• Department of Defense Presents "How To" on Corrosion Projects During NACE Annual Conference - At CORROSION/2006, the DoD Corrosion Prevention and Control Integrated Product Team (CPC IPT) will address specific corrosion concerns and procedures during a two part session.
• DuPont Enters Joint Venture with Largest Russian Auto Finishes Supplier to Meet Growing Demand in Russia and Former Soviet Republics - DuPont and Russkie Kraski Corp. have created a joint venture aimed at supplying automotive coatings to manufacturers of automobiles and commercial vehicles in Russia and former Soviet republics in Eastern Europe.
• J.D. Power and Associates Ranks Erie Insurance Highest in Collision Repair Satisfaction - For the second consecutive year, Erie Insurance Group earned the highest ranking in the J.D. Power and Associates Collision Repair Satisfaction Study of consumers who file an auto insurance claim.
• Prep center students ready to modify Ford Mustang - Michael Gniewek, a junior enrolled in the collision repair technology class at the Warren Career Prep Center in Sterling Heights, is excited about the new 2006 Ford Mustang his class received this week as a gift from the Ford Motor Co. -- He said the car will give collision repair students the chance to take a new vehicle and redesign it. Redesigning a car isn't as easy as it looks, he said.
• Automotive Youth Educational Systems Hosts Future Auto Technician Panel at Chicago Auto Show - 'Future Techs' Offer Opinions and Challenges of New Vehicles and Technologies
• New Gage Paint Technology Saves Automakers Money - An advanced automotive paint technology system designed to help automakers save money and increase efficiency has been developed at Gage Products Company, a global leader in closed-loop recycling processes for automotive paint solvents.
• State Farm Not Issuing New Discounts on New NAGS Publication - With the most recent publication of the National Auto Glass Standard (NAGS) pricing catalog that took effect January 9, 2006, there has been much speculation in the industry as to when and if State Farm would revise the discounts offered on the glass.
• Michigan Bill Would Ban Most Aftermarket Exhaust Systems - We just recently discovered that the Michigan legislature is working a bill that could send shockwaves through the aftermaket world. The rest of this article is directly from a press release by the Specialty Equipment Manufacturer's Association (SEMA).
• Ford taps MSU's expertise in drive for bio-based materials for cars - The company's vision includes using new bio-based materials to build automobiles.
• Tower Automotive hourly workers vote to authorize strike - Hourly workers at Tower Automotive Inc. have voted to authorize a strike if a federal court grants the auto supplier's request to cancel its labor contracts, the United Auto Workers said Monday.
• Police look at salvage yards in theft query - TX: An ongoing auto theft investigation is looking into suspicions that stolen vehicles were sold to salvage yards in Socorro, investigators said last week.
• Protect used-car buyers; make accident information available - Every year in Illinois, more than 700,000 cars are involved in accidents reported to the police. The state transportation department then collects an electronic record of those collisions.
• NHTSA Probes Honda Odyssey Suspension Failure - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is beginning an investigation of 2001 and 2002 Honda Odyssey minivans because of complaints that the front tire of the Odyssey was punctured by a broken coil spring.
• Cadillac Recalled for Computer Glitch - A computer glitch that can shut down the engine of the Cadillac CTS and STS luxury sedans has resulted in an order by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to recall the two General Motors automobiles.
• AIAG Board Announces New Chair and Vice-Chair for 2006 - The board of directors of the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) announced that Edward T. Sprock of DaimlerChrysler AG is the association's new chairman of the board, and Rick Fournier of IBM Corp. is its new vice-chairman effective Jan. 1, 2006.
• Best- And Worst-Selling Cars By Company - In many ways the title of this article is a misnomer because for many makers the "worst" sellers are simply the cars with the lowest sales volumes and often the highest prices.
• The Hartford Introduces New Technology Practice Group to Meet Insurance Needs of the Fast-Paced Tech Industry - This new group will leverage The Hartford's comprehensive line of leading technology insurance products to serve both current and future players in the growing market.

January 30, 2006

• PPG succeeds in enjoining paint distributor and body shop from selling counterfeit paint - A paint distributor and its collision center customer were enjoined by the United States Federal District Court in Louisiana from selling and using paint labeled as PPG but not manufactured by PPG. The collision center was caught using and representing the paint as genuine PPG paint. The collision center then led PPG to the distributor.

• Porter Auto Body named business of the year - At the age of 15 in 1966, Tom Porter started down a career path that would ultimately lead to him owning auto body shops in Charleston and Mattoon.

• Kustom Klassics gives Scholarships - Auto Body students at Arkansas State University-Searcy, a technical campus of ASU-Beebe, were recently awarded scholarships from Kustom Klassics, an automotive association in Searcy

• AASP Weighs In on California Aftermarket Parts Bill - The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP) contends that AB1852, recently intro-duced in the California Assembly, is anti-consumer legislation that would be harmful to repairers and consumers alike.

• Official views differ in battle over non-OEM parts bill in California - A renewed battle over non-OEM parts is brewing in California’s legislature as a proposed bill to establish a state-operated licensing system for aftermarket parts certification has been introduced.

• 20 Groups: Pulling Together - Collision repair shop owners who belong to "20 Groups” are reporting that the numbers add up to greatly benefit their business operations. They also cite the personal growth that comes with membership.

• Toyota Develops Environment-friendly Surface Agent - A surface preparation agent is applied on a car body in order to make the paint better adhere to it as well as to make the paint more resistant to corrosion.

• Ford ordered to pay $29 million in rollover crash - It's the first Ford-Firestone case to go to a verdict since Firestone tire recalls started in 1999

• Now, surf while driving - Now, both auto makers and car-accessory companies are making a renewed push with products designed to allow drivers to do everything they can do on a desktop PC - word processing, Internet surfing, e-mail - while sitting in the driver's seat. -- Beyond the safety concerns, other hurdles for consumers remain. Since in-car computers aren't widespread, some installers might not know how to install or repair them.

