major Demographic Changes - An aging population and an increase in the percentage of immigrants driving recent U.S. population growth stands to impact the automotive claims and collision repair industries.
• Workshop on Cutting Pollutants Held for Boise Business Owners - The workshop targets places like painting and auto body shops, along with dry cleaners and printing companies. 
• Northlanders assist family in need - The mother of two young children was taken to Wicklund’s CARSTAR in Liberty, where she received a Ford Taurus that had been brought back to life by Wicklund’s and the Firestone store in Liberty.
• Something awry in aftermarket auto parts? - The retail aftermarket auto parts business has been helped as the recession suppresses new car sales and people keep their cars longer.
• Paintmaker PPG's profit down, but tops forecasts - PPG Industries Inc, the world's second-largest paint and coatings maker, on Thursday posted better-than-expected second-quarter profit, sending its shares higher.
• First Consumers to Get 'Cash For Clunkers' In The United States - First Consumer To Get "Cash For Clunkers" In New York City Could Be The First In The Country To Take Advantage Of The Government Funded $4500 Rebates For Consumers Buying New, More Fuel Efficient Car
• California lawmakers scramble to keep state's last car factory open - The Bay Area factory, which makes Toyota Corollas, Toyota Tundras and Pontiac Vibes, would receive sales tax benefits potentially worth millions of dollars under legislation introduced in the Assembly on Wednesday.
• GM back in business in Arlington - TX: General Motors relaunched the production line at its Arlington truck assembly plant Monday for the first time since May 18, despite a labor dispute at a nearby supplier.
• Report: Toyota, Mazda to form tie-up on hybrids - Toyota is in talks with Mazda about providing its key hybrid technology in a tie-up, the nation's top business daily reported Thursday. -- Both automakers said no decision has been made.
• Supplements and one way to understand them - Have you had an inspection done on your vehicle, related to an accident, and realized that the Adjuster's estimate comes nowhere close to what you think the repairs will cost? Have you gone to two different body shops and their estimate totals are more then the Adjuster's estimate? Well there is a reason for that. Adjuster's can only write an estimate for what they can see.
• Insurance Customers Take Fight to State Capitol - MI: Their testimony comes after house democrats announced Monday their proposal for tougher regulations on wrongful denial practices.
• Washington, DC Tops List of Riskiest Driving Cities - If you're in Sioux Falls, Fort Collins, or Chattanooga, your chances of colliding with another vehicle are a lot lower than in most other U.S. cities. -- The results are part of Allstate's fifth annual "America's Most Improved Driving City" report, which ranks the 200 largest U.S. cities based on collision frequency.
• Hybrids Look A Little Less Green To Auto Insurers - Insurance companies often give discounts to drivers of hybrids, perhaps because the image of a tree-hugging environmentalist suggests a cautious type who is a good risk to insure. But hybrid drivers rack up more miles, more tickets and costlier accidents than conventional car drivers, according to a study released Wednesday.
• Need a phone number to report an auto claim, who has the most user friendly website - There are many ways to file a claim with an insurance company after having an accident.
• N.C. auto insurers to cut rates, provide refunds - North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin has signed a settlement with the North Carolina Rate Bureau that will roll back auto insurance rates to just under 2006 levels and result as much as $50 million in refunds being paid to policyholders, his office said Wednesday.

July 15, 2009 

• “With CARS in Effect, Where Do The Cars Go?” - With automobile dealerships around the country heavily marketing to the consumer the benefits of the “clunker” trade-in under the federal government “Car Allowance Rebate System” (CARS) program in hopes to boost sales, there may be some question as to what happens to those tens of thousands of vehicles that are expected to be received for new, more environmentally efficient ones.
• NCOIL to Move on Airbag Fraud, Aftermarket Crash Part Models - Driven by impassioned debate at a special meeting here, legislators on July 11 made a push for auto insurance consumer protection—voting for thorough review of model acts on airbag fraud and aftermarket crash parts.
• ASA, SCRS testify against airbag, crash parts bills at NCOIL - The Automotive Service Association (ASA) and Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) testified before the National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) Property-Casualty Insurance Committee on NCOIL’s model laws on auto airbag fraud and motor vehicle crash parts and repair proposals.
• Next Crew Webcast with CCC Information Services Inc.- Collision Repair Executive Webcast (CREW) has announced that the special guests for the 11a.m. PST Thursday, July 23rd session will be Jim Dickens, General Manager and Sr. V.P. of the Automotive Services Group, Susanna Gotsch, Director/Industry Analyst and Mark Fincher, V.P. of Market Solutions with CCC Information Services Inc.
• CARSTAR(R) Canada Selects Audatex North America, Inc. as Preferred Online Lean Training Provider - Audatex North America, Inc. today announced an exclusive agreement with CARSTAR Canada as its preferred online provider of Lean Six Sigma training. The agreement extends to over 130 CARSTAR collision repair facilities in Canada throughout 10 provinces.
