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January 2007
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Wednesday - January 31, 2007

  • Repaired-panel blend: You can reduce labor and material dollars - Today's paint colors and multi-stage paint systems make performing a repaired-panel blend more complicated than with yesterday's lacquer paints.
  • A shine that protects, too - Special coating for vehicles shields paint from damage
  • Collision repair wages to rise, says Labor Dept. - Hourly pay rate rose from $16.93 per hour in 2002 to $18.23 per hour in 2005
  • Auto body shop in business 70 years - NJ: When Joseph Carioti Sr. sailed to America from Calabria, Italy, in 1910, he never thought that the business he would later found would still be going strong today.
  • A son's journey - Son enters father's car in Auto & Cycle Alley at NACE 2006
  • CIC task force renews DRP standards effort - Group hopes to get insurance companies, collision repairers on the same page
  • Keystone Automotive Industries Reports Record Fiscal 2007 Third Quarter Results - Net Income Up 32.1 Percent for Quarter; Same Store Sales 11.4 Percent -- Keystone Automotive Industries, Inc. reported record earnings and sales for its fiscal 2007 third quarter ended December 29, 2006, supported by strong demand for generic replacement parts and the benefits of its strategies to enhance in-stock availability of parts across the company's network.
  • Strike Ends at PPG Savage Plant - According to union sources at the facility, the week-long strike at the PPG Auto Glass distribution facility in Savage, Md., is about to end. Union employees have agreed in principle to report back to work, Steve Baker, shop steward told glassBYTEs™.
  • Buyout shops see profit in distressed auto parts sector - These are dire times for Detroit automakers, and even bleaker ones for thousands of largely invisible companies that make steering wheels, transmissions and other components for the vehicles that roll out of their factories.
  • Chrysler ups spending with minority suppliers - DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group spent $3.9 billion with minority-owned suppliers last year, up $150 million, or about 4 percent, from 2005.
  • GM’s auction award goes to ADESA Kansas City - Used vehicle auction recognized in back-to-back years for its overall success in reconditioning, repairs and presentation of vehicles at GM Sponsored Auctions
  • Dealer.com Streamlines Online Presence for Region’s Largest Auto Group - Ken Garff Automotive Group Looks to Online Marketing Solutions as Part of Aggressive Expansion Plan
  • Lansing factory to star in GM Super Bowl ad - A Lansing auto plant will get a moment in the Super Bowl limelight this Sunday, when General Motors Corp. uses the facility in a commercial to air during the game, the automaker said Tuesday.
  • Big 3's call for U.S. aid gets cool reception - The opening round of congressional hearings this year on global warming and alternative fuels showed one fact is clear: The climate for automakers on Capitol Hill is becoming increasingly unforgiving.
  • Errors in accounting embarrass GM exec - Financial officer's memo says internal controls are improving, report will show 'turnaround is accelerating.'
  • ABC anchor grills on autos - Gibson feels pain among Detroiters
  • The ZAP-X Crossover Electric Car - 155mph, 644 Horsepower, Based on the APX Technical Demonstrator Vehicle Designed & Developed by Lotus Engineering - Automotive pioneer ZAP announced plans to display Lotus Engineering's advanced APX concept car at the North American Dealers Association (NADA) annual meeting and exhibition, February 3 to 6, 2007, confirming their choice to move ahead using Lotus' revolutionary platform and body structure design as the basis for the development of the high performance electric ZAP-X.
  • Honda Q3 up but disappoints amid tough competition - Honda Motor Co. posted a smaller-than-expected rise in quarterly profit as fierce competition in China weighed on sales, and it left its operating profit forecast unchanged despite a big lift from a weaker yen.
  • Smart car says owner loyalty behind sales optimism - DaimlerChrysler sounded an optimistic note on sales and profits for its new Smart brand car as journalists began test driving the re-designed two-seater for the first time.
  • Equifax Gives Publishers Powerful Vehicle for Reaching Automotive Advertisers - Equifax Inc. today announced the availability of its 2007 version of MatchMAKER(TM), a proprietary research tool that arms digital and print publishers with automotive market data. With records on more than 12 million new car and truck purchase transactions, MatchMAKER provides some of the latest purchase data available to publishers and agencies for research purposes.
  • Metals put catalytic converters on thieves' must-have list - If your car sounds like a jumbo jet the next time you crank the engine, you might be a victim of the latest trend in automotive crime. -- Thieves with small power saws are slithering under cars and hacking off catalytic converters, valued for the precious metals inside. A roar and a strong fuel smell are the telltale signs, as Riki Shore can attest.
  • Insurers criticize new Florida hurricane bill - Legislation is negative for industry, insurance analyst says
  • Ambiguity in car insurance policy favors insured, SC rules - Injured drivers are entitled to sue their insurers for excess coverage if their policy has an "other insurance" clause, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled today in Tamara Seeck vs. GEICO General Insurance Co.
  • GEICO Brings Junior Achievement Programs to Burdell-Hunt Magnet School for a Third Year - This week, 24 GEICO associates are taking on teaching assignments at Burdell-Hunt Magnet School to assist the Junior Achievement of Georgia Whole School Program.
  • Allstate 4Q Net Rises 17 Percent - Allstate Corp., the nation's second-biggest personal-lines insurer behind State Farm, said Tuesday its fourth-quarter profit rose 17 percent as it continued to benefit from a benign year for hurricanes. --  Analyst Donald Light said the results confirm that Allstate is slowly transforming itself into more of an auto-insurance company as it pulls back from offering homeowners policies in catastrophe-exposed areas. Auto insurance now represents two-thirds of its property-liability premium. -- Auto business grew 2 percent for the quarter and 1.5 percent for the year, while homeowners declined by 7.7 percent and 2 percent respectively, he noted.
  • Safeco Reports Fourth Quarter Net Income of $216.4 million - Seattle-based Safeco hosted a conference call on its fourth quarter and year-end results today, noting it had fourth-quarter net income of $216,4 million, or $1.96 per diluted share. Net income for the same period the previous fiscal year was $190.7 million.
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Tuesday - January 30, 2007

