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December 2008
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December 31, 2008

December 30, 2008

December 29, 2008

  • Man proves his 'drive,' determination - Brunswick, Maine: Work Opportunities Unlimited got its start 25 years ago with the premise that everyone, no matter their limitations, can contribute something to the workforce. Since that time, the nonprofit has helped thousands of people with disabilities find their place in the workplace. -- If Chris Blanchard had listened to all the naysayers in his life, he'd never be on his way to work at Roland's Auto Body Shop in Brunswick, Maine. (also video)

  • East Tennessee soldier returns home to find stolen, chopped truck recovered, fixed - Danny Duncan with Rick's Collision Center says, "We figure he's over there fighting for our country. That's the least we could do since it got stolen while he was in Iraq."

  • Making a Difference for a Maui Family This Christmas - Christmas came early this year for a well-deserving family from Maui. The Wojcieski family was selected by the Lokahi Giving Project as a beneficiary of the National Auto Body Council’s (NABC) Recycled Rides program.

  • ACE Auto Body wins national award - ACE Auto Body of Hartselle was recently recognized as Alabama’s first auto collision repair business to receive a national Safety Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) Award.

  • Business Milestones - Modern Body Shop at 1020 Southpark Blvd. in Winston-Salem has been named an AAA Approved Auto Repair center, according to AAA Carolinas. (8th brief down)

  • Kewaunee auto technician receives award - WI: James Zuege of Kewaunee was honored as the BodyShop Business/ASE Automotive Technician of the Year at a technician recognition awards banquet held Nov. 19 in San Diego.

  • Jones County Vo-Tech teacher receives recognition - Laurel, MS: Charles McMillan, the Automotive Collision Repair teacher at Jones County Vo-Tech, was recently recognized for his 2007-2008 students having the highest CPAS average score in the state based on the number of students tested. His program has produced two state winners in SkillsUSA competition resulting in $60,000 in scholarships during his past two years as a teacher.

  • '55 Chevy Bel Air arrives at Mid-Coast School of Technology - ME: MCST Instructor Mike Chaples recognized an opportunity to expose his Auto Collision Repair students to a custom street rod rebuild with one of the most beautiful and influential cars of the 1950s era.beautiful and influential cars of the 1950s era.

  • Auto Shops Busy After Multiple Storms - The icy and snow covered roads caused almost 150 vehicles to slide off in Bonneville County alone. Many of these vehicles received damage from the accident and drivers find auto body shops booming with so much business, they are placed on a waiting list that stretches into next year.

  • High Number of Accidents Likely the Result of Winter Weather - WA: The owner of Riverside Collision repair shop says since the winter weather hit, his company has seen a spike in work, and sales, three to four times the average.   

  • Did you reach your goals? - CollisionBuilder Blog:  It’s time to look back and reflect. Did you have a good year? Did you hit all or most of your goals? -- As a collision repair shop owner, you should have goals in a few basic areas.

  • LETTER: Auto body shop is best around - AL: I wish to call favorable attention to an auto body repair business in the Prattville area. It is Al Pendley Im­pact Center Inc., at 1260 S. Memorial Dr., Prattville.

  • Jamaican technicians and painters find opportunities in B.C. - About 30 Jamaicans have left their island homes to pursue autobody careers in B.C., through a program initiated by Okanagan College.

  • Oldies but goodies - SouthCoast owners make sure their vehicles are still going

  • Bottom line not shaking out at eAutoclaims - Revenue at eAutoclaims Inc. fell nearly 51 percent as collision repairs management took a nosedive, leading to a $1.7 million loss.

  • DCR selects Summit Software as exclusive shop management system provider - Summit Software Solutions, Inc. and DCR Systems have entered into a long-term agreement where DCR Systems will utilize Summit Software’s shop and network management technologies in all existing and future DCR and DCR licensee locations.

  • Ford workers to replace Visteon workers at ACH - "Because Ford employees who are not needed at other local Ford plants are receiving most of their pay while they are not working, this action allows for Ford to better utilize its resources,'' ACH spokeswoman Della DiPietro said.

  • New Camaro may be delayed due to supplier lawsuit - General Motors has sued one of its bankrupt parts suppliers, Cadence Innovation, and now the outcome of the lawsuit may be the determining factor in whether or not the highly anticipated 2010 Chevrolet Camaro will arrive on time.

  • Area car dealers optimistic for 2009; sales already picking up - OH: The last half of 2008 has been tough for area car dealers, but they are looking ahead to the new year with confidence and optimism.

  • Cars Didn’t Cause the Crisis - With car sales at a crawl in 2008, and worse numbers projected for 2009, the auto industry is a depressing place.

  • Monday Is Payday for Chrysler, GM - Industry Trackers Predict Eventual Bailout Total Will Top $100 Billion

  • Senators Introduce 'Sell Fuel-Efficient Cars Act of 2008' - Another Cash for Clunkers Proposal to Be Considered By Congress

  • Pennsville body shop owner arrested for harassment, bias intimidation - NJ: A local auto-repair shop owner was arrested in the days prior to Christmas for allegedly following around a Muslim female in a supermarket here and calling her a terrorist, police say. -- Joseph W. Humphreys, 69, the owner of Zeke's Body Shop on South Broadway in Pennsville, had no record of such behavior in the past, officials said.

  • Owner of Desert Automotive Specialists Arrested - The owner of Desert Automotive Specialists is in trouble again after being arrested on predatory towing practices, says a news release.

  • Snow cracks ceiling beams at auto shop - Workers at a downtown auto shop had a scare on Christmas Eve as two ceiling beams cracked above their heads. -- No one was injured at Diamond Auto Body at the corner of John and Cannon streets.

  • Committed: Automotive X Prize Progress Report - Director of Team Development & Relations Julie Zona gives X Prize progress report.

  • Deer collisions in state remain steady - PA: However, even cities are seeing deer get hit by vehicles. -- Nationally, deer collisions cause more than 200 deaths each year and more than $1.1 billion in property damage, according to Erie Insurance Company.

  • Lenders Suing Consumers Even After Repossessing Cars - If you financed a car with a small down-payment, there's a good chance you're upside-down on your loan, meaning you owe more than the vehicle's worth.

  • Fraud investigation business booms in weak economy - Entrepreneur seizes opportunity brought by weak economy

  • Attorney sees growth in accident litigation - With almost 900 car accidents occurring in Michigan each day, litigating cases for crash victims is nearly a recession-proof business, according to Michael J. Morse, P.C., owner of the Auto Accident Claim Center in Southfield and Warren. He has 1,000 clients in his casebook and expects it to get larger.

  • Consumers cautioned about auto insurance scam - Attorney General Kelly A. Ayotte and Insurance Commissioner Roger A. Sevigny are warning New Hampshire consumers of an automobile insurance scam that has been reported in the Midwest. -- Consumers have reported receiving phone calls from scammers who claim that there is a problem with the consumer's automobile insurance premium payment and that a payment must be made immediately in order to avoid cancellation of the policy.

  • AIG Chief Liddy Not Equipped to Run Firm, Greenberg Tells CNBC - Maurice “Hank” Greenberg, the former chief executive officer of American International Group Inc., said new CEO Edward Liddy’s experience running Allstate Corp. “hardly equips” him to run AIG.

  • Insurers: Educated Less Likely To Have Accidents - The insurance industry says people with higher education are less likely to have car accidents. -- But does that mean people with a bachelor's degree should have better insurance rates than people with a high school diploma?