• New Windshield Replacement Training Emphasizes Proper Installation Practices - glassBYTEs™: Dow Automotive Systems, the industry leader in glass bonding technology, and the premier supplier of replacement glazing adhesives for all vehicle types, today announces a major upgrade to its Fixed Glass Training Program (FGTP), first introduced more than 10 years ago.
• Business Booms in Wichita, Kan., Area—Literally - glassBYTEs™: Business for auto glass replacement companies is literally booming in Wichita, Kan., this week, in the aftermath of a massive hail storm last week.
• Storms Keep Auto Repair Shops Busy - When the hailstorm hit Yankton Thursday morning, it left a mark on the community — especially on many of its cars. -- Becker Body Shop owner Chuck Becker said his shop has been seeing 30-35 customers a day.
• Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance Releases the Industry’s First Electronic Parts Catalog for Mexico Market Applications - Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance (Alliance) has selected WHI Solutions, a leader in On Demand Distribution Management Systems, Electronic Catalog and Ebusiness Solutions, to develop ALLeCat, their exclusive private label electronic parts application catalog for its ten Mexico shareholders.
• The Trickle-Down Effect - An Auto-Parts Maker Fades in the Fallout From Detroit -- "They don't want to help small businesses," Miller said of the banks. "But I gotta get some iron castings in here so I can get my orders going and get some cash flow in. It's going to be hand-to-mouth."
• Ford, GM object to Visteon's $80 million bonus plan - Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co. have objected to a plan by bankrupt auto parts supplier Visteon Corp to pay employees up to $80.1 million in bonuses, saying that they and major auto parts suppliers had eliminated performance incentives for 2009.
• 430 GM, Chrysler tier-one suppliers get federal aid - Analysts call program inadequate
• Chrysler Financial Repays $1.5 Billion TARP Loan From January - Chrysler Financial, the former lending arm of Chrysler LLC, said it repaid a $1.5 billion, five-year loan it received in January from the Troubled Asset Relief Program.
• How to Build an Electric Car - Some boise drivers aren't waiting for car manufacturers to make an electric car.
• Del.-based insurer gets new owner: 21st Century a key element in Farmers' plans for growth -- Times are changing rapidly for Talleyville-based 21st Century Insurance Group, once part of the AIG megacorporation and now a key element in the growth plans of Farmers Insurance Group, which bought the company for $1.9 billion this year.

July 13, 2009 

• Standardization Could Benefit Collision Repair Industry - There has been much discussion about the need to standardize collision procedures and processes. Learn about the benefits of standardization and what it will take for this to be accomplished.
• Calif. AB 1200 Voted Out of Committee - glassBYTEs™: The California Senate’s Banking, Finance and Insurance Committee voted AB 1200 out of committee this afternoon during a public hearing. The bill will now move to the Senate for a vote.
• AutoClaims Direct Releases 2nd Quarter 2009 Claims Data - Auto body repair labor rates remained fairly steady on national level with $48 per hour being the average however, in southern California, rates have jumped on average nearly $3.00 per hour vs. a year ago.
• ASA Associate Members Show Support for Independents - Five new associate members welcomed during second quarter
• ASA Announces Associate Members Renewing in Second Quarter '09 - ASA applauds associate members, appreciates support
• I-CAR to introduce two new courses to the collision inter-industry in August - Collision repair professionals and insurers will have the opportunity to learn important collision repair considerations for some of the most popular vehicles on the road as well as information about emerging technology in today’s vehicles.
• I-CAR names new Regional Managers - I-CAR, The Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair, has named six individuals that will move into the newly-created Regional Manager roles for the not-for-profit training organization on August 1.
• On the road to lean production - Joe Little, owner of Body Beautiful Collision Repair in Aurora, Colo., converted his shop to a lean production process, not just to help his business, but to get a better hold on his life in general.
• Worth Noting: Business expands and new car unveiling - Mayor Harvey Hall and other local dignitaries gathered Friday to celebrate the expansion of Family Motors Auto Body & Paint in Bakersfield.
• Automobile owners live to regret their do-it-yourself repairs - Gary Gamber has seen it for years. It's just that lately, it seems to happen more often: Car owners trying to fix their own vehicles - and many times making matters worse.
• Auto manufacturers' monopoly on service in Canada could soon end - People could soon have more choices in where they can take their vehicles to get fixed, if the New Democrats get their way.
• An Ardent Advocate for Embattled Auto Dealers - Darcars Executive Rallies Support To Undo Closures -- Darcars is better off than many, cushioned by a sprawling collision, parts and repair business that insulates it somewhat from the sharp drop in auto sales.
• A. Schulman Wins Society of Plastics Engineers Central Europe Award in Automotive Body Exterior Category - . Schulman, Inc. (Nasdaq-GS: SHLM) announced today that it has received the 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers Central Europe Division's award in the automotive body exterior category for its innovative technology solution used in the Mercedes-Benz CLS radiator grill.
