December 18, 2006

• Reducing the Tax Bite - AutobodyOnline: We asked tax professionals who work with shop owners to pass along their best quick tips to help you keep more money in their bank account – rather than Uncle Sam's. Here's a handful of ideas they suggested. As with all tax matters, be sure to discuss any of these strategies with your accountant or tax adviser to make sure they are appropriate for you and your business.
• Revving Up the Slow Times in Your Business - AutoInc: Don't get bored waiting for customers to come to you. Get proactive and discover the secret that other industries have discovered in keeping their customers flowing.
• Court Issues Split Decision on Short Pay Suit; Insurance Assignment Clause - Last Thursday's glassBYTEs.com coverage of the Glass Network & Auto Glass Express v. Austin Mutual Insurance Co. lawsuit offered one look at the application of Minnesota law with regard to insurance companies, auto glass companies and the assignment of proceeds.
• BASF Coatings partners successfully with Peugeot and Carsystem-Voss - R-M boosts customer’s success – a success story made in Szczecin -- Team spirit is called for in the Peugeot “Concours Carrosserie-Peinture” (bodywork-paintwork competition), unique throughout the world. In two-man teams, spray painters and panel beaters compete for the victory trophy.
• Donated cars give women a second chance at life Donated cars help give two area women new lives - The cars are donated by Jack Aho, owner of a San Carlos auto body shop and the new Emerald Market in Redwood City. -- Aho  purchases cars brought to his auto body shop that were damaged in collisions, or he asks the owners who lack insurance coverage to donate them for a tax deduction. --  He then contributes $9,000 in labor at his auto body shop to refurbish the vehicles. Aho on Saturday also gave both of the women one year of free car insurance and a $100 gift certificate to his deluxe grocery store.
• Smiles for miles - It was hard to tell what shone brighter. The 2001 red Chevrolet Cavalier – or the smiles on the faces of a young mother and her two daughters. -- Samantha Niessen is this year’s winner of the “new” used car from Norgate Auto Body Ltd. She was presented her vehicle, in mint shape, at a special gathering on Wednesday.
• A timely tune-up - WI: It’s not every day that someone brings their car in for a tire rotation and receives a better vehicle, free of charge. -- Yet that’s what happened when Joe Costa, service manager at Nielsen Ford Mercury, and his crew gave long-time customer Nora Ritter of Chippewa Falls a newer car when her old one was no longer safe to drive.
• Shop fees can triple between garages - Shop fees have been around for years and are common in the auto repair industry. But the amount a business charges varies.
• Parting with the past - IN: Buyer sought for vintage auto component stock
• Some auto shops can't catch a brake - CA: Displaced Union City businesses running out of time, options to find new garages
• Roush Manufacturing Is The Key To The Success of Mustang Painted Body Kits - A great majority of companies which sell body kits and other automotive parts are forced to use outside vendors for their design, engineering, and manufacturing due to a lack of internal resources. However, in the case of ROUSH Performance, their Ford Mustang body kits are run through the same exact same process that ROUSH Manufacturing uses in making similar components for at least eight OEM American and European car companies.
• Accuracy pays off Company hits jackpot by helping manufacturers - Udi Naamani, operations manager at CogniTens' North American headquarters in Wixom, said the company's technology is now helping automakers and other manufacturers across North America improve the quality of the products they make, reduce costs and shorten product development time.
• Visteon Names 2 Board Members - Visteon Corp. said Friday that it has elected two new board members effective immediately. -- The board adds Donald J. Stebbins, the auto supplier's president and chief operating officer, and Richard J. Taggart, chief financial officer of Weyerhaeuser Co.
• Riding the latest trenz - "We sell to car dealerships. They come to us and say, 'Pimp out my ride,' " said Cory Newton, co-owner of Street Trenz in Bealeton. The store sells gear and service for cars, trucks and SUVs that take them from having that ordinary, just-out-of-the-showroom look to ... something that suits an owner's preferences.
• The Rewards of Ownership, Combined with the Gift of Giving - Online Collector Car Trader is a straightforward, easy-to-use website devoted to providing classic car enthusiasts a link to assist them with the buying or selling of Classic Cars. There are also direct links to valuable information sources--specific to classic cars. Online Collector Car Trade is committed to not only being every car enthusiast's favorite site, but also to helping a non-profit organization.
• Toyota raises prices on 7 models - Toyota Motor Sales USA said Friday it was raising suggested retail prices for seven of the 28 models in its lineup by an average of less than one percent to reflect increases in the cost of materials.