December 23, 2008

  • Fox Collision owner bankrupt - The former owner of Fox Collision Center and his wife have filed for personal bankruptcy in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wichita, listing $9,960 in assets and almost $20 million in liabilities. -- Todd and Jody Fox, whose mailing address is in Rochester, Minn., filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy -- or the sale of the debtors' exempt property to repay creditors -- on Dec. 15 with Hutchinson attorney Dan Forker.
  • Auto-body shop owners on street conditions - ND: Some people are enjoying our winter. The vast majority of them are auto body shop owners, celebrating streets as slippery as Wall Street investors.
  • Corona man's 23-year business a busy body shop - CA: Grady and Cathy pooled their savings and retirement money to open their own shop on Oct. 1, 1985. Garrison tells his employees to treat the cars they repair as if they were their own.
  • 'Fix my Wreck' winner pleased with results - NC: The result of The Salvation Army's first "Fix My Wreck … Please" project was revealed Saturday, Dec. 13, when Kasey Earwood received her refurbished 1993 Nissan Maxima. -- The event is a joint effort between The Salvation Army of Greater Hickory, True2Form and other Catawba County businesses.
  • Auto Group Gives Away Cars To Needy Metro Families - MO: A group of auto repair shops dreamed up a new way to help struggling families this year. KC Metro Select just gave away two refurbished cars! The group of 15 local NAPA stores donated time and new parts to fix up two donated vans, and the families who benefited said the gift will change their lives considerably.
  • Lake Park Santa Delivers Gifts Early - FL: They call him the Santa Claus of Lake Park. Every year, Jerome Dear with the help of others at the Maaco auto shop in Lake Park, gathers donated toys and even purchases some to give out for free. -- The management at Maaco is also refurbishing old cars to give them away to deserving single mothers.
  • Town gas finally falls below $2 a gallon - CT: At Soundview, whose main business is the on-premises auto body shop, Parente said he has sold gas at-cost, in the hope that customers will return for car repairs. -- "The truth is, my profit margin is nothing," said Parente. "Could I charge more? Sure. But hopefully I can make a new friend who'll come into my bay."
  • Some mechanics gain from car dealers' losses - CA: "It's not the best I've ever seen, but it's definitely not slow. We're probably seeing an upswing because people aren't getting rid of their cars," said Jerry Lubben, owner of Dee & Walt's Auto Repair in Redlands.
  • Fast repairs for nicks and dings - Canada: The Carstar Express idea focuses only on the small nicks and dents that can be repaired in an hour or less at costs not much higher than $100.
  • Scheib Loss Widens in Q2 - A reduction in car volume and fewer paint and body shops contributed to Earl Scheib Inc. widening its net loss in the second quarter when compared with the previous year.
  • Paint maker PPG slashes outlook as slump spreads - PPG Industries Inc, the world's second-largest paint and coatings maker, pared back profit expectations for the current quarter due to the deepening and spreading global economic slump.
  • Auto parts distributor to set up shop in O'Hara - PA: National automotive parts distributor LKQ will set up shop at the former JC Penney-Eckerd distribution center in RIDC Park in O'Hara in February.
  • Recalls of Chinese Auto Parts Are a Mounting Concern - The complexity of today’s cars creates many possibilities for problems with imported parts
  • Plunge in Exports Reverberates Across Asia - Japan reported yesterday that its exports plunged a record 27 percent in November, signaling a dramatic deterioration in the world's second-largest economy and the collapse of the export-led boom that had lifted many Asian nations.
  • Johnson Controls to lay off 125 - Johnson Controls Inc. is laying off 125 employees Tuesday from its Columbia, Tenn. facility, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
  • Automotive suppliers feel effects of slowdown - The automotive industry slowdown is leading to more layoffs at East Tennessee companies.
  • Tiremakers cut back capacity amid automotive slump - Major declines in automotive demand have tire suppliers closing U.S. plants
  • Auto slump slams Toyota - Toyota Motor Corp. has earned money selling cars and trucks every year since 1950. So its stunning announcement Monday that it expected to report a $1.7 billion operating loss this year confirmed fears that the auto industry is grappling with the worst global downturn in decades.
  • Factory cities explore auto options - Panel meeting in Indianapolis looks at connections between the state's economy and Detroit's Big Three
  • No One is Buying Used Cars, Either - The credit crunch is not just punishing those who sell new cars.  Used car sales are declining as well.
  • Toyota to debut small, battery-powered 'city car' concept - Toyota Motor Corp. said Monday it will introduce an all-new battery-powered concept car at the North American International Auto Show next month in Detroit.
  • Be Prepared For Collision Repair - No one plans for a car accident, but when it happens, a little bit of knowledge and preparation can help you ease your way through the collision repair process. Here are some answers to common questions asked by first-time accident victims:
  • 'Bang-up' business after weekend snowfall - MN: Statewide, between Friday and the start of Monday morning rush hour, State Troopers responded to 950 property damage crashes. 1,200 more needed to be pulled out of the ditch.
  • Snow more: Insurance claims trickling in at Pemco - Tacoma, WA:  It's not just fenders getting bent. One Washington insurance company is beginning to see the claims come in.
  • GEICO Prepares for Northeast Winter Storm - GEICO’s claims staff is on standby and ready to assist policyholders affected by recent winter storm conditions in the Northeast.
  • Solera Buys HPI for $117M - Solera Holdings Inc., a provider of software to the auto insurance industry, completed the acquisition of HPI Ltd., a subsidiary firm of Aviva PLC, a British insurance corporation, in a cash and debt deal valued at $117.4 million, the company said Dec. 19.
  • Poizner rule changes criticized as a nod to insurance industry - CA: Critics are worried that Poizner, the independently wealthy Silicon Valley entrepreneur, is cozying up to the insurance industry in less blatant ways than a direct exchange of money.
  • Ridling named Alabama insurance commissioner - Alabama has a new insurance commissioner. Gov. Bob Riley appointed former insurance industry executive Jim Ridling to the commissioner’s post, taking over for Walter Bell.
December 22, 2008
  • CARS Presented with Donation - The Charlottesville Albemarle Rescue Squad got an early Christmas present Friday afternoon. Charlottesville Auto Body presented the rescue squad with a handful of checks. 
  • Family wins free car, Christmas gifts - The car is one of 60 cars given away nationwide through the Acoat program. JC Collision Repair is one of 54 Akzo Nobel Acoat selected shops to give away a vehicle in December, as part of a national effort to present refurbished vehicles during deserving individuals during the holiday season.
  • Business donates car to family - IL: The Brian Medford family of Hardin was all smiles Wednesday as they received the keys to a 2000 Ford Taurus from the Calhoun Collision Center of Hardin.
  • Refurbished cars go to women in need - CA: Each of the reconditioned cars had been in an accident before they were donated by insurance companies. All the repair work was done by technicians on their own time.
  • New wheels big deal for mom - Standing with family and friends, Kelly Wheeler, 30, was overcome with shock and excitement when she was announced the winner of Abbotsford H&R Collision, Fix Autos', in partnership with the Abbotsford-Mission Times, Christmas car giveaway on Wednesday.
  • In Memoriam: Owner of Bump and Grind Auto Body - George A. Flondor, Jr., 65, of Orland Park, died Dec. 1. He was the owner of Bump and Grind Auto Body. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Lustgarten Foundation of Pancreatic Cancer Research, 1111 Steward Ave., Bethpage, NY 11714 in honor of George's son, Kurtis Flondor, Sr.
  • 2009 Outlook: Half-full - On paper, at least, the immediate outlook for the collision repair industry might best be described as bleak.
  • Community Milestones - NC: James Lee of Winston-Salem was recently honored as the Toyota/Automotive Service Excellence Master Collision Repair & Refinish Technician of the Year. He has been a technician for 28 years, a painter for Rice Toyota Collision Center for the past 10 years and an ASE certified master collision repair and refinish technician since 2003. -- Lee is one of 37 outstanding ASE-certified technicians nationally recognized by different segments of the automotive- service-and-repair industry. (scroll down page)
  • Body Shops Busy in Midst of Snowy Weather - MN: The recent winter storms and icy roads have brought many cars to auto body shops in need of major repairs. (video)
  • Snow has some smiling - Canada: Phones are ringing off the hook at shops around the city from people wanting to repair dents, chips and wrecked bumpers.
  • Drivers paying the price for snow damage - NV: The day after Las Vegas' big snow storm, most of it has melted away. But many drivers are now adding up the damage.
  • Park Vista High School's auto repair facility gets teens in gear for future -The teaching facility at Park Vista works on a variety of cars, including teachers' and students' vehicles, and runs on donations. It is equipped for both repairs and body work.
  • No party for car dealers New Domestic Auto Registrations - VA: Fewer Fredericksburg-area residents are registering new domestic automobiles, an indicator that local auto sales are slowing. -- In Orange County, at Reynolds Pontiac-Cadillac-GMC Truck-Buick-Subaru, sales are down 25 to 30 percent. Co-owner Kevin Reynolds has added Saturday morning auto service at the dealership, since service demand and auto body work has increased.
  • Fremont's Central Chevrolet closing down after 71 years - CA: Before there was Fremont, before there was fuel injection or even power steering, there was Central Chevrolet. -- Fremont's oldest family-owned auto dealership opened its doors 71 years ago during the tail end of the Great Depression. It will close for good next month, unable to weather the latest economic maelstrom.
  • Harrisburg Car Parts Wholesaler Closes - PA: Mid State Products Corporation closed Tuesday afternoon, laying off its workers.-- The move came as a surprise to local mechanics who ordered parts from the company. They said it's an effect of the struggling auto industry.
  • 300 jobs go at car parts firm - Nearly 300 jobs were lost at failed car parts firm Wagon after administrators began the wind-down of its Walsall manufacturing base. -- The Brownhills site makes panels and door parts for Honda, Ford, General Motors Land Rover and Nissan, but attempts to sell the operation failed as business dries up amid the woes of the global car industry.
  • Magna Plans Russian Factory to Make Auto-Body Parts - Magna International Inc., North America’s largest auto-parts maker, plans to build a plant in Russia to produce metal body components for Hyundai Motor Co. and affiliate Kia Motors Corp. by early 2011.
  • Federal-Mogul to cut jobs - Southfield-based parts supplier will trim 4,600 workers because of slump in auto market.
  • Auto parts maker Visteon suspends '08 guidance - Auto parts supplier Visteon Corp. withdrew its 2008 revenue outlook Friday as vehicle production plummets in response to waning demand for cars and trucks.
  • Auto-parts maker to cut 268 at 2 plants - Superior designs and makes aluminum road wheels for manufacturers such as Ford, Chrysler and General Motors.
  • Consumer confidence is key for Big 3 - With $17.4 billion in loans finally coming their way, General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC can breathe easier for the next few weeks -- but their relief could be short-lived.
  • Canada Bails Out Auto Makers after US - The package came one day after the White House announced their rescue plan for Detroit's auto industry.
  • Reports: Toyota vehicle operations to post loss -  Toyota's mainstay vehicle operations are likely to post their first ever loss for the fiscal year through March 2009, Japanese media reports said Friday, highlighting the dire conditions faced by global automakers.
  • US postpones start of stricter crash-test rating - A new system that combines the test results from front- and side-impact crashes and rollovers will take effect with the 2011 model year rather than 2010, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Friday.
  • When jobs go, so does car insurance - Lapsed policies increase the risk for all drivers

December 20, 2008

  • Carmakers eye reforms after $13.4bln lifeline - US automakers mulled painful reforms on Saturday after President George W. Bush unveiled a 13.4 billion dollar rescue loan for the struggling industry, but demanded tough reforms in return in a move aimed at staving off a new economic calamity.

December 19, 2008

  • Auto repair declines as drivers keep insurance money - Albuquerque, NM - Local car repair shops say more drivers are pocketing the insurance money after a car crash, which is hurting their business and short changing customers. -- Nationwide, body shops are reporting a 25 percent decrease in business.

  • Coalition Forms as Right to Repair Movement Gains Speed and Horsepower; As Economy Worsens Car Owners Choose to Repair Rather than Replace Cars - A broad and growing coalition representing more than 1,500 independent automotive repair shops and related industries says it will push for passage of the Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act that would guarantee equal access to automotive repair information for independent repairers and their customers.