• The knowledge: pre-crash safety aids - All you wanted to know about cars but were afraid to ask.

• Consumers Cautioned About Buying Flood-Damaged Cars - AL: Cars Flooded In Hurricanes Could Cost Buyer In Repairs" -- We're concerned Alabama is one of the only states in the Southeast that doesn't require a flood designation on a title, so this will help close this loophole and protect consumers in Alabama," said Tom Dart, the executive director of the Automobile Directors Association of America.

• Used Cars - Hurricane Insurance Fraud - The National Insurance Crime Bureau has a website with a database where you can search using Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) or for Watercraft the Hull Identification Number (HIN).

• Six held in bust of illegal auto parts operation - HI: Six people were arrested yesterday afternoon after the raid of a suspected Pearl City "chop shop," which police called a significant operation in the stolen auto parts trade.

• Invention that monitors highway visibility studied - NM: Bosque co-inventor aims to prevent crashes in dust storms or fog

• China takes aim at U.S. auto industry - Where Americans see rust and lost jobs, Pin Ni sees milk and honey.

• New Expedition debuts in uncertain times - Ford rolls out more refined SUV and new larger version in Texas, where trucks are king.

• Safelite Solutions National Contact Centers Receive ISO 9001 2000 Certification - Safelite Group, a leading provider of property and casualty claims management solutions and auto glass products and services has announced that Safelite Solutions' national contact centers in Columbus, OH have passed an independent audit and fulfilled the requirements for ISO 9001 2000 certification on the first attempt.

• Driving less may save you money - OH: Auto insurers dispute consumer group claim

• Mass. to Begin Reassigning 15% of Residual Auto Policies in March - A plan to redistribute residual market auto insurance policies among insurance carriers and agents in Massachusetts has been approved by state officials.

• '05 payout worst ever for U.S. insurers - Storms drive cost to $56.8 billion

January 27, 2006

January 26, 2006

• Fact check: Are American cars really that bad? - Take a good look at vehicle reliability data and the answer may surprise you.
• DuPont's Profit Falls 45% on Hurricanes, Higher Costs - DuPont Co., the third-largest U.S. chemical maker, said fourth-quarter profit fell 45 percent as hurricanes disrupted output and raw-material costs rose faster than prices for plastics and paints used to make cars.
• CARS makes push to expand Collision TV sites - Manufacturer's rep Caruk & Associates has been contracted by CARS to manage the sales of Collision TV, a series of collision repair training programs broadcast by satellite. Collision TV offers courses from PPG, DuPont, BASF, Sherwin Williams, 3M, CAR-O-LINER and I-CAR, plus a broad spectrum of business courses and mechanical repair programs.
• First Notice Systems launches Glass+™ Claim Intake and Administration Solution for P&C Auto Carriers - Unique, fully integrated platform provides compelling alternative to traditional glass network administration providers.
• Production Vehicles with Laminated Glass - The Enhanced Protective Glass Automotive Association (EPGAA) has released the list of production models that make up the approximately 1.3 million vehicles produced annually with laminated glass.
• Most local suppliers safe from Ford cuts - TN: Future massive job cuts and plant closings announced by Ford Motor Co. on Monday are not expected to severely impact the area's automotive supply industry, local industry officials said.
• Learning From Toyota -- Again - While U.S. manufacturers in many sectors have used practices from the Toyota Production System (TPS) to boost performance substantially since the mid-'80s, they have used it improperly, experts say. Instead of embracing TPS as an overarching philosophy, they have used it piecemeal as a toolbox.
• Casey to Join Visteon as Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Tax Officer - Visteon Corporation has announced that Brian Casey will join the company as vice president, treasurer and chief tax officer, effective Feb. 1, 2006. Casey will be responsible for all activities at Visteon related to treasury, tax and mergers and acquisitions.
• Keystone Automotive Operations joins Don Schumacher Racing as associate sponsor - Keystone Automotive Operations, North America's largest distributor and marketer of specialty automotive parts, has partnered with Don Schumacher Racing as an associate sponsor on all nine DSR teams for the 2006 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
• Ford Explorer And Mercury Mountaineer Earn NHTSA's Highest Crash Test Ratings - Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer have earned the government's highest rating, five stars, in the New Car Assessment Program frontal and side impact crash test for drivers and passengers.
• Ford shakes up sales operations - Firm announces reorganization of its North American marketing team as it tries to end market share slide
• GM, Ford woes could bite Chrysler next - Despite gain in sales, profits in '05, No. 3 Chrysler isn't clear of problems facing its Detroit-based rivals.
• BMW Night Vision to become available in March - It's a gadget worthy of 007 himself. This March, BMW will make its Night Vision technology available for the 5 Series Sedan, 5 Series Sports Wagon and the 6 Series Coupe and Convertible.
• Cooper Tire completes deal for Chinese tire maker - Cooper will acquire 51 percent of Cooper Chengshan Passenger Tire Co. The deal also includes part ownership in a steel cord factory in China.
• Goodyear Completes Acquisition of South Pacific Tyres - The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company said today it has completed the previously announced acquisition of Ansell Limited's interest in their South Pacific Tyres (SPT) joint ventures.
• Goodyear Tires Named Consumers Digest 'Best Buys' - The February 2006 issue of Consumers Digest showcases the best tires on the market, as rated by the magazine's editors, and products from The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company take top billing in three of the five rated segments.