• A Mid-Year DuPont Automotive Color Popularity Feature: Mobility, Money, Mood, Marketing Sway Car Color Choices - Like fashion designers, automobile manufacturers gather all the quantitative or "hard" data they can to formulate their predictions of colors that will appeal to consumers. But, ultimately, they also have to rely on certain "soft" considerations - such as psychology and cultural influences - that can also have an effect on color preference, especially in turbulent economic times.
• Auto Parts Suppliers Continue To Struggle - Many Suppliers Will Go Out Of Business, Auto Expert Says
• Meridian Announces the Sale of Certain Operating Units of Their Bumper Systems Business - Meridian Automotive Systems, Inc. ("Meridian") announced today that they have reached an agreement with affiliates of Flex N Gate, LLC ("Flex N Gate"), whereby Flex N Gate has, effective as of July 7, 2009, acquired elements of Meridian's Bumper Systems business.
• People are cashing in on "Cash For Clunkers" - John Stone traded-in his "clunker", a 1988 Jeep Cherokee. Stone said he didn't think his car was classified as a clunker until he researched the program online. -- "I got $4,500 in for this because of "Cash for Clunkers" and blue book it's only worth about $1,400, so I definitely made a bargain," said Stone.
• Chrysler accuses Hecker of misappropriating $83 million - Chrysler's financial arm turned up the heat against Denny Hecker on Wednesday, claiming in a lawsuit that the auto-sales mogul obtained $83 million from it through fraud, forged documents and embezzlement.
• French workers threaten 'to blow up' car factory - Workers at a bankrupt French car parts supplier have threatened to blow up their factory unless carmakers Renault and PSA-Peugeot pay them compensation, a union official said on Sunday.
• Hail damage hitting wallets - Hail the size of ping-pong balls. People might remember it from a thunderstorm that rolled through parts of Rochester on June 26th.
• Using recycled parts to repair your vehicle - You've just had an accident and you file a claim with your insurance. The Adjuster comes out to inspect your vehicle and writes an estimate. If the Adjuster has done their job correctly, they will have gone over the estimate with you and explained what they have written. One of the items on the estimate, is to replace a body panel with a quality replacement part or recycled part.
• Insurance complaints to state rose in 2008 - Michigan consumers reported 4,259 complaints about their auto, life, homeowners and annuity insurers to state regulators in 2008, according to a report last week from the Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation.
• Oregon Legislature Stops Costly Insurance Legislation - The Oregon Legislature adjourned the 2009 legislative session late Monday night, June 29, 2009, ending a busy session that included an aggressive trial lawyer agenda, according to the American Insurance Association (AIA).
• Progressive Sees Profit Boost ... Finally - Auto insurer Progressive saw a 16% boost to second-quarter profit despite some investment losses.

July 9, 2009 

• National Independent Automobile Dealers Association Declares its Support of 'Right to Repair' - The National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NIADA), a national trade association representing independent automobile dealers, has declared its support of the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act (HR 2057) and strongly urges Congress to pass the legislation on behalf of its over 20,000 members.
• Auto shop puts needy single mothers on free wheels - For more than a year, a handful of men at what now is called Palm Beach Auto Painting and Collision, located at 1009 Newman Road, have been fixing donated cars and giving them to needy mothers.
• All-girl automotive body shop team create work of art - It's not a phrase you hear very often anymore....it's a man's world. But when it comes to automotive body shop work, it's still an expression that applies. But Automotive Collision and Refinishing Technology Instructor Orlando Lizcano has noticed a shift. "We have more and more girls applying in the past several years," he said. There's a big demand in this business.
• Auto Repair School Revving Up Careers - Graduates Find Jobs As Car Sales Dwindle
• Subaru of America, Inc. Donates Vehicle to Advance Education of Automotive Students  - Subaru of America, Inc., along with Bob Baker Subaru, donated a vehicle for use in advancing education at a local Automotive Youth Education Systems "AYES" school. This time a 2009 Subaru Legacy was donated to the Monte Vista High School program. The previous vehicle, a 2006 Subaru Legacy, was donated to Ontario High School.
• Parker automotive services and dealers voted 'Best of the Best' for 2009 - Consumers are spending less and expecting more value when they do spend money, and these top-rated Parker businesses are responding to this expectation with a value-driven approach.
• DuPont Performance Coatings partners with American Honda Body Shop Recognition Program - DuPont Performance Coatings has formed an agreement with American Honda Motor Company, Inc., and its new Body Shop Recognition Program. The program is an updated version of the previous Honda and Acura programs.
• Sterling Autobody Reaches Agreement With ALLDATA - Sterling Autobody Centers Inc. announced it has signed an agreement with ALLDATA that will place the company's collision and mechanical repair data in each of Sterling's 60-plus locations.
