Friday - December 28, 2007

• Platinum Affiliates File Suit Against PPG, Allege Facts about Company Were Concealed - glassBYTEs: Representatives for Project Gamma Acquisition Corp. (PGAC) and 321796 Nova Scotia Company (NSC), which are affiliates of Platinum Equity established in order to make the acquisition of PPG's Automotive Glass & Services unit, say they have filed a complaint against the latter company yesterday alleging that PPG "misrepresent[ed] and conceal[ed] the true facts regarding the financial condition and performance of the company they owned and operated to fraudulently induce [Platinum] to purchase the company at an artificially inflated purchase price." more on glassBYTES.com
• ALLDATA Releases ALLDATA Manage Upgrade - ALLDATA LLC has announced the release of its updated strategic Shop Management System -- ALLDATA(r) Manage(sm) Elite. Formerly called ServiceCenter(sm), ALLDATA Manage is designed to help professional automotive repair shops increase productivity and profitability.
• Doug Reinke receives PPG/ASE Master Refinish Technician of the Year award - Doug Reinke, of Imperial, Nebraska, was awarded the PPG/ASE Master Refinish Technician of the Year Award at ASE’s annual Board of Directors Industry Awards Dinner held in Scottsdale, Arizona, on November 12, 2007.
• ASA Introduces Convenient Desktop Search - The Web-based tool provides shop owners and industry professionals with immediate access to products and services catered specifically to their needs.
• I-CAR quick links available - bookmark them on your computer - Are you looking for quick links to the I-CAR training required and recommended by OEMs? If so, click on the below links and you are there.
• Local technicians offer tips on winterizing autos - People aren’t the only ones that find it hard to start on a cold morning.
• Leading Manufacturers Head To Indy For SEMA Spring Expo and SEMA Offroad - Registration for SEMA Spring Expo and SEMA OFFROAD, February 8–9, 2008, in Indianapolis, is in full swing and available for attendees online by visiting www.semaspringexpo.com and www.semaoffroad.com.
• SEMA SHOW ’nuff said - There were more than 130,000 dealer and exhibitor attendees at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show this year, up from 2006. The number of dealers attending was up five-fold compared to four years ago, according to SEMA.
• 1-800-Radiator Acquires JMAC Radiator and Air - 1-800-Radiator, an auto-parts distribution franchise and the largest independent auto parts distributor in the nation, announced the purchase of JMAC Radiator and Air, one of the
  most advanced air conditioning distributors in the US.
• Ford Working With Chinese Suppliers To Improve Workplace Standards - Ford Motor Company says it has delivered another record year in China, not only in terms of sales, but also with the ongoing introduction of a pioneering program that helps improve the standards and working conditions of companies in its supply network.
• Autos' year of living dangerously - New money entered the industry in 2007, and life will never be the same again.
• Serbia will sell carmaker - Serbia's only carmaker and producer of the much-maligned Yugo will be sold next year, the government said Thursday.
• Crash tests focus on children - Ford prototype looks at abdominal injuries to 6-year-olds
• Volvo voluntarily recalls trucks - Volvo has initiated a voluntary recall of 125,000 heavy-duty trucks in North America because of a fire hazard.
• Authorities Bust Vehicle Theft Ring in Lehigh County - PA: Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin has announced the end of a two-month investigation that has resulted in the arrests of five teenagers for operating a burglary and vehicle theft ring in Lehigh County.
• Auto thefts down in county, state - Car theft is on the decline in Ohio by nearly 10 percent, but Ohio still ranks in the top 10 states for vehicle theft, according to reports from the Ohio Insurance Institute and the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
• MPI releases top auto frauds -They say truth is stranger than fiction -- look no further than Manitoba Public Insurance's top five frauds for 2007.
• Complaints Against State Farm - California targeted State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. in 2001 when 60 consumers complained that it didn't pay on policies or sent them to auto body shops that bungled repairs, department records show. (11th brief down on page)
• 'Where they are now' part II: Nebraska Director of Insurance Ann Frohman - Former North Platte resident Ann Frohman is the first woman to be in charge of the Nebraska Department of Insurance.

Thursday - December 27, 2007

• Spot Welding In the Same Spot Twice - I-CAR: If there is one nearly universal rule when squeeze-type resistance spot welding during collision repair, it is to not make a repair spot weld over an original spot weld. But there’s an exception to every rule, and the exception to this rule concerns some weld-bonded panels.  
• Here Comes More Change! - How many people, companies, groups and/or organizations have you seen mentally and emotionally paralyzed because they refused to face and implement the changes that were necessary for growth?
• Doing Right Thing Makes Shop 'Unique' - "Aside from specializing, what makes us unique really shouldn't," says Stephen Keller, AAM, CMAT, who owns a highly successful shop in Easley, S.C.
• Ford Pushes Vehicle Recycling To Protect The Environment - Roughly 85 percent of each Ford Motor Company vehicle is recyclable. What's more, Ford is working with Chrysler and GM through the United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR) and its Vehicle Recycling Partnership to raise that number to as close to 100 percent as possible.
• Auto Corrosion - So, how does that sand and salt mixture really affect your vehicle?
• Press Release, Interrupted - glassBYTEs: "The owner of the company that issued the press release, Mark Carpenter of Dings Plus Windshield Repair, wrote to me last Friday (right after the blog was published) to advise that the statistic actually came from Grand Junction, Colo.-based UltraBond." -Penny Stacey
• Hella, Behr Hella Service to Market Visteon Products in Europe - Hella KGaA Hueck & Company, one of the world's largest companies selling automotive aftermarket parts and accessories and Behr Hella Service will partner with Visteon Corporation to sell aftermarket lighting, air-conditioning and engine-cooling components in Europe beginning in January 2008.
• Auto-parts supplier is set to exit Chapter 11 - Federal-Mogul could end bankruptcy today
• Bankruptcy Court Confirms Dana's Plan of Reorganization, Paves Way for Fundamentally Improved Company to Exit Chapter 11 in January - Dana Corporation announced today that Judge Burton R. Lifland of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York has signed an order confirming the company's Plan of Reorganization.
• China Automotive Systems Announces Plan to Acquire 36.5% of Henglong Automotive Parts Company - Upon Completion, China Automotive Systems' Ownership Will Increase to 81%
• Chinese merger sets global target - China's top carmakers join forces, hoping union will make them stronger in the world market.
• GM makes comeback with 2008 models - The restructuring of GM’s management is paying off in world-class vehicles.
• Auto recalls up more than 25% - But many problems in '07 were with older models, indicating that newer vehicles are more reliable.
• Ford Goes Green Inside - A growing social consciousness has elevated sustainability from trend to lifestyle in less than a decade, driven by waning natural resources and global security concerns.
• State has deer in its headlights - One in 99. Those are the odds a Wisconsin driver will strike a deer in the new year.
• Insurance Bills to Become Law Jan. 1, 2008 - Sacramento, CA:  During the regular 2007 legislative session, a number of property/casualty insurance-related bills were considered and approved by lawmakers.

