September 30, 2005

• Hot News from GlassBYTES: Glass America Deal to Buy Auto Glass Specialists Falls Through; Company to Be Purchased by Belron - International auto glass installation company Belron has signed a letter of intent to purchase the assets of Auto Glass Specialists Inc., the well-known “little red truck” installation company based in Madison, Wisconsin. -- The sale is a major reversal of direction for the 44-year old company, as president Robert Birkhauser had already announced it was in final negotiations to sell the assets of the business to Glass America. The deal had been expected to close in early September but did not.
• PPG Industries Plant Resumes Power - PPG Industries, a Maker of Coatings and Sealants, Lake Charles Plant Resumes Power After Storm
• Charity Chopper Goes up for Bid on eBay Motors to Raise Funds for Blood Cancer Victims - Built by legendary bike builder Dave Perewitz in collaboration with fund-raiser co-sponsors PPG Industries automotive refinish and Ray Evernham of NASCAR's Evernham Motorsports, the Charity Chopper is one of the more unique and worthwhile motorsports items ever to be auctioned on eBay Motors, matching the chopper's ultimate style, power and performance with a great cause in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
• Japan Mum After US Lawmakers Blast Its Trade Practices - Japanese government and auto officials were mum Friday about possible trade friction after U.S. lawmakers and General Motors Corp. (GM) accused Japan of discriminatory and arbitrary trade policies.
• Ford to slash supplier ranks - Automaker adopts Toyota purchasing model: friendlier, long-term relationships
• Ford to lay off more white-collar staffers - More Ford Motor Co. employees will get pink slips today as the company moves forward with the consolidation of its sales and marketing divisions, according to people familiar with the situation.
• Copart Does Its Part - Copart may handle auto wrecks, but there aren't too many dings and dents with this company. While the growth here isn't flashy, it appears to be a more stable and cash-rich type of growth. I guess it goes to show that one person's junk really can be another's treasure.
• AutoZone's CFO Archbold resigns - The chief financial officer of AutoZone Corp. is leaving the company to become CFO of Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises, AutoZone announced Thursday afternoon. -- Michael Archbold, executive vice president and CFO of the Memphis-based auto parts retailer, will resign effective on Friday.
• LKQ Corporation Announces Pricing of Public Offering of Stock - LKQ Corporation today announced that the public offering of 3,450,000 shares of its common stock was priced at $29.00 per share to the public. The offering includes 2,700,000 primary shares being sold by LKQ and 750,000 secondary shares being sold by selling stockholders. The size of the offering increased by 700,000 shares from the amount originally announced as a result of investor demand.
• Tomorrow's car: lighter, safer and recyclable? - The car of the future doesn't fly, it doesn't talk and it doesn't drive itself. At least not yet.
• Toyota Expanding N.J. Parts Center to Keep Up With Growing Vehicle Population - Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. broke ground today on a $20-million expansion of its Parts Distribution Center (PDC) here that will nearly double its size and make it the largest commercial building in the town.
• Peak Automotive receives ASE Blue Seal of Excellence Recognition - NC: The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) recently added Peak Automotive of Apex, NC to its elite list of Automotive Repair Shops in the nation. This recognition is attained when 75% of the technicians are certified through ASE as well as there being at least one ASE certified technician in each area of service the shop offers.