  • Business to give away car Friday in Monroe City - MO: JC Shoemyer Inc. is giving away the car during a 2 p.m. ceremony Friday at its collision repair shop, 901 N. County Line Road in Monroe City. -- It’s part of a national program sponsored by AkzoNobel Coatings Inc. and hosted by body shops that are members of the Sikkens Acoat selected program.

  • Businesses pitch in for needy - Council Bluffs, IA: The Council Bluffs State Farm Insurance agents challenged their business-industry partners to open their wallets and help feed people in need at MOHM's Place and the Council Bluffs food pantry during the Christmas season. -- Ron Stazzoni, owner of R&R Auto Paint and Supply coordinated donations from area collision repair shops.

  • Manchester’s M & S Total Truck and Auto Works takes over former blacksmith shop - MN: The cab of a 1939 Chevy pickup sits detached from its engine and chassis, in the early stages of restoration. Nearby, a late model minivan sits beneath a 9,000-pound capacity hoist, waiting for repair so its owner can get back onto the snowy roads of southern Minnesota.

  • Patterson Auto Body celebrates 25th anniversary - Pawlings, NY:  It all began when two "lovers of cars" decided to open an auto body business.

  • Winter Weather Increases Body Shop Business - Carterville, IL: Local repair shops says they're having trouble keeping up with all the business.

  • Fender-bender fate / Layton Hills Mall area full of shop-and-go traffic -- and wrecks - UT: The stream of motorists filling the streets leading to the heart of Layton's retail shopping district this Christmas season means good business for retailers, but it also may mean new business for auto body shops.

  • AAA: Volume Has Picked Up - WI: AAA says it's call volume has picked up as the snow started falling just before Tuesday afternoon's rush hour. As of Tuesday evening, people who called for AAA help were waiting about 35 to 45 minutes. -- At Goff's Collision Repair Center in Germantown, mechanics were hard at work on dozen of cars, many of which are casualties of the early winter snow storms.

  • Expect long repair wait - Calgary, Canada: Auto body shops across the city are bracing for a massive spike in business after police reported upwards of 365 collisions in 24 hours 24 hours this week and poor weather conditions are expected to survive at least one more weekend.

  • Unanswered Questions - glassBYTEs™: "This week, I heard about what sounded like a new website, www. deductiblehelp .com. It came to me by way of two press releases, directed at consumers, both of which explained how auto glass customers in the state of Michigan could take advantage of lower deductibles, cheaper auto glass service and more." —Penny Stacey

  • PGW VP Comments on Preparations for Bailout Decision - glassBYTEs™: "As for Pittsburgh Glass Works (PGW), a bankruptcy of the Detroit OEs would be very painful, but PGW is sufficiently funded to weather the crisis," he says.

  • PPG Chair Calls for Action in Auto Bailout - glassBYTEs™:  In the letter, sent officially from the National Association of Manufacturers, of which Bunch is chairperson, he writes, "Like many other domestic manufacturers in the auto industry supply chain, PPG Industries would face severe economic consequences if this matter is not addressed immediately."

  • How a shutdown really saves Chrysler money - The automaker's inventory levels won't move much, but at least carmaker will save money. Suppliers could suffer, though.

  • Magna Plans Russian Factory to Make Auto-Body Parts - Magna International Inc., North America’s largest auto-parts maker, plans to build a plant in Russia to produce metal body components for Hyundai Motor Co. and affiliate Kia Motors Corp. by early 2011.

  • Dealer Fraud Cases Expected to Rise Amidst Bleak Retail Season - It's an unfortunate truth that dealer fraud situations, known as "sold and unpaid" (SAU) or "sold out of trust" (SOT) cases, are increasing and harming many creditors.

  • If You Only Knew...Would You Accept These Collision Repair Procedures? - Ford Motor Company has provided the examples below to highlight a few important repair procedures that might occur during your time in a body shop, along with suggestions on how to help make sure you and your vehicle stay on the right track.

  • Crash test - IIHS rates small and compact cars - Only two out of eight small cars in the latest tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) provide good side crash protection, once again reinforcing the need for consumers to carefully review the safety equipment and safety ratings for models under consideration for purchase.

  • Auto firms face Jan. shutdown - Chicopee, MA: Sixteen license holders in the city will have to cease business on Jan. 1 for not renewing their 2009 licenses on time. It costs $100 to renew Class I, II and III licenses, and $36 to renew auto repair and auto body licenses.

  • Antitrust insurance lawsuit filed by the former Louisiana attorney general against property insurance companies is dimissed - The suit alleged that companies cheated policyholders by using the same claims-adjusting software and then tweaking the estimates of construction materials and repairs to cheat people. The suit said the consulting firm McKinsey & Co. forwarded the conspiracy by advising many companies in the industry to boost profits and reduce claims payments by using the software.

  • Insurers Critical of New Jersey Senate Bill - PCI said the legislation, known as Senate Bill 787, threatens the fight against insurance fraud and will drive up auto insurance costs and jeopardize patients' best interests.

  • Think twice before filing an auto insurance claim - Crashes on snow and ice are leaving hundreds of local drivers with pretty big bills at the body shop. -- But before you file a claim with your insurance company, make sure it's worth it. As strange as it sounds, in some cases, you may be better off leaving your insurance company out of it.

  • Consumers Reveal What Makes Them Loyal to Auto Insurers - Although 85% of auto insurance customers indicate they are loyal to their carrier, more than one-third of auto insurance policyholders shopped for a new insurance provider, according to the J.D. Power and Associates’ 2008 Insurance Retention/Defection Study. Identifying those customers with a higher propensity to switch, and employing the tactics needed to keep their business is critical for insurance carriers.

December 18, 2008

  • Connecticut Collision Repair Association Toys for Tots Collection Exceeds Expectations - “We did it!” , says John Curren, CCRS Community Awareness Chairman, regarding the toy drive that the collision repair association sponsored during November and December for the Toys for Tots Organization. “We established a challenge to our members – and we have filled the room with toys,” Curren reported.

  • Kuroda Auto Body Lends Helping Hand - HI: After more than 37 years of restoring damaged vehicles back to like-new condition, Kuroda Auto Body healed much more than broken glass and steel this holiday season, as it lent a helping hand to a local family trying to overcome difficult economic times.

  • J.N. Phillips Collects Items for "Cradles to Crayons" - glassBYTEs™: This holiday season, JN Phillips Auto Glass has been working with Cradles to Crayons, a non-profit service organization that distributes much-needed items to children through community health centers, hospitals, shelters, schools and other programs in a clothing drive called "Warm Hearts - Warm Homes."

  • Refurbished cars go to women in need - Pittsburg, CA: Having a car is something many people take for granted, but for DeDe Branch of Richmond, having a car is a precious gift. -- Branch was one of three women, all raising young children alone, to receive a totally reconditioned car, courtesy of Mike's Auto Body in Pittsburg.

  • The survival of small business: Area owners share their experience during these tough economic times - Along with the family farm, the mom and pop are disappearing from the national scene.

  • Auto Body Shops in a Slump - FL: A worsening recession is now taking aim at auto repair shops, that are seeing less customers walk through the front door.

  • Snow boosts business at body shops - NV: More snow is headed for the Valley, and it could mean a boom for one type of business. -- Local body shops are dealing with a flood of people needing repairs after Monday's winter blast.

  • Weather takes toll on area motorists - MO: Dana Snodgrass, with Snodgrass Collision Center in Joplin, said: “Over the last couple of days, we’ve definitely seen the normal stuff — sliding into curbs, a few rear-end accidents and people hitting guardrails on bridges.

  • Ice-related car crash repairs costly - TX: "The average repair is about $2400 as far as shop wide for all our stores," said Shane Murry a manager for Service King Collision Repair Center.

  • How Did Drivers Deal with First Big Storm? - ID:  I think people were pretty careful," says Brent Hoopes of Classic Truck and Auto Body.

  • Repairer proclaims the key investment shops must make in 2009 - When John Fagan took over as manager of Smail Collision Center in Greensburg, Pa. he had some high hopes and steep challenges.

  • B.C. industry advocate passes away - Gerry Preddy, an outspoken member of the British Columbia collision repair community, passed away on Dec. 5. Preddy helped many shop owners through bureaucratic and legal tangles, and was known for his big heart, positive outlook, and tenacity.

  • Insurance companies score high marks from Bodyshop readers - Bodyshop Magazine’s first Insurer Report Card reveals that most insurance companies in Canada are graded quite highly on their business relationships with collision repair facilities.

  • IGA's Independents' Days Convention and Spring Auto Glass Show™ Set For May 12-14, 2009 in Ft. Myers Florida - The Independent Glass Association (IGA) will hold its annual Independents' Days Convention and Spring Auto Glass Show May 12-14 at the Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa in Fort Myers, Florida. This 5-star luxury resort offers many amenities in an upscale setting.

  • Bailout Bill Vexes Banks as U.S. Stakes Auto Claims - Intense lobbying by banks and bankruptcy experts softened a key provision in the auto-bailout bill that would require government loans be repaid ahead of banks and other lenders. But the current language leaves unclear just who would collect first in the event of a bankruptcy filing -- taxpayers or existing creditors.

  • Study: Auto industry failure would hit Tenn. hard - The state could loose up to 106,400 jobs, or 4 percent of its workforce, according to the study by Robert Scott, senior international economist with the Washington D.C.-based nonprofit think tank.

  • Chrysler to shut down factories - Chrysler's announcement came on the same day that Ford Motor Co. announced it will extend its holiday shutdown by a week and General Motors Corp. said it is delaying construction of a new factory in Flint, Mich.

  • Crash program wins award - A crash avoidance program at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute has won a national award for Best Innovative Product or Service for 2008.

  • Hopewell man admits defrauding insurance firm - NY: A Hopewell Junction man admitted in court today he bilked an auto insurance company out of more than $5000.