• CCC Enhances its Mobile Electronic Replacement Claim Connection - Agreement with First Choice Solutions will provide CCC's insurance customers with vendor options to address mobile electronic replacement needs.
• CAPA Applauds ASA in Calling for Full Disclosure of All Aftermarket Collision Repair Parts Used in Vehicle Repair in California Assembly Bill 1852 - The Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA), applauded the Automotive Service Association (ASA) in calling for full disclosure of all aftermarket collision repair parts used to repair vehicles in its recent release regarding California AB 1852 an important consumer protection legislation encouraging high quality competition in auto repair parts.
• Universal Technical Institute, Inc. Schedules Fiscal 2006 First Quarter Earnings Release and Conference Call - Universal Technical Institute, Inc., a provider of technical education training, announced today that it will hold a conference call on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time (3:00 p.m. Phoenix time) to discuss first quarter financial results, operating performance and business outlook.
• Lear posts big quarterly loss on charges - Auto parts maker Lear Corp. on Wednesday posted a $596.6 million quarterly net loss, pressured by impairment and restructuring charges, production cuts on key vehicles and higher materials costs.
• Used Car Buyers Beware: Flood-Damaged Cars Are Coming; Auto Club Joins Insurance Commissioner Garamendi to Warn Consumers Against Buying Flood-Damaged Vehicles - The Automobile Club of Southern California joined California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi today to warn local car buyers about the danger of purchasing used vehicles damaged by flood waters during last year's Gulf Coast hurricanes.
• Affordable Car Repairs Help Seniors- The Opposite Will Drive Seniors Out Of Their Cars - Whether they're on the road to retirement or already living on easy street, America's seniors depend on their cars and trucks. Yet trend watchers say many seniors may soon lose the right to decide where to have their vehicles repaired.
• Woman sues Ford over air bag safety - An Arlington woman is suing the Ford Motor Company, contending that she was blinded in one eye when an air bag deployed in a 2001 accident.
• PPG eliminates 27 jobs in Springdale - PA: PPG Industries on Monday eliminated 27 chemist and technical support jobs at its Springdale plant, the company confirmed. -- Company spokesman Jeff Worden said about 500 production and research-and-development workers are still employed at the coatings and resin plant that was opened in 1947.
• Subaru B9 Tribeca and Forester Rank High in Safety Ratings - Subaru B9 Tribeca Receives 4-Star Rollover Resistance Safety Rating from NHTSA -- Subaru Forester Earns Top Rating from IIHS for Rear Crash Protection
• Michigan Autoworkers Yearn for Buyouts as GM and Ford Struggle - A generation of Detroit autoworkers hired during the 1970s is approaching retirement age just as the manufacturing empires built by General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. are unraveling.
• Ford: Explorer era nearing a close - Main SUV plant will shut under broad plan to idle 30,000 workers, darken 14 plants
• Court OKs Toyota land sale - Ruling clears way for automaker to buy 690 acres near Ann Arbor to expand its technical center.
• US lawmakers say carmakers need hand, not bailout - Michigan lawmakers, responding to proposed plant closings and up to 30,000 job cuts at Detroit-based Ford Motor Co, pressed the Bush administration on Monday for changes in trade and tax policy to help U.S. automakers better compete with overseas rivals.
• Testing chief kept safety at forefront of auto industry - He’s the man the car companies used to love to hate. But now he’s retiring, and they’re all gathering around to sing his praises.
• OSHA Offers New Guidelines to Help Reduce Motor Vehicle Crashes - Employers and employees who use motor vehicles for work purposes stand to benefit from new guidelines developed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Network of Employers for Traffic Safety.
• Junkyard bill to be recycled - A plan to require state licensing and environmental regulations for auto salvage yards in South Dakota was junked Tuesday in the Legislature when an industry spokesman said there are too many loose ends that must be tied.
• Fire guts Foster auto body shop - Firefighters will work with a state police fire marshal to determine the cause of a blaze that gutted an office area and damaged garage bays at a Foster Township auto body repair shop Monday night.
• Farmers Insurance Group Fined $1 Million in Settlement - Farmers Insurance Group has been fined $1 million following settlement negotiations about how the company handled consumer claims.

January 24, 2006

• Alex Sun Promoted to President of Mitchell International - Mitchell International, a leading provider of information and workflow solutions to the automotive insurance claims and collision repair industries, today announced the promotion of Mr. Alex Sun to the position of President. Prior to his promotion, Mr. Sun functioned as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Mitchell while also taking on a much broader role and strong leadership in the day-to-day operations of the company.
• Keystone Automotive Announces Resignation of CFO; Fiscal Third Quarter Results To Be Issued January 26 - Company Expects Record Fiscal 3Q Sales and Earnings; Orderly Transition Anticipated
• British Press Speculates on Pilkington, Nippon Deal - According to press reports, the board of directors of UK glass manufacturer Pilkington has privately backed a 2.2 billion-pound ($3.9 billion) cash offer for the world's largest maker of car windshields from Nippon Sheet Glass Co.
• NSG, Pilkington deal weeks away - Japan's Nippon Sheet Glass is unlikely to agree to buy Pilkington Plc for several more weeks as it continues to plough through the glassmaker's books, sources familiar with the situation said.
• AASP/NJ Announces NORTHEAST 2006 Leadership Conferences - The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ) has released its educational seminar schedule for the association¹s flagship event, NORTHEAST 2006. Thousands of industry professionals will make their way to Suffern, New York the weekend of March 24-26 to see the latest in industry Innovation, Technology and Training.
• I-CAR Gold Class Professionals Businesses Earn 15 Years - An elite group of only nine businesses has qualified as Gold Class Professionals for 15 consecutive years, with one more just around the corner of its fifteenth anniversary!
• CCAR Releases Information Regarding Flood Damaged Vehicles From Hurricane Katrina - The Coordinating Committee for Automotive Repair (CCAR) has put together a document that highlights the concerns for working with vehicles that have been damaged by flood waters, specifically those vehicles from the New Orleans area.
• Foundation Launches Careers In Collision Repair For Kids Web Sites - The I-CAR Education Foundation announced the launch of a series of web sites designed to bolster the collision industry's recruitment effort by providing a single resource to help interest and inform students and their parents about the challenging careers available in the collision repair industry.
• Chip Foose, creator of "Overhaulin" to Speak at CAA 1st Quarter meeting - Award winning auto designer Chip Foose will be the featured luncheon speaker at the California Autobody Association's 1st Quarter meeting on February 18th at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim.
• Shop Profile: McElroy Auto Body - Shop owner Bill McElroy has survived more than 33 years in the business, since his purchase of a fixer-upper ’55 Chevy at age 15 piqued a lifelong interest in car repair. This past spring his shop, McElroy Auto Body in Bensalem, Pa., celebrated its 30th year of business.
• Snow means business boom for body shops - NY: Fender benders keep repair workers busy.
• Industry self-management plan takes shape - The details of a plan for collision industry self-management and a national database of training records were unveiled at the Canadian Collision Industry Forum last weekend in Mississauga.
• Right of repair - Consumers deserve options to fix their cars
• Junkyard owners avoid purchase of damaged cars - TX: Hurricane-racked autos 'good for nothing'
• UnitedAuto Updates Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2005 Guidance - United Auto Group, Inc., a worldwide automotive retailer, today announced that it was updating its fourth quarter and full year 2005 earnings guidance. The Company currently estimates earnings in the range of $0.62 to $0.67 per share for the fourth quarter and $2.51 to $2.56 per share for the full year 2005.
• Treasure Hunting for Auto Parts - That hard-to-find part you need is out there somewhere. Here are some of the best ways to find it.
• Findlay native founded vehicle parts company - OH: Philip D. Gardner, the founder of Findlay Industries, a major supplier of door panels and other interior trim to the automotive and heavy truck industry, died yesterday in his home here after a brief illness.
• Fix Ford with better trucks and cars, not just job cuts - Corporate overhaul needed to stave off future layoffs
• Ford banks on hybrids, small cars, jazzy designs - Executive hammers home idea Ford products have to be 'clear, relevant and distinct.'
• DCX reorganization to cut 5,000 jobs - Chrysler will be mostly spared as CEO Zetsche slashes salaried jobs across several divisions.
• Automotive supplier plans Lincoln plant - A Brazilian company plans to build an automotive seal and gasket plant near Lincolnton, with the project expected to grow to an $18 million operation with 200 employees.