• Nissan teams with designer to customize SUVs - A sport utility vehicle with a price tag near $200,000 and a black-and-gray camouflage-style pattern of rhinoceroses, skulls and dice?
• Banking on Minivans - Chrysler says it is standing by the hit product it launched in the 1980s
• Toyota recalls 160 Solaras for air bag problem - Toyota Motor Co. is recalling 160 Georgetown, Ky.,-built Camry Solara cars. Produced between July and August, side-curtain airbags in the 2007 models may have been installed incorrectly.
• Carmakers Fight Global Warming Lawsuit - 6 Largest Automakers Want Federal Judge to Throw Out Calif. Global Warming Suit
• Chinese automaker denies copying Fiat designs - Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor Co. Ltd. has denied its new subcompact car the Peri is copied from FIAT designs, adding that it doesn't fear a lawsuit, the Oriental Morning Post reported on Friday.
• Owner admits fraud attempt - The former owner of a Hudson County auto body shop has admitted to attempting to defraud insurance companies out of nearly $10,000, authorities said yesterday.
• State auto insurance rates to fall 11.7 percent in 2007 - Starting in April, Massachusetts motorists will see the largest annual cut in their auto insurance rates in nearly three decades. -- Insurance Commissioner Julianne Bowler on Friday announced the statewide average rate will drop 11.7 percent next year because of decreasing claims.
• Customers line up for free gas - Marion, IL:  As part of a good will promotion, Allstate Insurance Company announced on Z100 that it would be giving away 10 gallons of gas to the first 100 customers after 10 a.m. at Marion Motomart. At $2.29 per gallon, most customers pulled away with $23 of fuel in their vehicle's tank.
• Allstate Insurance Gives Away Free Gas - Boise, Idaho --  Dozens of drivers across the Treasure Valley lined up Thursday afternoon to fill up their gas tanks up for free.

December 15, 2006

• Rebuilt car 'a blessing' - NJ: One person's wreck is another person's lifeline. -- At least that's the way the owners of Boggs Auto Collision Rebuilders see things. -- For the third straight year, the family-owned body shop turned a smashed-up vehicle into reliable wheels for someone in need.
• Billion Auto Body Named 2006 CARQUEST Automotive Refinish Supply Excellence Award Winner - Billion Auto Body, located in Bozeman, MT, is the 2006 CARQUEST Automotive Refinish Supply Excellence Award winner. Keith Stone, Manager of Billion Auto Body and his wife, Susie, recently accepted the award in Charlotte, NC. -- The CARQUEST Automotive Refinish Supply Excellence Award seeks to recognize the top independent automotive refinish supply business in North America that, through the course of everyday service excellence, exemplifies the professionalism necessary to build public understanding and respect for people working in the Collision Repair industry today.
• CAPA Congratulates CAA on 40 Years of Improving Auto Body Repair - The Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) congratulates the California Autobody Association for their longstanding commitment to improving auto body repair for the California consumer.
• CARSTAR appoints new sales management - CARSTAR recently added Brad Snow and Mike Brisco as Franchise Development Managers.
• Eliminating the need for a separate primer layer - Michael Golek looks at a new development in automotive painting which eliminates the necessity for a separate primer layer in automotive OEM coatings.
• Solera Breaks Ground on Institute of Management and Innovation in San Diego, California - New Think Tank and Training Facility Will Focus on Teaching and Incubating New Ideas in Claims Management Through Real-World Research and Development -- The addition of classrooms and state-of-the-art vehicle repair bays will allow Solera staff to identify and enhance global industry best practices and apply them to the North America market. Solera is scheduled to open more Institutes around the world, with a second facility planned for Europe. -- "Knowledge is at the core of what we do," said Tony Aquila, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Solera.
• eAutoclaims Announces Fee-Based Pricing Option - eAutoclaims announced today a new pricing option for the Managed Collision Repair Service and Independent Appraiser Network. The new pricing model offers clients the option of receiving services on a flat fee basis instead of eAutoclaims' traditional shared discount pricing from the company's Guaranteed Repair Network (GRN) shops that discount their repair work.
• EAUTOCLAIMS, INC Files SEC form 10-Q, Quarterly Report - EDGAR Online
• CCC Information Services Inc. Announces Multi-Year Renewal Agreement With OneBeacon Insurance Group - CCC Information Services Inc. ("CCCIS") announced that OneBeacon Insurance Group has signed a multi-year agreement to extend access to CCCIS' automated claims tools.