  • Auto repair shop owner to represent the community - MN: Ken Kapella will represent Hibbing as the 2007 Winter Frolic Titan of Taconite, announced committee chairwoman Michelle Severson in a special news release to the Tribune. -- “Ken has been a marvelous positive representative of everything good about Hibbing while helping just about anybody in need throughout the community–and never taking much credit for it.” -- Part of that “good” can be seen reflected in the success of his automotive repair shop.
  • New Ford procedure added to I-CAR Online Training Library - I-CAR continues to add to its Online Training library with the introduction of its latest program – the Ford Mustang Convertible A-Pillar Partial Replacement procedure. In this procedure, students will learn how to remove and replace a partial A-pillar on a 2005 Ford Mustang convertible.
  • BASF promotes two employees - BASF Automotive Refinish Solutions has promoted Guy Bargnes to national sales director. Bargnes will oversee all of BASF’s sales activities in the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. -- In addition, BASF Automotive Refinish Solutions has named Darlene Eilenberger the marketing director of NAFTA. Eilenberger is replacing Bargnes.
  • Collision Repair Software / Auto Body Software -- Combined Computer Technology Celebrates it's 15th Year - Collision Repair Software / Auto Body Software Combined Computer Technology celebrates it's 15th year publishing the bodyshop industry leading integrated accounting and jobcosting system CC3. Stuart McColl, President of CCT, founded the company on the principle that the very best software for autobody shops should be easy to use, powerful, and affordable for all shops from the largest to the smallest. Apparently the strategy has paid off as shops from all over the United States, from Alaska to Florida have installed and use CC3 day in and day out to tracking RO's, parts, payroll, jobcosting, write checks, income statement, and balance sheet.
  • Fledgling network would make customer service a priority - John Barbaro is spearheading the formation of a new network for collision repair facilities. Collision Alliance Canada will offer members discounts on paint and aftermarket parts, plus the benefits of cross promotion and insurance company endorsements, while allowing member companies to maintain the own business name.
  • Glass.net Affiliate Program Re-Launch Boosts Commissions Payouts 150 Percent - Glass.net, an online auto glass price comparison site, announces the re-launch of their affiliate program, coinciding with the Affiliate Summit 2007 taking place this week in Las Vegas, Nevada. Glass.net has selected Kowabunga as their preferred tracking provider. As part of the relaunch of their affiliate program, Glass.net affiliates will now received a 150 percent boost in their commission payments.
  • Volunteers needed to represent industry at Toronto auto show - Throughout the Canadian International Auto Show, CIIA.com, working on behalf of its affiliated local collision repair trade associations across the province, will have a display geared to introduce young people to careers in the collision repair and auto body sectors. Running from February 16 to 25 on Toronto, the Canadian International Auto Show is expected to host almost 250,000 people.
  • Safelite® AutoGlass and PHH Arval Celebrate 10-Year Partnership - “We see our relationship with Safelite as a win for our customers,” said Scott Dunbar, Vice President, PHH Arval. “Over the last 10 years, Safelite has provided auto glass repair services that are convenient and cost effective for our customers, so it was good to take time to celebrate our successes.”
  • Auto supply shop reopens - GA: Rome Auto Paint and Body Supplies is reopen now under new ownership. - The store sells a full line of auto body repair items and the Matrix brand auto paint, including a wide selection of the brand’s custom colors.
  • China outlines five-year program for auto parts - According to the program, the auto parts industry is expected to realize 1.2 trillion yuan (US$154.42 billion) in gross industrial output value by 2010.
  • Study to benchmark Ohio auto supply firms - In a move to help Ohio small businesses compete for automakers' contracts, including the planned Honda plant in Greensburg, Ind., a partnership is conducting a study to assess their needs and capabilities.
  • TradeBeam Enhances Advisory Board With Automotive Industry Veteran - TradeBeam Inc., the leading provider of on-demand Global Trade Management (GTM) software and services, today announced David Nelson as a member of its Advisory Board focused on the automotive market. TradeBeam's automotive customer base already includes thousands of organizations in the automotive market including Delphi and Renault.
  • Veteran Web Execs Release Auto Community Site - CarGurus.com - Former Executives from TripAdvisor, eBay, Expedia and Yahoo create next generation Online Autos community site.
  • 1965 Chevy Malibu SS - Engineered Precision - Bill Freelin has taken his '65 Malibu SS to a whole new level.
  • lanelogic Unveils New Portal and Technology at NADA 2007 - lanelogic, Inc. unveils a new look for its dealer portal and convention booth at NADA 2007 (National Automobile Dealers' Association), February 3-6 in Las Vegas, NV.
  • Louisiana insurance agent arrested and license revoked, Commissioner Donelon announces - The Department of Insurance Fraud Section revoked the license of Janis Dalene Simms Blaylock, 29, at the Richland Parish Detention Center in Rayville today where she surrendered to the State Police Insurance Fraud Unit. Blaylock was charged with 14 counts of insurance fraud and one count of felony theft totaling over $15,000.
  • Insurer's CEO tries to win agents over - James Hohmann, who became chief executive of Allstate Financial Group this month, said he will confer with the insurer's agents in the next few weeks to solidify relationships and discuss possible initiatives.
  • Insurance costs a concern? - Thousands of buyers of auto and homeowners insurance in Ohio and Kentucky are paying twice or even three times as much for their coverage because of poor credit scores, something that often has nothing to do with how or what they drive, how they maintain their homes, or what insurance claims they’ve made in the past.