January 23, 2006

• Top secret Ford plan: Recyclable vehicles - Piquette Project aims to 'fight Toyota and everybody else and come out on top.'
• GM Designs Intelligent Cars - As more devices in the automation industry become more intelligent, why not a car? General Motors is developing cars that see other vehicles the driver can't or doesn't. Using vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, the car can detect the position and movement of other vehicles up to a quarter of a mile away.
• Ford Fights Back - Ford Motor Company announced details of a comprehensive plan to restore profitability to its automotive business in North America no later than 2008.
• White-collar layoffs will start this week - Ford Motor Co. will begin laying off thousands of white-collar workers in Dearborn and around the country this week as part of the company's North American restructuring plan, according to people familiar with the situation.
• 'Black Monday' looms over Ford's future - Ten plants, 25,000 jobs ride on Bill Ford's 'Way Forward' strategy to be announced today.
• Ford to drop 1,700 suppliers, keep 800 - Ford Motor Co intends to cut the number of its suppliers around the world to around 800 over the next few years from about 2,500 now.
• New painting strategy cuts time in shop - Panels removed and painted separately from body shell
• LYNXSelect Managed Collision Repair Announces 3000 Shop Milestone - PPG Industries announced that the 3,000th repair shop has joined its national managed collision repair program LYNXSelect. Busker's Body Shop, located in San Angelo, Texas, is the most recent facility to join the program.
• Smart Marketing - Autobodyonline: by John Yoswick -- Smart marketing involves more than just advertising. The right publicity and promotional efforts – some of which will cost you little or no money – can be just as effective as advertising in helping you “get the attention you deserve.”
• Hobby becomes life's work - Little Henry is back home. -- Neglected and in need of some tender loving care, but back home with Del Clausen — the auto artist who customized a broken down 1931 Model A Coupe into a national show car.
• Colorado Legislation Introduced to Strengthen Anti-Steering Legislation - Bill Smith, of Workers Compensation in Colorado, announced that Colorado House Bill 1006 has been introduced to try to “instate more accountability for steering violations.” If passed, the bill would further legislation already in place making it illegal for insurance companies or insurance agents to recommend a shop or store to use for glass repair or replacement.
• Laminated Group Pursues Education Goal - Announcing the increased number of vehicles with laminated sidelites at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Mike Sanders, Enhanced Protective Glass Automotive Association (EPGAA) president and director for DuPont Automotive Safety Systems, stated, "It is the goal of the EPGAA to educate the industry and consumers on using laminated glass in applications other than windshields.
• Automotive Blindspot Technologies Set to Take Off - "Radar technologies will underpin the development of blindspot monitoring systems," said Asif Anwar, a director of the Strategy Analytics. "Lower-cost approaches such as optical solutions will provide competition to radar-based systems."
• Consumers warned of hurricane-damaged cars - Missourians say they bought cars coming from the Gulf region.
• Supplier execs stress vital need to be fast and flexible, offer ideas to address problems - It's tough being an auto supplier these days.
• Small windows and other auto design trends threaten driver visibility - At last check, a car without windows has not yet appeared, but carmakers are trending toward smaller windows that seem to restrict visibility.
• Vancouver man awarded $8 million - WA: In a default ruling against Hyundai Motor America, Superior Court Judge Barbara Johnson rebuked the automaker for failing to disclose seat-back failures in similar cases across the country. A retrial on the case, which resulted in an $8 million jury award in 2002, was to have started on Monday.
• Attorney that Won Major Lawsuit Against Ford Motor Company to Appear on CNN - Brad Lakin of The Lakin Law Firm will appear on tonight's broadcast of Anderson Cooper 360. Lakin won a $43 million verdict on behalf of his clients against Ford Motor Company, in a car fire case that caught the attention of the nation last April.
• Shifting burden off of insured - Two Kansas senators want to toughen punishment for driving without insurance.
• Measure Seeks Curbs on Insurers - CA: A leading consumer advocate presses an initiative that could compete with a ballot proposal offered by an industry executive.