• New Hampshire Autocare Specialist Named 2006 NAPA/ASE Technician of the Year - NAPA AUTO PARTS and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) have named Michael Lavoie, of Haverhill, New Hampshire, the 2006 NAPA/ASE Technician of the Year. Presented annually by NAPA AUTO PARTS and ASE, the award is given to a technician that exemplifies excellence and achievement in the industry. This winner is selected by a panel that includes former winners, automotive trade media and ASE Headquarters.
• AGRSS Schedules First Conference - Ralph Nader Scheduled to Speak: Bob Bischoff to Explain New O & A -- The Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standards Council (AGRSS) will hold its first ever conference October 16-17 at the Rio All Suites Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
• A woman barters her way into a man's business - Oristano had always dreamed of having her own business and now, here she was the owner of American Patriot Glass. She knew nothing about cars, so she went to a glass manufacturer in Pittsburgh to learn how to install windshields, realizing that she would never get men to take her seriously if she didn't know how to do it herself.
• Diamond Triumph Auto Glass, Inc. Announces a Second Extension of the Previously Announced Tender Offer and Consent Solicitation -  The Offer and Consent Solicitation, previously scheduled to expire at 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on September 29, 2005, will now expire at 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on October 7, 2005, unless extended or earlier terminated (the "Expiration Date").
• Hyundai Sonata and Tucson Achieve Highest Government Crash Test Rating - Five-Star Safety Crash Performance Joins Segment-Leading Standard Safety Technology
• Mercedes to Recall 50,000 Cars - Mercedes to Recall 50,000 Cars to Fix Potential Windshield Wiper Problem -- Earlier this year, Mercedes recalled 1.3 million vehicles to fix problems with their alternators and batteries. It was the largest recall in the company's history.
• 73,000 Kia Spectras Recalled - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is recalling more than 73,000 Kia LD Spectras because of a problem with air bags.-- The recall is for the 2004 and 2005 model years.-- The problem is the computer on the passenger side could mistake a child restraint seat as an adult.
• NHTSA Plans to Crash Test 77 Models Next Year - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration plans to wreck 77 vehicles next year. It's all in the name of safety, though. The 41 cars, 21 SUVs 5 vans and 10 pickups will be subjected to front and side crash tests.
• Autoworkers, Big 3 in Canada settle - Pact portends tough talks on U.S. contract
• Auto strikes hurt Korean output - SEOUL: Industrial production in South Korea fell in August for the first time in four months, government figures showed Thursday, after workers at Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors, the nation's two biggest automakers, went on strike over pay.
• Defunct Fraser auto supplier is grand jury target - A federal grand jury is investigating the accounting practices of a failed automotive supplier and its former owner.
• GDX Announces Executive Management Appointments - GDX Automotive announced the appointment of Howard Duxbury as Chief Operating Officer and President, Global.  Mr. Duxbury joins GDX Automotive after senior management positions with TI Automotive and Siebe Automotive.
• State To Seek 18 Percent Cut In Car Insurance Rates - MA: Auto Industry Wants Only 0.1 Percent Cut
• Auto insurer adding N.J. - The Progressive Corp. said Wednesday it will begin writing auto insurance policies in New Jersey.
• Hurricane claims continue to pour in for State Farm - Of the Katrina claims, 269,000 are property claims, including commercial property, and 85,000 are auto claims. -- For Rita, 29,000 are property claims and 3,700 are auto claims.
• Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi Warns Consumers of Dangers Posed By "Fake Insurance" - Joining national awareness effort, the Commissioner reminds consumers: “Stop. Call. Confirm.” before buying insurance products