December 17, 2008

  • Marion firefighter honored for saving child - Chambersburg, PA: An 18-year veteran firefighter was recognized Monday for the part he played last month in saving a young child trapped in the upstairs bedroom of a burning building in Shady Grove. -- Chris Henson, owner of Henson's Auto Body Shop in Marion and a volunteer firefighter at Marion Volunteer Fire Company, was presented with Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.'s Firemark Award during a ceremony Monday afternoon at the fire house.
  • GEICO Among Insurers to Present Three Deserving Families with Vehicles Dec. 17 - Three local families will have a special reason to celebrate this holiday season when they each receive a vehicle from GEICO and two other insurers, AAA and Mercury. -- The three vehicles will be presented to the families at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at Mike Rose's Auto Body, an approved GEICO Auto Repair Xpress shop located at 3001 North Park Blvd. in Pittsburg, CA.
  • Woman fights back tears at car unveiling - Vallejo, CA: Fighting Back executive director Tony Pearsall deemed his dedicated employee "an obvious choice" for the annual Acoat Selected National Benevolence Program, coordinated locally by Klimisch Collision Repair.
  • Two women, two cars and a very happy holiday - Naples, FL: Two single moms are going home with new cars simply because owners of a Naples auto body shop thought they deserved it.
  • Trinity Restoration closes southeast shop - Tulsa, OK: Owner David Miller said he ultimately blames the recession for the sudden closure, but he added that his company expanded too quickly.
  • LORD Corporation Announces Top Representative Awards - The LORD Fusor rep agency of the year for 2008 is BC Marketing of Appleton, Wis.  Caruk & Associates of Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, took second place and Total Sales and Marketing of San Marcos, Calif, took third place. The representatives were selected based on their performance in sales, territory growth and achieved market share increase.
  • ABRA Auto Body & Glass Announces Dates of Invitational Tournament - ABRA Auto Body & Glass, a national damaged vehicle repair company, announced that the annual ABRA Invitational Tournament will be held January 1-3 at the Minnesota Made Rink located at 7300 Bush Lake Road in Edina.
  • Jack Gregory Named 2009 NAPA/ASE Technician of the Year - Owner of Jack's Auto Service in Pawling, N.Y., Gregory is an ASE-Certified Master Technician with 13 certifications, including an Advanced Level Specialist (L1) certification. Gregory has been the NAPA Albany Distribution Center NAPA/ASE Technician of the Year for 13 straight years.
  • Speedy Auto Repair of Land O’ Lakes urges critical maintenance of vehicles - FL: Speedy Auto Repair, located at 10623 Land 0’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O' Lakes, is a family owned and operated car maintenance and repair shop that believes in honesty, hard work and keeping your vehicle well maintained and in working condition.
  • ROLAGS Revisions Submitted to ANSI - glassBYTEs™: The recently proposed revisions to the Repair of Laminated Auto Glass Standard (ROLAGS) voted on and approved by the ROLAGS Standards Development Committee have been sent to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The group recently voted to reduce the length of the crack addressed in the Standard from 14 inches to 6 inches.
  • Belron US Suits Against Both Levesque and Lee Dismissed; Both Cases Settled under Confidential Terms - glassBYTEs™: Two separate suits filed by Belron US against former employees Michelle Levesque and Edward Lee have been dismissed, according to court documents filed in both cases, and both cases have been settled, according to Belron US spokesperson Jenny Cain. In the original suits, filed in August, Belron US alleged that Levesque and Lee had solicited Belron US employees to leave the company and join a new venture.
  • PPG Refinish Appoints Angrove to Manage Value Added Programs - PPG Automotive Refinish has appointed Norm Angrove to the position of senior manager, Value Added Programs, for the Automotive Refinish business in the U.S. and Canada, effective January 1, 2009.
  • GM approves PPG D8152 clearcoat and DLV800X surfacers for warranty repairs - General Motors has approved PPG Industries’ automotive refinish business’s new D8152 Performance + Glamour Clearcoat and the DLV800X series of achromatic primer surfacers for worldwide use in warranty refinish repairs.
  • Northville's Key Plastics files for bankruptcy - Key Plastics LLC, a plastic car-parts maker once owned by the Carlyle Group, filed for bankruptcy, becoming the second parts manufacturer to seek protection from creditors Monday.
  • Auto suppliers fear White House bailout ignores them - "The downward spiral of the auto industry continues to accelerate across the globe," said CEO Timothy Manganello in a statement.
  • Lawmakers Questioning White House on Auto Bailout - Republicans implore White House not to use money from the $700 billion bailout to aid car makers while a leading House Democrat says the government should secure veto power over the Big 3.
  • Ford builds image as strongest of Big 3 - Ford Motor Co. is trying to pull itself up by its own bootstraps, and it hopes America notices.
  • Toyota delays new Prius plant - Japanese automaker indefinitely puts on hold Miss. production of hybrid as slowdown affects industry.
  • McKeesport Auto Body Shop Goes Up In Flames Overnight - PA: A fire broke out in Ziebart auto shop shortly after midnight in the 400 block of Eden Boulevard.
  • Car repossession by defunct car dealer - Akron, NY: Imagine someone stealing your car and selling it, while authorities stand by and watch it happen.
  • Joyce guilty: Former state judge faces prison term - Erie, PA: A jury of six men and six women deliberated about 12 hours over two days before finding Joyce cheated Erie Insurance Group and State Farm of $440,000 by falsely claiming, through the mail, that he suffered debilitating injuries in an Aug. 10, 2001, rear-end collision in Millcreek Township.
  • Lawsuit Seeks to Stop U.S. Bailout of AIG as Anti-Christian, Anti-U.S. - A Michigan--based Christian rights group has filed suit against the federal government claiming the government's loan to insurance giant American International Group (AIG) is illegal because AIG has financial products that the group claims promote Islam and are anti-Christian.

December 16, 2008

  • Tech Certification - They Don't Know What They Don't Know -- by Dennis Liphardt  -  LIP SERVICE LLC -- Communication & Consulting - A Florida Limited Liability Company - Email: denlip @ mac.com
  • Trinity Restoration to reorganize, close south Tulsa location - OK: Tulsa auto collision repair firm Trinity Restoration is closing its south Tulsa location and plans to reorganize, according to a press release issued late Monday.
  • Arrow Announces Settlement; CFO Discusses Company's Founding - glassBYTEs™: Late this afternoon Arrow Auto Glass announced that a dispute among former Diamond co-chairperson and number-one shareholder Ken Levine, Arrow and Belron US has been resolved via a settlement. According to the press release, the dispute was about "Arrow Auto Glass's right to conduct business in the vehicle glass repair and replacement industry."
  • I-CAR Announces 2009 International Advisory Committee - The new members of the committee include: Leo Maki, Michigan Appraisal Service; Wendy Brent, GEICO; Roger Bloom, State Farm Insurance; and Patrice Marcil, DuPont Canada.
  • Database Enhancement Gateway (DEG) Seeks New Administrator - Following a highly successful first year for the widely acclaimed Database Enhancement Gateway (DEG), the organization has announced today that they are seeking candidates interested in providing administrative services for the DEG. This news follows information released yesterday that current contractor, Aaron Schulenburg, has accepted a new position as the Executive Director of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists.
  • Aaron Schulenburg is new SCRS Executive Director -   The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) has hired Aaron Schulenburg as the association's executive director, who will bring his combined experience in collision repair businesses, associations and inter-industry relations to SCRS and its affiliates. He will begin his new duties on Jan. 5, 2009.
  • ASA Announces 'No Increase' for National Dues in 2009 - With economic conditions as they are, the national ASA board of directors has voted unanimously to freeze national membership dues, foregoing a potential increase initially discussed for 2009. -- ASA is committed to helping shops trim their business expenses for the coming year, and freezing dues in 2009 supports that goal.
  • People & places: Community contributions - WA: Through the end of this year, First Choice Collision Center of Wenatchee is donating a portion of all its sales to various charities throughout the Wenatchee Valley.
  • Families, industry image benefit from NABC's Recycled Rides program - Fifty collision repair facilities participated in the National Auto Body Council's (NABC) Recycled Rides 2008 Ride Away Day on Nov. 24 after a year's worth of efforts working with local charities to repair and donate recycled vehicles to families in need. Insurers, car rental companies, paint suppliers, parts suppliers and material vendors provided support to the nationwide program.
  • Keenan rehabs van, donates it to Darby couple - Keenan Auto Body, with the help of its industry partners and other generous companies, have rebuilt a 1996 Ford Windstar donated by Met Life and turned the keys over to a Darby couple.
  • CAA Insurance recognizes VOC-compliant shops - Ontario: These facilities were recognized for their contribution to environmentally responsible repair processes and practices, most specifically relating to the conversion to VOC-compliant technology well ahead of Environment Canada regulations.
  • How to Fund a Green Shop Retrofit - Have you recently made or are you planning a shop retrofit? You can fund the purchase of equipment if you get certified green. Using government guidelines, shops can receive performance funding for green investments and work with a qualified professional of their choice to achieve an official "green" status.
  • Auto crisis hits home - FL: As cars drive by his 15th Street auto repair shop these days, Chad McKendree hears an ever-increasing amount of squealing brakes, loose belts and other telltale signs of automotive distress, as area motorists might be putting off repairs as a money-saving measure.
  • Auto parts company to add 318 jobs at Newport News plant - VA: An automotive parts maker announced Monday that it plans to spend $194 million and add 318 jobs to its manufacturing plant here.
  • Auto Parts Manufacturer to Shutter Ohio Facility, Move Production to Mexico - Kongsberg Automotive says it will restructure operations, a move that includes closing down the manufacturing plant here and transferring work to Mexico.
  • China loses appeal against WTO car parts ruling - China on Monday lost an appeal against a World Trade Organization ruling that its tariffs on car part imports fell foul of global trade rules, the WTO appeal body said.
  • Automakers fend off parts companies' cash demands - Most auto parts suppliers know their futures are inexorably tied to Chrysler LLC and General Motors Corp., which explains why they are doing their best not to panic and demand cash on delivery from the carmakers that keep warning about how little cash they have.
  • Bush administration reassures Detroit automakers - Michigan senator says package could reach $15 billion.
  • Deputies uncover major auto chop shop in south Marion - Ocala, FL: Sheriff's deputies are investigating what they believe may be one of the largest chop shop operations in Florida in recent memory, following the arrest last week of a 34-year-old Summerfield man who had 17 stolen vehicles spread out among three different properties.
  • Progressive Confirms No Annual Dividend Will Be Paid for 2008 - On Friday, December 12, 2008, the Board of Directors of The Progressive Corporation confirmed that there would not be a dividend paid under the Company's annual variable dividend policy, with respect to 2008.