January 20, 2006

• California Parts Bill Harms Consumers, Repairers - More Parts Burdens Shift to Collision Repairers
• ADP Claims Services Group Acquires 100 Percent Interest in Stellix Body Shop Management System from Akzo Nobel - ADP and Akzo Nobel today jointly announced that ADP has acquired 100 percent of Business Management Services, LLC, a joint venture. ADP and Akzo Nobel formed Business Management Services to create Stellix(R), an industry-leading automotive shop management system.
• PPG Reports Higher Glass Sales, Lower Profits - PPG Industries has reported fourth quarter net income of $113 million on sales of $2.51 billion, a record for any fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter 2004, PPG reported net income of $183 million on sales of $2.41 billion.
• Vitro Honored as Top Supplier by General Motors - Vitro was honored by General Motors with a special recognition for its outstanding performance and contribution to GM's product excellence during 2005 in a ceremony held January 12, 2006 at the North American International Annual Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan.
• Leaving poverty: Free cars, but no free ride - A car giveaway is one of the most dramatic perks of a community program intended to lift Des Moines residents out of poverty, but Circles of Support organizers and participants acknowledged Wednesday that the road to financial independence has been much bumpier than they imagined.
• Classic cars more than a hobby for Monmouth man - For Allen Crain, classic car restoration is more than a hobby: it's a lifestyle. -- Crain just finished restoring a 1970 Dodge Charger RT. The work was done at Snyder Auto Body, owned and operated by Gary Snyder.
• Robert P. “Bob” Wolf Sr. - NJ: Mr. Wolf, 54, of Oceanport, died Jan. 8 at home. Born in Long Branch, he resided in Eatontown 20 years, prior to moving to Oceanport 12 years ago. He was an auto body mechanic at Royal Collision, Freehold. Prior to that, he owned A & B Auto Body, Eatontown, for several years.
• When It Comes to Car Crashes, It's ``About Time'' - Managing The Accident Claims Process Yourself Can Take Days - Now It Takes About 15 Minutes, Thanks to a New Level of Service from Progressive Available to Oklahoma City Drivers -- Progressive is the first group of insurance companies to take responsibility for the entire claims repair process, even if you're not insured with them - the time-saving service is also available to drivers who are involved in a claim with a Progressive customer.
• Grieving Families Urge Ford to Install Fuel Tank Shields on Town Car, Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis - Families, Ford Settle Lawsuits Arising From Three Sisters' Fiery Deaths
• Ford restructuring may end minivans - In an attempt to exit unprofitable and flagging markets, Ford Motor is expected to say Monday that it will get out of the minivan segment, according to two sources familiar with the plan who didn't want their names used ahead of the official announcement.
• Chairman of GM cared about Detroit - Murphy had 42-year career in auto industry; former UAW leader calls him compassionate. -- Retired General Motors Corp. Chairman and CEO Thomas A. Murphy, who opposed the federal bailout of Chrysler Corp. and was instrumental in building the Poletown plant in Detroit and Hamtramck, died Wednesday in Boynton Beach, Fla.
• NADAguides.com and GEICO Announce Exclusive Partnership - NADAguides.com a leading vehicle information website, today announced a partnership with GEICO, the nation's fourth largest private passenger auto insurer.  With this partnership, GEICO becomes the exclusive provider of automotive insurance for millions of NADAguides.com consumers looking to insure their new or used car, truck, van or SUV online.
• Attorney General Cautions Floridians Against Flood-Damaged Vehicles - Attorney General Charlie Crist has issued a consumer alert cautioning Floridians against buying used vehicles that may have been flood-damaged by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. As many as 600,000 vehicles throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida may have been affected by the storms and are now being shipped to other states by auto wholesalers.
• Allstate settles 'nonstandard' class action - Allstate Insurance has settled a Madison County class action suit over its treatment of drivers who formerly bought high risk insurance from "nonstandard" insurers.
• Allstate Presents $547,000 Donation to Red Cross - The donation for the national Hurricane Relief Fund was presented by Allstate Regional Vice President Hank Barge to Angie Turner, CEO for the San Gabriel Pomona Valley Chapter of the ARC, and Chris Johnson, Communications/Government Relations Officer for the ARC Pacific Services Area.
• Progressive's Lewis Honored as Insurance Leader of the Year - About 1,000 insurance professionals gathered at New York's Marriott Marquis hotel to honor Peter B. Lewis, chairman of automobile insurer Progressive Corp., as Insurance Leader of the Year at the annual award dinner.
• Drive Insurance from Progressive Unveils Redesigned Web Site for Independent Agents and Brokers - New Web Site Provides Access to Most Important Features in Two or Fewer Clicks