Wednesday - December 26, 2007

• Saints for Nicholas: Mother, Make-A-Wish, body shop make teen's dream come true - ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. - Nicholas Cruz knew little or nothing about Make-A-Wish Foundation prior to being diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma a little more than a year ago.
• Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes contributes $5,000 to the I-CAR Education Foundation to support the collision industry - Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes Corporation contributed $5,000 in November 2007 to support the mission of the I-CAR Education Foundation. The contribution to the Education Foundation Industry Partners Annual Fund will support many Education Foundation programs that promote and enhance career opportunities in the industry.
• I-CAR and California Collision Repairers give back - I-CAR program instructor Toby Chess led the effort to bring a happy and toy-filled Christmas to the families of Marines deployed overseas. Chess and a group of collision repairers raised approximately $8,000 to supply families with over 600 toys and 32 bikes at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, CA.
• Former I-CAR CEO to speak at upcoming zone conferences...register today! - Jeff Silver, former I-CAR CEO, has graciously agreed to attend all three U.S. Zone Conferences where he will speak about the values that propelled I-CAR to the industry's forefront in training. 
• Car Repair Shops See Near-Record Business - OMAHA, Neb. -- Body shops in Omaha report near-record business after a 9.2 inches of snow has fallen before winter even officially starts on Saturday.
• Customized coffee truck brewing - When work in collision repair started to slow for Kevin Whited, he took it as a sign to start doing what he really wanted with his life.
• Which Auto Collision Center Should I Use - Next to your home, your car is the second largest investment you will make.
• UK standard for collision repair shops receives insurance sector support - A recent survey shows that a majority of insurance companies and accident management companies in the United Kingdom fully endorse the collision repair industry standard Thatcham BSi Kitemark (PAS125).
• Meet glassBYTEs.com's Newest Blogger: Joel Timmons - Joel Timmons, president and founder of Profitable Glass Solutions Ltd., in Dayton, Ohio, will begin authoring a blog in January 2008 for glassBYTEs.com.
• Taylor Calls on SAE to Extend Deadline for Comment by 60 Days - Cindy Rowe Auto Glass treasurer Dave Taylor has requested that SAE committee chair John Turnbull extend the deadline for comments on proposed SAE Z26 changes by 60 days.
• The people speak: Congress should pass the Right to Repair Act - The Motorcycle Riders Foundation has declared its support of the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act (HR 2694) and strongly urges Congress to pass the legislation in order to safeguard individual vehicle ownership rights.
• College ranks high in auto tech - WHITTIER, Ca. - Rio Hondo College has received the highest level of certification from a nationwide agency for its Honda PACT program, which trains students in Honda auto technologies and allows them to intern at dealerships while earning course credits. 
• This year's car color palette is good enough to eat - or drive - Here's a sneak peek at how some car manufacturers are making their color palettes more appealing to consumers
• Dana settles dispute on $32.5M tax refund - Toledo auto-parts maker Dana Corp. will retrieve most of the $32.5 million tax refund it says was wrongfully withheld from the company when Affinia Group Inc. acquired some of Dana’s operations in Canada in 2004.
• Penske Automotive and Rallye Motors Mutually Agree to Terminate Agreement - Penske Automotive Group, Inc., an international automotive retailer, said today that it and Rallye Motors have mutually agreed to terminate the previously announced agreement to acquire Rallye Motors by Penske Automotive Group.
• Q&A: Hot-Rod Legend Chip Foose Becomes a Brand - While he was weaned into the car world on the chemically invigorating scent of fuel and the hot-rod flash of sharp fenders, hot-rod legend Chip Foose hasn’t let himself be pigeonholed into the car game.
• Toyota to cement top spot in 2008 - Toyota Motor Corp will charge further into emerging car markets to achieve another year of record sales in 2008, likely cementing its title as the world's biggest automaker ahead of General Motors Corp
• Higher fuel efficiency standards signal rough road for steel - The energy bill President Bush signed last week mandating tougher fuel-economy standards sent a simple message to automakers: lighten up.
• New fuel laws may drive business to Houston - Automakers will likely look to area plastics industry to meet increased mileage standards
• GM recalls 313,000 vehicles worldwide - General Motors Corp. recalled more than 313,000 Saturn, Pontiac and Cadillac vehicles around the globe to fix a rear-axle seal that may leak and cause the cars to lose control and crash.
• Crash test videos available on Web - Car shopping? Maybe you should go to the videotape.
• Auditor Reminds Insurance Companies That Consumers Choose Shop - A Michigan-based insurer received a $230,000-fine by the state Department of Insurance for failing to make sure agents were licensed and appointed to sell policies in Connecticut.
• AG putting up roadblocks - The winner of a growing turf war between Insurance Commissioner Nonnie Burnes and Attorney General Martha Coakley may turn out to be Massachusetts drivers. After all, the skirmish appears to center on which one can deliver the lowest auto insurance rates.