December 15, 2008

December 12, 2008

  • Auto bailout fails - A proposed bailout of U.S. automakers failed in the Senate on Thursday night, raising the specter of an industry collapse that sent Asian markets reeling and sparked fears it could deepen the recession.
  • Massachusetts repairers await decision on labor rates - After two public hearings, one of which lasted more than six hours, collision repairers in Massachusetts are waiting to find out if the legislature will take steps to raise the state’s lower-than-average labor rates. The Special Commission on Auto Body Rates, established earlier this year, is due to issue a report by the end of December that could recommend a rate increase.
  • Nova Scotia business joins CSN - Hubert’s Collision Center in Yarmouth, N.S., is the most recent member to join Collision Solutions Network (CSN). 
  • Auto-body shop hosts annual holiday party - Clarkstown International Collision's annual community party will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 21 at 95 Route 304, Nanuet.
  • College crew has big win in tiny car contest - Andrew Mayne and Juan Gonzalez each aspire to open his own custom auto design shop some day. -- But until then, they and a half-dozen other students in the College of Alameda's Auto Body and Paint program are basking in the limelight of their big win in a tiny car contest.
  • Internship lands student in TV series - The Lower Moreland High School senior and collision repair technology student at Eastern Center for Arts and Technology has been attracted to cars since. Now interning at Marquis Auto Restoration in Philadelphia, he will also be featured in a National Geographic Channel documentary, "A Car Czar."
  • Giving Something Back - Education has paid off for Gene Morrill. So now he's giving something back - to his employees, customers, community and youngsters aspiring to a career in the auto industry.
  • Striving for complete auto repair satisfaction - “My major objective is to provide service to my customers,” said Miguel Frias, owner of Auto Start in Elk Grove. “I want to be part of the community.”
  • East Tulsa Glass Company Temporarily Lays Off Workers - A company spokersperson at Zeledyne Glass Company in east Tulsa tells 2news today that the company will lay off 250 people temporarily.
  • American Axle inks parts joint venture in China - Auto parts supplier American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. said Thursday it will launch a joint venture with China's JAC Group to manufacture and sell automobile parts for the Chinese market.
  • Auto Suppliers Share in the Anxiety - With Congress failing to agree on a bailout for Detroit, the odds that General Motors and Chrysler will be insolvent by year’s end are growing rapidly.
  • Comptroller says Upstate hurts most if auto industry crashes - With more than 230,000 auto industry-related jobs in New York state, a crash of the auto industry would severely hurt the state economy, particularly upstate, New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said in a recent report.
  • World markets drop on rejection of US auto bailout - World stock markets plunged Friday after a proposed U.S. government rescue of Detroit's ailing automakers collapsed in the Senate, intensifying fears about a protracted global slump.
  • Options narrow for GM, Chrysler - With the failed Senate vote, bankruptcy now possible outcome for automakers.
  • Detroit workers stunned, angered as bailout stalls - William Ford, an unemployed auto worker, grew angry and resigned and then angry again when he thought about the political debate that has stalled a bailout for the once-proud automakers that built Detroit.
  • Lovins: Protecting the environment is ‘a highly profitable enterprise’ - Lovins said there are already signs that a shift to carbon fiber cars is under way, with one company announcing plans to build a plant to mass-produce carbon fiber autobody panels for Toyota and Nissan, indicating that “the next Japanese leapfrog already is under way.”
  • Back to the shop for Corey Dillon - Ex-New England Patriots [team stats] running back Corey Dillon is suing a Los Angeles auto body shop for more than a half-million dollars for failing to make $55,000 worth of upgrades to his Ferrari and for squandering his investment in the shop to boot!
  • Benzene suit blames six companies for man's leukemia - Jan and James Callihan filed suit against Univar USA, Atlantic Richfield Company, BP, Shell Chemical LP, the Sherwin-Williams Company, and the Dow Chemical Company in Galveston County District Court on Dec. 8.
  • 5 accused in scheme to defraud insurance companies - A Los Angeles attorney is accused of heading a ring that charged auto insurance companies for medical services that were not performed on victims of car wrecks.
  • Court: Farmers Insurance broke law, can keep money - A California appeals court says Farmers Insurance broke the law by failing to disclose a $5 service charge – but the company won't have to pay back more than $115 million it collected.
  • Stay insured, but cut your costs - Worried consumers are cutting back on everything these days — including insurance.
  • New Georgia Law Affects Consumer's Auto Insurance Premiums - InsuranceQuotesUS.com reports a sudden rise in auto insurance rates in the state of Georgia. Auto insurance premiums have gone up almost 7 percent on average in Georgia due to a new law that does not require insurance companies to get state approval before changing auto insurance rates.

December 11, 2008

December 10, 2008

December 9, 2008

  • NACE Report by John Yoswick - About three hours after the trade show floor opened at the 2008 International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE) in Las Vegas in November, one vendor perhaps best summed up a common feeling at the event. -- “There’s a tense-ness out there unlike at past shows.” the vendor said. -- John Yoswick, a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon, who has been writing about the automotive industry since 1988, is also the editor of the weekly CRASH Network.
  • IBIS 2009 meeting will focus on sustainability of collision repair industry - The theme and structure for the conference proceedings of next year’s International Bodyshop Industry Symposium (IBIS 2009), which will be taking place June 10-12 at the InterContinental Hotel, Berlin, are now taking shape.
  • Belron US to Open New Warehouse in Pittston, Pa.; Three More in the Works - glassBYTEs™: Belron US has determined the location of its new warehouse in Pennsylvania, according to Jenny Cain, director of communications. The company had previously reported that as part of the integration of Diamond Glass, it would close the latter company's distribution facility in Kingston, Pa., and would move the operations to a new facility in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pa., area, as the Kingston facility was larger than needed.
  • Union wins vote at Pittsburgh Glass plant - Employees of the Pittsburgh Glass Works plant will remain members of the United Auto Workers, after a group of them had asked to leave the union.
  • Repairers focus on state issues, economy - Concerns about U.S. economy overshadow local issues
  • MCC programs in auto service grow in demand as repairs likely to increase - The economic downturn may have auto dealers looking in a new direction – toward auto collision repair and auto service technology - to make up for lost sales revenue since owners may be keeping their vehicles for a longer period.
  • Ohio technical college wins area growth award - Ohio Technical College, a premier provider of specialized technical training in a wide variety of transportation fields, has been recognized as one of the fastest growing Northeast Ohio companies by being presented with the 2008 Weatherhead Award by Case Weatherhead School of Management and The Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE).
  • Schools, students plugging into hybrid repairs - When the world changes, those who teach about the world must change, too.
  • Auto Shops Benefit From Poor Economy - The struggling economy is causing a lot of New Mexicans to worry about where their next paycheck is coming from and they're thinking twice about buying luxury items, including new cars. But some auto shops said they are benefitting.
  • Local auto suppliers see slowdown - Elmira, NY: One parts maker lays off workers; another worried about '09 plans
  • Pep Boys Q3 results hurt by less U.S. driving - Pep Boys-Manny, Moe & Jack, the automotive parts and service chain, posted a lower quarterly loss, but failed to beat market expectations, hurt by reduced spending and fewer miles driven by U.S. consumers amid a recession.
  • Two Michigan companies will supply Volkswagen plant - Two Southeast Michigan suppliers were among the first to be named by Volkswagen AG as suppliers to its new plant in Chattanooga, Tenn.
  • New auto plants open doors despite cutbacks - While Detroit automakers close factories and zap jobs in the face of the dramatic drop-off in U.S. auto sales, Asian and European rivals continue to add plants in the U.S. and Canada.
  • Toyota cutting production at all plants - Toyota Motor Corp. is reducing production at all of its North American plants due to high inventories and lagging sales, The Wall Street Journal said late Friday.
  • What Would a Washington-Designed Car Industry Look Like? - As bailout takes shape, Congress, White House, Obama weigh in
  • Bridge Loan to Nowhere - Congress and business 'viability' rarely mix. -- This week, the Detroit Three were back, plans in hand and determined to show that they were appropriately chastened.
  • General Motors products are a hit - outside U.S. - Nearly three-fifths of General Motors Corp.'s employees make cars that are admired, popular and profitable. -- The catch? These employees don't work in the U.S.
  • Ford Motor Company Statement on Proposed Congressional Automotive Industry Bill - As we told Congress, Ford is in a different position. We do not face a near-term liquidity issue, and we will not be seeking a short term bridge loan. But Ford fully supports an effort to address the near-term liquidity issues of GM and Chrysler, as our industry is highly interdependent and a failure of one of our competitors could affect us all.
  • Collapse of Auto Industry Would Cost Pennsylvania 120,000 Jobs - Up to 120,100 jobs would disappear in Pennsylvania within a year, if General Motors, Ford and Chrysler were allowed to fall into bankruptcy. The loss of General Motors, the company most at risk of entering bankruptcy, would jeopardize up to 33,200 jobs in Pennsylvania. -- Even if only motor vehicles and parts jobs are counted, Pennsylvania would lose up to 8,400 jobs from a total industry shutdown and up to 2,300 from the shutdown of General Motors alone, the study estimated.
  • Autoworkers pray for Big 3 aid - 2,000 attend church service in Detroit while a dozen leave to lobby in Washington, D.C.
  • Consumer groups warn that car title loans come with sizable catches - Businesses that promise fast cash in exchange for people putting up their vehicle as collateral are becoming more common across the state, including here in Central Texas.
  • NHTSA issues final tire registration rule - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) recently issued final rule on tire registration will allow tire dealers to voluntarily submit registrations for customers electronically. The rule will continue to permit paper registration.
  • Tips for winter driving - Carson City, NV: Chere Lambert, owner of SOS Auto Body in Incline Village, said unprepared tourists are the ones who often cause problems on the road after a snowfall.
  • Program aims to reduce elk collisions - There were at least 40 collisions with elk on I-17 in a one-year period ending in May, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. Those crashes are concentrated where the interstate climbs out of the Verde Valley and through the forest south of Flagstaff.
  • State Farm sues driver who caused auto collision - State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. has filed suit against a Beaumont man, alleging he injured one of the company's insured clients in a collision.
  • Kentucky County's Insurer Pays $2.1 Million to Settle Crash Suit - Garrard County's insurance company has paid $2.1 million to the estate of a central Kentucky man killed in a fiery car crash involving a former a county employee.
  • CRIME TRACKER: Greenville residents busted in auto insurance fraud ring - Several residents from eastern Carolina have been arrested in an auto insurance fraud ring that’s gone on for four years.
  • Number of Complaints Against Insurers Continues to Drop in Texas - In the auto insurance line, there was a 1 percent increase in 2008: 6889 complaints in 2008 compared with 6811 in 2007.
  • California Insurance Agents Arrested for Stealing More Than $30,000 - California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced the arrest of two insurance broker/agents on felony grand theft charges. Carlos Alarcon of Chino, Calif., and Juan Garcia of Temecula, Calif., allegedly defrauded victims of more than $30,000. Alarcon was arrested on December 5. Garcia was arrested on November 26.