• MACRO Shop Group Selects AkzoNobel for Exclusive Vendor Agreement - AkzoNobel Car Refinishes Americas has been selected by the Mid-Atlantic Collision Repair Organization (MACRO) for a preferred paint vendor agreement that is exclusive to the company.
• National Independent Appraisal Firm Deepens Relationship With CCC - Independent appraisal firm ClaimSolution Inc. today announced that it has selected CCC Information Services Inc. to provide the Kansas City-based company with its estimating software. Improved process alignment was one of the key reasons ClaimSolution CEO Mark Snow made the decision to turn to CCC.
• Steve Wozniak Becomes Auto Body Pitchman - He's been tapped by Car West Auto Body of Danville, Calif. to hawk collision repairs.
• Bellingham Maaco earns corporate recognition - The designation certifies the facility's image, service, equipment and operating procedures. Currently, 275 of 475 stores are certified, and it is anticipated that all will pass inspection by the end of 2009.
• Car owners live to regret do-it-yourself repairs - When the taillight of Laura Musall's five-year-old Nissan Altima burned out, she hoped to avoid the repair shop by letting her husband replace it at home. It seemed simple enough: Buy a bulb, pop off the cover and make the switch.
• Shearer buys Lewis Motors - Bill Shearer, owner of two General Motors dealerships in South Burlington, has purchased Lewis Motors, which sells the Acura, Audi and Volkswagen brands. -- Besides the GM dealerships, Shearer owns Shearer Honda in Rutland and Direct Autobody, a collision repair business in South Burlington. With the sale, the Shearer businesses will now employ 200 people.
• Car repair shop keeps on runnin' - After nearly half a century of tuning up and fixing North Shore cars, Hubbard Woods Motors in Winnetka is beating the odds in a struggling industry. -- Owner Robert Berger said the trick is to carve out a niche and hang on to it (the station is the area's go-to shop for Volvo repairs).
• Tuned up: One segment of auto industry is thriving - General automotive repair shops are predicted to post an increase in business of 5.5 percent from 2007 to 2009, according to the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association digital factbook. The trend is expected to continue into 2010.
• An unfair dealer monopoly on repairs - Typical American consumers - and that's most of us - probably make these assumptions about new cars: They're all "computerized," meaning beyond the realm of repair by those of us who once had an interest or instinct for working on them, and we're all stuck with costly service at the dealerships from which we purchased them.
• Green body shops 'ahead of the curve' - At Strain's Body Shop, there's something in the paint that makes this business a trendsetter among auto repair shops in the region.
• QC organizations, businesses in line for environmental awards - Fourteen Iowa organizations and businesses will receive the 2008 Governor's Iowa Environmental Excellence Award during ceremonies tentatively scheduled for July 28 in Des Moines. -- Owner John Arnold said Arnold's is one of only a few auto body shops in the United States to adopt the new environmentally friendly technology.
• Legislating Toxicity - Will Massachusetts adopt European-style regulations on products made with potentially dangerous chemicals? -- Companies sometimes complain that the substitute chemical doesn't work as well as the older version, or is not as cost-effective; the auto body industry, for instance, is moving toward water-based paints and fillers, but finding they have a longer drying time that slows down production, Florio said.
• Can auto repair shops charge for ‘environmental’ services? - A spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection said his department doesn’t assess any fees for auto repairs. The attorney general’s office said it is unaware of any law that calls for such charges. So what is this charge and where does it come from?
• Research and Markets: Strategic Analysis of the North American Automotive Salvage Industry Out Now - In this study, Frost & Sullivan estimated the impact of salvage parts in the collision and mechanical repair industry, and delivered strategic insights for industry participants.
• Investor Daily: LKQ is top of the heap in auto salvage - Since 1998 a group of former Waste Management executives have been revolutionizing a mom-and-pop industry by rolling up dozens of scrap yards that turn junkers into usable parts, and convincing insurance companies and body shops that recycled parts are just as good as ones straight from the manufacturer.
• www.CashForClunkersInformation.org Celebrates the Success of Its Cash for Clunkers Calculator - www.CashForClunkersInformation.org Cash for Clunkers Calculator Helps Consumers Determine If Their Vehicle Qualifies For The Rebate Program
• Affinia Files Suit Over Brake Safety Concerns - Lawsuit targets false advertising in aftermarket auto parts industry
• Phoenix Car Rental Company Reaches $100,000 Settlement with Attorney General for Windshield Scam - glassBYTEs™: The Arizona Attorney General's office has agreed to a $100,000 settlement with a Phoenix rental car company for violations of the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act. The company, the Phoenix airport location of Payless Car Rental (PCR), has been charged with charging vehicle renters and their insurance companies for replacing the glass on vehicles they had driven, even when the windshields were not replaced.
• Group Charged With Insurance Fraud - A group including doctors and other health-care providers in New York was charged with defrauding insurers Wednesday in an alleged scheme that state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said represented a "frightening mutation" of typical insurance-fraud cases.