September 29, 2005

• NeoMedia Micro Paint Repair Expands to Mexico and Latin America - Charles T. Jensen, NeoMedia's president and CEO, said his company has contracted with Micropaint de Mexico, S.A., a newly-formed distributorship based in Monterrey, that will sell NeoMedia's proprietary products, as well as products from other automotive aftermarket companies, to the auto body market in Mexico and Latin America.
• Feds probe Delphi exec stock trades - Criminal investigation of accounting at auto supplier expands as firm considers bankruptcy.
• Copart Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2005 Financial Results - In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005 Copart earned net income of $25.0 million on revenues of $112.6 million. In the same period last year the company earned $21.4 million on revenues of $100.1 million. These represent increases in net income and revenue of 17% and 12%, respectively. Fully diluted earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter was $.27 compared to $.23 last year, an increase of 17%.
• Investor buys into Upstate company - SC: Wilbur L. Ross buys 77 percent of shares of air bag fabric manufacturer Safety Components
• Auto parts maker brings jobs to Anderson County - A well-known Japanese auto parts maker is setting up shop in East Tennessee. -- The Aisin Automotive Casting plant in Clinton will provide job security for hundreds of people.
• Leer covers pickup beds with style - Cargo storage specialist enlists aftermarket suppliers to design a pickup with extra pizzazz.
• Mercedes to cut 8,500 jobs - Carmaker says 8% trim in work force to come from early retirements, attrition in bid to boost profits.
• Earl Scheib, Inc. Announces Final Results of Odd Lot Tender Offer - Earl Scheib, Inc. announced the final results of its tender offer of $4.25 per share for the purchase of all shares of Capital Stock held by stockholders of the Company owning 99 shares or less, as of the close of business on July 15, 2005. The offer expired at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on Friday, September 23, 2005.
• CertifiedFirst Network educates insurers about collision repair - PPG Canada Inc. recently received technical accreditation from RIBO (Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario) for three of the technical courses the company offers through the CertifiedFirst Network.
• Basic Auto Detailing 101 - Detailing can sound like a large order but it is simply and plainly the process of de-oxidizing your vehcile--in even plainer words, cleaning your vehicle's paint or coat bringing your shine to the surface.
• Law firm claims Ford engine defect, asks NHTSA to investigate as many as 17 million vehicles - A California law firm is asking federal safety officials to investigate as many as 17 million Ford Motor Co. vehicles for what it says is a costly and dangerous engine defect. -- The petition to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says spark plugs can blow out of the engines because cylinder heads have too few threads and contain a metallurgical weakness.
• Saab to recall 300,000 defective 9-3, 9-5 cars - Saab, an arm of General Motors, said on Thursday it will recall around 300,000 Saab 9-3s and 9-5s from the model years 2000 through 2002 because of overheating in the ignition system.
• Cadillac sunroof probed - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Monday it was investigating reports that the large sunroof on Cadillac SRXs has shattered while driving at highway speeds, showering passengers with glass.
• The future is now - Car manufacturers’ latest models take glass design to the cutting edge
• NAGS releases new patch to solve GlassMate problem - National Auto Glass Specifications released a new patch for its GlassMate software, version 4.9.2, in response to a problem with the product since the release of the first patch, version 4.9.1, in early September.
• NGA Announces New Chairman of the Board - The National Glass Association (NGA) is pleased to announce the election of Thomas D. Lee, III to the office of Chairman of the Board. -- Lee, President of Lee & Cates Glass, Inc. in Jacksonville, FL, has been a supporter of the NGA for many years, having served on the board since 1999. Lee took the office of Chairman on September 15 at GlassBuild America in Atlanta. He will serve a one-year term.
• Glass company sees profits - Pilkington yesterday forecast a 20% surge in half-year profits but admitted its markets remained "challenging". -- The company said successful new product launches by vehicle manufacturers left the automotive division on course for a 25% rise in first-half operating profits on a year earlier. More than 55% of the division's sales are in Europe.
• There's still growth in Mail group as papers mark time - If the gossips are to be believed, Pilkington will not survive much longer as an independent company. Pilks is a perennial target of bid speculation but the 25 per cent share price rise over the past three months and the 64 per cent increase over the past year suggest there may be more to the bid talk than mere idle speculation.
• Pair wins $800,000 from State Farm - MO: Two people acquitted of insurance fraud after being accused of faking the theft of a vehicle have been awarded $800,000 in damages for malicious prosecution of their case.
• Auto insurance fraud probe nets 13 - MA: Police said charges filed against 13 people in three insurance fraud cases Wednesday prove that a concentrated effort to crack down on auto scams is paying off.
• Insurance industry will make us pay for storms - Insurance is like plutonium. We pay a lot for it, and we pray we never have to use it because if we do, it's likely to blow up in our face and cause us problems for years to come.
• Insurance agents work to respond to claims after Rita - TX: As people return to their homes and lives, some of the first calls they make are to their insurance agents.
• How to make sure your insurance company pays your claims - Insurance companies try to convince policyholders that they're in trusted hands, but you shouldn't assume your carrier will graciously hand over the dough during your time of need. "We have seen in the last couple of years very aggressive anti-policyholder practices from insurance companies, especially in homeowners insurance," says Douglas Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in California.