December 8, 2008

  • Industry Representatives Consider Auto Bailout, Impacts on Industry - glassBYTEs™: As Congress debates the pleas of the Big Three auto manufacturers for loans this week, several industry representatives have opined about what effect—if any—Congress' decision could have on the auto glass industry.
  • Recession Puts Dent In Auto Body Shop's Business - The economic recession is threatening not only the big carmakers in Detroit, but many other aspects of the automotive business.  
  • Wisconsin Automotive Parts Association Joins Charge for Automotive Repair Clause - Support for H.R. 5638 Builds as Quality Parts Coalition’s Membership Grows
  • New ASA Associate Members Show Support for Independents - The decision to become an associate member displays a strong commitment to ASA and its efforts to serve the automotive service and repair industry - including its many dedicated independent repair professionals.
  • Sixty families receive gift of transportation through AkzoNobel Benevolence Program - Fifty-four collision centers across Canada and the United States will share the gift of transportation with 60 deserving families and members of their communities during the 10th annual AkzoNobel Acoat selected National Benevolence Program to be held December 8th through the 15th.
  • Collision techs among 38 honored by ASE - Thirty-eight automotive professionals who are top scorers on the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification tests were recognized on Nov. 19 at the Fall board meeting of the ASE in San Diego, Calif.
  • Knieper receives 2008 PPG/ASE Master Refinish Technician of Year Award - PPG Industries’ automotive refinish business recognized Richard Knieper as PPG/ASE Master Refinish Technician of the Year at ASE’s annual Board of Directors Industry Awards Dinner, Nov. 19 in San Diego. Bill Troyer, PPG Automotive Refinish manager of training, presented the award, which is given annually to the PPG collision center technician earning the highest score on the ASE Painting and Refinish test.
  • AutocheX Premier Achiever Awards Honor "Best of the Best" Collision Repair Facilities - AutocheX(TM), Mitchell International's(R) voice of the customer performance management group, hosted the seventh annual Premier Achiever Awards ceremony on Nov. 6, 2008, to honor collision repair facilities from throughout the U.S. and Canada for their exceptional achievements in customer service and satisfaction.
  • Auto Color Match, Poised to Grow in a Down Automotive Economy - With news of more company layoffs each week, Auto Color Match hopes to attract aspiring entrepreneurs to their successful franchise model. Auto Color Match, founded in 1996 in Winston-Salem, has carved out a niche in a struggling automotive industry.
  • Missouri Gov. Blunt to join board of Copart auto salvage firm after leaving office - Copart Inc. announced Friday that Blunt will join its board of directors Jan. 13 — the day after Blunt's term as governor ends. -- Copart, based in Fairfield, Calif., says it sells more than 1 million vehicles a year to dismantlers, rebuilders, exporters, used car dealers and — in some states — to consumers. -- In 2007, Blunt signed into law a bill that loosened standards on the level of damage that must be noted on a vehicle's title.
  • DuPont To Axe 2,500 Employees - Now Expects Loss In Q4; Issues FY09 Earnings Guidance
  • Car show raises money for rare disease - Chevys, Fords, imports and classics alike filled the Sun Splash grounds to raise money for the Progeria Research Foundation, a not for profit organization aimed at finding a cure for Progeria, otherwise known as rapid aging disease. -- Rock Till You Drop organizer Tony Allen said the car show sprung from wanting to support the Progeria Research Foundation, whose vice-president, Chip Foose, is a big-time hot rod designer.
  • Stock slide may entice more classic car investors - So far, the auto collection world isn't awash in bargains. But prices have softened, creating some opportunity for would-be collectors looking for alternative investments.
  • Dog days for dealers - IN: In Zionsville, Pearson Ford owner John Pearson had to let go of close to 10 employees as he rides out the funk in the auto industry, which in November suffered a 37-percent decline in sales, resulting in the lowest level in at least 26 years.  -- Pearson also saw trouble down the road and, like many car dealers—domestic and foreign, is relying more on revenue from service and collision repair.
  • UAW open to Chrysler talks with rivals - The United Auto Workers is open to moves by Chrysler LLC to seek an alliance with a rival automaker provided that it preserves as many jobs as possible, a senior union official said on Sunday.
  • Automaker execs agree to work for $1, in exchange for bailout - U.S. auto sales -- across all manufacturers, foreign and domestic -- have declined by more than 30 percent and are at their lowest levels in half a century.
  • Auto Industry Collapse Is Not an Option, Obama Says - President-elect Barack Obama suggested that bankruptcy wasn't a good option for Detroit's Big Three automakers, saying "these aren't ordinary times" given the country's current economic problems.
  • From hybrids to SUVs, unsold cars pile up - From pricey luxury sedans to popular hybrid cars, automobiles made overseas are stacking up at ports and parking lots around the United States as supplies far outstrip demand amid the nation's worst auto market in more than 25 years.
  • Manufacturing work force drew Toyota to region - Had it not been for a fact-filled PowerPoint presentation and visits to area manufacturers, Toyota Motor Co. might never have given Northeast Mississippi a second thought.
  • Toyota opens Ontario plant - In Canada, where the automotive industry is suffering almost as much as in the United States, the town of Woodstock, Ontario, celebrated the opening of a Toyota assembly plant.
  • Nearly 20,000 Range Rovers recalled - If you were fortunate enough to put a 2003-2005 Range Rover in your garage, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is delivering some bad news. According to a just-released recall, a total of 19,168 Range Rover models may have misaligned front driveshafts.
  • No clear answer for why some airbags just don't inflate - At least 400 traffic deaths in the past five years have involved airbag failures, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says.
  • Car shop boss, employee admit illegal dumping - The owner and an employee of a Main Street auto body shop face up to four years in prison for illegally dumping more than 100 gallons of hazardous paint solvents at two locations in Cheektowaga
  • Cars up in smoke as fraud rises - It's another sign of hard times: Desperate to get out of car loans and leases they can't afford, more cash-strapped consumers have turned to torching their vehicles, driving them into lakes or faking thefts.
  • Abundance Of Deer Causing Problems In Suburbia - St. Louis, MO: A number of auto collisions with deer, which put traffic in a snarl, have occurred in South County and on a stretch of South Geyer Road that links Kirkwood and Sunset Hills.
  • Rates up for auto insurance - Trend follows Georgia’s passage of law that lets companies increase charges without state permission.

December 5, 2008

  • PGW Layoffs Affect Staff "Globally," Company Officials Report - glassBYTEs™: The layoffs announced earlier this week by Pittsburgh Glass Works (PGW), formerly PPG Auto Glass, will affect all aspects of the company, according to Dick Heilman, vice president, marketing and research and development, for the company, though he couldn't provide specifics as to who was let go.
  • Premium Rating Errors Cost Auto Insurers $16 Billion, Report Claims - Premium rating errors by insurance companies resulted in the loss of $16.1 billion of auto insurance premium revenues in 2007, slightly down from the 2006 figure of $16.6 billion — but still almost 10 percent of the total $162 billion in personal auto premium written.
  • Beloit Students Prepare For Future Of Auto Repair - WI: Unique Program Trains Students
  • Auto course prepares students for workforce - CA: At Contra Costa College there are students unlike most others. They are part of a two year program that is training them for a well paying job as collision repair technicians.
  • Rhapsodizing Over Blue - It was Henry Ford who, in the early days of the automotive industry, famously remarked that buyers could have their Fords in any color – as long as it was black. But that monochromatic view of the world didn’t last. It wasn’t long before automakers began turning out vehicles in a rainbow of distinctive colors.
  • DuPont Paints Grim Picture - Anticipating fourth-quarter loss, chemicals company announces layoffs, cost-cutting measures.
  • Arlen Specter, Charlie Dent meet with local auto industry stakeholders - The government shouldn't run America's auto industry, but if Congress is going to bail out the sagging-at-the-chassis Big Three auto makers to the tune of $34 billion, then there must be some form of accountability and transparency regarding where that money goes.
  • Ripple effect seen if GM, Chrysler or Ford goes bankrupt - A bankruptcy filing by General Motors Corp., Chrysler LLC or Ford Motor Co. would have an immediate impact on every Asian and European manufacturer operating in North America because of their dependence on parts suppliers used by the domestic automotive industry.
  • GM CEO Rick Wagoner Drives to Capitol Hill in Volt Prototype - GM's Rick Wagoner to showcase Volt technology in his trip to Washington
  • Ford uses paint fumes to power plant - We all know about the big push to go green in the car industry, and while most of the effort is put into the vehicles themselves, Ford Motor Company is also focusing on the plants that build those vehicles.
  • Recall Alert: Saturn Vue - General Motors has recalled the 2009 Saturn Vue compact SUV due to a defect that could result in a loss of steering control.
  • Recall Alert: Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook - General Motors has recalled about 19,000 crossover SUVs from model year 2009 because a seatbelt in the third row may fail.  The affected vehicles are the 2009 Buick Enclave, Chevy Traverse, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook.
  • AARP collects royalties, fees from insurers it endorses - Allegations made of misleading ads and conflicts
  • Auto insurance agents cry foul - MA: A state insurance agents association, which is already involved in a lawsuit against Insurance Commissioner Nonnie S. Burnes, is alleging Burnes is again giving preferential treatment to companies new to the state's auto insurance market.
  • AIG needs unified plan to recover: Greenberg - Former American International Group Inc CEO Maurice "Hank" Greenberg said the insurer could fall apart unless management quickly came up with a unified recovery plan. -- "You can't hold (together) an organization that is drifting in the way it is," he said in an interview on Thursday. "It can be fixed now. I don't know if that will be true in two to three months from now."
  • Auto insurers begin to add pet policies - Good news, Fido. Tough break, turkey: Some auto insurance companies have quietly begun offering free coverage to four-legged friends, paying medical bills for pets injured in car crashes.