• Help is available for hosting Car Care Month events - The Car Care Council is offering a DVD/CD entitled "How to Host a Vehicle Check-up Event" for use during National Car Care Month next April.
• AGRSS Expands Marketing Tools Available to Registered Companies: Discount Conference Pricing Extended Through End of Year - Companies registered by the Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standards Council (AGRSS) may now purchase new brochures and a rear view mirror tag detailing proper installation practices. "About Your Auto Glass Replacement: Proper Drive-Away Times," "One of the Most Important Safety Signs You'll Ever See," Corrosion and Your Auto Glass Installation" and "About 'Used Glass' and Proper Auto Glass Replacement" are all available to AGRSS registered customers.
• Strike creates Humvee tire gap - A 10-week strike of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. workers is creating a shortage of Humvee tires used by the military overseas, according to the outgoing chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.
• Auto Suppliers Response To International Trade Commission Ruling on Imported Steel Tariffs - Auto suppliers are pleased the International Trade Commission ruled today that the U.S. steel industry no longer needs protection from four of the six countries in question that export corrosion-resistant steel into this country. We are obviously disappointed that the ITC upheld tariffs on steel from Germany and Korea.
• NAM Welcomes New Chairman - The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) board of directors unanimously approved the nomination of Charles E. (Chuck) Bunch, chairman of the board and CEO of PPG Industries Inc. (Pittsburgh), to become NAM chairman for the 2007-2008 term, commencing January 1, 2007.
• Autoparts Swap ’n Sell Just Around the Corner - New England’s largest indoor automotive swap meet, AUTOPARTS SWAP N’ SELL is attracting new vendors with special inventory and deals on new and used automotive parts and equipment.
• Geneva Preview: Classic buffs build a new sports car - Dutch classic car enthusiasts Paul and Tino Huet have created their own car. The Huet Brothers HB Special is an intriguing blend of old and new, a piece of exotica which, they claim, recreates the experience of driving a vintage Alfa, Bugatti or special-bodied Le Mans car at an accessible price.
• Car parts company Ajax closes doors - The Melbourne car parts manufacturer Ajax Fasteners has gone into liquidation.
• Hexion Announces Price Increases For Coating Resins In North America - Hexion Specialty Chemicals announced today that it will increase prices for its coating resin products effective January 15, 2007. The increase is effective for orders shipped on or after January 15, 2007.
• Hexion Receives Regulatory Approval To Proceed With Acquisition of Resin & Adhesives Business of Orica Limited - Hexion Specialty Chemicals announced today it has been notified that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has completed its review of Hexion’s previously announced intent to acquire the resin and adhesives business of Orica Limited.
• Morning Shows Hype Need for a 'Federal Standard' on Rollovers - CBS's Orr lets go unchallenged the suggestion that auto industry cares more about bottom line than passenger safety.
• AIAM Applauds ITC Decision to Eliminate Steel Tariffs - Association of International Automobile Manufacturers President and CEO Mike Stanton issued the following statement today: "AIAM applauds today's decision by the International Trade Commission (ITC) to eliminate duties on corrosion resistant steel from Australia, Canada, France and Japan. This decision -- which left duties on steel from Korea and Germany in place -- will benefit automakers, including AIAM companies who collectively produce 3.4 million vehicles annually in the United States and procure nearly all the steel used in these vehicles from U.S. suppliers. American consumers will benefit as a result of more competitive steel prices. This is a victory for automakers and consumers alike."
• Carmakers win trade battle - Lifting of steel tariffs could mean bigger profits
• Volvo ready to dump boxy image - Ford Motor Co.'s Swedish Volvo brand revealed a new concept vehicle Thursday that it will showcase at next month's North American International Auto Show at Cobo Center in Detroit.
• Building inspector rebukes local auto-body-shop owner - Building Inspector Gerald Garner presented evidence to the Selectmen Wednesday that Gene Sebastino Sr., owner of Gene Sebastino & Son Auto Body & Used Cars, may be in violation of his business license. -- According to Garner, Sebastino's license says he may own and operate a used car dealership that allows basic repair work. But Garner said Sebastino has been operating a car salvage and repair business, which requires a different license.
