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June 2009
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June 29, 2009 

June 25, 2009 

  • California AB 1200 Progresses, Continues to Face Opposition - glassBYTEs™: A California bill that would ease the state's anti-steering law has been moved from the Senate rules committee to the committee on banking, finance and insurance, and is scheduled to be heard for the first time on Wednesday, July 1—just one week from today.
  • Cool-paint plan for cars loses its luster - Cool paints simply grew too hot for California's air-quality regulators. -- Before retreating, the state Air Resources Board was busily drafting requirements for heat-reflective paints and windows that would help keep cars from baking in the sun.  -- Now, only windows are targets when the air board meets Thursday.
  • I-CAR nears decision on Canadian licensing agreement - “We are awaiting proposals from the organizations that had expressed an interest in providing I-CAR training within Canada under a licensing agreement,” said Robby Robbs, Immediate Past-Chairman of the I-CAR International Board of Directors and Member of the I-CAR Canadian Transitional Task Force (CTTF).
  • SCRS 2009 Affiliate Leadership Conference to be Held in September - Based on feedback and increasing participation of the SCRS’ affiliate associations, the once one-day event has expanded to a two-day series, and is scheduled to run from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 16th and 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 17th, 2009.
  • glassBYTEs.com™/AGRR Magazine Launches Latest Blog - glassBYTEs.com/AGRR magazine is launching a new blog, “An Independent View,” authored by Mike Russo, comptroller for Thru-Way Glass in Syracuse, N.Y. -- Russo will be writing about issues of importance to independent auto glass shops across the United States.
  • PCI to Host Insurance and Auto Repair Session at NACE 2009 - The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) will host a session focused on legislative and regulatory issues facing the insurance and auto repair industries at the International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE) this fall in Las Vegas.
  • Did I See You Guys on Spike TV? - The Web site has seen a jump in hits, the phone is ringing more than usual and lots of new faces are popping in at Gerald’s Auto Body and Repair Shop after a Memorial Day weekend special aired on Spike TV.
  • Baltic autobody shop expands - SD: Performance Paint & Auto Body just west of Baltic is under construction to expand the building.
  • Vintage cars sold at local, world-renowned business - If an automobile heaven exists, where decades-old cars go to be shined, spruced up and proudly displayed in the manner in which they were intended to be seen, it might be located inside of Wagner’s Auto Body and Sales, Inc., 741 E. Front St.
  • New car paint helps the environment - NY: Corning Community College's Auto Body Program is helping reduce the school's carbon footprint. - Auto Body Repair specialists from across the region visited the college Wednesday for a demonstration on how it works.
  • Plymouth South Students Tour King Collision Center in Plymouth as part of Cooperative Education Program - “We’re in the process of developing an Apprentice Program at King Collision Centers to mentor teens who are in collision repair and graphic arts programs in high school. Those involved in our Apprentice Program would have the opportunity to work for King on a part-time basis,” explained Bruce King, president of the family owned business.
  • Savvy Consumers Saving Money on Auto Repairs by Buying Parts Themselves - "It's a trend that's really picking up speed," said Tom West, CEO & President of JC Whitney, the largest direct marketer of name-brand automotive parts and accessories. "It's no different than a bride buying a diamond online and having her local jeweler set it."
  • Plant may go beyond stamping auto parts - WV: Ray Park still hopes to fill the stamping plant in South Charleston, but it may not be by stamping auto body parts. -- "We're not just looking at automotive," Park said. It's true about half of the plant is set up to stamp auto body parts. "But the auto business is so convoluted and mixed up and nobody knows what anyone is doing," he said.
  • DENSO Names New President and CEO of North American Headquarters - DENSO today announced that Yoshiki "Steve" Sekiguchi will be president and CEO of DENSO International America (DIAM), DENSO's North American headquarters, effective immediately.
  • Advanced DuPont Coatings Help Chinese Automakers Achieve Sustainability Goals - Coatings with environmental benefits made in China for Chinese auto industry
  • Suppliers on edge as Big 3 cut vendors - The Obama administration, deeply involved in restructuring the automobile industry, is ignoring pleas for help from parts manufacturers -- in part because Detroit's Big Three automakers are pushing for supplier consolidation.
  • Is your car officially a clunker? Search the database
  • Dealix and Edmunds.com to Host Webinar to Help Auto Dealers Get Ready for 'Cash for Clunkers' - Dealers to Play Critical Role in Educating Consumers about Voucher Program to Trade In Low Mileage Vehicles for More Fuel Efficient Models
  • Ford Makes it Easy to Recycle Your Ride - On June 25, Ford will launch an area on Ford.com where consumers can calculate the combined fuel economy of their current vehicle and determine the amount of voucher funds that can be applied toward qualifying Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicles.
  • Auto Group Comments on Cash for Clunkers Legislation - U.S. EPA Data Show Progress in Reducing Auto Emissions and Major Benefit of Removing High-Emitting Vehicles from the Road
  • Ordinance applies to cars, too - PA: Auto body shops in the City of DuBois may face fines if they do not fence in or keep indoors car parts or dismantled vehicles.
  • FBI Investigating Wisconsin Body Shop - The FBI is alleging that a Waukesha auto repair business owner and some of his employees have been enhancing damage to vehicles, replacing air bags with used air bags, and using salvage yard parts instead of new ones in order to defraud insurance companies, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
  • Insurer Groups at Odds with Proposed Wisconsin Auto Insurance Bill - Wisconsin lawmakers are considering legislation that would increase costs for low- and middle-income insurance consumers, according to the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) and the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI).
  • Crist signs bill prohibiting local governments to charge for "crash tax"- FL: The measure (SB 2282) by Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, prohibits dozens of cash-strapped local governments from charging crash victims for police and firefighter response. Fees range from $180 to $200 for police response and $600 to $800 for fire departments.
  • Crist Vetoes Insurance Legislation - FL: Bill would have let State Farm, other large insurers raise rates without regulation.
  • Motorists Scale Back Shopping for Auto Insurance, Survey Shows - Fewer motorists sought to change their insurance company for their vehicles as the U.S. recession spurred a “hunker-down mentality,” according to a J.D. Power and Associates survey.
  • Erie Insurance wins top award - Erie-based Erie Insurance has been ranked for the second year in a row as the nation's top insurance company for satisfying new buyers, according to J.D. Power and Associates. -- A study by J.D. Power focused on the purchase behaviors and satisfaction of buyers who shopped for a new auto insurance company.
  • State Farm to raise auto rates - TX: State Farm Insurance has filed for a statewide 3 percent increase in auto insurance rates, citing increased costs in paying claims. The insurer said the new rates will go into effect for new and renewal policies with State Farm Mutual - the company's primary auto insurance subsidiary - beginning on Aug. 3.
  • Auto insurance rates rose in '08 after '07 drop - Arizona auto insurers have raised rates overall since the start of 2008 after cutting overall rates in 2007, data from the state Department of Insurance show.