January 19, 2006

• AMI Credit Now Available for CCC Pathways(R) Collision Estimating Training - Participants completing either the CCC Pathways® Estimating Solution New User or Advanced User Training sessions are now eligible to receive up to 14 credits from the Automotive Management Institute (AMI). The relationship between CCC and AMI marks the first time AMI has given credit for training offered by an estimating software provider.
• ABRA Auto Body & Glass Promotes Krohn to Senior Vice President of Operations - ABRA Auto Body & Glass, a national damaged vehicle repair company, announced today the promotion of Scott Krohn to the position of Senior Vice President of Operations. Krohn will manage all collision and glass operations, and will be an integral part of ABRA's strategic planning and executive committees.
• Insurance and training speakers headline CCIF Mississauga meeting - The upcoming Canadian Collision Industry Forum meeting in Mississauga January 21 will feature a number of guest speakers, including George Cooke, president and CEO of the Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company, and Tom McGee, president and CEO of I-CAR International. CCIF holds four meetings per year in various cities across the country, which bring together representatives from many segments of the collision repair industry.
• Exit Planning: Time to Set Sail? - In today’s tough economic climate buying and selling of businesses has become quite the familiar practice. This certainly is true in the collision repair market, where pressures from outside forces have made it tough to operate year-in and year-out.
• Jergens Auto Body under new ownership - After 30 years of being owned by someone in the Jergen's family, Jergen's Body and Alignment is now owned by veteran employee Jon Hotovec.
• Auto Body Toolmart increasing presence by one-third - Auto Body Toolmart bought a nearly 6-acre site near Randall and Big Timber roads in Elgin. It has hired ICE Realty Group and TCB Development to build it a 60,000-square-foot building to serve as a corporate headquarters and distribution center. Auto Body is consolidating sites in Cary and Sun Valley, Calif. ... Increasing its presence by one-third.
• Certification ensures clean practices - A business located south of Powell River has become the area's first environmentally certified auto recycler.
• Collins & Aikman exploring survival options - Collins & Aikman Corp., the auto parts supplier in bankruptcy protection, said on Wednesday that it will stick to a dual strategy to emerge from bankruptcy either as a whole or it will break up and sell its units to prospective buyers.
• Parts makers: Change or die - Suppliers urged to deal aggressively and realistically with car industry challenges.
• Autoliv Honored with GM Award - Autoliv, the worldwide leader in automotive safety systems, was last week among ten companies to be honored at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit by General Motors for "Outstanding Performance". The award recognizes "a supplier's performance in quality, cost, launch and delivery, as well as contributions to production and concept vehicles".
• Auto parts plant to close - GKN Sinter Metals will close its plant on Centennial Street by September as part of a corporate restructuring plan for its North American plants, company spokeswoman Kristyn Godlew said Tuesday.
• Lawyer tapped to lead highway safety agency - President Bush has nominated Nicole Nason, an assistant secretary in the Department of Transportation, to be the next top federal auto safety official, the White House announced late Tuesday night. -- Nason, who has a law degree from Case Western Reserve University, will oversee final stages of new rules on vehicle roof strength.
• Nader Blasts U.S. Automakers for Inattention to Safety - Calls Federal Safety Regulators "Consulting Agency to Detroit"
• Ford offering to pay for college for some laid-off NJ workers - Ford spokeswoman Marcey Evans said Wednesday that the company began offering the tuition reimbursement program for the first time last week to idled workers at its plant in Edison, N.J., which closed in 2004. Ford also plans to offer the program to laid-off workers at a plant in Lorain, Ohio, which closed in December.

January 18, 2006

• FTC Supports Independent Enforcement Program for Aftermarket-Car Company Disputes - The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reiterated its support of a third-party enforcement program that would resolve disputes between aftermarket companies and the car manufacturers in a letter sent to Representatives Joe Barton (R-Texas), chief sponsor of the "Right to Repair Act" and Cliff Stearns (R-Florida), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.
• GM, Ford woes keep Lear under pressure - Lear Corp.'s assertion that it expects improved earnings in 2006 has not improved credit investors' view of the auto parts supplier as troubles at U.S. automakers continue to weigh on Lear's spreads.
• Adding More 'Show' to the 'Go': Dodge Re-Introduces Performance Nameplate and Classic Exterior Color on 2006 and 2007 Dodge Charger Models - A pair of names familiar to many automotive enthusiasts are again part of the Dodge performance lineup with the return of the Super Bee nameplate for the 2007 Dodge Charger SRT8 and the "TorRed" exterior color for the 2006 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T.
• Advance Auto Parts Launches New Online Consumer Education Section; Vehicle Maintenance, Gas Saving Tips Available in Print And Video - The new section educates vehicle owners through hundreds of pages of new print and video on a wide variety of topics, including how to save gas, safe driving habits and step-by-step instructions on how to fix and maintain vehicles.
• Nationwide Offers Customers Ability to Monitor Vehicle Repairs Online - Customers can now monitor their damaged vehicle repairs online through Nationwide AutoWatch -- a cutting edge, Internet-based software tool offered by Nationwide Insurance. AutoWatch is currently being piloted in multiple states and may be rolled out as an optional service in the coming months.
• Insurance Auto Auctions Announces Significant Enhancements to I-bid LIVE Product; Company's International Bidding Activity Continues to Grow - Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc., a leading provider of automotive salvage and claims processing services in the United States, today announced the introduction of several significant enhancements to its I-bid LIVE(sm) product - the company's Internet-based tool that allows buyers to join live auctions through any Internet-enabled computer and bid along with both live local bidders and other Internet bidders.
• State Farm makes changes to its auto damage service programs - State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is initiating changes in its auto damage service repair programs. Designated markets in California, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan will test an agreement that will replace existing Service First® and Select Service® programs in those markets. This program will carry the Select Service name.
• New Vision for Crash Repair - UK: The New Year brings with it a watershed for the crash repair industry, with 2006 seeing the development of a new Kitemark scheme, arguably the most important industry initiative for over a decade.
• Body Shop Owner Shot Twice During Robbery - AL: Owner Known For Helping Others
• The 21st Century Automobile - Want state-of-the-art safety gear? Top-notch performance? The latest electronic gizmos? Here's what auto makers are offering up
• Towing Company May Face Charges For Vanishing Cars - IL: Rodriguez says he is upset about the condition he found his car in after a towing company moved it from the parking lot of his apartment complex. He says it was stripped and ransacked.
• The Sherwin-Williams Company Increases 2005 Sales and Earnings Expectations - Based on stronger than anticipated preliminary sales and earnings results, The Sherwin-Williams Company is updating its expectations previously given on October 25, 2005 for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2005.
• PPG Breaks Ground on Taiwanese Coatings Application Plant for Fasteners, Small Parts - PPG Industries has begun construction of a facility in Taiwan that will apply the company's electrocoat and dip-spin coatings to fasteners and small parts. The PPG-owned facility will operate under the name Alltech Engineered Finishes. -- The plant will coat parts for construction, industrial, electronics and automotive applications. 
• Raising the quality of automotive interiors - New innovations in in-mould decorating to be explored.
• Delphi seeks 'soft landing' for workers - The CEO of struggling automotive supplier Delphi, who has been prone to publicly ripping the union cost structure he blames for much of the company's woes, said Monday the company is hoping to find a "soft landing" for many of its workers as they face stiff cuts in pay and benefits.
• Dana loses nearly $1.3B - Auto parts maker's shares tumble 20% as continuing slump in industry takes its toll.
• Hyundai dumps chief of U.S. unit - In second high-level shake-up, South Korean automaker taps Korean exec to lead the brand.
• Billionaire Buffett visits Tucson call center to laud workers - Billionaire investor Warren Buffett visited Tucson on Monday to deliver ice cream bars to Geico employees whose local call center led the company in sales growth in 2005.
• Zurich Financial Services pulls out of US auto insurance unit sale - European banking and insurance services provider Zurich Financial Services has pulled out of a deal to sell its US-based auto dealer insurance business to Hellman & Friedman because final details could not be agreed.
• Don't You Quit - AutoInc: Before burnout happens, flameout occurs. "Flameout" is when the fire/desire for what you are doing is not burning as brightly as it once did. The good news is that you can avoid "flaming out" by taking a few simple steps.