September 28, 2005

• ADP ClaimsFlo Salvage Network Automates Communications Between Carriers and Major Auto Salvors - ADP Claims Services Group today announced that its new ClaimsFlo Salvage Network, a single, integrated connection that routes salvage-management messages between a carrier's claims system and the management systems of major salvors, has facilitated more than 6,500 transactions since its inception in February 2005. The only network that offers access to all three major U.S. salvors through a single connection, ADP ClaimsFlo Salvage Network allows carriers to avoid the cost and effort previously required to maintain separate electronic links with multiple service partners.
• State checks car repair shops for compliance - FL: A team of state investigators from the Division of Consumer Services visited several car shops on Monday to ensure they are complying with the law. Every time you take your car to get fixed, you should get a form that lists the work to be done and the cost. The goal is to keep mechanics honest, but that doesn't always work.
• Nearly 500 Oklahomans Eligible for Restitution from State Farm Insurance - The restitution is the result of an agreement reached in January after State Farm approached attorneys general from 49 states with concerns about possible titling inaccuracies. In most states, insurance companies that take ownership of damaged vehicles must obtain "branded titles," indicating the vehicles are "salvage" or "damaged." State Farm's records showed that a small number of vehicles may not have been properly titled.
• Is there a Delphi, or C&A in Ross' future? Stay tuned - Wilbur L. Ross Jr., the secretive "value investor" others may describe in less positive terms, says he's not aiming to reshape the struggling auto parts industry. -- Even though it kind of looks that way. That's why this shadowy master of the universe is raising suspicions among supplier execs and industry analysts eager to speculate about his actions so long as they don't have to do it on the record.
• Court: Company can argue for reduced payment in minivan lawsuit - NJ: A state appeals panel has given DaimlerChrysler the chance to reduce the amount of money it must pay the family of a 38-year-old woman who was killed when another vehicle's tire crushed the roof of a minivan. -- In 2001, a jury in state Superior Court in Jersey City found DaimlerChrysler liable, finding that the Plymouth Voyager windshield header wasn't designed to handle such an impact safely.
• Safety gadgets hit auto show, little else - Latest technology helps avoid collisions, reduce severity of injuries
• Leading Mazda Parts Store Upgrades Inventory to Cater to Wider Needs of Users - Auto parts like Mazda 323 Alternator, Mazda radiators, Mazda fuel tank, Mazda Pickup Engine Parts, Mazda bumpers, Mazda Tail Lights and Mazda Miata Mirror are essential to your car's maximum performance; thus, replacing them with quality Mazda parts is a must. Some stores may be offering rock-bottom priced Mazda parts and other auto parts, but they are not as efficient as OEM parts. Getting them from a trusted and experienced dealer is a sure way to get auto parts of excellent qualities.
• No winners seen from a Delphi bankruptcy - The credit market on Monday was on high alert for a potential bankruptcy filing by the largest U.S. auto-parts supplier, Delphi Corp.
• Conflict between automakers and suppliers needs to be defused - At a time when Detroit's auto industry is struggling through one of its most challenging periods on record, the animosity between car companies and the supplier community is not helping either party.
• PPG Produces Western Star Color Selector - PPG Commercial Coatings, Strongsville, Ohio, has joined efforts with Western Star Trucks to produce a color selector showcasing 120 of Western Star’s most popular colors. -- Western Star, a division of the Freightliner Group of DaimlerChrysler, designs, manufactures and distributes heavy-duty custom trucks for long-haul and vocational applications.
• As Natural Gas Prices Rise, So Do the Costs of Things Made of Chemicals - The effect on chemical company costs has been huge. Most have already shuttered energy-guzzling plants and installed productivity-enhancing programs in the remaining ones. Yet the savings have not kept pace with the costs. -- Jeff Worden, a spokesman for PPG Industries, which makes chemicals, glass and paints, described it another way. "We use between 60 trillion and 70 trillion B.T.U.'s of natural gas a year, so if the price goes up one dollar, our costs are up $60 or $70 million," he said.
• S&P says concerns about GM's ratings mount - Weaker consumer demand in the face of high gasoline prices is adding to the troubles facing General Motors Corp., raising concerns about the company's credit ratings, Standard & Poor's analysts said on Tuesday.
• Ford to Double Hybrid Team, Develop Parts In-House - Ford Motor Co. is doubling its hybrid vehicle team to support its ambitious growth plan even as the No. 2 U.S. automaker is laying off employees from other departments.
• Group 1 reports only minor damage at Beaumont dealerships - Group 1 Automotive Inc. on Tuesday said its two car dealerships in Beaumont initially seem to have "minor to moderate" damage in the wake of Hurricane Rita.
• Boyd Group announces retirement of Kevin Kavanagh from Board of Directors/Trustees - Boyd Group Income Fund and The Boyd Group Inc. announced that effective December 31, 2005, Mr. Kevin Kavanagh will retire from the Board of Trustees of the Fund and the Board of Directors of Boyd Group. Mr. Kavanagh has been a member of Boyd Group's Board of Directors since 1998 and a Trustee of the Fund since 2003. -- Boyd Group Income Fund is an unincorporated, open-ended mutual fund trust created for the purposes of acquiring and holding certain investments, including a majority interest in The Boyd Group Inc. and its subsidiaries. -- The Boyd Group Inc. is the largest operator of collision repair centers in Canada and among the largest in North America.
• Court strikes down insurance law critics said would hurt poor - CA: A state appeals court has struck down a law that consumer advocates said would result in higher auto insurance rates for many low-income motorists and discourage uninsured drivers from getting coverage.