June 23, 2009 

  • Watch This Month's Video Newscast: Updates on Coccaro/Progress Case; Saint Gobain Suit Against PGW; and More - The latest edition of the glassBYTEs.com™ video newscast includes an update on the anti-steering suit filed by Greg Coccaro against insurance giant Progressive; a look at the complaint filed against Pittsburgh Glass Works by Saint-Gobain France; a preview of some of the newest technology available to auto glass shops; and more.
  • CRA slams steering bill - The Collision Repair Association of California (CRA) criticized AB 1200 (Hayashi, D-Hayward), which would give insurers more opportunity to steer customers to their direct repair shops.
  • CIC Database Committee – CCC Bumper Prompt Details - The CIC Database Task Force (DTF) has consumed significant time and energy engaging CCC on this issue during the past several years. >>>>
  • ASA Revises 'Open Platform' Position Statement - USAA requirement limiting for members - The Automotive Service Association (ASA) board of directors has approved a newly revised position statement proposed by the volunteer leadership of its Collision Division.
  • 2009 NACE and CARS Online Attendee Registration Opens - Online attendee registration is now open for the 2009 NACE and CARS with no increase in prices over 2008 fees for packages and sessions.
  • AGRSS Registration to Open June 24; Will Include NACE Show Registration as Well - glassBYTEs™: The Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standards (AGRSS) Council Inc. will open registration for its Fifth Annual International Auto Glass Safety Conference on June 24. The event will be held November 4-5 in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in conjunction with the Auto Glass Expo at NACE. Registration for the International Auto Glass Safety Conference also will allow attendees entrance into the NACE trade show, the Fifth Annual Auto Glass Technician Olympics and the Fourth Annual Walt Gorman Memorial Windshield Repair Olympics.
  • Auto body shops face environment reporting requirements - NY: Auto body shops in the Capital Region will be the first in the state to face detailed reporting requirements under a new initiative targeting potential environmental hazards.
  • Moses Body Shop opens at former Chrysler location - WV: Moses AutoMall of Huntington has opened a new body shop and collision center in the home of the old Tri-State Chrysler Body Shop, and it's going green in the process, according to a release from the dealership.
  • West Ashley families join forces to launch Morris operation offering body repairs - Not yet a year old, the Morris Nissan body shop is a merger of sorts between a longtime West Ashley car “name” and a family with roots in auto service.
  • Restoration specialist, Make-a-Wish team up - Dave Chamberlain, a car restoration specialist who lives in Statesville, decided to offer his talents to make a dream come true for 15-year-old Ronni Steves of Williamson, N.Y.
  • CARSTAR Sets the New Guinness World Record for World's Largest Car Wash - CARSTAR is the new holder of the Guinness World Record for world's largest car wash, thanks to more than 150 stores across the U.S. and Canada's efforts to wash more than 4,000 cars on Saturday, June 20th, 2009.  One hundred percent of the proceeds from the event supported Make-A-Wish and Cystic Fibrosis nationally as well as select local charities.
  • National body shop coming to Rio Rancho - NM: Rio Ranchoans will soon have another option in automotive repair as national franchise Maaco Collision Repair has plans to have a franchise open by August.
  • ABRA Auto Body & Glass Celebrates 25 Years of Success -  In June of 1984, Rollie Benjamin, ABRA`s President and CEO, co-founded ABRA`s first repair center in Fridley, MN, in an upscale, commercial development.
  • Web-Est Customer Robert Winfrey Shares His Experience as a User of Their Service - Robert Winfrey provided some inside knowledge as a body shop owner about the way Web-Est's products and services assisted him with his business.
  • BOCES Refinishes Museum’s Planes - Students in BOCES' Hewes Educational Center Automotive Body and Repair program were given the opportunity to refinish a Piper Pacer, single-propeller airplane housed at the Chautauqua County Airport's Air Museum, a project the class recently completed.
  • Auto repair students get hands-on training - Hagerstown, MD: Many students enrolled in the auto repair program at the technical high school said they were planning to look for jobs in local repair shops after graduation. Students study either collision repair or automotive technology.