Monday - January 29, 2007

Friday - January 26, 2007

  • NAMIC Testifies Against South Dakota Replacement Parts Legislation - The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) urged South Dakota lawmakers to reject Senate Bill 48, a proposal to adopt consumer protection standards for property/casualty insurance claims. NAMIC believes the bill would actually result in higher premiums for consumers. -- SB 48 would require insurers to offer to use new original equipment manufactured parts for certain new automobiles. NAMIC believes this is unnecessary and burdensome.
  • State of South Dakota SB 48 - An Act to adopt consumer protection standards for property casualty insurance claims.
  • J.D. Power analysis cites value of keeping customers engaged - The study is based on responses from 5,752 customers who have had collision damage repaired on their vehicles or have had a total loss within the past 12 months. The study examines the top three performance factors that drive customer satisfaction with the repair experience: claims/estimation (62 percent), body shop (36 percent) and rental car (2 percent).
  • One-stop auto shop - “We offer a wide array of things,” said owner Pankaj Sharma, 24, of Yuba City. “Not only are our technicians certified for automotive repair, they're certified to do auto body work as well.” -- Sharma said that's not all the auto center will offer.Sharma believes this is the first business in the Yuba-Sutter area to offer auto repair, auto body, RV service and auto sales all in the same location.
  • Strandburg Auto Rebuilding offers state-of-the-art repair service - Paris, IL: A new auto body shop occupies a state-of the art facility at 808 S. Marshall, slightly north of the intersection at Jasper and Marshall.
  • Ice means boost for repair businesses - Vicki Harper, spokeswoman for State Farm Insurance Companies – the state’s largest automobile casualty insurer – said because of the snow and ice that bedeviled the region during the first half of January, “We’re looking at over double the (usual) number of auto claims, both in Oregon and Washington.”
  • Auto repair program among best in nation - MD: It's probably one of the best of its kind in the country," said Rick Paukstitus, regional president of True2Form, a chain of collision repair centers with locations in four states. "And I can really say that. I've been to quite a few other ones and it's impressive how (CAT North) is actually putting kids into careers."
  • The Sherwin-Williams Company Reports 2006 Year-End Financial Results - Commenting on the financial results, Christopher M. Connor, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are encouraged by the increased market penetration being achieved by our international businesses and the continued growth of our domestic automotive and product finishes sales."
  • Aftermarket Legislative Summit is coming up - Tire dealers and other automotive aftermarket professionals will have the opportunity to meet legislators at the 2007 Aftermarket Legislative Summit. -- The event will be held June 12-13 in Washington D.C. at the Washington Court Hotel. Registration deadline is May 1.
  • Lear Reports Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2006 Results and Provides 2007 Financial Guidance - Fourth-Quarter Highlights: - Reported net sales of $4.3 billion  - Achieved positive free cash flow of $254 million - Agreement to transfer North American Interior business to joint venture - Completed offering of $900 million in new senior notes - Hyundai seating plant honored as Assembly Plant of the Year
  • Dallas Based Car Spoiler, Billet Grille Web Site Now Offers Free Shipping - The company carries a wide range of accessories for just about any make or model car, truck, or SUV by offering a affordable car parts online.
  • Chrysler Group Donates Dodge Ram Truck to Family in St. Louis - Chrysler Group today donated a Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab to the family of Mitchell Hults at the St. Louis Auto Show. Hults was responsible for helping to bring two abducted boys in Missouri to safety this month.
  • Local reaction to Ford Motor's announcement of record losses - Louisville, KY: Despite the bad news, workers thought that Ford management has a good plan, saying they believed they were staying focused and getting the company back to where it was.
  • Redesigned Toyota truck will cost more than rivals - The starting price for Toyota’s redesigned Tundra pickup truck due out next month will be higher than those for rival trucks produced by General Motors and Ford.
  • AIG Looks to Acquire Outstanding Shares of Auto Insurer 21st Century - American International Group, Inc. (AIG) has submitted a letter to the board of directors of 21st Century Insurance Group proposing to acquire the outstanding 38.1 percent publicly held shares of 21st Century for $19.75 per share in cash.
  • Discrimination lawsuit settled in favor of fired city woman - PA: Allstate Insurance Co. has agreed to pay $115,000 to settle a race discrimination lawsuit filed by an employee who was fired in 2002 from a company division that had offices in Reading, federal officials said Wednesday.
  • Ohio State Auto Adds New System to Benefit Agent Force - Columbus, Ohio-based State Auto Insurance Cos. have eliminated an automation roadblock for independent State Auto agencies using Applied Systems agency management systems. State Auto has implemented IVANS Transformation Station a routing service that creates a "bridge" between Applied Systems agency management systems and State Auto's agency extranet, AgentSite.
  • What's Killing Our Teens? U.S. Survey Describes the Factors Contributing to Vehicle Crashes - The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia(R) and State Farm(R) Join Forces to Address the Issue
  • Lawyers For State Farm Policyholders Due Up To $46M From Settlement - A high-profile lawyer whose firm was paid more than $1 billion for helping negotiate a settlement with tobacco companies in the mid-1990s will earn a far more modest paycheck for his work on Mississippi's accord with State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. over Hurricane Katrina damage.