Friday - December 21, 2007

• Give Thanks! - "If you are reading this, Thanksgiving is in your rear view mirror and Christmas is just around the next corner. It is the perfect time of the year to take stock in our lives." -- Article by Denny Janisewski, AASP-MN Associate Division Director
• Present comes on wheels - IL: Stacy Urbanowicz is the 2007 recipient of a free car, courtesy of several local businesses including Insurance Auto Auction and Collision Concepts.
• Car giveaway brings hope to Mikle family - TX: The car giveaway is part of the Acoat National Benevolence Program and Responsible Parenting Award. This is the ninth year Bates Custom & Collision has given away a free car during the Christmas season.
• Single mom receives badly needed car - “Here’s a young lady who needs some help,” said Dave Driggers, co-owner of Riley and Sons Collision Center, the company that provided the 1997 Chevrolet Lumina for Eckert. “She’s trying to raise a kid, trying to go back to school, trying to better herself.”
• Shops give car, hope to single mother - CA: Novato Toyota and Crebassa’s Auto Body in San Rafael, have made a difference without breaking the bank, thanks to an innovative program that is harnessing the power of car shops across America.
• Body shop gives woman free car - AR: Fort Smith woman is the proud owner of a new car given to her by a local body shop. Actually, it's a car that was refurbished by Medley and Son's auto-body in Fort Smith.
• Provo company helps one mother get back on track - with a car - UT: After months of hitching rides and riding the bus to work, therapy and doctors' appointments in Salt Lake City, Giles was given a 2005 Ford Taurus Thursday from Duane's Auto Wrecking in Orem, complete with red bows across the top.
• Bates' car giveaway brings hope to Baytown mother - TX: In its ninth annual car giveaway, Bates Custom & Collision of Baytown (BCCB), presented its Responsible Parenting Award for 2007 to Romeisha Simmons.
• Former Allstate Employee Sentenced for Tax Evasion - glassBYTEs: In the original complaint filed by the U.S. attorney in August, Groebner, who once served as an auto damage adjuster for Allstate, is alleged to have demanded and received approximately $60,000 in cash payments from three owners of body shops in the Chicago area, in exchange for the body shops to remain on Allstate's PRO shop list and to receive the same volume of referrals from the company.
• AASP-Minnesota proposes shop licensing legislation - The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers, Minnesota (AASP-MN) has developed a proposal for licensing collision repair shops that it hopes will address the disparity between shops that have made an investment in staff and equipment and those that have not.  
• AASP-MN Receives Akzo Nobel CIAI Endowment - Akzo Nobel, along with the Advisory Council of the Collision Industry Advancement Initiative (CIAI), has announced the fall of 2007 endowment recipients and the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers, Minnesota (AASP-MN) is among their ranks.
• Survival of the Fittest: 2007 'How's Your Business?' Survey Results - Collision: With 2007 coming to a close, the Automotive Service Association is estimating minimal growth in the collision industry, from 36,793 shops in 2006 to an estimated 36,805 in 2007. (AutoInc)
• Survival of the Fittest: 2007 'How's Your Business?' Survey Results - Mechanical: For 2007, there are an estimated 78,567 independent general mechanical service businesses in the United States. (AutoInc)
• Fox Collision hits a wall - Todd Fox's failed collision repair chain moved a step closer to a bankruptcy filing this week. Wichita auctioneer Bud Palmer said he's been hired by bankruptcy attorney Ed Nazar to liquidate 17 of the company's 18 body shops across the Midwest.
• Spot-welder producer grows here - Spokane, WA: ARC Manufacturing, a growing company here that manufactures welding units for the automotive collision-repair industry, has expanded into larger quarters and plans to hire more employees in the coming year.
• Ice-Related Accidents Create a Pile Up at Auto Body Shops - All the freezing rain and ice meant dents and dings for lots of Eastern Iowa vehicles this month. So it should come as no surprise that auto body shops are now swamped
• AutoInc. Announces Shop Photo Contest - The first featured category is "Best Waiting Area," and the deadline is Feb. 4, 2008.
• UniFirst Offers Uniform Discounts to ASA Members - The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has announced a new member benefit agreement with UniFirst Corporation, a work wear and textile services company that will provide ASA members with a nationally priced service program for uniforms, career apparel and associated facility services.
• Pre-Register for an Upcoming I-CAR "Glass" Program Today - glassBYTEs.com - Pre-register for an upcoming I-CAR Live Movable Glass (GLA01) and/or Stationary Glass (GLA02) class today.
• Earl Scheib Announces Operating Results for the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2008 - Earl Scheib, Inc. reported its results for the second quarter and six months ended October 31, 2007 of the fiscal year ending April 30, 2008 (“fiscal 2008”).
• PPG Industries and Kansai Paint Expand Alliance in Europe to Include Hungary - PPG Industries and Kansai Paint have expanded their alliance, known as PPG Kansai Automotive Finishes (PKAF), to include the sale of automotive coatings to Japanese-owned or operated original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in Hungary. The business was transferred from a previous venture between Akzo Nobel and Kansai Paint.
• Performance Coatings Opens Spies Hecker Training Center - Spies Hecker, a brand of DuPont Performance Coatings products used in the automotive collision repair industry, recently opened a new training center in Cologne, Germany.
• BASF Coatings expands waterborne basecoat production - A ground-breaking ceremony on Thursday, December 20, 2007, marked the start of work on the expansion of production and lab capacities at BASF Coatings' Würzburg site.
• LINE-X(R) Spray-On Truck Bedliners Ranked #144 of Top 500 Franchises in Entrepreneur Magazine's 29th Annual Franchise 500(R) Report - LINE-X(R) Awarded 'Best in Category' for Fourth Consecutive Year
• Ford, UAW settle lawsuit - Ford Motor Co., two related companies and the United Auto Workers will pay $1.6 million and provide other relief to settle a race discrimination lawsuit, a federal agency said Thursday.
• Angry OnStar Customers Count Down To Shutdown - The network that launched the U.S. wireless industry with brick-sized -- and brick-heavy -- cell phones 24 years ago will switch off in most of the country next year, leaving a surprising number of users in the lurch.
• Allstate Makes Finding the Right Auto Policy Easy - Two new user-friendly online tools cater to auto insurance shoppers
• Md. Insurance Administration fines Allstate 750K - The Maryland Insurance Administration fined national insurance provider Allstate Insurance Co. $750,000 Thursday for failing to give consumers adequate notice or any notice of policy coverage changes and increases in auto insurance premiums.

Thursday - December 20, 2007

• Pickup is fixed up as surprise for soldier - OK: Patriotism comes in all colors. One of them is basic black.
• Car gives mom of 3 fresh start - KS: Mary Jo Nickelson received a car Wednesday at Auto Craft Collision Repair, 10760 W. Kellogg, through Harbor House, a shelter for victims of domestic violence run by Catholic Charities in Wichita.
• Distinctive Auto Body restores car and more - MA: Claire Crawford was having trouble believing her eyes when she saw what Distinctive Auto Body had in store for her on Monday.
• Sherwin-Williams Contributes $5000 to I-CAR Education Foundation - Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes Corporation contributed $5,000 in November 2007 to support the mission of the I-CAR Education Foundation. The contribution to the Education Foundation Industry Partners Annual Fund will support many Education Foundation programs that promote and enhance career opportunities in the industry.
• Mobile Painters vs. Body Shop Painters - Body shops look at mobile painters as the enemy, stealing precious work away from them. But realizing the benefits these painters offer could change their perspectives.
• Questions about State Farm's newest test - As the industry's largest annual event, the International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE), wound down last month, another huge event began on Nov. 5. I ask you to keep this date in your memory as it may do more to change our industry than any other recent event. This date marked the beginning of State Farm's new parts procurement "tests" in San Diego and Indianapolis.
• How ASA Formulates Legislative Policy Positions - The Automotive Service Association has an inclusive, democratic process for developing state and federal regulatory and legislative policy. After decades of policy development, ASA members enjoy a process that allows for the review and exchange of ideas with democratically elected volunteers.
• More Congressional Support for 'Right to Repair' Legislation - As Congress approaches its holiday recess, the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act (HR 2694) gained two more supporters, it was announced today by Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA).  Reps. Dennis Moore (D-KS) and Michael Honda (D-CA) have joined a growing list of the bill's sponsors.
• How to judge auto repair shops - It's your responsibility, not your insurance company's, to find a reliable auto repair shop following a collision, according to the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.
• Fire destroys Hendricks Co. business - IN: An auto body repair shop was destroyed by fire in Stilesville Tuesday afternoon.
• Dow's Jentoft Clarifies Recent News, Says Adhesive Business Remains Unchanged - glassBYTEs: In the wake of the announcement that Dow Automotive is exiting the automotive sealants business in North America, Latin America and the Asia Pacific, Phil Jentoft, commercial manager for the aftermarket, took the opportunity to speak with glassBYTEs.com™/AGRR magazine about the changes and to clarify that the aforementioned exit does not affect the company's aftermarket or glass bonding (auto glass adhesives) businesses.
• Universal Technical Institute Announces Departure of Chief Financial Officer - Universal Technical Institute, Inc. , a provider of technical education training, today announced that Jennifer L. Haslip, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary, will be leaving the Company on or about March 31, 2008.
• Campbellsport Library introduces auto repair reference Web site - WI: The library's new Auto Repair Reference Center, a new online auto repair site, allows users to look up parts and repair information for thousands of makes and models.
• Galpin Auto Sports Builds Special Warriors In Pink Mustang to Give Away - The “Galpinzied” Warriors in Pink convertible Mustang features custom pink rally stripes over black paint with a Warriors in Pink logo hand painted on the back. 
• Ex-GM exec's firm to buy W. Mifflin plant - General Motors Corp. has a deal to sell its metal stamping plant in West Mifflin, which will save jobs at a factory the automaker had designated for closing this year, local union officials said Tuesday.
• Group 1 Automotive acquires three dealerships - Group 1 Automotive has reported that it has expanded its luxury and import offerings in its eastern region by acquiring Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen franchises in Georgia and South Carolina in US.
• Nissan link being considered - Chrysler LLC and Nissan Motor Co. are considering some sort of partnership, Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn told reporters in Brazil on Wednesday.
• GM Says Tougher Emissions Regulations Could Bring an End to Muscle Cars Like New Corvette - When General Motors Corp. pulls the cover off a new supercharged version of the Corvette at the Detroit auto show next month, it will unveil a performance car designed to rival or better even the fastest, most expensive exotic cars from Europe.
• 57 mpg? That's so 20 years ago - Want to drive a cheap car that gets eye-popping mileage? In 1987 you could - and it wasn't even a hybrid.
• House Moves to Boost Auto Safety - Congress moved closer to passing its first significant auto safety measure since 2005, focusing on the safety of children in and around cars. The bill requires the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to create a database of deaths and injuries of children in nontraffic accidents and to consider toughening regulations to prevent children from being accidentally injured or killed by power windows.
• 2008 rate filings of 8 insurers approved - MA: Commissioner, AG at loggerheads over industry's projections