September 27, 2005

• The Collision Industry Advancement Initiative (CIAI) Advisory Council donates $50,000 to collision industry Katrina relief - "The Collision Industry Advancement Initiative will give $50,000 toward helping the owners and employees of collision repair businesses damaged or destroyed in the catastrophe," said CIAI Advisory Council Chair Sheila Loftus. "We urge other collision repair-related businesses to give as generously as they can to the Collision Industry Foundation, a non-profit overseer of relief funds for the industry."
• Day in the life of an automotive recycler - Stegmeyer said that his used car parts from salvaged cars have warranties and save people money.
• AIAG Event Explores the RFID Wave in Automotive Industry - Something that can be half the size of a grain of sand is transforming the automotive supply chain. These radio frequency identification (RFID) chips (as part of a complete RFID system) are used to quickly and reliably detect, identify and track different automotive parts.
• Pilkington Sees Profit Rising 20% on New Auto Models - Pilkington Plc, the world's biggest maker of car windshields, said it expects fiscal first-half pretax profit to rise more than 20 percent as new vehicle models buoy demand and cost cuts offset higher raw-material expenses.
• New York Auto Dealers Association and Toyota Team Up to Provide Specialized Training - Marking another industry first, Toyota signed a long-term lease agreement with the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association (GNYADA) to become a full-time tenant and provide advanced training at the organization's all-new Center for Automotive Education & Training in New York City.
• New-car smell emerges as auto safety issue with Japanese makers - New-car buyers know the scent of fresh plastic, paint and upholstery, which can bring a rush of pride and consumer satisfaction. -- But that unmistakable new-car smell may soon be a thing of the past, because of safety concerns.
• Database to Track Cars Damaged by Hurricane Katrina - A new, expanded database to track vehicles flooded by Hurricane Katrina has been set up to prevent them from turning up on used car lots around the country, the Associated Press and New Orleans Times-Picayune reported. -- While the National Insurance Crime Bureau has tried to track flooded vehicles from previous storms, the Katrina database represents the group's most ambitious flooded vehicle effort yet.
• Hearings under way on auto insurance - NC: Rate increase of 9.6 percent has been requested by industry; decision could take 6 weeks
• Buffeted, Insurers Look To Congress - Storms Revive Campaign For Federal Assistance -- Insurance executives often boast about their companies' appetite for risk. But some insurers are increasingly unhappy about swallowing the most dramatic risks: hurricanes and other natural disasters.

September 26, 2005

• PPG Industries Closes Chemicals Plant - Sealant and coatings maker PPG Industries on Monday declared a force majeure on all manufacturing activity located at its Lake Charles chemicals complex, which has temporarily stopped operating due to Hurricane Rita.
• Body-shop owner aimed for customer satisfaction - ERIE, Mich: Bernard "Barney" Rasik, the operator of an auto-body shop on the Ohio-Michigan line for 37 years, died Tuesday in his home. He was 78. -- Mr. Rasik died of liver cirrhosis caused by long-term exposure to paints and solvents in his workplace, son Dean H. Rasik said. -- "My Dad would literally wash his hands in paint thinner," Dean Rasik said. Decades ago, he said, few were aware of the toxic consequences of such chemical exposure.
• East Bay auto shops driven to be greener - CA: Program encourages businesses to recycle environmentally harmful chemicals, machinery
• Get your wheels, and your body balanced - Does the car need a tune up? Do you need to tone up? The trip to this body shop will take care of both. -- A husband and wife are combining their businesses of an auto garage and day spa to offer clients a one-stop shop for all their bodywork needs.
• Two nabbed in auto fraud sting - Two San Mateo County auto body shop owners nabbed in an undercover auto fraud string last December found themselves in court Friday, with one convicted suspect pushing for a new trial and the other declining a plea bargain.