January 17, 2006

• Mitchell Hosts Collision Industry Council Database Task Force at Corporate Headquarters - Mitchell International, a leading provider of information and workflow solutions to the automotive insurance claims and collision repair industries, recently extended an invitation to the Collision Industry Council (CIC) Database Task Force to visit Mitchell's corporate headquarters to learn firsthand how Mitchell develops its comprehensive vehicle parts and labor database, and to participate in a frank discussion about issues impacting the collision repair industry.
• Body Shops - Canada: Sam Mercanti has a passion for bodies -- the ruined kind with four wheels -- Carstar Automotive Canada has grown from seven Hamilton-area locations owned or franchised by Mercanti in 1994 to 112 franchises in 10 provinces across Canada today. The projection is to have 200 locations within five years.
• Certified Automotive Parts Association Endorses Consumer Protection Legislation Introduced in the California Legislature - The Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) has endorsed groundbreaking legislation to increase consumer protections in collision repair that was introduced by California Assembly Members Chavez, Yee, and Maze. AB 1852 increases consumer protections while opening the California marketplace to high quality and competitively priced generic certified collision parts. This bill aims to educate consumers to avoid overpriced repairs in the complicated automotive collision repair process that involves insurers, body shops, and the car companies.
• Keystone Automotive Industries Receives Recognition From Frost & Sullivan for Market Leadership - Frost & Sullivan's recent analysis of the U.S. Automotive Collision Parts End-User market selected Keystone Automotive Industries, Inc. as the recipient of the 2005 Market Leadership of the Year Award. According to Frost & Sullivan's surveys, Keystone was the number one supply source choice in all collision repair product categories in 2005 on a National basis.
• Report Says Pilkington, Nippon Still in Talks - The world's largest maker of windshields is still in talks that may lead to an offer from Nippon Sheet Glass Co., according to a report in the London newspaper Financial Times, citing people it didn't identify.
• PPG Presents Design Awards - From glass doors to glass fronts, backs and tops, winning entrants in an annual automotive design competition see glass as the material that offers distinctive styling that makes vehicles unique while providing flexibility, enhancing safety and making the ride fun.
• Some auto suppliers expanding biz - New plants, spending mean global industry is strong
• Delphi's Miller expects deal - Chairman says company seeks settlement with workers on benefits, wages, rather than in courts.
• Group 1 Automotive Announces Lexus and Toyota Acquisitions - Group 1 Automotive, Inc., a Fortune 500 specialty retailer, today announced it has acquired Lexus and Toyota franchises in Manchester, N.H., and relocated its Fort Bend, Texas, Toyota franchise into a new state-of-the-art facility. The company also announced that it has completed its stock repurchase program under its current board authorization.
• Show highlights expansive and shifting U.S. market - A bumper crop of cars and trucks of all types makes this one of the richest and most inspiring Detroit auto shows in years.
• Luring Toyota plant takes time, relationships - As more automotive manufacturers have drifted south, traditional automotive strongholds like Ohio and Michigan aren't shoo-ins for factories.
• Monro Muffler Brake, Inc. Announces Record Third Quarter Sales and Earnings - Monro Muffler Brake, Inc. a leading provider of automotive undercar repair and tire services, today announced record financial results for the third quarter ended December 24, 2005.
• Allstate's flurry of choices puts policy in your hands - Allstate has been advertising its Your Choice Auto Insurance as the company rolls it out. The program launched in Oregon in December 2004, and it will be available in 36 states as of Jan. 30, including New York. Letters about the program will be sent to customers now with Allstate Insurance Co. as policies come up for renewal. They, like new customers, will be able to buy the packages as of Jan. 30.
• N.Y.'s $5M in Grants to Combat Auto Theft, Insurance Fraud - The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services has awarded more than $5 million to 29 law enforcement agencies in 16 counties throughout the state to support local programs to combat motor vehicle theft and prevent insurance fraud.
• Wash. Anti-Fraud Auto Insurance Bill Wins Committee Approval - A key legislative committee this week amended and passed legislation in Washington that is designed to assist consumers injured in intentional "road rage" collisions - and protect insurers against auto insurance fraud, reports Kenton Brine, northwest regional manager for the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI).