Wednesday - December 19, 2007

• Hurricane survivor receives new set of wheels for Christmas - Christine Celius is a car owner. That may not be unusual for most people, but to Celius, a survivor of Hurricane Katrina, the car is an answer to her prayers. -- She had been walking two miles round trip to work until she received the gift of a 1996 Honda from White Auto Body.
• Town pitches in to make widow's holiday special - When Claire Crawford's 1991 Ford Taurus broke down earlier this year, she thought the professionals at Distinctive Auto Body would make the necessary repairs to get her back on the road.
• Single mothers’ jobs made easier with ‘new’ vehicles - Collex Collision Experts in Clinton Township partnered with the Traffic Safety Association of Macomb County to bring five cars into near perfect condition and present them to single mothers who are trying to make a better life for their families.
• Glen-Merritt Collision ~ CSN Provides a Vehicle for a Family in Need - St. Catharines, ON - What began in 2004 as a part of the Akzo Nobel Sikkens Acoat selected National Benevolence Program has flourished into much, much more.
• Keystone and LKQ Support NABC Recycled Rides Program - Keystone Automotive Industries and LKQ Corporation recently participated in the NABC Recycled Rides Program, a nationwide vehicle donation program which provides safe and reliable vehicles to families in need.
• PPG Canada and Keystone Announce New Partnership - PPG Canada Inc. and Keystone Automotive Industries have announced a new preferred vendor partnership. The partnership gives the PPG CertifiedFirst network of collision repair centres access to the full package of Keystone products and services.
• Body shop can't work at Butler site - MO: Crestwood aldermen got some cheering from residents at a meeting last week when they turned down Schaefer Autobody's request for permission to operate at the former Jim Butler Chevrolet site. The city may also get a lawsuit out of the decision.
• Suit Filed Against Four Major Manufacturers for Price-Fixing in Federal Court - glassBYTEs: John Draper of Draper's Auto Glass in San Bernardino, Calif., has filed a class-action suit alleging price-fixing against Guardian Industries, Pilkington Plc, Saint Gobain Glass Corp. and Asahi Glass Co. and all their subsidiaries in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
• Glass Emporium Owner Denies Allegations - glassBYTEs: Mehrdad "Tony" Hakimian, owner of the Oakland, Calif.-based company and its subsidiaries, Glass Pro and Glass Masters, denies the allegations that he and his employees conspired to commit fraud and committed wire fraud, according to his attorney, James Bustamante of Jackson Square Law Offices.
• Speedy's landlord to run repair shops - Canada: Court gives Forum Leasehold Partners go-ahead to purchase assets of struggling auto repair firm
• Transition to recognize - In a few weeks, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) will quietly move into a new phase.
• Pick-N-Pull Completes Rollout of Radiant Systems Retail Solution - Leading recycled auto parts retailer benefits from Radiant retail software, hardware, and services
• BASF Coatings offers finish care tips for cold weather - Modern automotive finishes have to withstand heavy-duty impacts.
• Metzeler Automotive acquires GDX - Two Oakland County automotive suppliers are dropping their old names and picking up a new one following a merger that creates a larger enterprise.
• Auto sales outlook gloomier - Suppliers, dealers, state brace for tougher 2008
• Tickets and Sponsorships Still on Sale for 2008 AutoGlow! Benefitting the Children's Center - The Children's Center is one of the largest, most diverse and comprehensive frontline child-serving agencies in Michigan, addressing the needs and problems of some of the most troubled children in the United States. 
• G.M. to Start Another Round of Buyouts and Seek Cheaper Labor - General Motors said Tuesday that it would begin another round of buyout offers that would allow it to begin hiring new workers for significantly less pay.
• Acura RL Sedans Recalled - Honda has recalled 43,200 Acura RL sold in the U.S. because of a faulty power steering hose that could crack, leak fluid onto the catalytic converter and cause a fire.
• Huh? 2007 Tire Shipments to be Up - With the year almost at an end, the Rubber Manufacturers Association now predicts that overall tire shipments in the U.S. will be up “slightly” in 2007 vs. 2006.
• New Smart Tire Senses Damage, Increases Safety - A new type of "smart" tire developed by a Purdue University professor is able to sense damage when a tire goes flat or loses treads, making it safer for road travel.
• Japan To Introduce Vehicles With New Accident Prevention System - Aside from developing eco-friendly car models, a new challenge facing Japanese automobile manufacturers is to produce vehicles that can avoid accidents. New cars with accident prevention systems using state-of-the-art technology will roll out soon.
• Insurers complain ads from Toyota incite fraud - The amusing ads suggest that drivers eager to buy a new Toyota should dump their old car by pushing it off the roof of a parking garage, dropping a steel beam on it, or chopping down a tree so it falls on the vehicle. In one ad, a family works together to roll a boulder off a cliff onto their car.
• Okla. Gov. Estimates Ice Storm Damage Will Exceed $200M - Winter storms are nothing new for Steve Kennedy in his work as a claims supervisor for Farmers Insurance. He'd never seen anything quite like this week's deadly ice storm in Oklahoma.
• J.D. Power and Associates Reports: The Time it Takes to 'Get Things Right' Considerably Impacts Auto and Homeowners Insurance Claim Customer Satisfaction - When filing an insurance claim, the time it takes to repair the damage has a major impact on homeowner and auto insurance customer satisfaction, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Insurance Claims Study(SM) released today.
• J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Farmers Insurance Recognized for Call Center Customer Satisfaction Excellence for a Third Consecutive Year - This distinction acknowledges a strong commitment from Farmers' HelpPoint claims call center operations to provide "An Outstanding Customer Service Experience."
• Insurance Prices to Fall in '08 - Prices for most types of property and casualty insurance are expected to fall in 2008 for the first time since World War II, as a weakening economy and heightened competition hold prices down everywhere except along coastal areas that are exposed to hurricanes.