• RNE’s Auto Collision Repair program stresses hands–on training - SC: Randy Eargle, director of the Auto Collision Repair program at Richland Northeast High School, guides Labrandon Carmichael, an RNE junior and Level 3 student in the program, through a repair on a faculty member’s car. The RNE Auto Collision Repair program, the only program of its kind in Richland District Two, prepares students for entry–level positions in the collision–repair field and for post–secondary technical training at one of the colleges nationwide that offer this major.
• Auto repair shop owner sentenced to seven days in jail - Owner of Oakville, Ont. automotive shop refused to allow health and safety inspectors in during a surprise inspection.
• Auto parts suppliers face consolidation wave - U.S. auto parts suppliers face a massive shakeout if they are to cope with global competition that is forcing prices ever lower, executives said this week at the Reuters Autos Summit.
• NHTSA Announces Recall of 5,500 Mazda SUVs for Fire Hazard Associated with Exhaust System - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced that Mazda Motor Corporation has stopped worldwide production of the 2006 Mazda5 and recalled 5,500 of the sport utility vehicles because, on certain units, a heat buildup in the exhaust system can occur.
• Delphi, GM battle extinction -General Motors Corp., Delphi Corp. and the United Auto Workers union are engaged in a perilous, three-way game of high-stakes poker.
• Porsche to build a 20 percent stake in Volkswagen - Porsche announced on Sunday that it planned to amass a 20 percent stake in Volkswagen -- a deal that would make the celebrated maker of sports cars Volkswagen's biggest shareholder and bring together the opposite ends of the German automotive spectrum.
• Bill Ford: It's time to seize the day - Chairman and CEO Bill Ford Jr.'s cause, "American Innovation," may sound like a hollow corporate buzz phrase as Ford struggles to prosper in the car business. But if he can realize the vision he has for his great-grandfather's company and actually make money in the process, it would stand alongside the automaker's cars and trucks as a defining characteristic of his tenure and Ford's second century.
• Ford calls for summit on energy - The automaker's CEO wants Bush to hold talks on how the auto industry can help fix fuel issues.
• Visteon Union Approves 2-Year Contract - Union members at a Visteon auto parts plant in Indiana have approved a new 2-year contract. Their rejections of 2 other tentative agreements raised worries about the future of the largest employer in Fayette County, Indiana.
• Pure automotive joy - The Mazda Miata, the world's best-selling, two-seater fun machine, has just received its first complete redesign since its debut in 1989.
• The Golden Magnet - Why Did This 20,620-Mile, Museum-Quality '78 S/E T/A Get a $48,000 Restoration?
• Henkel opens testing center - Adhesives used in vehicles worldwide
• Adjusters adjust to crush of work - Insurance industry operates at full tilt -- Faced with claims numbers that will go into the hundreds of thousands for Hurricane Katrina, and a second batch of filings from Hurricane Rita, insurance adjusters are suddenly in demand. -- State Farm, the nation's largest insurer, with about a third of the homeowners' policies on the Gulf Coast, has 3,000 adjusters working on the 346,445 Katrina-related property and auto claims that have come in so far.
• Auto Insurance Cheap in ND - North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Jim Poolman says auto insurance premiums in the state are the lowest in the nation.
• Undercover Sting Operation Busts Auto Insurance Claims Manager - California Department of Insurance (CDI) Fraud Investigators announced the arraignment of a claims manager on several charges resulting from an undercover investigation. -- David Posner, 44, a claims manager for a Third Party Administrator company that handles automobile injury claims, was arraigned yesterday in Los Angeles. Posner was arrested Friday, September 16, in Valencia on felony charges including, commercial bribery, theft of trade secrets, and extortion. Search warrants were executed at his residence in Santa Clarita and his office space at his employer in Pasadena. Posner was booked into the Los Angeles County Jail and bail was set at $220,000. The case is being prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office Auto Insurance Fraud Division.