• Arroyo Grande Mechanic Fraud Investigation - CA: Sonny's Automotive Repair Shop accused of charging customers for work that was never done
• N.Y. Court of Appeals rules in favor of Spitzer interpretation on Lemon Law - New York state's highest court Thursday upheld an interpretation of the state's Lemon Law for new cars made in 2003 by state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. -- The Court of Appeals ruled 7-0 from Albany, N.Y., that Spitzer's interpretation was reasonable. He decided that consumers could still invoke the Lemon Law if the problem with the vehicle that prompted them to seek relief under the law was finally fixed.
• Deer, people often on collision course - MT: Colstrip's problems seen all across state
• Tillinghast: Overall U.S. Tort Costs Dropping - Fewer Auto Claims Drive Decline
• Progressive posts higher November earnings - Progressive Corp., the No. 3 U.S. auto insurer, on Wednesday said earnings rose 58 percent in November, as claims fell a year after hurricanes hit the South and Southeast United States.
• Supreme Court: Florida insurance law doesn't cover snowbirds - "Snowbirds" and other part-time Florida residents who insure their cars back home cannot make claims under Florida laws that may be more favorable to them than those in their own states, the state Supreme Court said Thursday. -- The ruling applies to crashes or other damages that occur in Florida.
• PEMCO Call Center Recognized for Excellent Performance by J.D. Power and Associates - Study Reflects PEMCO's Outstanding Customer Service -- PEMCO Insurance, established in 1949, is a Seattle-based provider of auto, home, boat, life, and umbrella insurance to Washington state residents.

December 14, 2006

• 2006 "How's Your Business?" Survey Results: Collision - With 2006 coming to a close, the Automotive Service Association is estimating a growth in the collision repair industry - from 34,184 shops in 2005 to 36,330 shops in 2006. ASA is also estimating growth in collision repair employees, from 226,179 in 2005 to 227,036 in 2006. Those collision specialists are responsible for fixing an estimated 23 million vehicles involved in collisions in 2006.
• 2006 "How's Your Business?" Survey Results: Mechanical - For 2006, there are an estimated 82,000 independent general mechanical repair businesses in the United States. These independent businesses employ an estimated 330,210 individuals who provide service and repair for more than 238 million motor vehicles. With 70 percent (167 million) of out-of-warranty vehicles having maintenance and repair performed away from dealerships, independent shops continue to stay busy.
• Missouri Collision Repair Shop Started as One-Man Operation - Great Things Often Start with Small Beginnings
• Woman gets a fresh start - IL: Repair shop chain gives away car
• Concord Auto Body Gives Cars To Needy - CA: Of all the public gift giving at this time of the year, one of the most unusual programs is in Concord. Needy and deserving people are actually given automobiles. You might call it open hearts, open roads. -- If you wreck a car badly enough the insurance company writes it off as a loss. But at Mike's Auto Body in Concord, there's an exception or two every December.
• Monroe City families surprised with new cars - IL: J.C. Collision Repair in Monroe City gave away two rebuilt cars to needy families today. -- The giveaway is a part of a national benevolence program sponsored by paint manufacturer Akzo Nobel.
• A dream come vroom - TX: A local single mother left Bates Custom & Collision of Baytown with a car for Christmas on Wednesday. -- Shannon Trahan, 30, from Houston was the lucky winner of a refurbished vehicle, donated by Bates as part of the Acoat National Benevolence Program and Responsible Parenting Award.
• A circle of giving - Canada: It’s the season of giving, and one Peninsula family found that out in a big way on Saturday. -- Muavae and Marie Va’a, with their three children, drove away from Hi Tech Collision in a newly-reconditioned car, thanks to a large number of people with big hearts.
• Does mag chloride eat brakes? - Mechanics and others say the de-icer corrodes components needed to keep vehicles safe
• Salvaging a program -  In January, Ridgewater College auto body students are scheduled to start taking cars apart. -- In late November, vandals broke into a fenced-in area at the college and damaged 19 vehicles used as part of the auto body program. Some of the vehicles were so badly damaged that the program’s instructors fear they won’t have enough vehicles for the students to work on.
• ChipsAway Dorset - Bumper Scuffs, Stone Chips, Dents, Interior trim, Windscreen Repairs - UK: The world leading car automotive repairer - ChipsAway - is pleased to announce the launch of the latest Franchisee website. ChipsAway Dorset is the Weymouth / Dorchester area Franchisee and operates the website as an additional enquiry stream available to those online.