Thursday - January 25, 2007

  • Connecticut Attorney General Drafts Stronger Law Prohibiting Insurers From Steering Consumers To Select Auto Repair Shops - Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today announced draft legislation that would strengthen Connecticut's anti-steering law prohibiting insurers from forcing consumers to use a preferred auto repair shop as a condition of paying for the repair. -- Blumenthal announced the legislation with leaders of the Auto Body Association of Connecticut who say steering by insurers - stifling fair competition - remains rampant in the industry.
  • Combined Computer Technology Announces 15th Year Auto Body Software - CC3 collision repair software package integrated accounting jobcosting, superior to Quick Books, information is available
  • Mitchell 1 accepting scholarship applications - Mitchell 1 is currently accepting applications for its Automotive Technology Outstanding Student Scholarship to be awarded through the North American Council of Automotive Teachers (NACAT) Education Foundation at its annual conference July 16-20, 2007 in Long Beach, Calif.
  • Race for automotive education a success - The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers, Minnesota (AASP-MN) has raised nearly $10,000 in its 2007 fundraising campaign to support the AASP-MN Automotive Education Foundation. 
  • Council Votes To Limit LA Auto Shops, Sales Lots - The Los Angeles City Council unanimously agreed Wednesday to limit the number of automobile repair shops, sales lots, junk yards and recycling businesses that can operate in the city. -- Beginning next month, all auto-related businesses will be required to apply for conditional use permits that will be considered by the city's Planning Commission.
  • Blaze destroys auto body shop - OH: Building, seven cars burn at Belknap's in Roswell - A fire’s timing is never good, but it seemed especially rough for Belknap. He had just installed a new $7,000 computerized paint-mixing system.
  • Rockledge brothers indicted in slaying - FL: Two Rockledge brothers have been indicted in the Dec. 23 shooting death of James Bridges, a 31-year-old auto body shop owner and father of two whose body was found in a warehouse, the Brevard County State Attorney said. -- Investigators said that Christopher Samuels, armed with a .45-caliber handgun, accompanied his baseball bat-wielding brother and confronted Bridges, possibly over work done on Craig Samuels’ customized purple Oldsmobile.
  • DuPont earnings increase, meet forecasts - DuPont said its most vulnerable segments are those reliant on the US housing market and auto industry.
  • Scam Continues Unabated in Glass Industry - Glass shops across the country are continuing to report being on the receiving end of phone calls and emails related to the scam that has been plaguing the industry for more nearly six months. Suzan with Clear View Auto Glass in Pittsburgh, Pa., forwarded glassBYTEs.com the most recent email correspondence she received of this nature.
  • Collins hopes to resolve lawsuits - Collins & Aikman Corp. said Tuesday that its plan to exit bankruptcy won support from the main committee representing creditors.
  • ADESA, Inc. Clears FTC Review Under Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act in Connection with Its Acquisition by Group of Private Equity Funds - ADESA, Inc. announced today that the Federal Trade Commission has granted early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, in connection with the company's pending acquisition by a group of private equity funds. The group of private equity funds includes Kelso & Company, GS Capital Partners, an affiliate of Goldman Sachs, ValueAct Capital and Parthenon Capital.
  • Talk of Ford exec bonuses riles UAW - The United Auto Workers is upset over the possibility that Ford Motor Co. may pay bonuses to some managers and top executives, and the issue is threatening to delay progress on competitive operating agreements at some Ford factories, according to sources familiar with the situation.
  • Ford May Report Worst Loss in History - Ford Motor Co. could post the worst annual loss in its storied 103-year history when the automaker releases its 2006 earnings on Thursday. -- The old record net loss was $7.39 billion in 1992, but through three quarters of this year, Ford already had lost $7 billion.
  • Daimler to issue Chrysler repair plan next month - But CEO Dieter Zetsche declines to provide details on restructuring plan for U.S. unit of automaker.
  • DaimlerChrysler Builds First Fuel Cell-powered Fire Fighter Vehicle - Zero-emissions fire protection in Sacramento
  • Is the Camry set to get old and stuffy? - Popular sedan becoming this generation’s Buick, Oldsmobile
  • Cars from China: Not so fast - Chinese cars are coming. The question is: Will they turn out to be Toyotas ... or Yugos?
  • Kicking the Tires in High Heels - As DC Auto Show Opens, Survey Shows Women More Confident and Satisfied Than Ever With Their Car Buying Experience
  • AIADA Responds to State of the Union Address - American International Automobile Dealers Association President Cody Lusk today issued the following statement in response to President Bush’s State of the Union address >>>>
  • An Aries drove me off the road! - The recent study by www.insurance hotline.com compared drivers’ zodiac signs with their likelihood to have a crash. -- A similar study, conducted by Allstate Insurance and based on the frequency of auto policy claims in 2005 by birthdates, showed vastly different results.
  • 'Monkey' off State Farm's back after settlement, attorney says - With several thousand class-action claims and individual lawsuits originating from an alleged lack of coverage after Hurricane Katrina left to settle, State Farm Insurance Company at least has step one out of the way.
  • Data on Nationwide Insurance Stolen - Computer records containing medical claim information, health data and Social Security numbers of 28,279 health insurance customers of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. were stolen from the office of a vendor in Massachusetts, the company said.