• Massachusetts Police Arrest 13 in Auto Insurance Fraud Case - Thirteen people from Lawrence and Methuen have been charged with auto insurance fraud in connection with what police say was a staged accident that resulted in more than $76,000 in insurance payouts.
• Delaware AARP auto insurance policy holders to receive refunds - Delaware Insurance Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart announced, June 8, the settlement of two pending complaints against the Property and Casualty Insurance Co. of Hartford and the Hartford Underwriters Insurance Co., which together sell the AARP auto insurance program in Delaware.
• Fifth Annual 'Allstate America's Best Drivers Report(TM)' Reveals Which Cities Have the Safest Drivers - Allstate Rewards 'America's Most Improved Driving City' with Free Gas
• Collision City - Everyone who buys auto insurance in Philadelphia knows it. So does everybody frightened by the Schuylkill Expressway's merge-or-die ramps, Lincoln Drive's snakelike twists, or Roosevelt Boulevard's multilane madness. Philadelphia is a risky place to drive.
• Ohio insurer left $152K by grateful employee - As a thank you, a man has left $152,000 - half his estate - to the Ohio insurance company where he worked for 25 years. -- In his will, Jack Boyle said the bequest to Columbus-based State Auto Insurance Cos. was in gratitude for his livelihood and his good pension in retirement.

July 7, 2009 

• Should you buy a remanufactured vehicle? - What the heck is a remanufactured vehicle? -- If the vehicle's certificate of title has been labeled "salvage" then an insurer has determined that the vehicle is a bust and the cost to fix it up right is way more than its value. This usually happens after the vehicle has been in a serious accident.
• Glass Mechanix Launches New Auto Glass Repair Systems at NASCAR Race - glassBYTEs™: Glass Mechanix launched its new Daytona Auto Glass Repair System at the NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Daytona on Friday. The company sponsored Rusty Wallace Racing's Number 62 car, driven by Brenden Gaughan, at the race.
• I-CAR boosts leadership support to field instructors and volunteers - As part of its commitment to providing effective support to its volunteers and instructors, I-CAR, The Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair, today established six regions in the United States that will replace the current three-zone structure. The new structure will provide enhanced leadership and support for I-CAR training for the collision inter-industry.
• I-CAR extends conference registration deadline to July 24 - I-CAR, the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair, has announced that it will extend its registration deadline to July 24 for the upcoming I-CAR 30th Annual Industry Conference at the Omni Shoreham hotel in Washington, DC, July 28 – 31 as the training organization continues to receive interest from the inter-industry.
• Cars Collision strives, educates - If you notice more banged-up cars cruising the streets of the region you're not alone. The car has taken a hit, but in today's economy -- so has its driver.
• Universal Technical Institute Announces Departure of Chief Operating Officer - Universal Technical Institute, Inc., a leading provider of technical education training, today announced that Sherrell Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer will be leaving the company, effective immediately.
• Relocation offers boost in business - OK: Bill Knight has moved one of his two collision and repair centers to the former Trinity Restoration site immediately east of Knight’s Ford and Jaguar dealership.
• Merced business keeps auto repair in the family - If you own a vehicle that has broken down in Merced, there's a pretty good chance the part used to fix it came from the 15th Street warehouse of 50-year-old TBA Auto Parts -- Tires, Batteries and Accessories.
• Some Auto Repair Shops Experience A Boom In Business - IA: Repair rather than buy new. That seems to be the thinking among many consumers who are making the decision to repair their cars rather than buy brand new models.
• New Site is a Craigslist for Car Parts - CheckaNumber features parts inventories from dealers, parts stores, warehouse distributors and others. It also includes an "eBay" style marketplace, where any dealer items may be posted with details and pictures.
• URG joins partnership, backs Recycled Rides Program - The Recycled Rides program, a community service initiative of the National Auto Body Council (NABC) that brings together all segments of the auto salvage and collision repair industries to fix up and donate working automobiles to families in need in cities across the country, has gained the support of the United Recyclers Group.
• PPG to Announce Second Quarter 2009 Results July 16 - PPG Industries announces the following details for its second quarter earnings release and teleconference call.
• NAPA parent names new auto-parts chief - Genuine Parts Co. said Monday it named Paul D. Donahue president of the Atlanta-based company’s domestic automotive parts division. -- Donahue, 52, replaces Larry Samuelson, who retired in May after more than 30 years with the company
• Formation of Chrysler Group LLC Board Is Completed - Nine-Member Board Brings Wide-Ranging Experience and Skills to Board's Mission to Advance Chrysler's Future Viability
• Ford named featured marque for 2009 SEMA Show - Although the auto industry is doing it tough at the moment, there's a beacon of hope in the form of this year's upcoming SEMA show.
• Ford Posting Better Results Than Toyota In June - These are weird times for anyone who has watched the auto industry for, say, the last decade.