Tuesday - December 18, 2007

• AASP Expands Mitchell 1 Member Benefits - The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP) has expanded its member benefits to provide an increased cost-savings opportunity from Mitchell 1’s electronic, printed and business performance service offerings.
• California Autobody Association (CAA) adds UpdatePromise.comSM as new benefit company - CAA members will receive special pricing on UpdatePromise.com services.
• Buying Time: How to Put More Hours in Every Day - AutobodyOnline: How often do we say to one another: I just wish there were more hours in the day? Well, there can be. When you use Project Management techniques to your advantage, you can be singing the Rolling Stones classic, Time Is on My Side.
• Glass Emporium Owner and Employees Charged with Insurance Billing Fraud - glassBYTEs: The owner of Glass Emporium of Marin Inc. (GEMI) and three of his employees have been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and committed wire fraud for inflating prices of windshields when billing insurance companies and billing for un-used parts, such as mouldings, on a variety of insurance jobs
• Restoration of Chevys gives Shelbyville man more drive - A high-energy man, Boarman and his team of auto body mechanics worked to restore the automobile that suffered from its abandonment.
• More than just auto repair - CT: When R.T. Coachworks closed, it left customers lamenting the loss of a place to gather and meet friends
• Taking road less traveled brings special challenges for non-traditional students - "I went through exploratory and was infatuated with (collision repair). I loved being able to take a flat piece of metal and turn it into something or fix a wrecked car," said Rachel Fonseca, who recently won a $5,000 scholarship in a national essay contest sponsored by the I-CAR Education Foundation, in conjunction with Akzo Nobel Coatings Inc. and The Most Influential Women of the Collision Repair Industry. 
• Snowfall dents motorists' wallets - Minor accidents – 446 in Toronto alone – result in major bills before Christmas
• China to counterattack on anti-dumping issue - China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) plans to build pre-warning system in automotive industry and widen monitoring scope towards auto parts manufacturers next year, aiming to help domestic companies deal with anti-dumping investigations launched by foreign countries, a Chinese source reported.
• AISI to Participate in Future Steel Vehicle, a New Global Steel Industry Research Initiative - The project, Future Steel Vehicle, will develop steel auto body concepts that address alternative powertrains, such as advanced hybrid, electric and fuel cell systems.
• BASF donates $1,000 to Chattanooga’s Kids on the Block - Educational ‘puppet program’ addresses disabilities, social concerns
• Chrysler LLC Reconnects Military Families for the Holidays - In celebration of the holidays, Chrysler LLC has partnered with the Freedom Calls Foundation to provide families in southeast Michigan the opportunity to reconnect with family members serving on active duty in Iraq.
• What Lies Ahead For Auto Industry In the New Year? - Eco-Cars, Boomers Are on Car Makers' Minds
• Database tells officers if stopped vehicle is insured -The chances of El Paso drivers getting busted for driving without insurance will increase dramatically starting next year.

Monday - December 17, 2007

• PPG to buy bodyshop distribution business from Unipart - PPG Industries Inc said it would acquire the bodyshop distribution business of Unipart Automotive through a European subsidiary to strengthen its presence in Europe.
• The 12 Cars of Christmas - You've heard of the 12 Days of Christmas. A local church is teaming up with two businesses in sponsoring the 12-Cars of Christmas. -- Crossbridge Church along with 19th Street Auto Sales and Professional Auto Body are giving away a car a day between now and Christmas eve.
• ICBC Signs Five-Year, Exclusive Agreement with Audatex for Estimating and Total Loss Solutions - Under the terms of this agreement, ICBC will migrate its entire material damage staff and c.a.r. shop VALET collision repair partner estimating systems to Audatex's next generation platform, Audatex Estimating(TM). In addition, ICBC will continue to utilize Autosource(R), Audatex's total loss vehicle valuation tool.
• National Auto Body Council Annual Golf Outing - 12pm, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008, Palm Springs, California
• Repair shops busy after snow - NY: Thursday's snowfall began around 10am and was pretty much done by rush hour, but not before dumping up to 6 inches in some spots and wreaking havoc for motorists Thursday afternoon.
• When Deer Are Busy, So Are They - NY: If every good business has a niche, then Ted’s Auto Body’s is deer hits.
• Precision key to success of auto repair company - Shop works to stay on top of changing technology
• People in business - CA: Dave McGuire, general manager of Perrigo's Auto Body, reports the shop earned an award for customer service from AutocheX, a performance management service in the collision repair industry. (Third brief down)
• No reindeer needed - Tacoma,WA: Students in the school’s auto collision repair and upholstery classes have spent the past three months helping transform the Sheriff’s Department van.
• Big Daddy's Collision Center committed to quality service, professional repairs - The staff at Big Daddy's Collision Center wishes you and your family a Happy Holiday and a prosperous and safe New Year!
• Snow Covers Midwest; Keeps Shops Busy - glassBYTEs: As snowstorms have pounded the Midwest this week, many auto glass shops have seen an array of effects—from power outages in their own facilities to an upswing in business.
• Eight Out of Ten Links - "Last Wednesday, December 5, we ran a link to a story with the following headline: 'National Statistics Show 8 Out of 10 Windshield Replacements Fail to Be Installed Properly—Making Windshield Chip Repair the Safest Alternative.'" —Penny Stacey
• Perth Amboy shop's cars are film stars - When the Will Smith movie "I Am Legend" opened this weekend, Central Jersey viewers might have wanted to pay attention to the vehicles used in the film in addition to the plot and special effects.
• Watertown man's Harleyhaulin' Caddy scores a calendar spot - A Watertown man who rehabilitates old cars has gotten one of them on the 2008 calendar of a national auto paint company. --  It was one of 13 vehicles chosen from a pool of 600 to be on the calendar made by PPG. 
• Classic cars reborn - They may look old, but the vehicles are new custom-built versions of iconic models such as the Camaro and Mustang
• A Rock Star’s Rebirth - Carlos Ghosn made history saving Nissan. Then the company stumbled. Now he's trying for a comeback.
• Toyota recalls 15,600 Tundras - Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling 15,600 of its new Tundra pickup trucks to fix a rear driveshaft that could separate, causing the wheels to stop turning.
• Auto thefts decline statewide - That news might mean a drop in auto insurance rates for Ohioans.
• Going the extra mile  - A Lodi insurance company went the extra mile and gave one month's free auto insurance to a local soldier who received a Purple Heart after being wounded in Iraq.
• State Farm gives United Way $89K boost - Agencies served by United Way received a boost when State Farm Insurance donated $89,760 Friday.
• Insurance agents deal with life after the storm - Tuesday, the Oklahoma Insurance Department declared all 77 counties disasters.  - “My computers are down,” Allstate agent Randy Stansel said. “It’s been chaotic. I’ve not been able to do much. I’m kind of in a state of flux here.” -- “We have increased our business quite a bit,” Dave Swingel of Bob Moore Auto Body Repair said.
• Farmers Insurance Helps More Than Six Thousand People File Claims Following Winter Storms in Oklahoma - Farmers has received more than 6,600 claims as of Friday afternoon.
• State Auto Completes Affiliation with Patrons Mutual of Conn. - Columbus, Ohio-based State Automobile Mutual Insurance Co. today completed its affiliation with the Patrons Mutual Group of Connecticut, which includes both the Patrons Mutual Insurance Company of Connecticut and Litchfield Mutual Fire Insurance Co. With the affiliation, the operating territory of the State Auto Insurance Companies expands to 33 states.
• Cunning Auto Insurance Policyholders Take Insurance Industry for 'Ride' to Tune of Nearly $17 Billion in 2006 - Quality Planning Corporation (QPC), an ISO company, today released its annual Premium Rating Error report, which reveals how devious consumers continue to play a costly role in causing auto premium rating errors.
 