  • Delphi and Visteon look to GM, Ford - A decade after General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. spun off their parts subsidiaries, Delphi Corp. and Visteon Corp., the two automakers are now playing a critical role in keeping the suppliers alive.
  • Creditors Committee Objects to Delphi Plan - Delphi Corp.’s committee of unsecured creditors is challenging the proposed modifications of Delphi’s confirmed reorganization plan, singling out the committee’s lack of access to critical information and key plan provisions that would allow Delphi to sell all of its assets in what amounts to a liquidation.
  • Dealers no longer fans of their brand - Many feel betrayed by carmakers
  • Domestic automakers make gains in quality survey - Even in a year of financial stress, Detroit carmakers outpaced the industry in quality gains, J.D. Power and Associates said Monday.
  • Buyouts offered to Toyota supplier workers - The first Toyota supplier to announce plans for a north Mississippi location has offered buyouts to its 16 employees in Baldwyn.
  • Detroit gains ground in auto quality, study shows - There's a message for Detroit's automakers in the new J. D. Power and Associates rankings: Good work. Now go back and do it again. -- The marketing and consulting company's closely watched annual study of vehicle quality found yesterday that Ford, General Motors and Chrysler made strides last year but still lag behind their foreign competitors.
  • Nissan to mass produce electric cars in 2012 - Nissan Motor Co. said Tuesday its electric vehicles will be affordable, setting sights on the potentially lucrative market with a plan to mass produce zero-emission cars globally from 2012.
  • Ford, Nissan, Tesla to get govt loans - The Energy Department is lending money to the Ford Motor Co. and two other automakers from a $25 billion fund to develop fuel-efficient vehicles, congressional officials say.
  • Workforce Investment Board approves $100,000 to train workers - The Workforce Investment Board of San Bernardino County will use slightly more than $100,000 in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to train workers for available jobs in welding, mechanics and auto body repair.  -- Training costs for up to 70 qualifying residents will be funded with this allocation.
  • 280,000 Cars In NY Eligible For Trade-In - Sen. Charles Schumer says about 280,000 cars on the road in upstate New York today would be eligible for trade-in in the national "Cash for Clunkers" plan.
  • Cash for clunkers - minus the clunkers - Looking for a way to benefit from cash for clunkers even if you're not trading in an old gas guzzler? Some analysts say buy steel companies and scrap recyclers.
  • Cash for clunkers inferior to German counterpart - German cars are renowned for their quality and have become thought of by many consumers as simply being better than cars made in the US. It appears now the relationship between auto legislation in America and Germany is analogous. Germany keeps itself to a higher standard.
  • Code enforcement officers search for illegal auto repair shops - MS: Jackson code enforcement officers are working their way through the capital city in search of illegal mechanic shops. 
  • Motorcycle Riders Foundation Urges Congress to Swiftly Pass 'Right to Repair' - "We have formally committed our support to the Right to Repair Act because we believe that consumers are entitled to the right to choose how their motorcycle, car or other type of vehicle is maintained or upgraded. The point of Right to Repair is to protect the freedom of American consumers to choose how they take care of their vehicles, be it in their driveway or at a trusted repair facility, and to ensure that they have access to all the information required to complete service and repairs," said Jeff Hennie, vice president of government relations for the Motorcycle Riders Foundation.
  • Study Predicts More Than 3,400 Americans Will Be Injured or Killed by Defective GM or Chrysler Cars in First Year of Post-Bankruptcy Era - Based on data provided by both automakers to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 3,400 Americans will be injured or killed by a defective Chrysler or GM vehicle during the first year of the post-bankruptcy era. The report, "Public Safety at Risk: Bankruptcies Leave Legacy of Defects, Injuries and Deaths," also forecasts fewer recalls for vehicles built by the old companies, decreasing public safety.
  • States Seek to Join Federal Probe Into AIG Bonuses, Alleged 'Half Truths' - U.S. states probing employee bonuses paid by American International Group Inc. using taxpayer money plan to join federal investigators in the
    matter, while leaving open the possibility of pursuing the case themselves.