• Survey: Camry more American than F-150 - The Toyota Camry is more American than the Ford F-150, at least according to Cars.com's annual American-Made Index. -- The findings further muddy the buy American debate that rages across the country.
• Toyota Plans to Spend $500 Million on Indiana SUV Plant Revamp - Toyota Motor Corp., grappling with excess North American plant capacity as sales wither, plans to spend about $500 million to upgrade an Indiana SUV-assembly plant, its biggest single such investment this year.
• Researchers study 'personality traits' of cars - The butterfly decals on the front bumper, flowers in the dashboard vase and lime-green paint job only confirmed Dennis Slice's perception of a Volkswagen Beetle parked in a lot at Florida State University.
• Opinion: Cash for clunkers will have little effect on new car sales - The cash for clunkers law is a congressional scam to give the appearance of doing something while doing nothing.
• Law and Disorder: Dude, where are my cars? - Elver Chacon’s four cars disappeared into thin air — at least that’s what he claims New Avalon Auto Body shop employees told him. (Second story down)
• Fire Damages Well-Known Sacramento Auto Body Shop - It happened on the 1700 block of 34th Street at the original building used by Bertolucci's Body & Fender Shop.  The family-run shop started by Dick Bertolucci has been in business for more than 60 years.
• Oak Park collision shop fire damages several cars - Fire ripped through three cars inside an Oak Park automotive collision repair shop this morning, with smoke and water damaging at least 15 other vehicles
• Appeals court upholds conviction of lawyer linked to auto fraud scam - MA: A state appeals court has upheld the April 2006 conviction of suspended Lawrence attorney Charles L. Lonardo, the area's one-time top personal injury lawyer for auto accident victims who went to jail after being linked to insurance fraud scams.
• Mass. Managed Auto System Brings Competition, Lower Rates, Survey Says - Nine new auto insurers, more carriers for each independent agency to represent, a drop in the number of uninsured drivers, and a decrease in policies written in the residual market -- these are some of the advantages under the one-year old managed competition auto insurance system in Massachusetts, according to a summary of a survey by the state Division of Insurance.
• Farmers Insurance Pledges to Match All Donations Up to $250k For "Be a Hero for Babies Day" to Benefit March Of Dimes - A matching gift of $250,000 by Farmers Insurance kicks off the upcoming "Be a Hero for Babies Day" to raise funds for March of Dimes programs of research and education to help more moms have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies.

July 3, 2009 

• Industry Reacts Optimistically to California Auto Glass Regulations - glassBYTEs™: Many have shown optimism toward the California Air Resources Board (CARB) vote on Friday to adopt new regulations that will impact both auto glass in new vehicles and auto glass that is replaced starting in 2012.
• Auto Repair Legislation Stalls in Rhode Island - The Rhode Island Senate has declined to take up auto body legislation opposed by the insurance industry.
• AASP-MN Announces Fall Seminar Lineup - AASP-MN will host "New Metals & Repair Technologies," Wednesday, September 16th, from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., at Crystal Lake Golf Club, Lakeville and again in the evening from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., at Dunwoody College of Technology, Minneapolis. The program will be presented by Dave Gruskos, Reliable Automotive Equipment and will cover materials in today’s vehicle bodies, repair methods for use on these materials, and how these materials affect the collision repair industry.
• C & C Collision to the Rescue - After a small accident, the insurance companies wanted to pay me a pittance and scrap my beautiful classic Beamer. What to do? I didn’t know what to do until I spoke to Nathan and Rett at C & C Collision.
• City South Auto Body shop expanding collision center - WA: Partners plan to add mechanical shop later, increase staff by seven
• Wilhelm Automotive in Surprise fixes car given to single mom - After her husband of 15 years passed away from debilitating heart disease, La Toyyia found herself raising her four children alone.
• King Collision to offer apprenticeships - The King Collision Center repair shops in Plymouth and Pembroke are developing an apprenticeship program that would offer opportunities for part-time work for teens enrolled in collision repair and graphic arts programs in high school. King Collision hopes to have a program in place by 2010. (last brief on page)
• Hot rodders keep spending despite recession. We love America. - The gearhead penchant for spending boatloads of cash on car parts is continuing despite the weak economy and dismal job market, says the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) market research department.
• Upcoming MVP Conference Will Focus on Accelerating Collision Shop Performance - PPG Industries’ MVP Business Solutions team will host a major conference for collision center owners and managers from across North America, Sept. 13-15 at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn. - The conference will center on the theme of "Accelerating Performance" and focus on helping owners and managers develop and utilize their leadership skills to implement change and maximize their business performance.
• DuPont Releases 124 New Coating Colors - Say “hello” to color. That’s 124 new colors to be exact. And most of them are shades of “green” -- not literally, but environmentally.