Wednesday - January 24, 2007

  • 3 more cleared of fraud charges - Three Shasta County men arrested along with nine others last summer in an undercover auto body sting saw insurance fraud charges against them dismissed Monday in Superior Court due to insufficient evidence.
  • New York collision repair group calls for labor rate increases - Insurance companies in New York are not only gouging consumers, but also underpaying collision shops, says the New York State Auto Collision Technicians Association (NYSACTA). The group has sent results of their own industry studies to New York City Comptroller William Thompson in response to a report issued by his office last year that criticized insurers in the state for charging higher premiums despite a drop in claims payments.
  • I-CAR Volunteer Steve Carey - Lymphoma and the Collision Industry - I-CAR volunteer Steve Carey is a man on a mission. Ever since he was diagnosed with lymphoma four years ago, he’s been building a support system for others in the collision industry who have the disease. Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, one of the causes is benzene, which is a carcinogen found in a lot of paints, lacquers, and thinners.
  • Gold Class business president appointed NACE 2007 chairman - Darrell Amberson, President of Gold Class Professionals designated business Lehman’s Garage Inc. in Bloomington, Minnesota, has been appointed as the NACE 2007 Event Chairman. As chairman, Amberson will lead a 25 member NACE Attendee Advisory Council in logistics and continual improvement of NACE.
  • I-CAR Education Foundation grateful to all fiscal 2006 and 2007 contributors - “The financial support of the collision industry is critical to help in our mission to attract young people into the industry and develop the latest training materials for their schools,” said Ron Ray, Executive Director of the Education Foundation.
  • ASA Announces New Member Benefit Agreement with Bosch - Preferred Rates on Training Courses at Various Locations Nationwide
  • 1967 Plymouth Barracuda Fastback – Cold Blooded ‘Cuda - Tom Merkt's '67 A-body is on the loose in Wisconsin The bodywork and paint on the car is exquisite. -- Tom currently owns and operates Tom's Auto Body in Delafield, Wisconsin, and gives credit to his employees, as well as his friend Kurt Meredith for the help needed to complete the dream car of his youth.
  • Sherwin-Williams returns to sponsor design award - Sherwin-Williams To Once Again Color Atlantic Championship With 'It's All In The Finish' Award In 2007
  • Nobilas and Peak Performance in strategic partnership - Nobilas Claims and Fleet solutions, the Akzo Nobel company specializing in accident management, has announced the establishment of a new strategic partnership with Peak Performance, a UK provider of driving risk assessment and work related road safety solutions.
  • Test Shows PPG Windshield Improves Fuel Efficiency by Up to 4 Percent - Sungate(R) Windshield Reduces Air Conditioner Use; Could Save Drivers Up to $66 a Year in Gas
  • Shaver Returns to AGRR Editorial Staff - Award winning journalist Les Shaver has returned to work full time at Key Communications Inc., publisher of AGRR magazine. He will serve in the newly-created role of editorial director for most of the company's publications, including AGRR.
  • True2Form Collision Repair Centers Names Schaffer VP of Operations (subscription) - Michael Schaffer brings over twenty years of collision repair experience to True2Form
  • Verdict favors Ford in rollover case - Ford Motor Co. wasn't responsible for the death of a youth pastor in the 2001 rollover of an Explorer sport utility vehicle, an Indiana jury said Friday.
  • Toyota Developing Ultra-Low Cost Car - A radical new approach to the design, manufacture and development of cars is under consideration at Toyota, which plans to apply what it learns across its entire range of vehicles.
  • Is Jaguar an endangered species? - Luxury brand hopes to claw way out of $715M hole
  • Electric cars come back to life - Automotive historians must be intrigued and amused at the current furor over electric vehicles, partly inspired by the Chevrolet Volt concept unveiled at the Detroit show.
  • Man gets 10 years for operating Fayette chop shop - An Atlanta man was sentenced to 10 years in prison Tuesday, after pleading guilty to more than 20 charges in Fayette County court. -- Superior Court Judge Paschal English handed down the sentence after Artis Juan Huff pled guilty to the 23 charges that included a number of theft by receiving stolen property charges and possession of motor vehicle parts with removed identification numbers.
  • Safety Group Seeks to Curb In-Car Tech Chatter - The Center for Auto Safety wants U.S. federal regulators to restrict the use of interactive systems that carmakers are building into vehicles so motorists can't make phone calls and check e-mails while driving.
  • Nationwide survey shows startling number of Americans guilty of DWD - Culture of multitasking spreading to the roads, leading many to "Drive While Distracted"
  • State Farm trims auto rates - SC: But liability, comprehensive going up for some
  • Fla. CFO Launches Nationwide Search for Fraud Director - In effort to combat the mounting rate of insurance fraud, Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink has launched a nationwide search for a "highly-experienced and talented" law enforcement official to lead the Department of Financial Services' Division of Insurance Fraud.
  • Atlantic Mutual Earns Top Spot In 2006 New York Auto Insurance Report - Atlantic Mutual earned the top spot for having the lowest rate of auto insurance consumer complaints in a report issued December 2006 by the New York State Insurance Department. The ranking is based on the ratio of upheld complaints to premiums in 2005. Atlantic Mutual had zero complaints upheld.
  • Appeals court overturns verdict for State Farm agents - A $20 million verdict in favor of five State Farm Insurance agents was thrown out today by an appeals court, which said the insurer could fire them at will.
  • State Farm said to OK Katrina settlement - State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. agreed Tuesday to settle hundreds of lawsuits by policyholders whose homes were devastated by Hurricane Katrina, a person with direct knowledge of the settlement told The Associated Press.

Tuesday - January 23, 2007

Monday - January 22, 2007

  • Phony parts cost Ford $1B - Report aims to help firms toughen supply chains - Counterfeit auto parts cost Ford Motor Co. a staggering $1 billion annually, which has spurred the Dearborn automaker to mount an aggressive campaign worldwide to attack the problem.
  • Body Shop Doc: The New Professional - Quite a while back the Autobody News often carried an article about a character called "Doctor Dent," by Dave Truslow, Jr. Unfortunately Dave is no longer contributing his fine articles, but perhaps he was looking perceptively into the future when he called his character "Doctor."
  • Body shop donates car to Beloit woman in need - A Beloit woman became the proud owner of a 2002 Pontiac Grand Am Thursday at Drevdahl Auto Body.
  • Explosion, fire rip shop; owner dies -  Mike Kipnis was among about 25 area business people who meet once a week to network in a group called Northwest Business Builders. -- "Mike was just a very outgoing, nice, honest man," Freckman said. "You liked him because he would tell you if [a car] was worth fixing."
  • Cars go trendy and topless - Every model can be convertible with this reconstructive surgery
  • Body shop gets all the dents out - NV: If you live in Pahrump, it's likely that at some point your vehicle will need some body work. That's when it's time to call the Auto Body Connection, but you'll need to know the new address.
  • Bills easing auto salvage titles could pose dangers - You wouldn’t knowingly buy a rebuilt wreck that poses a safety hazard to you or your family.
  • Add-ons can add fines - Boston Auto Design on Blue Hill Avenue is car-bling heaven.
  • Gearing Up For The Spring Auto Glass Show in Vegas - This year's Spring Auto Glass Show and Americas' Glass Showcase will be held May 17-19, 2007 at the Cashman Center in Las Vegas. The Spring Auto Glass Show is sponsored by Independent Glass Association and will feature two full days of industry exhibits, an exhaustive span of industry-related educational seminars and enjoyable networking opportunities.
  • PPG buys Renner Sayerlack units to raise profile in Latin America - PPG Industries Inc., a producer of glass, paint and sealants, said Thursday it had acquired the architectural and industrial coatings businesses of Brazil's Renner Sayerlack SA in an effort to expand its coatings operations in Latin America.
  • GM places bets on alternative fuel vehicles - Automaker names engineer to develop long-lasting, safe batteries for the cars
  • GM says the rumors are wrong: Lutz isn't leaving - Rumors that General Motors Corp. has plans to put Bob Lutz, its vice chairman of global product development, out to pasture next year to bring the head of GM Europe Carl-Peter Forster to the home office are just plain wrong, a GM spokesman said.
  • Auto show attendance drops again - Attendance was down for the fourth consecutive year at the North American International Auto Show, which concluded Sunday.
  • Progressive Directs New Ads At Unseating Geico - Progressive Direct, aiming to unseat direct competitor Geico, this week broke the first of a dozen new TV ads aimed at driving buyers to its Web site or call-in center to seek a quote and ultimately buy an auto insurance policy.
  • Patrick Promises Review of Auto Insurance System -  Gov. Deval Patrick said he will comprehensively review the state auto insurance system after the acting insurance commissioner on Friday suspended rules changes made in the system during the final weeks of the Romney administration.
  • Don't let insurers take you for a ride - In their ads, all insurance companies assure us that their claims process is a snap, their premiums are low and their service is great. -- Hundreds of Oregonians who crashed in last week's ice and snow sure hope it works out that way as they file claims and make dates with car repair shops.
  • Two views from the special session - State Farm spokesman says hits at insurance industry are unfair -- State Farm, also a large auto insurer in Florida, actually could benefit if some auto-only insurers like Geico left the state.
  • Insurers allegedly bilked of $1 million - Trenton, NJ: Authorities say they have cracked a bi-state fraud ring that staged auto accidents to swindle insurers of more than $1 million. -- Eleven people in New Jersey and New York, including the owners of two repair shops, were accused in a federal indictment unsealed Friday. Seven were arrested and four are considered fugitives.