June 19, 2009 

June 17, 2009 

  • Administration rejects auto supplier aid request - The Obama administration has turned down a request by auto suppliers for up to $10 billion in additional federal aid to help the parts companies deal with the bankruptcies of General Motors and Chrysler.
  • Kadel's Auto Body 16th Annual Golf Classic Raises Over $12k for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon - Kadel's CEO Don Braden wrote the check to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for $12,200.
  • Maryville business helps youngsters reach dreams - MO: At a Make-a-Wish event Wednesday, Kurt's Carstar Collision Center in Maryville raised enough money to send the family to Walt Disney World Resort.
  • CARSTAR Collision Centers To Attempt Guinness World Record for Largest Car Wash - More than 150 Stores in the U.S. and Canada to Wash Cars on June 20, 2009 to Help Those in Need and Earn Worldwide Bragging Rights - Avondale CARSTAR in Chicago Set as National Host to Lead Record Attempt
  • Southwest Auto Glass Named to “Best of El Paso” - Southwest Auto Glass in El Paso, Texas, has been named to the “Best of El Paso” list as top for windshield repair. The listings are created via an independent survey of consumers conducted by El Paso Magazine.
  • NASTF Releases "Booster" Logo - NASTF is asking individuals, organizations, companies, and other interested parties to place the new "We Support NASTF" logo on websites, print materials, e-newsletters, and other appropriate locations to show support and help publicize NASTF and its activities. A link to the NASTF website at or printing of the NASTF web address below the logo where possible is also requested.
  • Esurance auto insurance earns I-CAR Gold Class Professionals status nationwide - I-CAR, the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair, announced today that Esurance, the direct-to-consumer auto insurance company, has earned the I-CAR Gold Class Professionals designation. To reach Gold Class status, Esurance’s material damage specialists nationwide underwent 1,500 of additional training hours collectively.
  • CPTC auto instructor to speak at I-CAR webinar - Lakewood, WA – Greg Richards, Automotive Collision Repair instructor at Clover Park Technical College has been asked to speak at an upcoming I-CAR webinar regarding the use of waterborne coatings as taught here at Clover Park Technical College.
  • I-CAR Education Foundation Announces 2009 Scholarship Winners - The I-CAR Education Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of the two scholarships in collision repair that were created to assist deserving students pursuing a career in the collision industry. These awards are part of over $150,000 in grants and scholarships to be given out in 2009 by the I-CAR Education Foundation.
  • I-CAR Education Foundation Awards School and Instructor Grants - I-CAR Education Foundation has proudly awarded curriculum grants to five schools, maintenance grants for 12 schools to update their current curriculum and training material library, and training grants that will assist 12 instructors to attend the I-CAR Instructor Qualification Workshop (IQW).
  • Students test auto repair skills at AAA contest - A team of two students from Minnesota finished in first place today in the annual Ford/AAA student skills competition, but the team from Michigan still enjoyed the event.
  • Business briefs: Custom Coatings - Owner Craig Taylor and staff provide custom painting and powder coating for motorcycles, classic cars and more at their new shop on Route 1 South.
  • CCC ONE(TM) Total Repair Platform Enters New Phase of Enhancements - Continuous Customer Input Helps Evolve Integrated Collision Repair Workflow Solution
  • Latest Audatex Industry Trends Report 'Audatex Directions' Released - This issue’s feature article examines the increase in share of Asian vehicles and their impact on average repair costs.
  • Meineke Car Care Centers Supports Right to Repair Act - Chrysler and GM bankruptcies highlight need for additional repair options
  • Auto Tech: Powder coating finishes - Many coloured parts of our automobiles leave the factory with a finish that is not paint. Everything from oil filters to alloy wheels are often covered with a powder and baked. The process is called Powder Coating and it is a tough, durable finish that should be considered if you have metal car parts or even lawn furniture that needs refinishing.
  • Copart Announces Sponsorship with Bill McAnally Racing - Copart, Inc., a leading online vehicle remarketer, is proud to announce that it will be a sponsor for Bill McAnally Racing during the NASCAR Camping World Series West and the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.
  • U.S. Rejects Auto Suppliers’ Loan-Guarantee Request - Twenty-one makers of auto parts have filed for bankruptcy this year.
  • American Axle sues steel maker to resume shipments - Auto parts supplier American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. is seeking a court order to get one of its steel suppliers to resume deliveries, saying that by cutting off supplies it threatens the entire auto supply chain.
  • GM to sell Swedish unit Saab to Koenigsegg - Saab Automobile, General Motors Corp.'s struggling Swedish unit known for its family cars, was rescued Tuesday by a consortium led by Koenigsegg Automotive AB, a tiny company that produces only a dozen custom-made super cars a year.
  • GM Opel May Reduce Prices 40% to Sell Enough Cars to Save Jobs - General Motors Corp.’s European Opel unit, rescued by German state aid last month, may have to slash prices by 40 percent to sell enough cars and fulfill a pledge to save jobs in the country.
  • Warrant accuses auto repair shop of fraud - The Federal Bureau of Investigation alleges a Waukesha auto repair business owner and some of his employees have been enhancing damage to vehicles, replacing air bags with used air bags, and using salvage yard parts instead of new ones in an effort to defraud insurance companies, according to a search warrant.
  • Car Parts Scam in Sunnyside - WA: Officers say someone is walking up to people in their driveway, telling them their car has an oil leak, and claiming they can repair it if you give them money for the parts.  Once they take the money, they never come back to fix the car.
  • Proper steps will secure hail claims - Hail storms cause $1 billion in damage to U.S. property each year, according to the Insurance Information Institute. -- After your insurance company's adjuster surveys the damage, select a reputable roofing company or auto body shop to make repairs.
  • The Hartford to Get $3.4 Billion in Federal Funds; Plans Stock Sale - The 199-year-old life and property insurer announced its plans eight days after saying Chairman and Chief Executive Ramani Ayer will retire by the end of the year.