• Insurance companies expand into banking in a big way - Your insurance company is likely handling more than policies these days. Investments, retirement plans, even car loans and checking accounts have been added to some service portfolios as insurance companies expand into the traditional realm of banks.

Friday - December 14, 2007

• Audatex boosts bodyshop performance with the launch of Global Claims Centre - Claims solutions provider Audatex UK has announced the launch of Global Claims Centre (GCC), a revolutionary new claims management and estimating solution which encompasses a suite of new services designed to enable measurable performance improvement for bodyshops.
• The National Automotive Service Task Forces' active agenda bodes well for independent shops - Charlie Gorman, chairman of the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF), opened the NASTF general meeting by reminding attendees that NASTF is a neutral organization.  -- "NASTF has no opinion on Right to Repair (R2R) issues," Gorman said.  "Some statements by people associated with NASTF may not represent NASTF."
• Owensboro Body Shop, fixture for 52 years, is sold: New owner changes name, plans expansion - Owensboro Body Shop, a fixture on West Second Street for the past 52 years, has been sold. -- Jason Frazier, the new owner, has changed the name to Ohio Valley Collision Center. And he's planning several expansions. 
• IL detailer profiled - Owner Dan Bircher of Dan’s Auto Repair & Detailing, says he can handle most anything a customer throws him, according to Journal Gazette-Times Courier.
• Bureau of Labor Offers Auto Glass Wage and Employment Statistics - glassBYTEs: The Bureau of Labor reports that nationally the mean annual wage for automotive glass replacement and repair technicians is $32,050, with a mean hourly wage of $15.41.
• Winter Storm Snarls Traffic in Northeast - David Rose expects to be one of the few beneficiaries of the snowstorm that blasted the Northeast, clogging many of the nation's most traveled roads with fender-benders. -- Rose owns an auto body and repair shop.
• Wake is state's worst in dead deer, dented autos - Wake County again tops North Carolina in deer collisions, a distinction that dates at least to 1999. No county came close to Wake's 922 crashes in 2006, according to the state's most recent count.
• Employees' actions spare car dealership from major fire - WI: A paint booth for Gates Auto Body Shop, located inside the Alphorn automobile dealership, was destroyed.
• Two new managers appointed by EurotaxGlass - UK: The new commercial manager is Richard Gandy, who will be responsible for developing strategy and the firm’s bodyshop and insurance product portfolio direction. -- David Punter has been named as the new key account manager, and will become important in face-to-face dealings with key customers and business prospects related to vehicle repair.
• MWW Automotive Group Opens New Painting Facility "AutoFX" Addressing $15-Billion Recreational Vehicle Industry - MWW Automotive Group, a leading supplier of customized OE accessories for the global automotive industry, announced today that it has begun operations of its new 25,000-square-foot Class A painting facility, "AutoFX," designed for customizing Recreational Vehicle (RV) conversions.
• Bankruptcy judge approves bid rules for Blackhawk Automotive sale - OH: A bankruptcy judge in Youngstown has given auto-parts maker Blackhawk Automotive Plastics the go-ahead to put itself on the auction block.
• Key Challenges and Issues facing the Automotive Aftermarket in China - Demand in China to grow 18.3% yearly through 2011
• Affinia acquires assets of Brake Pro - Affinia Group, a company engaged in designing, manufacturing and distribution of aftermarket components for passenger cars, has acquired certain assets of Brake Pro, under The Companies' Creditors Agreement Act of Canada.
• Ford Names Joe Hinrichs Group Vice President, Global Manufacturing -- Hinrichs also will lead Automotive Components Holdings LLC, the Ford-managed temporary business entity comprised of former Visteon Corp. plants and facilities in the United States and Mexico. ACH is preparing its plants for sale or closure by the end of 2008.
• Groundbreaking planned for Trotwood GM facility; up to 300 new jobs planned - Trotwood officials plan to hold a ceremony Friday to announce the groundbreaking of a $32.5 million distribution facility aimed at bringing 250 to 300 new jobs to the city.
• GM to cut 340 jobs at Moraine plant - General Motors Corp. will lay off 340 hourly workers at its Moraine plant between the end of January through the end of June, company officials said Wednesday.
• 800 workers idled at GM Tonawanda - Lower market demand for General Motors vehicles is being blamed for a one-week layoff of 800 hourly workers at GM's Powertrain engine plant starting Dec. 17.
• Toyota President Jim Lentz Congratulates the U.S. Senate on Passage of Cafe Legislation - The Senate's action is a clear signal to our entire industry that it's now time to move into overdrive to meet these ambitious new national standards.
• California Tailpipe Emissions Law Upheld in Federal Court - A federal district judge upheld a 2002 California law that regulates the emission of greenhouse gases from the tailpipes of cars and trucks.
• Technology is About to Change the Way You Drive, IBM Predicts - IBM anticipates that the way you drive will be dramatically different in five years. The tech giant made the bold prediction in its second annual "Five in Five" forecast, its list of five ways that technology will change people's lives over the next five years.
• Mass. Attorney General Says Auto Rates Higher Under Competition - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley says the state's new managed competition auto insurance system is not lowering average rates for 2008 below what they would have been under the old system where the state set all rates. 
• Allstate’s Parent-Teen Driving Contract: A Gift That Can Save Lives - Teens can give parents the most important gift of the season, and it doesn’t come from a store