September 23, 2005

• State Farm ruling may help auto parts industry - Taiwan: A recent ruling by the Illinois Supreme Court could prove to be a significant boost for Taiwan's auto parts manufacturers. Industry experts have suggested that the local industry may see a return to pre-1995 output levels within three years.
• Auto parts firms chart global route - India: 11 deals struck in the last 24 months, with one more to come. -- Indian auto parts companies are increasingly getting hungrier for overseas acquisitions. This is a transition from their earlier supporting role in the global automotive scheme.
• 'Right to Repair Act' Gains Nine More Supporters - Congressional support for the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act continues to grow as nine new co-sponsors signed on to H.R. 2048, it was announced today by Kathleen Schmatz, President and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). The proposed legislation currently has 50 co-sponsors. -- The nine new legislators supporting the "Right to Repair Act" are Reps. Michael Bilirakis (R-FL); Peter DeFazio (D-OR); Anna Eshoo (D-CA); Michael Fitzpatrick (R-PA); Alcee Hastings (D-FL); Sue Myrick (R-NC); John Peterson (R-PA); Bobby Rush (D-IL) and Ted Strickland (D-OH).
• OEM Technology Sessions Return to CARS - On Thursday, Nov. 3, representatives of several original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) will present individual seminars that will provide attendees with specific information on new systems or features that are being incorporated into today's automobiles. Attendance to these sessions is open to anyone registered for the Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS).
• Rita expected to affect local firms - PPG has a number of facilities in the Houston area, including a chemical plant in La Porte, and a huge chemical complex in Lake Charles in southwest Louisiana, employing 200 and 1,400, respectively. -- "Both facilities are shut down, but are being manned by skeleton crews that will ride out the storm," said PPG spokesman Jeff Worden. "Two architectural coatings (paint) plants, in Waller northwest of Houston and in Houston proper, have been shut down and evacuated." -- In addition, PPG closed 18 paints stores in the Houston area and a PPG Auto Glass warehouse that was shuttered and evacuated Thursday. Of the facility's 12 employees, two recently had transferred to Houston from New Orleans, chased from Louisiana by Hurricane Katrina.
• GM to its suppliers: Let's work together - Automaker seeks to ease strained relations with parts makers while still slashing costs.
• Monro Muffler Brake, Inc. Provides Business Update - Monro Muffler Brake, Inc., a leading provider of automotive undercar repair and tire services, today announced that comparable store sales for its second quarter ending September 24, 2005 are expected to reflect an increase of approximately 1% over the prior year quarter.  Total sales are expected to be up approximately 8%.  September results negatively impacted the quarter's overall comparable store sales performance as consumers presumably deferred a greater amount of discretionary purchases in response to concerns over the weakening economy, including higher gas prices.
• They can fix your motor vehicle - ME: Babin and Becky Johnston, the first woman in the state to teach automotives at a technical school, might or might not be part of a trend. Neither cares. -- Automotive repair is simply a naturally calling for both women.
• Who profits from rising gas prices? - California Attorney General Bill Lockyer, who has been probing gas prices since 1999, announced a new investigation this month into whether oil companies and gas retailers are profiteering in the wake of the Hurricane Katrina.
• Shoals on auto parts manufacturing company's short list - AL: The Shoals is one of three finalists for an automotive parts manufacturer that would initially provide 350 jobs with the average salary being around $12 per hour, the TimesDaily reported Wednesday.
• View the 2005 Company Profile of Pilkington Plc - Research and Markets has announced the addition of Pilkington Plc. 2005 Company Profile 2nd Edition to their offering. -- Pilkington Plc, a company based in Merseyside, UK, ranks as one of the largest producers of glass and glazing products globally. It operates through two business lines, namely, Building Products and Automotive Products. Pilkington Automotive supplies products to several leading automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) across the world. -- Japanese glass manufacturer, Nippon Sheet Glass Co Ltd (NSG), held a 20.59% stake in Pilkington, as of May 2005. In March ending fiscal 2005, the company generated GBP 2,694 million in sales (including sales from associates and joint ventures) and Pilkington Automotive contributed 47% to this.
• Lack of rain helps save windshields - Detroit, MI: Auto insurance companies statewide report the number of broken glass claims saw only the usual summer time spike. In some places, the number of claims has fallen. -- Kent Linkfield, president of the Michigan Professional Insurance Agent's Association, said aggressive marketing among repair and replacement companies has made it cheaper to get broken windows fixed, even as the price of windshields has increased.AAA notifies its customers every summer that it encourage windshield repairs, rather than total replacement, by waiving deductibles for the process.
• Carmakers are Currently Demanding More of Glass Suppliers than Ever Before, as Designers are Adding Increasing Amounts of Glass to their Cars - As the use of glass increases, value added products are becoming more important to the automotive market, including solar control properties, de-icing and de-misting capabilities, integrated antennas for radio, TV, cell phone and navigation, integrated rain sensors, coatings for improved visibility, and functional layers such as laminated side glass.
• Hedge Funds in Frame As Pilks is Hit By Big Sell-Off - The cracks are starting to appear at Pilkington. Britain's biggest glassmaker was one of the biggest casualties among second- liners yesterday, losing about 6% of its value as more than 34 million shares changed hands.
• Goodyear Ups Ante for Any-Weather Tire Performance on SUVs - The owners of SUVs know the importance of superb grip on the road, and especially traction in all types of weather conditions -- even when their multi-purpose vehicles feature four-wheel drive capability and traction control.
• Goodyear targets plants, details sparse - Goodyear Tire and Rubber plans to close an undisclosed number of plants under a restructuring aimed at improving the North American tire business. The goal is to save up to a (b) billion dollars over the next three years.
• SmarTire Obtains Quality Certification - SmarTire Systems Inc. announced today that it has achieved registration to ISO/TS 16949:2002, the quality management standard for the automotive and commercial vehicle industries.