June 15, 2009 

  • California Senate Considers Bill That Would Relax State's Anti-Steering Law - glassBYTEs™: The California Senate read a bill that would ease the state’s anti-steering law for the first time last week. The bill, which has already passed the state’s Assembly, is designed to “provide that nothing in existing law restricts the ability of an insurer to explain benefits the insurer provides as part of the claims process.”
  • 5th Annual Tool Awards - Sunday afternoon the Mass Auto Body Association held its 5th Annual Tool Awards for the top eight collision repair students in western Massachusetts. -- Some of the tools were donated by Auto Body Supplies and Paint and Sherwin Williams Automotive.
  • IIHS documents slow speed collision repair costs - In the IIHS’ most recent slow speed impact bumper testing, none of the 7 subcompacts, 20 compacts, 12 mid-priced midsized, 7 mid-sized luxury and 5 minivans tested earned the top rating of good. Of the 51 vehicles shown, 70% earned a poor rating adding thousands of dollars to a low speed collision that in most circumstances should cost less than $500 to repair.
  • State helps auto shops go green with manuals - NY: To help automobile body shops prevent pollution and "green" their operations, the state Department of Environmental Conservation has created two manuals, titled "The Environmental Compliance Guide for Auto Body Shops" and "Environmental Report Packet for Auto Body Shops." A series of workshops is scheduled to help shops meet environmental reporting requirements.
  • CCC Pathways still Software of Choice - In a recent poll, CCC Pathways received 57% of the vote when participants were asked; “Which estimating system do you prefer”. The next closest company was Mitchell with 24% of the vote, followed by Audatex receiving 19%.
  • AskPatty Launches Enhanced Certified Female Friendly Training for Car Dealerships, Tire Dealers and Automotive Service and Repair Centers - AskPatty.com Certified Female Friendly online interactive training design and functionality are another industry first for Tire Dealers and Automotive Service and Repair Centers
  • Business beat - AAA of Washington has awarded the following local repair shops with AAA Top Shop Awards for their commitment to excellence in customer service and repair: Spokane – Auto Craft, Ed’s Premier Auto Body and Toby’s Body and Fender; Greenacres – Walker’s Automotive.
  • Governor's Awards Honor Iowa Environmental Leaders - Special Recognition in Air Quality: Arnold's Body Shop, Davenport - Arnold's Body Shop decided to switch from solvent-borne base coatings to water-borne base coatings with assistance from the Iowa Waste Reduction Center, becoming the first Iowa-based body shop to do so.
  • Shops set out to put record on the books - Two Missisauga auto repair franchise shops are among 125 CARSTAR Collision Centres attempting to set the world record for the largest car wash.
  • PPG Industries spent $278,784 to lobby gov't in 1Q - PPG Industries Inc., which makes paint and coatings, spent $278,784.22 in the first quarter to lobby on the federal stimulus package and other issues, according to a recent disclosure report.
  • Sherwin-Williams to close Olive Branch plant - About 150 workers affected by shutdown
  • GM Purchasing Chief Leaves At Critical Time - General Motors Corp. said Friday its purchasing chief, responsible for the company's $100 billion parts operation, is leaving as thousands of auto suppliers struggle to stay afloat.
  • Auto Supplier Adapts to Weather Recession - One Nashville company that has spent years supplying auto companies like GM is finding a new way of doing business.
  • Not all in the automotive industry ailing - Used car sellers, auto repairers say business is good
  • Futaba Drops After Probe Into Auto-Part Maker’s Books - Japan: The stock fell 1.3 percent in morning trade before public broadcaster NHK first reported the company was being investigated on suspicion of padding earnings by 100 billion yen ($1 billion). -- The company, which makes parts for car’s exhaust pipes and auto-parts assembling lines, attributed the revision to improper accounting of installation charges and inventory, and impairment of devalued fixed assets.
  • GM's woes likely to hurt suppliers worldwide - Japanese automakers might see a short-term windfall in the wake of General Motors Corp.'s bankruptcy filing.
  • Ford CEO sees US economy improving in second half - "We think we are right on track to start this recovery in the second half," Mulally told reporters on the sidelines of an an event promoting the Taurus sedan.
  • NADA Welcomes Congressional Oversight of Dealership Closures - Following his testimony before the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, John McEleney, Chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) and a multi-franchise dealer from Iowa, issued the following statement
  • Auto execs defend closings - Under withering criticism in Congress, General Motors and Chrysler executives on Friday called the closings of hundreds of dealerships painful steps needed to right-size the auto giants. Down-on-their luck dealers said the moves would needlessly devastate their local economies and livelihoods.
  • Consumers Want Their Hummers...? - Pontiac and Hummer Take Top Spots on List of GM Brands Auto Consumers Want to Survive
  • The 'Cash For Clunkers' Bill - While some critics have tabbed the measure as another bailout for the auto industry during the ongoing recession, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins rejects such claims.
  • Heroes Unite Campaign benefits Blood Bank - Two communities will each be named winners of a $1000 cash prize sponsored by Cargill, McClintock Insurance, Inc., and Prestige Collision Repair Center all of Sioux City. The cash prize will be used for needed safety equipment.
  • Auto body shop in Town of Wallkill quickly reopens after fire - A little more than a week since a fire damaged part of Lothar's Body Shop, the business is going strong.
  • Are debt-ridden people torching their own cars for cash? - State and national agencies that look into scams known as owner "give-ups" — vehicles that are burned, wrecked, driven into a lake, dropped off a bridge or somehow purposefully lost — say these kinds of cases appear to be on the rise.
  • Auto Insurance: 8 Secret Savings Your Company May Not Suggest - There's something your auto insurance company or agent isn't telling you that might save you money.
  • Crawford & Company Launches Mobile ClaimHub(TM) - Introduced in 2008, Mobile ClaimHub(TM) is used throughout the United States by hundreds of insurance adjusters.
  • State Farm, Community Brace for Crist's Decision - Company employs 1,700 in Winter Haven, insures over 46,000 in Polk.
  • Home and auto insurance rates on the rise in Ga. - As Georgians struggle to cope with an ongoing recession, their car and home insurance rates are on the rise.
  • Nationwide VP of Claims Terry Fortner to Retire - Terry Fortner, Vice President Material Damage Claims for Nationwide Insurance, will be retiring this summer after more than 30 years with the company.