Thursday - December 13, 2007

• Maine business development committee halts 'Right to Repair' bill -  After studying the issue for much of this legislative session, the Maine Joint Standing Committee on Business, Research, and Economic Development met last week to make a formal recommendation on whether the so-called Right to Repair bill should be forwarded to the legislature.
• Toy, food drive in Belleville - Collision Plus Auto Body in Belleville, formerly Nick's SOS, and the Belleville Salvation Army have joined together to collect non-perishable food items and new unwrapped toys for needy families. (6th brief down on page)
• Single mom gets car for Christmas - Prince George, British Columbia, Canada: A Prince George single mother of four was given a new lease on life Wednesday when Norgate Auto Body Ltd. officials presented her with a car during their fourth annual benevolence event. 
• Repairers, Akzo Nobel provide cars to needy - Sixty collision centers across the United States and Canada are sharing the gift of transportation with 64 deserving families and members of their communities during the 9th annual Akzo Nobel Sikkens Acoat selected National Benevolence Program.
• Carubba Collision adds seventh location to its repair shop chain -  NY: The newest collision repair facility is at 5788 Camp Road in Hamburg. (4th brief down on page)
• Alberta: Long wait times bring insurers and industry to the table - Collision repairers elsewhere in Canada have watched with a mix of envy and pity as Alberta's overheated economy and rising labour costs have caused frequent backlogs of collision repair work.
• LKQ plans further expansion in Canada - Although the acquisition of aftermarket parts supplier Keystone Automotive Industries Inc. gave LKQ Corp. a much greater presence in Canada, the U.S.-based recycler has further plans to fill out its national network.
• BZA OK's Salvage Yard For West Side - IN: A salvage yard will move into the west side of town.
• AA Midwest Breaks Ground for New Auto Recycling Facility - Company's Blue Island, Illinois Location Will Help Fulfill Export Market Demands
• BUS reports its results for the second quarter of fiscal 2008  - The Company launched its flagship product BUS Manager(TM) in the second quarter and installed its first 20 licenses. The Company also continued to market its BUS Controller(TM) solution and BUS Connector(TM) software to Quebec industry leaders in segments related to the automobile insurance claims industry, namely insurance companies, collision repair groups, franchisors and other key players.
• Fines for Price-Fixing to Remain within the EC; Saint-Gobain Expects Auto Glass Sanction - glassBYTEs: The European Commission (EC) fined four glass manufacturing companies—Asahi Glass Co., Guardian Industries, Pilkington (part of the NSG Group) and Saint-Gobain— EUR 486.9 million (approximately USD 719.2 million) for price-fixing on November 28.
• Dear Mr. Nader - "I saw a thread posted on the glassBYTEs.com™/AGRR magazine forum suggesting that perhaps Ralph Nader could be persuaded to look into some of the issues that plague our industry." —Neil Duffy
• Ending design protection for car parts - The European Parliament adopted a legislative report backing a Commission proposal to end design protection for spare car parts and other machinery components. 
• U.S. Adds Duties to China-Made OTR Tires - The U.S. Department of Commerce has opted to impose countervailing duties – at least initially – on new OTR tires imported from China, saying the makers of those products benefited financially from Chinese government subsidies.
• Polk Appoints Mark Seng, Vice President - Aftermarket and Commercial Vehicle - In this role, Seng will be responsible for the profitable growth of the Commercial Vehicle and Aftermarket business units in North America and strengthening the group's expansion into the commercial vehicle and global aftermarket industries.
• Honda to introduce new Pilot - Honda Motor Co. will unveil a prototype of the next-generation Pilot at the North American International Auto Show to be held in Detroit in January, the automaker announced this morning.
• Volkswagen of America, Inc. to be Renamed Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. - New name describes company's wide array of individual brands; reflects collaborative approach
• GM leads race for car, truck of the year awards with 4 vehicles - Amid all the bleak news for Detroit's automakers, General Motors Corp. can at least take solace that its revived vehicle lineup is resonating with critics.
• Doug Fox embraces auto industry changes - For Ann Arbor car dealers, the business of automobile sales may be changing more today than ever.
• Gas Station Pumps Wrong Fuel, Knocking Cars Off Road - FL: Filling his car's gas tank last week turned into a nightmare for Chris Fernandez.
• Judge rejects auto industry suit over state emission standards - A federal judge is putting the brakes on an auto industry lawsuit against the state of California.
Progressive Distributes November Results - The Progressive Corporation today reported the following results for November 2007
• QuoteBoss.com: a New Website for Online Insurance Quotes, Information - The website is designed to help insurance buyers find local insurance providers and choose a policy according to their insurance needs.