Friday - January 19, 2007

  • Keystone and I-CAR teaming up to present series of North American collision industry train-the-trainer sessions - Addressing a critical need for updated collision industry education, Keystone Automotive Industries is sponsoring five I-CAR regional train-the-trainer sessions. The effort includes an added emphasis on reaching the Canadian body shop marketplace.
  • AASP/NJ Hits Record Membership Numbers - Despite (or maybe because of) a downturn in the automotive repair industry, the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ) has set a record for membership for 2007. The association, which was founded over four decades ago, is now close to 500 members and growing.
  • Mike Anderson Seminar Top AASP/NJ 2007 Plans - The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ) kick off a busy 2007 with two seminars by sought-after collision repair industry speaker Mike Anderson later this month and follow up with the association’s flagship event, NORTHEAST 2007 in March.
  • Auto Body Business - IOWA: More wintery weather means more business for auto body shops. This morning's snowfall caused several accidents on Interstate 380 in Cedar Rapids. Car crashes and accidents mean big dollars for auto body shops like Andrews Collision Center.
  • Icy Roads Make Big Business - KENNEWICK, Wash. - Ice and snow are creating big business for Tri-City auto body shops. The snow on Tuesday caused nearly 200 accidents. Now car owners are taking them in to get things fixed.
  • PPG reports record revenue - In a prepared statement, PPG Industries chairman and CEO Charles Bunch said the company achieved record revenue for the year in spite of weakened domestic housing and automotive markets.
  • Lord Corporation Joins PBEPRO.COM - Corporation, maker of LORD Fusor® Automotive Repair Adhesives – the leading metal and composite bonding solution for automotive body repair – has announced that they have joined PBEPRO.com, an online catalog for the paint and body industry.
  • White returns to the roads - Twenty years ago, the colour white had a 20 per cent share of the market on European roads. -- BASF Coatings' colour stylists and researchers have been observing a manifestation of the white trend for about two years.
  • Got a good mechanic? - Check in here 
  • Man sentenced for automobile repair scam - A Peoria man was sentenced in Tazewell County 10th Circuit felony court to more than three-and-a-half years in prison for tricking two East Peoria men into paying him to fix their cars.
  • Specialty parts, accessories continue to dominate online purchases - Air intake, wheels and lighting top list of auto parts sold through Web channels last year.
  • Blaze Recycling Opening New Site - The auto parts business, which may take up around 20 acres of the facility, is Blaze’s first foray into the growing auto parts side of the business.
  • ADESA, Inc. Schedules Fourth Quarter 2006 Earnings Release - ADESA, Inc. will report its financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2006, after the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday, February 8, 2007.
  • Toyota Recalls U.S.-Built Tundra Pickup, Sequoia SUVs - Toyota is recalling 533,000 Tundra pickups and Sequoia sport-utility vehicles because a flaw may make them difficult to steer, the company said yesterday. The Toyota City, Japan-based company sold 2.54 million vehicles in the U.S. in 2006.
  • Ford investigative team solves automotive 'mysteries' - On a daily basis, Central Lab runs corrosion and durability tests on metal parts, textiles, plastics, paints and sealers; examines steel, iron and aluminum parts and components; reviews the chemical structure of materials to determine possible contaminants and impurities; and conducts fracture and failure analysis on items from headlamps to interior door handles.
  • Cars that Can Talk - Cadillacs, Camrys and Accords will soon be chatting on the causeway. Will this keep them from crashing into one another?
  • Crash course - Age and gender play a major role in the severity of injuries in car crashes, a fact that might steer future safety features in automobiles, according to a study by Purdue University researchers.
  • Ex-contractors implicate State Farm in Katrina probe - Former employees of a company that contracts with State Farm, contend the documents show that the insurer defrauded policyholders by manipulating engineers' reports so that claims could be denied.
  • Insurance agency named small business of the year - A company that was started four years ago has been named the Small Business of the Year for 2006 by the Lafayette-West Lafayette Chamber of Commerce.
  • Crash liability can seem as slippery as the streets - Insurance - Experts help sort out questions about claims and payouts in weather-related wrecks