• Crash repair firm snaps up rival - UK: Motor crash repair company Nationwide Accident Repair Services is set for expansion after taking over a major rival. -- The firm which has its head office in Witney, snapped up Aquilo Motor Services for £1.275m. -- Aquilo, based in Northwich, Cheshire, provides 24-hour comprehensive motor claims management services such as vehicle repair and roadside assistance to insurers and insurance brokers.
• Judges for Third Annual Auto Glass Technician Olympics Announced - All four judges for the 2006 Auto Glass Technician Olympics have agreed to return in 2007 for the third annual staging of the event.
• Adhesive commercialized in two new front-end carrier applications - BETAMATE low energy substrate adhesives (LESA) from Dow Automotive have been commercialized in front-end carrier applications on the 2007 Jeep Wrangler and the 2007 Dodge Nitro. Designed, integrated and manufactured by Decoma International, the front-end carriers bonded with BETAMATE LESA enable greater design flexibility, weight reduction and streamlined manufacturing techniques.
• Copart Opens Baltimore Facility - Copart, Inc., the largest provider of vehicle salvage disposition services in the United States, today announced the opening of a new facility in Baltimore, Md.
• Key dates in the auto industry in 2006 - 2006 brought major restructuring, job losses and other dramatic changes to the auto industry.
• Toyota teams up with Isuzu for oil-burning hybrids - Toyota has announced a joint venture with diesel specialists Isuzu, buying a 5.9% stake in the smaller firm.
• Inside GM-Asia's secret weapon - Acquisition of Korea's Daewoo powers growth in Asia
• Nissan North America VP to Retire - Nissan said Wednesday that Dan Gaudette, the company's senior vice president North American manufacturing and supply chain management for Nissan North America, will retire after a 26-year career with the automaker.
• Ford Shuffles Sales Executives - Ford Motor Co. said it will eliminate a vice president position and reassigned other sales and marketing executives in order to streamline decision-making.
• Auto Insurance Company Adds Local Jobs - Amherst, NY: The insurance giant Geico is hanging out the help wanted signs again. -- Geico plans to hire another 500 people here to handle claims at the Amherst Center which services customers in New York, New Jersey and New England.
• Her Future's Uncertain but Massachusetts Commissioner Keeps Busy - These are busy days for Massachusetts Insurance Commissioner Julianne Bowler.
• Auto insurance turf war begins - When it comes to Massachusetts auto insurance, don't follow the Jersey model.
• ChoicePoint Introduces Auto Insurance Verification Tool To Verify Claimant Insurance Coverage - ChoicePoint, a provider of data solutions to the insurance claims industry, has launched the contributory database of insurance policy information for use by auto insurance carriers. The solution hosted by ChoicePoint is known as Carrier Discovery and allows a claims adjuster to instantly identify critical insurance carrier information on claimants or other involved parties in an accident.
• Sisters ordered to return papers - Two State Farm whistleblowers are weighing their options after a federal judge ordered them to turn over records to their former employer, independent adjusting firm E.A. Renfroe.
• Only wreckage remains when insurance agents breach trust - You think you’re covered? You might be surprised, and at the worst possible time.

December 13, 2006

• CARSTAR continues franchise growth - CARSTAR franchise systems added four new locations in recent months, bringing the store total for the franchise organization to 380 locations across North America.
• Christian Brothers Opens 39th Store in Expanding Texas Market - Christian Brothers Automotive Corporation (CBAC), one of the nation’s leading full-service automotive repair franchise organizations, announces the grand opening of their newest facility in Friendswood, TX.
• New Technology Lessens Stress For Car Owners After Vehicle Is Put In For Repairs - New technology has allowed thousands of car owners to keep an eye on their "loved ones" while they're being repaired and may even lessen the number of times the customer needs to visit the shop. More than 22,300 automobile owners have turned to monitoring their damaged vehicle repairs online through Nationwide AutoWatch -- a cutting-edge, Internet-based software tool changing the way people have their cars fixed.
• Wade Jenkins named to new post at Plasticolors - Prior to joining Plasticolors, Jenkins was active in product development for Sherwin Williams Automotive, Aexcel Corp. and PPG Industries. While at Sherwin Williams Automotive, Jenkins took an active role in the development of waterborne automotive coatings. He also created waterborne coatings, along with solvent coatings in various resin chemistries, for Aexcel Corp. During his tenure at PPG Industries, Jenkins was responsible for the development and advancement of both solvent top coats and electrocoat systems.