June 11, 2009 

June 9, 2009 

June 5, 2009 

  • Progressive Turns Over 68 Boxes of Claims Files in Coccaro Case - glassBYTEs™: The New York State Supreme Court had ordered Progressive in late April to produce the files requested (802 in total) by May 28. North State Custom, owned and founded by Coccaro, who recently prevailed in a separate suit Progressive filed again him, claims that Progressive steered away customers from the shop, and though the specific steering charge was removed from the case, several causes of action remain that involve steering allegations: tortious interference; engaging in deceptive business practices; and spreading injurious falsehoods about his business.
  • Opinion: 'Cash for clunkers' bill would restrict sale of replacement parts - Congress is making a critical mistake that will have negative consequences for consumers who are unable or unwilling to purchase a new car. The so-called "cash for clunkers" bill, which seeks to restrict the sale of two major replacement parts - the engine and transmission - has been added to the Energy and Climate Change Bill. -- This bill will also harm thousands of independent repair shops, auto restorers, customizers and their customers across the country.
  • Women drivers wanted - Christian Brothers Automotive Corporation, coming soon to Grayson, finds favor with women auto owners -- Mark Carr, president and CEO of CBAC, opened the first Christian Brothers Automotive in Houston in 1982. The store's main principle was to run an automotive repair facility based on honesty, integrity and exceptional customer service, which is still the core philosophy of CBAC today.
  • Talk your way out of the recession - AutobodyOnline: When tough times descend, people talk. They complain about the lack of money, credit or sales. They worry aloud about their future. They wonder when the economy will start to improve.
  • Lean collision repair shops: the big picture - If the idea of yet another explanation of such “lean processes” as “5S,” “constraints” and “blueprinting” has you moving on to the next article, stop for just a moment.
  • Kurt’s CARSTAR Hosts Fundraising Event for Make-A-Wish Foundation® - On June 11, 2009, Kurt's CARSTAR will host the Third Annual Business After Hours Make-A-Wish® Fundraiser to benefit the Missouri and Illinois chapters of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
  • Woodies are alright, outta sight to Campbell shop owner - Wright, owner of Campbell Ford Performance and a Campbell resident for more than 40 years, has been fixing and restoring old model woodies for almost 20 years at his shop on S. Winchester Boulevard. Although his expertise is with Fords, his passion lies with woodies.
  • Officials: Good time to borrow via SBA - WI: State Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton held a press conference Tuesday at Clemens Auto Repair, 1313 Liberty St., accompanied by SBA District Director Eric Ness. Their message was to urge small-business owners to apply for SBA loans — especially now, while federal stimulus money is available. -- The officials chose Clemens Auto Repair for their press conference because the owner, Geisler, recently took out a guaranteed, $150,000, 6 percent loan through SBA.
  • SBA, Greenfield Collision Press Conference Highlights Recovery Act Successes - U.S. Small Business Administration’s Michigan District Director Richard Temkin and Don Lane & Keith Robinson, Owners of Greenfield Collision Inc. hosted a Recovery Act Success press conference on June 3, 2009 to highlight how small businesses are taking advantage of the changes SBA made to its loan programs as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
  • PPG expands online training courses - Developed through a partnership between PPG Refinish and 3M’s Automotive Aftermarket team, each on-line course is designed to teach an established standard technical repair process.
  • PGW Completes Testing with DOE on Sungate® EP Glass - glassBYTEs™: Pittsburgh Glass Works LLC (PGW) has announced that it has completed testing with the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) that shows that its Sungate EP auto glass improves fuel efficiency and cabin comfort in plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).
  • Tech: How to fill emblem mounting holes and dent puller damage - Car show season is about to get geared up in San Francisco, so it’s time to get your ride cleaned up for the crowds and cameras. Some bodywork may be involved, and there are going to be factory emblems and trim that will not be going back on the car that will leave mounting holes behind.
  • "Right to Repair Act" would give car owners more options - Saving money while driving has become a top priority for most of us. And for years there's been a battle between car dealers and independent auto shops, over who should be able to repair and maintain increasingly computerized automobiles.
  • Auto care chain setting up shop - An Arizona-based auto repair services company has opened its first California store in Indio. -- Fletcher's Auto and Tires opened in Indio in mid-May near the Home Depot and WinCo Foods in the retail area of North Jackson Street, district manager Tim Powers said. David Carabba is the store's manager.
  • Area car enthusiasts weigh in on industry woes - “It concerns me because I really feel the auto industry is a major part of our economy and our country,” said Duane Geir, owner of Fargo’s Finest Auto Body Shop. He brought his 1960 Ford Starliner to National Muffler’s Cruisin’ Broadway event Thursday evening in downtown Fargo.
  • GM rejects Bend dealership's appeal to stay on - Bend, OR: The company will continue to operate as the only Honda dealer in Central Oregon and provides Service, Parts and Collision Repair for all makes and models of vehicles.  
  • Mobileye and Visteon to Collaborate on the Development of Advanced Lighting Control Strategies - Mobileye N.V. announced today an agreement with Visteon Corporation whereby the two companies will jointly develop strategies and technologies that will control tomorrow's smart headlamp systems.
  • Chrysler dealers plead their case to stay open - Many who represent family-run businesses claim closure notice is vindictive and unfair
  • Auto execs defend dealer cuts in Senate visit - Senators scold GM, Chrysler officials for decision to shutter at least 3,000 outlets
  • Hail-damaged cars swamp auto body shops - Technicians working night and day to cover volume
  • Pollution concerns cause delay on proposed car repair shop - Worries about whether a proposed auto repair facility would pollute a city well and Little Muskego Lake caused the Muskego Plan Commission to defer action Tuesday on a conditional-use permit request for the shop.
  • Arthur Hicks finally cleans up ex-Car Doctors - Muncie: State officials say Arthur Hicks Jr. finally has complied with a court order to clean up the former Car Doctors auto salvage yard, an open dump at 1004 S. Burlington Drive.
  • Woman must remove 20 cars from property - MA: Maureen Tuffy said she has been trying to run an auto body shop at the location and in other communities. However, she said medical and other problems have prohibited her from obtaining all the requirements to move forward.
  • Fresno police raid yields stolen automotive parts - Police officers have recovered several stolen Honda engines and other automotive parts after raids on a Fresno business and a Clovis home.
  • Canada: Chop-shop owner sought - A 54-year-old man is wanted for running an alleged chop shop after four storage units in a Vaughan industrial complex were found stuffed with parts from more than 30 stolen vehicles.
  • Top 100 Profile: Strength in Numbers at Keystone Insurers Group - As Insurance Journal prepares for another Top 100 Independent Property/Casualty Agency List, to be published in our Aug. 3, 2009, magazine, the editors wanted to highlight a few of the current Top 100 agencies.
  • Travelers' New Challenge: Luring Consumers - The property and casualty insurance company will have to endure an extended trial-and-error period -- and spend lots of marketing dollars -- before it strikes advertising gold like its competitors Progressive and Geico. Without an army of agents to market policies, an engaging advertising hook is essential in the direct-channel insurance business.