December 4, 2008

December 3, 2008

  • Chicago-based LKQ Corp. acquires London and Cornwall auto recycling companies in Ontario - "The acquisitions of Shaw Auto Recyclers and Headline Auto Parts will improve our distribution of recycled automotive collision parts throughout Ontario," said Benjy Katz, plant manager of LKQ Dominion Auto Recycling Inc.
  • Family gets recycled rides - AZ: A local family has a special reason to be thankful this holiday. Geico, 911 collision center and the Casa Adobes Rotary group teamed up to help a family in need.
  • Businesses pitch in to outfit van for agency - WA: Eastside Domestic Violence Program had a problem. -- The agency, which serves women and their children who are victims of domestic abuse, needed a van to help transport them around the community.-- Kirmac Collision Services in Bellevue had a solution, a recycled Dodge Caravan that was fixed up as part of a national program.
  • AkzoNobel Benevolence Program marks 10th year milestone - In an effort to spread good will during the Christmas season, as well as promote collision repair awareness, the AkzoNobel Acoat National Benevolence Program will be giving 60 deserving families and community groups in Canada and the U.S. a refurbished vehicle.
  • Locals among top philanthropists - IA: Among small businesses named as outstanding philanthropic organization was ValuCon Inc., while among large businesses was Toyota-Scion of Iowa City and Abra Auto Body.
  • Auto Glass Fitters Adds Location in Fairmont, W.Va. - glassBYTEs™: Auto Glass Fitters, a new auto glass company based in Dunmore, Pa., has opened a new location in Fairmont, W.Va., according to reports from the Times West Virginian.
  • The Difference Between Ordinary and Extraordinary Service - As an automotive service professional, what are the extra little things you do that would distinguish your shop as extraordinary?
  • Collinsville repair shop marks 100 years of labor - IL: McLanahan Automotive & Towing was founded by current owner Jeff Stehman's grandfather J.C. McLanahan a block form its current location at 105 S. Seminary St. Stehman, a third-generation owner, recently talked to business reporter Will Buss about the 100-year-old business.
  • Local auto dealers see a silver lining - TOLEDO - As sales of new cars drop off, local dealerships are forced to find other ways to make money. -- "People need to get their cars fixed, regardless of how the economy's doing," said Rob Beaudoin, body shop manager at Dunn.
  • Union chairman at ACH plant in Milan dies - The union chairman at Ford's Automotive Components Holdings LLC plant in Milan died at home last week on Thanksgiving at the age of 53. -- According to his obituary, Stamper was the longest-serving chairman at the plant, which makes plastic bumpers and related components.
  • Recycled car parts - saving on costly repairs - Stuttgart, Germany: Repairing a defect in your car not only means expensive costs, but you may find that the part that needs replacement is unavailable or costs a small fortune. Motorists tend to overlook that in many cases, recycled or reconditioned car parts are a real alternative.
  • Auto-parts boss follows his dream after layoff - When parts manager Mike Bachara saw the numbers going south at Bill Heard Chevrolet in Scottsdale, he knew it was time to ramp up the side business he had started a few years earlier.
  • State Rep. says supplier success hinges on auto industry aid - State Rep. Kim Meltzer, R-Clinton Township, said Monday automotive suppliers have largely been on the outside looking in when it comes to prospects of federal loans for the auto industry. She’s trying to raise awareness of the supplier impact to the national economy.
  • Ford to cut U.S. supplier base - Ford Motor Co. plans to cut its U.S. supplier base of about 1,600 companies by more than half in the coming years as the company works to become financially viable.
  • $75-an-hour autoworkers - No assembly line auto worker I know is bringing home $75-an-hour checks, not even with overtime (and there's little to none of that happening this year) and definitely not with benefits, which have been consistently cut over the last 15 years. -- The pay is closer to $26, for those in a union..... -- New employees are paid much less.
  • Auto sales plummet to 26-year low - Top six carmakers report 30%-47% drops in U.S. as bad economy scares off consumers.
  • GM says it could fail in a matter of weeks - 'There is no Plan B,' an executive says. The Big Three automakers now seek as much as $34 billion in U.S. aid.
  • Ford says CEO will work for $1 to get loans - Ford Motor Co. will tell Congress that it plans to return to a pretax profit or break even in 2011 when its CEO appears before two legislative committees this week.
  • Lawmakers Hedge Their Bets on Auto Bailout - Detroit's automakers, making a second bid for a multi-billion dollar industry bailout, presented Congress with their plans to restructure their ailing companies and provided assurances that the funding will help them survive and thrive.
  • Detroit Project: 'Car of the future' - DuPont CEO proposes a joint effort of the Big Three, others to create a 75 mph, butanol vehicle.
  • Suffolk 'bait car' program aims to capture thieves - Car thieves be warned. -- That ordinary auto parked in a local Suffolk County lot may look like nothing more than the average ride home.
  • New car insurer in Pa. denounces 'unfair' practices - The road to auto insurance in Pennsylvania just got more congested - and controversial.
  • Insurer to get a say in rate-setting case - GEICO trying to keep the information private
  • New Auto Insurance Law Includes 'Opt-Out' Requirement - DENVER -- If you are about to renew your automobile insurance you may want to look closely at your next bill.

December 2, 2008

  • Pittsburgh Glass Works Announces Restructuring Activities - glassBYTEs™: With the anticipated decline of North American automotive vehicle builds in 2009, the Pittsburgh Glass Works (PGW) has announced that it is realigning its manufacturing footprint and making reductions in its salaried workforce.
  • Auto body shop moves back to Shippensburg - Owner Vinny Scalavino has opened Carlisle Auto Body and Collision Inc. and Carlisle Customs and Classics at 2275 Ritner Highway. The location is just a stone’s throw from the former site of East Coast Custom Auto Body, which Scalavino started in 1993 when he and his family moved to Shippensburg from New York.
  • Customer Service Top Priority at West Fargo Auto Body & Glass - The staff at West Fargo Auto Body & Glass has one goal in mind – to provide clients with high quality, trustworthy, vehicle repair. The business which operates at 801 West Main Ave. was founded by Brian Kounovsky in 1995.
  • Foster family receives gift of restored minivan - When Barbara and Mike Montgomery were presented with the keys to the new minivan to tote their five foster kids about, tears flowed freely among 100 people gathered at Gapsch Carstar Collision Center in Green Park to see the presentation.
  • CARSTAR raises thousands to help find a cure for cystic fibrosis - Over the past year, CARSTAR Automotive Canada has raised $117,500.00 for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CCFF). CARSTAR president and CEO Sam Mercanti presented a cheque to the charity during the company’s annual charity gala in November. More than 1,000 insurance and vendor partners, employees, and friends attended the event.
  • Winning ticket has 3 friends smiling - WI: The three friends, who all live in Sheboygan, filed papers in Dane County Circuit Court on Nov. 14 to claim the prize jointly and appeared together at a press conference Monday at Duening's business, J Auto Body & Service, 1434 Mayflower Ave., to discuss their good fortune. -- The three will split a $9.1 million jackpot.
  • Chehalis Mechanic Pushes for National Green Changes - Waste Not: Local Auto Serviceman Recently Shared Environmental Perspective at Las Vegas Convention
  • GE Provides $79.5 Million Credit Facility to Market Leader in Franchised Auto Body Repair and Painting - GE Antares Capital today announced it served as administrative agent for a $79.5 million senior secured credit facility to support the acquisition of Maaco Franchising by Driven Brands, the parent company of Meineke Car Care Centers, Econo Lube N' Tune, AutoQual, Aero Colours, Drive N Style, and Tortal.net. Driven Brands is a portfolio company of Carousel Capital's third investment fund, Carousel Capital Partners III.
  • Custom cars hit an economic rough patch - Many car enthusiasts have put the brakes on buying big chrome rims, airlift suspensions, vertical doors and other costly customizations that have enjoyed growing popularity over the past several years, shop owners and industry experts say.
  • Nearly 200 laid off at auto parts supplier - Iowa City isn’t known as a key component of the automotive industry, but hard times for auto manufacturers in Detroit has led to layoffs here.
  • Economic troubles for Big Three automakers trickle down to Columbia auto parts manufacturers - Dana Corp, one of the four major automotive parts manufacturers in Columbia, has laid off 50 people even as the federal government weighs a $25 billion bailout for the Big Three automakers.
  • Buyers wary of Detroit Three's woes - Bankruptcy possibilities spark concerns over warranty obligations, safety recalls and availability of parts
  • Auto sales better than last month but still bad - November U.S. vehicle sales may have perked up from the prior month's abysmal showing, but it's grim times indeed for the auto industry when a slew of double-digit drops from all major manufacturers is seen as an improvement.
  • Auto firms' woes test customer loyalty - Any bankruptcy among Big Three is likely to cut into retention, making recovery even harder.
  • Auto Big 3 ready for Round 2 - American auto executives, seeking a $25 billion federal lifeline to cope with turmoil in credit markets and plummeting sales, are braced for another showdown this week with skeptical lawmakers.
  • November's auto sales expected to be dismal - U.S. auto sales for November are expected to be down about 28% when they're released Tuesday, another major decline as consumers sit on the sidelines waiting for some sign that the economy is stabilizing.
  • Ford Explores Sale Of Volvo Amid Auto Industry Woes - Ford Motor Co. is once again considering the sale of its Volvo Cars unit, as the U.S. auto maker scrambles to boost its cash reserves amid a steep downturn in global automotive industry sales.
  • Toyota management to get winter bonus cuts - About 5000 managerial-level Toyota Motor Corp. employees will receive a 10% cut in their winter bonuses, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported Tuesday.
  • India's automakers rev up for run at U.S. car market - Yet another challenge is facing the U.S. auto industry. And this time, it isn’t coming from Japan, South Korea, or Germany — or the meltdown of the economy.
  • Bill Gates raises stake in dealership AutoNation - Microsoft Corp co-founder Bill Gates has raised his stake in AutoNation Inc, the largest U.S. auto dealership group, to nearly 12 percent.
  • IIHS names safest cars for 2009 - Cars have gotten a lot safer in recent years, and that trend seems to have accelerated just in the past year. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released its annual list of Top Safety Picks. The big news is that 72 vehicles earned the Institute’s highest ranking this year, more than double the number of 2008 models and more than three times the number of 2007 winners.
  • Police say alderman's towing shop violated city contract - A towing and auto body shop co-owned by Ward 1 Ald. Frank Edwards has violated its towing contract with the city several times recently, according to the Springfield Police Department.
  • Ohio warns about auto insurance phone scam - Department director Mary Jo Hudson said Monday that victims are receiving calls saying their insurance payment can't be processed and that they'll need to provide their bank account number as well as other personal information to resolve the problem.
  • Dallas Set to Tow Uninsured Drivers New ordinance in effect on Jan. 1, 2009 - Drivers who do not provide proof of liability insurance when stopped for a traffic violation in Dallas will have their vehicles towed starting Jan 1. 2009.
  • State can investigate claims against insurance companies - At Michael T. Joyce's trial, the prosecution elicited testimony that revealed that Erie Insurance Group based its decision to settle Joyce's claim, in part, on Joyce's position as a Superior Court judge with the power to hand down rulings that could affect insurance companies' bottom lines.
  • Insurance suit strategy fails - Shortly after former state Superior Court Judge Michael T. Joyce was indicted on charges of fraud in August 2007, an injured Erie nurse tried to use the Joyce case in a lawsuit she filed against Erie Insurance Group. She said Erie Insurance harmed her by not handling her claim as quickly as it did Joyce’s.