• Chairman and CEO of FinishMaster, Inc to Retire - Andre B. Lacy, age 67, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Indianapolis-headquartered LDI, Ltd., Chairman and CEO of FinishMaster, Inc. and Chairman and CEO of Tucker Rocky Distributing, Inc. will retire December 31, 2006.
• ICI stronger as bid rumours persist - The ICI bid story refuses to go away. Traders have been speculating that it could be a target for either private equity or rival Akzo Nobel. Both ICI and Akzo have substantial paint businesses and would make a good strategic fit.
• Auto after-sales market is booming - China's roaring automobile market over the past five years has ushered in a boom for related businesses: the auto after-sales and maintenance sector, especially for foreign auto firms.
• Pilkington Acquires Warehouse in Michigan - Pilkington has expanded its distribution network with the purchase of a warehouse in Traverse City, Mich., from Saf-Ti Glass Distributors on December 1. The facility is operating under the Pilkington name. Pilkington also has warehouses in Saginaw and Grand Rapids, Mich.
• Former rental-car operator convicted of cheating customers - A federal jury Monday convicted a former Thrifty Car Rental operator of scheming to overcharge for windshield replacements, a scheme a prosecutor called "a shakedown on the way to the airport."
• InkSure Technologies Announces Contract for Automotive Market Brand Protection - Hundreds of Auto Parts Suppliers to Use Labels Incorporating Company's  Anti-Counterfeiting SmartInk(TM)
• Parts supplier specializes in Land Rover - Local officials joined owners Dominic and Scarlett Perodeau to cut the ribbon at the official opening of their new business, Land Rover Salvage, on Dec. 9.
• CCMP Capital Asia buys car parts firm - SYDNEY: Repco, the largest retailer of car parts in Australia and New Zealand, has agreed to a takeover offer worth 336 million Australian dollars, or $264 million, from the buyout firm CCMP Capital Asia, three people with knowledge of the bid said Monday.
• Dana to move work to Elizabethtown - Auto-parts maker Dana Corp. will close two plants in Canada, one in Northern Indiana and one in Missouri, eliminating 440 jobs. -- Ohio-based Dana said Tuesday that it plans to move some of the work to Elizabethtown, Ky., and the rest to Mexico.
• 1968 Ford Mustang - Color Blind - The car just refused to look green on camera, and we weren't happy campers. Our extensive organic database of photography tricks notwithstanding, this dark green '68 Mustang insisted on looking black.
• As Ford plant nears closure, many others seem likely to follow - Chesapeake, VA: More than 530 people at the three Chesapeake suppliers and at one Virginia Beach supplier of exhaust components could lose their jobs when the Ford plant closes, according to Old Dominion University's State of the Region report released this fall. That number does not include the Allied shutdown.
• GM seeks aid to renovate Saturn plant - General Motors Corp. wants to invest about $225 million in its Saturn manufacturing plant in Spring Hill, Tenn., to renovate the paint shop for future vehicle production, the company announced Monday.
• Isuzu Motors Considering New U.S. Plant - Japan's truck maker Isuzu Motors Ltd. is considering building a new assembly plant for small trucks in the United States if sales volume doubles from the current level, company officials said.
• Angry Workers at Ford Plant - Workers at the Norfolk Ford plant are angry and came in all night Tuesday to vent their frustrations.  Workers thought they had until midnight to decide whether or not to accept an early buy out of $100,000.
• New Mileage Estimates to Hit Window Stickers - Hybrids Likely to be Hard Hit -- Automakers, wary of hostile consumer reaction, have created a Web site to explain the new labels.
• GM puts brief hold on new crossovers for engine mount fix - General Motors Corp. told dealers to hold off on selling the new GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook crossover utility vehicles until they fix a problem with an engine mount that could cause some vibration in cold weather.
• Ford Motor Co. Rolls Out a New Safety Model - How the automaker's Chicago Assembly Plant improved incident investigation and changed the safety culture.
• Group unveils new test for vehicle roof crush - An auto safety watchdog group on Tuesday unveiled a new test to measure a vehicle's resistance to roof crush in a rollover, saying it offers a superior method to a current government proposal.
• 2 groups challenge rollover rules - New crush tests put NHTSA on the spot
• Insurers plant 'tree' for foster children - MA: Children in area foster homes will have Christmas gifts again this year, thanks in part to a giving tree "planted" at the Curtis Hodskins McKelligott Insurance Agency on Palmer Road.
• Web Site Offers Car Insurance Tips - The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the trade group for state insurance officials, has established a Web site to provide motorists with tips on purchasing auto insurance.