June 3, 2009 

June 1, 2009 

  • GM Files Bankruptcy to Spin Off More Competitive Firm  - “Today marks a defining moment in the reinvention of GM,” said company President and Chief Executive Officer Fritz Henderson. “The economic crisis has caused enormous disruption in the auto industry.” -- Auburn Hills, Michigan-based Chrysler plans to transfer most of its assets to a new entity that would be run by Italy’s Fiat SpA. Another federal bankruptcy judge in New York approved the deal last night.
  • Body Shop Files Response to State Farm in Tortious Interference Suit; Argues That State Farm is Not a Party to Its Relationship with Customers - glassBYTEs™: Gunder's Auto Center, a body shop based in Lakeland, Fla., has filed a response to State Farm Insurance's motion to dismiss its tortious interference suit. In the suit, Gunder's alleges that State Farm tortiously interfered with at least three customers and made "slanderous and/or tortious statements to those identified prospective customers."
  • Body Shop Owner Provides Business Tips - glassBYTEs™: Body shop owner Bruce Hutchins of Bruce's Super Body Shops in Richmond, Va., recently provided several business tips to a group of auto glass shop owners. Among these, he reminded shops, "You have to run your business similarly to how other businesses are run."
  • Two Key Issues Await Participants In ASA Capitol Hill Fly-In - An opportunity to voice their opinions on two important issues await Automotive Service Association (ASA) Collision Division members who participate in ASA's Capitol Hill Fly-In July 28-29 in Washington, D.C.
  • NACE and CARS Expands Conference - NACE and CARS have developed an expanded 2009 conference program for collision and mechanical repair professional this fall, without a price increase.
  • Autobody Craftsman Association Educational Event - June 6th - 8:00am to 4:00pm - Residence Inn Seattle Bellevue/Downtown - 605 114th Ave SE - Bellevue, Washington 98004
  • Reinventing the wheels - Body shop specializes in refurbishing classic cars
  • Painting cars goes eco-friendly - Terre Haute, IN - The Sycamore Collision Center does not just paint cars green, but is trying to go green with a environment-friendly system.
  • Shops say 'green marketing' works - As more collision repair shops convert to waterborne paint, upgrade to energy-efficient equipment and lighting, and look for other ways to make their shops more efficient, reduce VOC emissions and comply with state and federal environmental regulations, many have begun touting their new “green business” status in their marketing materials.
  • Web-Est Adds New Free Training For Online Collision Repair Leads - Web-Est adds Free Training information to their "Shop Profit Training" web site, the information is geared towards helping body shop's get leads using Google™ Search Engine
  • Congratulations to the Skills Canada Medal Winners in Collision Repair! - Nine individuals from five provinces and one territory took home autobody repair and painting medals in the Skills Canada national competition in Charlottetown, P.E.I.
  • Maine halts car restoration program - Maine has halted a program to teach prison inmates to restore cars, which are then auctioned.
  • LoGuidice Auto Body Class repaints Silver Creek disaster vehicle - The Village of Silver Creek is the recent beneficiary of a newly refinished disaster-operations vehicle, courtesy of the Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES' LoGuidice Educational Center's Automotive Body Repair Program.
  • New DuPont training center seeing a surge in demand for classes - DuPont reports that since its new Refinish Systems Training Center opened in January, it has been a hive of activity. “We’ve been running at capacity and even above capacity,” said David Helms, senior training instructor at the facility.  “Painters have come to us from as far away as Utah, Connecticut and Florida.” 
  • DuPont signs agreement with Suzuki Carachi Motors - Pakistan: DuPont Refinish, the global leader in refinish productivity, signed a three-year agreement with Suzuki Carachi Motors as an official exclusive refinish paint supplier.