Wednesday - December 12, 2007

• Posters Ensure Consumers Know Their Rights - This week, Insurance Commissioner Thomas R. Sullivan sent posters to auto repair shops throughout the state informing consumers of their rights regarding auto repairs and arbitration.  
• Christian Brothers Opens 49th Store in Expanding Houston Market - Christian Brothers Automotive Corporation (CBAC), one of the nation’s leading full-service automotive service franchise organizations, announced the grand opening of their newest facility in Missouri City , TX, located in the Houston area.
• Auto Body Shops Busier Now - ND: It can happen to the best of drivers...a trip out that seems simple and harmless ends in an accident and trip to the body shop.
• ABRA Auto Body & Glass to Sponsor Girls' AA Hockey Tournament - ABRA Auto Body & Glass, a national damaged vehicle repair company, announced their sponsorship of the ABRA AA Holiday Tournament December 27-29 at the Minnesota Made Rink located at 7300 Bush Lake Road in Edina.
• Trans America Glass Network Partners with Windshields.com - glassBYTEs: Trans America Glass Network is pleased to announce that we have partnered with Windshields.com for our cash referrals.
• NOVUS Glass Celebrates 35 Years of Innovation - glassBYTEs: This year, NOVUS Glass celebrates its 35th anniversary. The notable glass service business shares how the business has grown from its small beginnings in 1972 to the successful franchise company it is today.
• Strong, stylish truck rack a hit - Retiree produces new attachment that adjusts to fit nearly any pickup. -- Kramer has designed his rack so it not only is stylish, but adjustable in length and width and thus can fit virtually any mid- or full-size pickup truck, from Ford Rangers to Chevy Silverados and everything in between, and both domestic and foreign nameplates.
• Network Of Auto Salvage Yards Buys U.K. Firm, Sees Global Reach - Willis Johnson is living the dream. After coming back from Vietnam in 1972, he started an auto wrecking yard in Vallejo, Calif. Fast-forward 35 years. Today he sits atop Copart, a vehicle salvage company with a market cap of $3.7 billion. 
• When will we tire of these dull paint jobs? - The annual DuPont automotive paint survey came out this month, and it didn't show anything surprising.
• Akzo Nobel may take steps on top pay - Akzo Nobel CEO Hans Wijers in in talks with the company's supervisory board about freezing executive stocks and options when takeover rumours surface, a company spokesman has confirmed.
• Mansory and Glasurit make gala appearance at the Dubai Motor Show - With the help of Glasurit and the Mehnert Glasurit dealer, Mansory set up a bodyshop as part of the tuning process. The experts provided valuable help for setting up the bodyshop, for the overall refinishing process, and for optimal utilization of Glasurit products.
• Sonic Automotive hires new executive - Charlotte-based Sonic Automotive announced Monday that the company has hired Wesley Pandoff as senior vice president and corporate controller.
• Toyota supplier breaks ground - With a traditional kagamiwari and an exchange of gifts, Toyota Auto Body and local and state officials Monday ushered in the largest initial manufacturing investment in Lee County's history.
• Cars.com steers listings to Yahoo Autos - Yahoo Autos gains access to Cars.com's editorial content
• Auto Industry's 2007 Timeline - Key Dates in the Auto Industry in 2007
• Ford Seeks Jag, Land Rover Buyer That Will Develop Brands - Ford Motor Co. (F) Americas President Mark Fields said Tuesday the auto maker wants to sell its Land Rover and Jaguar luxury-vehicle units to a buyer that will continue developing the brands.
• China's SAIC, Nanjing Auto agree tie-up - sources - Top Chinese car maker SAIC Motor Corp and smaller rival Nanjing Automobile Group have agreed in principle on a tie-up under which Nanjing Auto would own no more than 10 percent of SAIC, two sources close to the talks said on Wednesday.
• Ssangyong Will Introduce New Car to Fend Off BMW - Ssangyong Motor Co., the South Korean unit of China's biggest automaker, plans to introduce a new luxury model early next year to fend off competition in its domestic market from Bayerische Motoren Werke AG and Daimler AG. 
• Chrysler to idle 2 plants, cut shift - Jefferson North shift to end Feb. 4., memo states; buyouts in the works.
• Sting nets more than 20 alleged car thieves - Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota joined by the director of the New York State Insurance Frauds Bureau Frank Orlando, Thomas Lohmann, New York Director of the National Insurance Crime Bureau, and Suffolk Police Commissioner Richard Dormer Tuesday announced the results of a sting operation targeting car thieves on Long island and the New York metropolitan area.
• Pa. Attorney Charged In Insurance Fraud Scheme - Prosecutors said a Main Line attorney is now taking the fall for decades of phony slip and fall accidents that netted him millions.
• Allstate Survey Details Holiday Highway Dangers for Texas Teens - Speeding is the number one reason why police ticket Texas teens during the holiday season. This according to an Allstate Insurance Company holiday teen driving survey of more than 35 police departments across the Lone Star State that shows even seemingly common infractions can be deadly.
• Davis retires as chairman and CEO of USAA - Robert Davis, 61, has decided to retire as chairman and CEO of the United Services Automobile Association (USAA).  -- USAA officials say the organization's board of directors has selected Major Gen. Josue Robles Jr. as the new president and CEO and Lt. Gen. John H. Moellering as chairman.
• N.J. Senate Passes Agent-Friendly Auto Insurance Changes - New Jersey insurance agents would no longer be required to offer auto insurance quotes from all of their companies under a bill recently passed by the state's legislature. 
• Lawmakers Going After Auto Insurance Companies - Car insurance- it's a must have, but it turns out Michigan residents are paying more for their protection than other states in the Midwest.
• Farmers Insurance to present $200,000 to firefighters - Farmers Group Inc. plans to make a $200,000 contribution Thursday to the Cal Fire Firefighters Benevolent Fund at Cal Fire’s annual meeting in Monterey.
• State Farm to modify dress code - Beginning in 2008, State Farm Insurance will be "relaxing" their business casual dress code, which has been in place for almost ten years.

Tuesday - December 11, 2007

• 3M contributes $5,000 to I-CAR Education Foundation to Support the Collision Industry - 3M contributed $5,000 last month to support the mission of the I-CAR Education Foundation. The contribution to the Education Foundation Industry Partners Annual Fund will support many of the products and services provided by the Education Foundation that promote and enhance career opportunities in the industry.
• Gapsch CARSTAR receives award at Mothers Against Drunk Driving Recognition Banquet - The award was presented at the Heroes for Heroes Law Enforcement Recognition Banquet on November 8th, 2007 in St. Louis. The event, entitled 'Salute Our Superheroes', featured acknowledgement of area law enforcement officers and area businesses that made significant contributions to reduce the number of impaired drivers in St. Louis roadways.
• Mitchell 1 Introduces 2008 Mechanical Labor Estimating Guide - Mitchell 1 announces the availability of its 2008 Mechanical Labor Estimating Guide (MLE08), which provides a comprehensive collection of accurate labor times for domestic and import cars, light trucks and vans for model years 1988 - 2008. 
• Identifix Partners With Automotive Service Councils of California - Identifix, one of the nation's premier sources of online and hotline diagnostic and repair information, today announced it has signed an agreement with Automotive Service Councils of California (ASCCA) to introduce Identifix services to all of their 1,350 individual-owned automotive repair facilities in California.
• Getting Your Car Back on the Road - KS: Many vehicle accidents this weekend were blamed on icy conditions, and with another round of wintery weather on it's way throughout the state the road conditions won't be getting any better.
• SAE Z26 of Great Concern for IGA Members - Thanks to the efforts of the National Windshield Repair Association (NWRA), IGA has learned that the Society of Automobile Engineers (SAE), a national automotive standards setting organization has released a new draft of the Automotive Glazing Standard (SAE/ANSI Z26.1) through its SAE/ANSI Z26.1 Automotive Safety Glazing Committee.
• Appeal in Case Against State Farm and LYNX to be Heard in March 2008 - glassBYTEs: A suit filed by Rich Campfield in U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado against State Farm and its glass claims administrator, LYNX Services, will be heard by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in March of 2008 in Denver, according to court documents.
• WNS Assistance Voted Best Accident Management Company - UK: Leading provider of specialized insurance services recognised as a market leader in motor claims outsourcing
• Keystone Automotive Operations' CCR cut to 'B-' on weak opg performance - Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it has lowered US-based Keystone Automotive Operations Inc's corporate credit rating (CCR) to 'B-' from 'B', and senior secured and subordinated debt ratings to 'B' and 'CCC', with a stable outlook, citing Keystone's continued weak operating performance resulting in much lower EBITDA, higher leverage, and much thinner cash flow protection. 
• Global Steel Industry Announces Future Steel Vehicle Research Program - Lightweight Prototype Body Aimed at Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• PPG receives approval from European Union regulators to acquire SigmaKalon from Bain Capital - PPG Industries today announced that its proposed acquisition of SigmaKalon Group from global private