• State Farm's net worth up 14 percent - State Farm Insurance Cos.’ net worth has grown 14 percent, or $6.8 billion, so far this year as a tame hurricane season came and went this year.
• U.S. insurer Allstate renews focus on auto sales - Chief executive of Allstate Corp., the largest publicly traded U.S. auto and home insurer, on Tuesday said the carrier is working to bolster auto sales, as it curtails sales of home policies in hurricane-prone, coastal areas.

December 12, 2006

• Putting repairers back in the driver's seat discussed at CCRE - by Sheila Loftus: When was the last time you worked on an "undamaged part?"
• Chubb Launches Online Auto Repair Network, Includes Glass - The Chubb Group of Insurance Cos. expanded its online tool to put insurance customers in touch with Chubb's network of preferred, independent auto body and glass repair shops. The company launched an online tool, the Masterpiece Auto Preference Services, earlier this year with the input garnered from its agents and brokers.
• Body shops change from replacing to repairing plastics - Experience proves that if body shop technicians gain confidence in plastics repair procedures, it is a win for everyone.
• Collision Plus Auto Body To Donate Car for the Acoat Selected National Benevolence Program - IL: Collision Plus Auto Body, 8 Fullerton Road, Swansea, will donate a "new" used car Tuesday to someone in need of reliable transportation. The business is one of 50 auto repair shops across the country that take cars written of as total losses and repair them for the annual Acoat Selected National Benevolence Program, a community relations program that presents refurbished cars to deserving individuals during the holidays.
• Good workers pay the price of slacker colleagues, studies say - Your best, brightest and hardest-working employees may be bearing the brunt of undue burdens brought on by the lowest-performing members of a company’s workforce, according to a series of surveys on staff-management relationship issues.
• Founder of Modern Auto Body passes away - Karl Heinz Wetzlaugk, the founder of Modern Auto Body in Edmonton, passed away at his home on Dec. 5, following a short battle with cancer.
• AutocheX Premier Achiever Awards Honor Collision Repairers Committed to Customer Service - Collision repair facility owners and managers from throughout the U.S. and Canada gathered at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas on November 2, 2006 to be recognized for their commitment to outstanding customer satisfaction at the fifth annual AutocheX Premier Achiever Awards ceremony. The event was held in conjunction with the International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE).
• Jaguar North American grants approval for Standox products - Standox refinish products have been approved for the Jaguar Authorized Aluminum Repair Network. Jaguar North America selected Standox as its network partner because of its strong market presence, quality products, enhanced services and ability to provide the level of support expected by Jaguar vehicle owners.
• Uni-Select Acquires a Distributor of Body Shop Supplies - Uni-Select Inc. announces the purchase of Plastique Royal, a distributor of automotive paint and body shop products that has been operating from a warehouse located in the City of Laval, Province of Quebec.
• ABB unveils FlexPainter IRB 5500 robot and a new generation of rotary atomizers - The combination of cutting edge ABB technology is great news for the automotive industry. This will paint a car body faster than today’s industrial standard, while maintaining a high level of quality and reducing paint losses to a minimum.
• Diamond Glass Companies Announces Personnel Changes - Diamond Glass Companies Inc. has announced the following personnel changes within the organization, effective December 11, 2006:
• Insurer Paying Flat Fee for Repairs - At least one insurance company, Liberty Mutual, has instituted a flat fee for windshield repair. The Boston-based company's new policy is to pay $65 for multiple repairs to the same windshield, no matter how many individual repairs are made.
• Loves Park auto-repair shop gets go-ahead to sell firearms - IL: The City Council voted 7-3 Monday to recommend a special-use permit for retail sales to Jeri Lynn’s Automotive Service, 4883 Torque Drive. Owners Jeri Gilmore and Paula DePauw said they will soon sell new and used guns at the repair shop they’ve run for 15 years.
• Nano Scratch Method Developed As Reference Test For Polymeric Automobile Topcoats Using The Nano Scratch Tester From CSM Instruments - Industrial automotive polymeric coatings, or varnishes, are often exposed to harsh environmental conditions yet they are expected to maintain a high gloss finish for at least five years. Following a strong demand from the automobile industry, their customers and suppliers (paint manufacturers), a project was set up to evaluate new test methods for characterising polymeric topcoat materials in terms of significant parameters.