December 1, 2008

  • CCC, Mitchell to contest FTC's decision on merger - “While we are disappointed and disagree with the FTC’s position, we intend to vigorously challenge the FTC in court,” says Githesh Ramamurthy, CEO of CCC Information Services.
  • Baker's Collision Donates Van To Area Family - Mansfield, OH: Baker's Collision Repair Specialists are making this Thanksgiving a little bit brighter for one area family, thanks to a nationwide vehicle donation program called "Recycled Rides."
  • Donated car goes to North Little Rock woman - AR: Jody Gatchell, owner of A & J Collision Repair in Conway, donated the car to the Pulaski Technical College Foundation to award to a student in need of transportation.
  • Business gives thanks by giving back to community - Employees of Andy's Auto Body of Alton Inc., 3444 E. Broadway, their families and friends - about 30 in total - welcomed visitors to their first community Thanksgiving dinner with a smile and steaming pans of turkey, dressing, green beans, cranberry sauce and all of the traditional fixings.
  • Auto Glass Shop Gives Something Back During Holiday Season - glassBYTEs™: Ray Sands Auto Glass in Rochester, N.Y., is giving something back to its community this holiday season by offering free windshield repairs in return for donations to a local charity, the Open Door Mission.
  • The Star's 2008 Spirit of Freedom Winners: Bob and Mae Hunt - Shelby,NC: The Star's Spirit of Freedom Award seeks to honor those who cherish freedom, look for independent ways to solve problems, learn new things and try to do what is right, both professionally and personally. -- At Hunt's Auto Sales and Body Shop, they work for themselves and share their blessings with others.
  • Lakeview body shop owner donates 2,200 turkeys to needy - Long Island, NY: The thrill is not gone for Robert Jesberger, the Lakeview auto body shop owner who yesterday added 2,200 birds to more than a decade of Thanksgiving giving to the needy. -- "We work to get, but we give to help somebody else. And I gotta tell you, this kind of giving really makes me feel good. I know what it's like to be in need," said the owner of Mid-Island Collision.
  • Ric’s Body & Paint SUP recommended for approval - CAVE CREEK, AZ – Senior Planner Larry Sahr introduced the first agenda item for Thursday night’s planning commission meeting, a special use permit (SUP) for Ric’s Body & Paint, an automotive body and paint shop to be located inside Spur Cross Station.
  • Deer season means more business for body shops - After spending more years in the auto body business than she cares to mention, Tracy Proksch knows fall means business will be picking up.
  • Ultra Shine Collision goes green - MA: Ultra Shine Collision of Marlborough announced that it will be one of the first auto body repair shops in the Metrowest area to off er eco-friendly collision repair.
  • Collinsville repair shop marks 100 years of labor - McLanahan Automotive & Towing is celebrating a century of service in Collinsville.
  • Car repair success is no accident - Collision Experts blossomed from humble beginnings in Clifton Park apple orchard.
  • Steering wheel restoration becomes Saratoga man's career by surprise - It was only by accident Frank Joslin found his calling in life. -- The owner of Frank's Auto Body and Welding started restoring steering wheels for classic cars and boats 15 years ago.
  • COA Students' Model Truck Wins Awards - Students in College of Alameda's auto body and paint program won second place overall and educational best of show in the California Autobody Association East Bay Chapter's annual customized model truck design contest.
  • Vehicle customizer in hot demand - Canada: Curtis MacLean knows a thing or two about pimping rides.
  • Supreme Collision Centre opens - Canada: Supreme Collision Centre has opened a fourth location — this one in Bolton, Ontario — and the PPG CertifiedFirst Network member is taking extra steps to create a ‘green,’ environmentally-friendly shop and reduce cycle times.
  • Bruce Schuetz of Overland, Missouri Named 2008 TECH-NET Professional Auto Service® / ASE Technician of the Year - Schuetz has been an ASE Master Technician for 30 years and Ford factory trained technician for 20 years. For the past two years he has been employed by Len's Auto Repair.
  • School provides roadside help training - Universal Technical Institute Inc. will provide technical automotive training for American Automobile Association, roadside service providers at its nine automotive campuses throughout the U.S., including in Orlando.
  • Why Did Car Makers Start Using Plastic? - Weather you approve of plastic parts or not the fuel-saving lightweight parts are here to stay. Let’s take a quick look how we got to where we are today.
  • China Losing Luster with U.S. Manufacturers - A new survey finds rising worries about product quality and intellectual-property theft. More U.S. companies are looking to Mexico and their own backyard.
  • Nissan will attend Chicago Auto Show - In a swift reversal, the Japanese automaker said its local dealers would help staff the show in February. The company said Monday it would not attend due to financial constraints and a downturn in U.S. sales.
  • Gettelfinger pleads for government aid - The head of the United Auto Workers made a public plea Sunday for government help for U.S. carmakers as the Big Three put the final touches on stabilization plans to submit to Congress.
  • Keys to the economy - Auto workers fear aftereffects from industry failure
  • No Bailout for Detroit? What Happens to Your American Car? - 5 ways you could suffer if our auto industry crashes
  • Cerberus Capital Responds to Daimler Press Release - "Cerberus and Chrysler have concluded that Daimler intentionally and materially breached its obligations under the relevant contracts relating to the Chrysler transaction. These serious breaches include, but are not limited to, misrepresentations relating to extraordinary changes in underwriting practices with regard to vehicle acquisition financing and leasing, as well as non-ordinary course lending and leasing practices.
  • NH dealer closes, customers looking for cars - Police in Kingston, N.H., have been flooded with complaints from around the world from car buyers who worry they've been stiffed after an auto salvage business suddenly closed.
  • Auto repair tops Oct. BBB complaints - Tucson, AZ: Auto-repair shops prompted the most complaints to the Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona in October, followed closely by movers, real-estate management firms and auto dealers, the bureau said.
  • Easy to steal, pricey to replace - In minutes, thieves can remove a vehicle's catalytic converter, then make up to $200 by selling the part to a scrap yard.
  • Gilbert police put accident reports online - AZ: The Gilbert Police Department is the third Valley law enforcement agency to partner with a Michigan-based company to provide accident reports online in the hope of streamlining department functions and creating a convenient program for residents.
  • Case considers exclusions in auto insurance policy - The Texas Supreme Court must decide if an insurance company should pay in the case of a boy injured by a driver who was speeding away from police.
  • Is it wrong to increase insurance based on age? - Sandy K. of Freeport, who turned 75 in February, celebrated that milestone with her children and grandchildren. She and they were "quite glad" she had attained that age, she wrote. But she added, "Too bad the insurance companies do not feel the same way." -- Here's why. In August, Sandy, a retired computer troubleshooter, received a bill for the renewal of her optional umbrella liability insurance policy from Allstate and was shocked.

November 2008 >>>>

 



 
 

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