Thursday - January 18, 2007

  • MQVP Inc. challenges CIC to take action - A formal letter, addressed to the chairman and the board of directors of CIC, was sent and several phone call follow-up attempts have been made requesting a formal response to MQVP’s call to action against counterfeit activities.
  • Chubb Rolls Out Concierge Auto Claim and Repair Service - The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies has completed a multi-state roll out of a program designed to enhance the claims experience of auto insurance customers.
  • The van of her dreams: Community comes together to help Rohnert Park teen - It was hard to tell who was happier with Tuesday's unveiling of a refurbished van, the 15-year-old Rohnert Park girl in the wheelchair or the dozens of people who donated parts, labor and a bit of themselves to the project. -- In the end, more than a dozen Rohnert Park businesses and one Santa Rosa shop were in on the job. Corby Auto Body donated the paint job. -- There was body work, upholstery, new paint, new stereo, tires, front-end alignment and a new windshield. Cash donations from postal workers were used to buy the family a gasoline card. State Farm threw in a year's worth of insurance.
  • Fix Auto has become the first Network of Independent Body Repairers in the UK to sign up all of its locations to attain the Thatcham BSI Kitemark license, in advance of the scheme's official launch next month - UK: Fix Auto has submitted an application on behalf of all of its franchisees following extensive discussions with Thatcham, BSI and its insurer partners. All shops will now undergo pre assessment to establish their status in relation to the PAS 125 standard and it is hoped that several will achieve their full Kitemark license before the official launch on 21st February 2007.
  • Storm takes toll on vehicles - MO: Icy conditions and cars generally don’t mix well. -- After this weekend’s storm, auto repairs have begun to mount at some of Carthage’s shops.
  • Winter weather means increase in business at East Texas auto repair shops - This winter weather is not bad for everybody. -- Auto body repair shops in East Texas are seeing their business boom.
  • Former ONB tower home to new software business - KY: The mostly vacant former Old National Bank Tower at 420 Main St. is home to a new software-based business with tentative plans to add more than 100 jobs and occupy up to two floors. -- Downtown Evansville Inc. President Mick Conati went before the Redevelopment Commission today to negotiate a parking deal for Mitchell International, a 60-year-old company based in San Diego. According to its Web site, it caters especially to the insurance, collision repair, medical claims and glass replacement industries.
  • Suppliers seek more clout - In a move designed to win more political clout for auto parts suppliers, a major trade group representing parts makers will release a study today that found the industry employs more Americans than any other manufacturing sector, accounting for 4.5 million jobs.
  • Visteon's debt rallies on Valeo purchase hopes - Visteon Corp.'s  debt rallied on Wednesday on increasing speculation that France-based auto parts supplier Valeo may make a bid for all or part of the firm.
  • Ford expects more parts supplier bankruptcies - The number of bankruptcies among auto parts suppliers could rise further this year with a spike to a new high next month, Ford Motor Co.'s chief of purchasing said on Wednesday.
  • Ford in talks with LME on creating steel exchange - Steel prices have been volatile in recent years, and steel companies and automakers have sparred over contracts.
  • Honda Recalls 81,000 Accord Sedans Over Air Bag Warning Light - Honda Motor Co. is recalling 81,000 of its 2004-2005 Accord sedans because of issues that could cause an air bag-related sensor to fail, the company said Wednesday.
  • Big SUVs, trucks hard to find at Detroit show - Industry executives focus on rising demand for better fuel efficiency
  • TransUnion’s TrueCredit.com Introduces Insurance Scores - Empowering consumers to better understand how their credit information is viewed by insurers when determining monthly insurance premiums, TransUnion’s TrueCredit.com today launched Insurance Scores. Available online now to US consumers, Insurance Scores are delivered via one easy-to-read report that includes separate scores for both home and auto insurance.
  • Insurers told: All or none - Florida lawmakers appear ready to deliver on one of Gov. Charlie Crist's campaign promises to punish insurers who have retreated from the state's property market while still writing other insurance in the Sunshine State, such as auto.
  • Auto insurer Progressive's profit rises 42 percent - Progressive Corp. said on Wednesday that fourth-quarter profit had risen 42 percent, as the third-largest U.S. auto insurer used less revenue to pay out claims.