• GM Faces Supplier Contracts Ahead Of Exit From Bankruptcy - General Motors Corp. (GM) has to settle and restart billions of dollars in supplier contracts in what could be a key test of plans for a smooth bankruptcy exit, a person familiar with the matter said.
• Nissan invests in Tennesseans - Last week, Nissan North America announced plans to borrow $1.6 billion from the U.S. Department of Energy to build lithium-ion batteries and zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) at Nissan's Smyrna plant.
• Massachusetts Toyota Dealer Recognized For Outstanding Prius Hybrid Sales - The Toyota Motor Sales for the Boston Region has again recognized Acton Toyota of Littleton for outstanding sales results, this time for achieving the #1 sales rank for new Toyota Prius hybrid sales for the month of June in Toyota’s Boston Region.
• Ex-NHTSA chief fears new safety technologies will take back seat to new mpg rules, recession - When she headed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrationfrom 2006-08, Nicole Nason was in charge of both auto safety regulation and federal gas mileage standards. Safety advocates have long argued the two roles are in conflict and many studies have shown that downsizing cars and trucks to meet fuel economy rules has led to thousands more traffic deaths.
• Recall Alert: Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator - Ford has issued a recall notice for certain 2009 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs, in order to correct a brake lamp defect that could lead to an accident.
• Firestone Recalls 127,000 Defective Tires - According to Bridgestone, Firestone model FR380 tires (in sizes P235/75R15) suffer from a defect where the tire causes excessive vibration and groove cracking. As a result, "extended use could lead to tread distortion or tread separation and loss of vehicle control."
• Detectives slam brakes on shop: Owner of a hot-rod shop and retired LAPD auto theft detective among suspects - Authorities arrested four men Wednesday in connection with an auto-theft ring run out of a Canyon Country hot-rod repair shop, including the business’s owner and a retired Los Angeles Police Department auto-theft detective, officials said
• Fort Myers resident arrested in stolen truck fraud - A Fort Myers man is facing charges connected to the cloning of a stolen truck.
• State sues Modesto Midas dealer on fraud allegations - Seeks $222 million for what it calls auto repair scam
• Glad’s Response to Automotive Repair Suit -  Midas franchisee Mike Glad will aggressively defend against the civil complaint filed in Alameda County.
• Two California Men Arrested in Connection with Auto Insurance Fraud Charges - Farmers Insurance conducted reinspections of repaired vehicles from two Choice Auto Body locations in Newark and Santa Clara. Both shops were owned by Choi, and Powell worked as auto body manager at the Santa Clara location.
• New Meaning For Pay-Go - Recent experience has convinced me that the insurance industry is badly in need of better supervision for a variety of reasons.
• Zurich deal for AIG auto unit drives U.S. expansion - Zurich Financial Services AG said it closed its $1.9 billion acquisition of AIG's U.S. auto insurance business on Wednesday, and expects the business to bolster earnings at its Farmers division immediately.
• Car insurance rates fall 8%, state says - MA: Officials cite competition; critic questions timing
• Insurers get a lift from drop in tornadoes - U.S. tornado frequency fell in the first half of the year from the 2008 record, helping insurers including Allstate Corp. and Travelers Cos.
• Allstate Insurance recognizes William Garcia as regional champion - William Garcia, an Allstate exclusive agency owner, has been recognized by Allstate Insurance Co. with the regional champion award for high standards in customer satisfaction, customer retention and profitable business growth.

July 1, 2009 

• Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger III to Keynote at the Fifth Annual International Auto Glass Safety (AGRSS) Conference - glassBYTEs™: Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger III will address attendees at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas on November 5, 2009, during the Fifth Annual International Auto Glass Safety Conference sponsored by the AGRSS Council Inc.
• Body shop owner queries Obama on health insurance reform - Gary Cloutier, owner of Cloot’s Auto Body of Westfield, Mass., and secretary of AASP Massachusetts/Rhode Island was one of 164 participants in ABC-TV’s nationally televised program, “Prescription for America,” which was broadcast on June 25. The show featured President Barack Obama in the East Room of The White House, and was hosted by ABC-TV anchors Charles Gibson and Diane Sawyer.
• The White House - Press Office - Remarks By The President - ABC's "Prescription for America" Town Hall of Health Care
• Fast Moving Legislation Could Impose Auto Body Repair Tax on Rhode Island Consumers - The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) is urging members of the Rhode Island House to oppose auto body repair legislation that could increase costs and make the auto body repair process more inconvenient for consumers.
• Aftermarket Parts Keep Auto Repair Parts Prices, Insurance Costs in Check - The availability of aftermarket parts for use in collision repair keeps auto replacement parts prices competitive and saves consumers billions of dollars in insurance costs, according to testimony delivered today by the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI).
• New Services Designed with Women in Mind - FCC Collision Centers of Milpitas and Mountain View, CA are pleased to announce they have completed AskPatty.com's Certified Female Friendly training and is now Milpitas' and Mountain View's first Certified Female Friendly auto body group. To achieve certified status, their personnel completed 25 hours of training on how to better meet the expectations of the woman consumer.