  • Senate "Clunker" Bill Includes SEMA Safeguard for Older Cars and Trucks - Legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate to establish a one-year national vehicle scrappage program includes a SEMA provision to prevent cars that are 25 years or older from being crushed.
  • 5 Unbelievably Solid Companies - They have one very rare trait. -- PPG Industries: Has raised dividends to shareholders for 37 straight years -- and has been paying a dividend since 1899!
  • Delphi talks with GM, U.S. on Chapter 11 exit - Troy-based supplier Delphi Corp. continues talks with its lenders General Motors Corp. and the U.S. Treasury on a deal that would bring the supplier out of bankruptcy.
  • More parts firms to file for Chapter 11 - Suppliers struggle for operating cash
  • Ford's survival strikes chord with consumers - But as losses mount and market share drops, Ford wobbles -- In Visteon's case, Ford is likely on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars to ensure the availability of the parts and materials needed to keep its own assembly lines in operation.
  • U.S. Auto Market Likely Shrank 35% in May on Chrysler, Economy - Chrysler LLC, idling plants and shutting dealerships in bankruptcy, probably helped shrink the U.S. auto market by 35 percent in May as the industry endured its worst start to a year since at least 1976.
  • GM prepares for bankruptcy protection announcement - With the clock ticking on a June 1 government deadline to restructure, General Motors Corp. worked feverishly Sunday to shore up its global businesses to clear the way for a speedy reorganization in bankruptcy court.
  • Japan sees no major trouble from GM bankruptcy - Japan stands ready to assist any Japanese companies seriously hurt by fallout from General Motors' imminent bankruptcy, government officials said Monday, while brushing off fears of major troubles.
  • Goodbye to the Local Car Dealer. Now What? - In advance of its officially announced bankruptcy, General Motors made plans to cut 2,600 of its 6,200 dealerships across America. Chrysler, also in bankruptcy, has moved to eliminate nearly 800 dealerships.
  • Cars go wireless by 2012 - As environmental concerns come to the fore, car makers will increasingly turn away from performance and towards in-car electronics and connectivity as a way of differentiating their vehicles, said Gartner analyst Thilo Koslowski.
  • 3 Illegal Auto Shops Shut Down In Mattapan - Inspectional Service officers moved in on three auto body shops in Mattapan, shutting them down Wednesday. -- "There was only a permit for 11 vehicles, and we counted about 30 today," said Fred Ellis with Inspectional Services. "So they were ordered to remove all vehicles except 11."
  • Counterfeit mastermind gets 4 years in jail - According to Senior Assistant State's Attorney Robert Brennan, Watson headed a ring of 13 people who, from July through September 2007, cashed counterfeit checks written on the accounts of a Westport law firm, a Milford auto body shop and a Milford couple's bank account.
  • Specialized Equipment Stolen From Storage Shed - KS: Salina Police are investigating a burglary in which a large amount of specialized equipment was stolen. -- Deputy Police Chief Carson Mansfield says that sometime between May 21st and May 28th a storage shed at 2410 North 9th Street used by Gold Medallion Collision Repair Systems.
  • California Tire Measure is a Lawsuit Magnet - The Rubber Manufacturers Association today criticized a California Assembly bill as "inconsistent," "contradictory" and "fear-mongering" that would only serve to increase lawsuit opportunities for the bill's primary supporters - trial lawyers.
  • USAA ranks first in customer loyalty - San Antonio-based insurance giant USAA was the top-ranked financial services firm in Forrester Research Inc.’s 2009 survey of customer loyalty

May 2009 >>>>

 



 
 

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