January 16, 2006

• Deep dents need professional care - An expert explains how dents are repaired.
• Deer collisions a real danger for Northwest Arkansas motorists - Mike Gall, owner of Country Club Auto Body in Fayetteville, said is shop has been unusually busy in 2005 with vehicle damage caused by collisions with deer. "2005 was a record year for us," Gall said. "We had three just this past month. Most were when the deer ran into the car. It’s good for business, as long as no one gets hurt."
• Sam’s Auto Body owner opens Isuzu dealership - NY: Salvator “Sam” Vigliotti, owner of Sam’s Auto Body, has opened an Isuzu commercial-truck dealership at 1115 W. Genesee St. The dealership, Syracuse Isuzu Trucks, Inc., is located near Vigliotti’s auto-repair shop on Syracuse’s “Automobile Row.” 
• School is among the first to train hybrid mechanics - This fall, students at community college in Macomb will learn to fill a growing repair void.
• To the Extreme - Watch sales grow by making a positive lasting impression -- Nicastro's firm developed a three-step direct mail campaign, targeted at 300 collision repair businesses, selected on the basis of market value. The effort lasted six weeks and cost CSi $4,000.
• Collision repair industry welcomes subsidized staffing project - Canada: In response to the collision repair industry's reported problem of finding qualified staff/apprentices that are both affordable and familiar with their type of work, a new pilot program has been introduced.
• Safelite Group Announces Senior Management Positions - Safelite Group, the auto glass repair, replacement and claims management segment of Safelite, has announced the promotions of three members of its senior management team.
• Reflections of the way cars used to be - Don't count on seeing poodle skirts and hula hoops anytime soon. But another '50s icon, cars jeweled in gleaming chrome, is making a comeback.
• Insiders poke, probe and peer at competitors' newest efforts - Auto show's Industry Preview Days draw thousands of auto suppliers
• Bankrupt plant still mulls its future - The 700 employees who work at the Collins & Aikman automotive fabric plant will have to wait awhile longer to see what the bankrupt company's plans are for its Person County operation.
• Rooting against China syndrome - The Geely 7151 CK sedan will have a new name by the time it comes to market in the United States, possibly because Geely is pronounced "Jeely" and it reminds everyone of "Gigli," a very bad movie starring Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez.
• Japan's new cars may hurt the Big 3 - Competition's faster turnover, younger autos may drive U.S. vehicle makers' decline further.
• Chrysler aims to catch Asians by '07 - CEO says automaker will lower time it takes to make vehicle by 6 hours to narrow gap with rivals.
• First Floridian Changes Brand to Travelers of Florida - First Floridian Auto and Home Insurance Company, a personal lines subsidiary of St. Paul Travelers, today announced that the company will now be branded as Travelers of Florida, effective immediately.
• Insurers' System for Rates Varies - California's biggest auto insurance companies use a variety of factors to set rates, and no two are exactly alike in how they weight them. Industry officials say the various risk-weighting practices show the industry is highly competitive, with each plan custom-designed for the mix of policyholders in each company's customer pool. -- The entire system, however, would be overhauled under California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi's proposal to require compliance with Proposition 103.

January 13, 2006

• Olsen's Auto Body boast largest paint booth in area - MO: Olsen who has been doing body work for 26 years boasts the second largest truck paint booth in the state, it is the largest in the area. The next closest paint booth of comparable size is located in the Kansas City or Springfield areas.
• PPG offers tips to keep paint at optimum performance during winter - During the colder winter months, technicians should be aware of the effect lower temperatures can have on paint system components. PPG Industries offers the following reminders regarding paint performance during the winter months.
• Mitchell to Enhance Re-Key Solutions - Mitchell International, Inc., a leading provider of information and workflow solutions to the automotive insurance claims and collision repair industries, continues to offer free, proven, re-key solutions to UltraMate® users.
• Campfield Files Motion for Reconsideration - Rich Campfield, owner of Ultra Bond Inc., has filed a Motion for Reconsideration of Order Granting Summary Judgment in the case of Campfield and Ultra Bond v. State Farm and LYNX Services, which recently was dismissed by Judge Robert Blackburn in the U.S. District Court of Colorado.
• You Can Make a Difference in Automotive Repair Policy - Know what the "roots" in "grassroots" is about. Here are some tips for contacting your representatives in Washington and making your views known on automotive service and repair issues.
• OEM Web Sites: Overcoming Your Greatest Fears - If you have not been using OEM service information Web sites as a "go to" resource for servicing cars, you may need to reconsider. More and more ASA members are discovering the value of these Web sites.
• PPG Auto Glass to Acquire Distribution Assets of Independent Glass Distributors - PPG Auto Glass, a consolidated affiliate of PPG Industries, has agreed to acquire certain assets of the wholesale distribution network of Independent Glass Distributors, a subsidiary of privately owned Iowa Glass Depot. Terms were not disclosed.
• NWRA Hires Management Company - NWRA has hired Key Communications Inc. to provide management services for the association, effective January 1, 2006.
• Glass Maker Blows Out Bid - Glass maker Pilkington has turned down a takeover approach from its biggest shareholder because it is too low.
• Noble International Announces Executive Appointments - Noble executives Steven A. Prue, Jay J. Hansen and David J. Fallon assume new roles within the Company, effective January 12, 2006. All three executives will report to Christopher L. Morin, Noble's Chief Executive Officer.
• Hitting The Links - MI: Not as much green is going into the registers at the Carstar auto repair on Plainfield. -- "This January is down a little bit compared to last January where we had more snow on the ground and a few more accidents," said Carstar appraiser Steve Sawicki.
• Faurecia supplier to build 6 plants, 3 of them in state - MI: Faurecia SA, Europe's biggest maker of automotive interiors, said Wednesday it will build six new plants this year, including two in Sterling Heights and one in Fraser.
• All-Organic Tuff Buff(TM) Introduced to Lucrative Automotive Market - Source Direct Holdings, Inc. has launched its newest all-organic, waterless wash-n-wax for promotion to all levels of the automotive enthusiasts, including the massive, highly lucrative auto body shop market replacing Pig Spit®.
• DaimlerChrysler AG Recognizes its Outstanding Suppliers of 2005 - DaimlerChrysler AG has honored eight members of its international supply base for their outstanding performance in 2005 at the company's third annual Global Supplier Awards program.
• China now 2nd largest auto market in world after US - More vehicles were sold in China last year than in Japan, making China the world's second largest auto market after the United States with almost six million units shifted from show rooms, a state newspaper said on Friday.
• Your car could be making you sick - Chemicals that settled as dust and film on floors and windows of cars and trucks, especially in hot weather, are found at levels that could pose health problems, according to a study released Wednesday.
• 17 charged in auto fraud scheme - CA: A former claims adjuster, her boyfriend and 15 family members and friends have been charged with a total of 94 felony counts for allegedly joining in an auto insurance scheme that netted $100,000, officials said.