• Tampa auto body shop is family's legacy - Angelo Traina Jr.'s life always has been centered at 15th Street and 28th Avenue. -- That is where Angelo's grandfather, Italian immigrant Giuseppe Traina, helped start a body shop business for his sons in 1926.
• Asahi to Supply Auto Glass for Mercedes - glassBYTEs™: Asahi Glass Co. Ltd. has signed a long-term agreement to supply auto glass for Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and SUVs to be manufactured both in the United States and Europe.
• Court Authorizes GM to Pay Pre-Petition Claims of Essential Suppliers, along with Continued Assistance for Suppliers from U.S. Treasury  - glassBYTEs™: On Friday, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York issued an order authorizing General Motors (GM) to pay pre-petition claims of "certain essential suppliers, vendors and service providers." In addition, the court authorized the continuation of the troubled supplier assistance program and continued participation in the U.S. Treasury Auto Supplier Support Program for the auto manufacturer, which filed for bankruptcy on June 1.
• Hazen Auto Parts Maker Closing Plant, Putting 70 Out of Work - Hazen Powder Parts LLC, an automotive components manufacturer at Hazen, is shutting down by the end of August because of the fall-off in the car industry, according to a company spokesman.
• Cash for clunkers hits bump - Details not final in federal program to give buyers up to $4,500 to buy fuel-efficient vehicle
• Auto Industry's Wild Ride Gets Smoother - The state of the auto nation is shaky at the moment, but all is not lost. Offsetting the unrelentingly negative news are 2009 highlights like a 69 percent spike in Sorento model sales, a 48 percent increase in Sedona sales, and the successful launch of the economically priced Hyundai Genesis and Kia Soul, both targeting younger drivers
• GM CEO makes case for bankruptcy asset sale - General Motors Corp's chief executive told a U.S. bankruptcy court on Tuesday that the sale of GM's main assets to government-backed "New GM" must win court approval in order for the iconic automaker to survive.
• Ford, Honda or Toyota: who builds the best hybrid? - All three run on regular unleaded gasoline, but the Prius uses the least of it by far, returning 53 mpg without really trying. The Insight and Fusion Hybrid each returned about 40 mpg.
• 49-Year Auto Industry Veteran Takes Top Honor at One of the Nation's Largest Automotive Dealers - Hugh Whiles Awarded Sonic Automotive's 2008 O. Bruton Smith Award
• Consumer Reports Faults Honda Insight for Its Ride, Handling, Noise, and Rear Seat - "The Insight is the most disappointing Honda Consumer Reports has tested in a long time," said David Champion, senior director of CR's Auto Test Center. "The Insight is a noisy, stiff-riding car with clumsy handling that is nothing like the Fit on which it is based. Also, Electronic Stability Control is only available on the highline EX version."
• Cash for Clunkers scam - The official, government website for the program is www .cars .gov. Dealers and consumers do not need to pre-register for the program. -- But some fraudulent websites are popping up with bogus pre-approval sections that request personal information. The so-called phishing websites are trying to steal your identity.
• Hecker accused of inflating repairs, skimming difference - For years, Denny Hecker's Advantage Rent A Car inflated estimates on auto repairs and kept the difference for itself, the nation's largest auto insurer alleges in a lawsuit filed in federal court in Arizona.
• Mitchell's Head of Human Resources Jack Farnan Receives Lifetime Achievement Award - Mitchell International, Inc., a leading provider of information, workflow and performance management solutions to the Property & Casualty claims and Collision Repair industries, today announced that the San Diego Business Journal (SDBJ) honored its Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Jack Farnan, with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The SDBJ recognized Farnan as one of the most outstanding human resources professionals in the San Diego area.
• HSG to Manage Auto Glass Claims for Esurance - glassBYTEs™: Esurance announced today that HSG, based in Eau Claire, Wis., will begin processing all of its auto glass claim invoicing.
• Insure.com Announces the Most and Least Expensive SUVs & Minivans to Insure - Insure.com calculated average car insurance premiums for almost 300 vehicles, including SUVs and minivans, for model year 2009.
• AIG: 'Excellent' Chance It Will Repay Government; New CEO Likely Soon - American International Group Inc., the insurer rescued by $180 billion of federal bailouts, on Tuesday expressed optimism it will be able to repay government loans as it tries to rebound from punishing losses tied to derivatives.
• The Hartford Takes $3.4 Billion in Bailout Funds - Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. said Friday it has taken $3.4 billion of federal bailout money, the maximum it was authorized to accept, to bolster capital in the wake of large investment losses.
• Insurers Post Record Loss in First Quarter, ISO Says - U.S. property and casualty insurers, a group including American International Group Inc. and Allstate Corp., posted a record loss in the first three months of the year as investments slipped and claims exceeded premiums, an industry group said.