Wednesday - January 17, 2007

  • How Critical Thinking Can Help Your Business - Shatter your old ideas and ways of doing business. Implemented correctly, critical thinking steps can be key in addressing the problems that plague your shop.
  • Top 10 Automotive Repair Web sites - AutoInc. is proud to present the winners in its 10th annual Top 10 Automotive Repair Web Sites competition. After reviewing hundreds of Web sites found in search engines, links from other sites and shop sites found in the "Find Nearest ASA Shop" locator of the ASA Web site, nominees were based on specific criteria.
  • Barry Wilson focuses his auto repair business on vintage cars - Barry Wilson, owner of Wilson Auto Repair as well as being Fox 4 and 105.3 FM's car expert, is now basing his car repair business on restoring and repairing antique automobiles.
  • ALLDATA joins the SCRS Corporate Membership Program - ALLDATA LLC, a provider of computer-based automotive repair information, has become the newest participant of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) Corporate Membership Program. ALLDATA, which also offers shop management software and shop marketing products for the automotive service industry, decided to become a Corporate Member of SCRS because such a move was in line with its’ 24- year history of providing customers’ methods and tools to improve their businesses, the company says.
  • New Product Provides Increased Transparency and Reduces Cycle Time on Total Loss Valuations - Audatex, a Solera company, the global leader in automotive claims processing, announced today the release of Autosource Plus, the company's new total loss valuation product designed to speed the settlement of total loss claims and to improve customer satisfaction. Based on the same market-proven, statistically valid methodology used in traditional Autosource, Autosource Plus includes enhanced reporting capabilities that have been proven to facilitate settlement.
  • eAutoclaims Appoints Jeffrey Dickson as Chief Executive Officer and President; W. Austin Lewis named new Chairman of the Board - Mr. Dickson was one of the original founders of eAutoclaims and has served as Director and Chairman of EACC's Board of Directors since June 2000. --  Mr. Lewis, Founder of the Lewis Opportunity Fund, joined the company's Board of Director's in May 2006.
  • CEI Names Brusco Senior Manager, National Accounts Insurer Services - Brusco comes to CEI from glass claims management company LYNX Services. (Subscription required to read article)
  • KAR Unveils New ADESA Management Team - Once its $3.7 billion acquisition of ADESA Inc. is finalized, private investment group KAR Holdings II LLC will appoint a new senior management team to run the vehicle auction and floorplan financing company, according to a company statement released by KAR Holdings. -- Insurance Auto Auctions Inc., a provider of automotive salvage auction and claims processing services, will be combined with the Carmel, Ind.-based ADESA when the deal closes later this year.
  • R. L. Polk & Co. Hires Scott Huston To Initiate Automotive Aftermarket Consultancy - Scott Huston has been named solutions consultant for the Aftermarket team at R. L. Polk & Co. In this position, Huston will be responsible for the development and implementation of Polk's Aftermarket Consultancy Services.
  • Precision Replacement Parts (PRP) and Auto Glass Components (AGC) Merge Distribution - Precision Replacement Parts (PRP) and Auto Glass Components (AGC), announced today that they will merge their distribution operations, under the Precision name, into the existing Weston, WI location. The widely recognized, Precision alpha identifier and part number will continue to be utilized.
  • Special Report: Onsite at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit - The consensus of those interviewed at the North American International Auto Show, which had its press and industry days last week at Cobo Hall in Detroit and is now open to the public, was that this is the best show in years.
  • Tech Watch: Anti-Whiplash Head Restraints Debut - Johnson Controls introduced its "platinum rear-impact solution" at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. With this setup, an electrical signal from vehicle crash sensors triggers rapid deployment of the active headrest.
  • Cal-Tex Protective Coatings, Inc. Joins DealerTrack Aftermarket Network(TM) - DealerTrack Aftermarket Services, Inc. today announced that Cal-Tex Protective Coatings, Inc. has joined the DealerTrack Aftermarket Network(TM), the industry's first independent provider of real-time aftermarket contract rating, quote generation and digital contracting for aftermarket providers. Cal-Tex is a leading manufacturer of sealants and other chemical products used to protect the exterior and interior of automobiles and to deter vehicle theft.
  • Suppliers seek more clout - Industry pushes for greater say on health care, other costly issues.
  • Visteon lawsuit nearly settled - Judge's tentative OK of deal on class-action suit will pay back 10,000 employees' 401(k) losses.
  • Lincoln's Budget Bling Crossover - The new Lincoln MKX is too obviously cross-bred with the cheaper Ford Edge. Still, it provides an impressive bling on a budget
  • Toyota study points to more North American plants - Toyota Motor Corp. expects to build more manufacturing plants in North America as a result of a 10-year study undertaken by the Japanese automaker of U.S. market trends.
  • Toyota would consider tie with Ford if asked - Toyota Motor Corp. is open to a broader partnership with Ford Motor Co. if the struggling U.S. auto maker asks, the Nikkei business daily reported on Wednesday, citing an interview with its president.
  • lanelogic Announces Major Expansion - lanelogic, Inc., announces its proprietary dealer-to-dealer trading network is expanding its network to the Southeast and Northeast regions of the country. lanelogic will include 21 states in the expansion, with rollout dates scheduled for March.
  • Insurance discount tied to auto data - Progressive, which sells auto insurance directly to consumers over the phone and on the Internet, is offering Michigan drivers a program that will allow them to pay lower premiums by driving less and during non-peak hours.
  • Justices taken aback by impact of credit ruling - Insurers want court to ease standards for notifying customers
  • Ex-Senator Moving On Insurance Commissioner Position - Former state senator Andrea F. Nuciforo Jr., who was sworn in two weeks ago as Berkshire County register of deeds, is already moving on to his next job search: a bid to become Governor Deval Patrick's commissioner of insurance.
  • GEICO Names Carl Tims Liability Claims Director - GEICO recently named Carl Tims of Lakeland, Fla., liability claims director for its Lakeland regional office.
  • Farmers Insurance Claims Team Assists Victims of Nationwide Winter Storms - Farmers Insurance Group of Companies has mobilized additional claims personnel to the areas impacted by the recent winter storms nationwide.

Tuesday - January 16, 2007

Monday - January 15, 2007

  • Oregon Initiative Challenges Insurer Control - A loose-knit group of Oregon collision repair shops is gearing up to launch a campaign for a proposed ballot measure that, if passed by voters, could create sweeping changes in how insurers and shops interact in the state. 
  • Ohio Association battling administrative code changes - According to the Ohio Body Shop Owners Association Inc. (OBOA), Ohio Administrative code 3901-1-54, which tells insurance companies how they have to settle claims, expired at the end of 2006, and is up for renewal with the new congress meeting in February. 
  • BAR brings back auto body inspection program - The Bureau of Automotive Repairs (BAR) recently announced that they have implemented an Auto Body Inspection Program, similar to the two-year Pilot Auto Body program that ended in 2003.
  • Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Illinois (AASPI) convention January 26-27, 2007 - Event Programs Include: Town Hall Forum on recent “firestorm” over the CIC Anti-Fraud Committee Study Shelia Loftus “Roast” -- Update on Attorney General’s review of DRPs in Illinois -- New Vehicle Metals and Your Ability to Repair
  • Auto Body making mark in Elgin repair equipment - Matt Dorfman knows the ABCs of auto-body repair equipment, from abrasives to body fillers to clamps, chains and hooks. -- Founded in 1984 as Champ Frame Equipment, the firm morphed into Auto Body Toolmart in 1992, selling primarily to body shops.
  • Maaco franchise operators honored - Maaco Collision Repair & Auto Painting honored Mechanicsburg franchis