• Emerging Markets and New Applications Key to Continued Growth in the European Radcure Coatings Market - Established applications in the European radiation curable (radcure) coatings market are reaching saturation point. However, novel applications and new markets will sustain market growth. In particular, radcure coatings for plastics and the automotive refinish industry will offer the highest potential for growth.
• Zagato Recreates Lost Lancia Aprilia Race Car - New Techniques Bring New Life To Lost Classics
• Assembly Required - Steve Mason came up with a brilliant concept several years back, and this year at the Mopars at the Strip show, his vision will become reality. -- Steve and his partner in-crime Jim Harrower will completely build a ‘71 Hemicuda convertible clone at the show, before everyone’s eyes, and they will do the job, start-to-finish, in approximately seventy-two hours.
• Jeg Coughlin Sr. named Grand Marshal of Hot Rod Reunion - Columbus, OH: Former racer and automotive aftermarket pioneer Jeg Coughlin Sr., has been named as the Grand Marshal of the fifth annual NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion, presented by DuPont Automotive Finishes. The popular nostalgia event will be held June 15-17, 2007 at National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio
• The Following Statement is From Ann Wilson, Vice President of Government Affairs, Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association: - On December 14, the International Trade Commission will hand down a ruling that will impact the lives of tens of thousands of workers in the automotive industry. The issue is whether to retain duties on the imported corrosion-resistant steel used extensively in the production of cars and trucks and their components. Since these tariffs have the effect of placing upward pressure on the cost of all steel purchased in this country, keeping them in place will certainly accelerate the loss of American jobs in the auto parts industry.
• Finalists Announced for the 2007 Urban Wheel Awards - Star-studded Event to Honor Diversity in the Auto Industry
• Five Favorites from SEMA - Last week SEMA asked me to pick my five favorite cars from this year’s show. It wasn’t easy, but I managed to pick the five that I thought really stood out. 
• Judge Approves Dura Auto's Exec Hire - A judge approved the Dura Automotive Systems Inc. decision to hire a former Ford Motor Co. executive as its chief operating officer, a move the company said will give its chief executive more time to focus on the company's bankruptcy reorganization. -- The new executive, David T. Szczupak, will receive a $500,000 salary and a $200,000 signing bonus, according to documents filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Del.
• Automakers Pledge Joint Effort With Suppliers to Fight Slavery - General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co., DaimlerChrysler AG and Honda Motor Co. have joined together to train their suppliers to avoid buying materials made by slaves. -- Nearly all automakers in the U.S., including the world's two largest, GM and Toyota, use materials that start with slave labor in Brazil, Bloomberg News reported Nov. 2. Slaves in the Amazon make charcoal for exporters of pig iron, a key ingredient of steel.
• How General Motors supercharged a vital truck launch - Engineers beat clock to ready pickups 3 months early
• GM mixes stars and cars - Glitzy auto show event aims to sell buyers on idea carmaker is revamping once-dull design.
• CarMax and Experian Automotive Warn Consumers About Flood-Damaged Vehicles - Approximately 45 Percent of Re-Titled Vehicles from Hurricane Katrina Have Lost Storm Damage Designation
• Distracted driving big cause of crashes - Distracted driving is emerging as nearly as serious a factor as speeding and impaired driving in research on traffic accidents, and safety analysts and state legislatures are trying to combat it. -- A study being released today by auto club AAA's Foundation for Traffic Safety and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that a driver's odds of being involved in a crash or near-crash are nearly twice as high when the driver looks away from the road for two seconds or longer. Other initiatives on distracted driving include:
• CEI Appoints Traci Calkins Midwest Regional Sales Manager - The CEI Group has named Traci T. Calkins Midwest regional sales manager for automotive fleet accident management and risk and safety services. -- Calkins comes to CEI from the insurance claims services company LYNX Services, where she was a strategic account manager.
• Supreme Court to hear cases about "vehicle-related' claims - The Supreme Court of Canada is hearing two cases that, taken together, will help define what constitutes a "car accident." -- The twin Ontario cases – each dealing with "auto" claims that, on their face, are only tangentially related to the autos involved – have been on the insurance industry's radar for some time. Insurance companies are concerned that an adverse ruling in these cases might lead to 'indiscriminate lawsuits' that have very little to do with vehicular accidents.
• GEICO's 'Teens and Trucks' Brochure Offers Safe Driving Strategies for Steering Around the Big Rigs - GEICO added "Teens and Trucks" to its online library of safe driving materials for teen drivers.