September 22, 2005

• CCC Information Services Group Inc. Announces Agreement to Be Acquired by Investcorp - CCC Information Services Group Inc., a leading supplier of advanced software, communications systems, Internet and wireless-enabled technology solutions to the automotive claims and collision repair industries, announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of Investcorp, the global investment group. Under the terms of the agreement, CCC stockholders will receive $26.50 in cash for each share of CCC common stock, representing a 10.3% premium over the average closing price of CCC's stock for the last 90 trading days. The fully diluted equity value of the transaction is approximately $495 million.
• Chameleon paint coming to a garage near you - Stuttgart: Car paint that changes color and glows red or another bright tint at dusk or in fog is under development in laboratories, scientists and representatives of the multi-billion-dollar German coatings industry said on Wednesday.
• Automotive Plastics: Designers and Engineers Seek Materials To Reduce Weight for Improved Mileage - Consumer demand for improved fuel efficiency continues driving vehicle lightweighting efforts. Despite the increasing cost of raw materials and stiff competition from high-strength steel and aluminum, the use of plastics in automotive applications continues to grow. Polymeric content in the average North American light vehicle rose slightly in 2004 from the previous year, from 285 to 291 lbs, according to the American Plastics Council. Significant improvements in material performance have been reported, including increased strength, durability, thermal oxidative stability, and weatherability.
• Auto parts CEO sees massive supplier shakeout - A leading auto parts executive warned on Tuesday the industry is facing a massive rationalization that will spell the end of many companies. -- "There is a structural change needed and going to occur whether you like it or not in Detroit," American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc.'s founder and chief executive Richard Dauch said at the summit, held in Detroit. "That time is here now."
• NABC, Collision Industry Relief are ready for Rita - Just as the collision industry is working to aid families displaced by hurricane Katrina, it is also gearing up to assist any families from this industry who might be affected by hurricane Rita.
• Cleaning the mess - NJ: The deputy mayor in Belleville wants the township to amend the zoning ordinance that sets the parameters for auto repair and auto body shops.
• Auto body students can repair cars at cost - Concord, MA: Nashoba Valley Technical High School's Auto Body department will hold a lottery to determine which vehicles its students will repair for the 2005-2006 school year. This year, the deadline for submitting lottery applications is Thursday, Oct. 27, and the lottery will be held Friday, Oct. 28.
• Part of the problem: Auto theft on the rise in Colorado - Nuts and bolts flew through the air Tuesday as a team of professional dismantlers demonstrated how fast a 1995 Subaru Legacy can go from viable transportation to a one-stop parts store. -- Because the parts are worth more than the whole, stolen cars are often sold for parts, according to the Colorado State Patrol and Allstate Insurance, who teamed up for the demonstration.
• New car repair law OK'd - Racine,WI: After months of debate and discussion, the City Council Tuesday night unanimously passed a new city ordinance, inspired mostly by Francis' efforts, that will allow people to work on vehicles in their garages between certain hours of the day. The ordinance will still stop those who want to do major repairs in the driveway.
• Recall On Nissan SUVs - The government is investigating the fuel tanks in Nissan Murano sport utility vehicles on suspicion they are susceptible to punctures from road debris.
• Copart, Inc. to Webcast Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2005 Results - Copart, Inc. announced today that it will release earnings for the fourth quarter of its fiscal 2005 after the close of market on Wednesday, September 28, 2005.
• AutoZone Fourth Quarter Sales Up 2.5%; Adjusted EPS Up 7.3% - AutoZone, Inc. today reported sales of $1.882 billion for its fiscal fourth quarter (16 weeks) ended August 27, 2005, up 2.5% from fiscal fourth quarter 2004. Same store sales, or sales for domestic stores open at least one year, were down 1% for the quarter. Operating margin decreased 116 basis points from last year to 18.7%, while operating profit decreased 3.5% over the prior year.
• Can GM's SUVs Get Back in the Fast Lane? - The new models are safer, less thirsty, and more comfortable. But even with those improvements and generous buyer incentives, it may not be enough.
• Consumer Guide(R) Automotive Announces 2006 Best Buys - Annual Listing Spotlights the Best Overall Values in 16 Model Categories
• DuPont, Dow Shares Flounder - Rising oil prices are making their move on big chemical companies, as spooked investors unload shares of DuPont and its some of it chief competitors getting hit by higher raw materials costs.
• Customer Service Becoming a Four-Letter Word - A Gallup survey found over a one month period a customer “emotionally connected” to the organization spent 46% more money than a customer that was satisfied, but not emotionally bonded with the company. -- Just imagine going to your car repair shop with your car. Within sixty minutes they fix it right the first time, and deliver it to your door cleaner than when you dropped it off. How many people would you tell about it? Surely, the proprietor of the car repair shop would see exponential growth. The additional profits and the revenue would outweigh the added time and expense spent exceeding customers expectations.
• Fired worker alleges discrimination in suit - Ex-insurance adjuster says wrecked vehicles trigger stress disorder

September 21, 2005

• Billionaire Ross eyes Visteon assets? - Billionaire investor Wilbur Ross, known for snatching up steel companies, is now eyeing the auto parts industry and particularly the assets of Visteon Corp., according to a news report published Tuesday.
• The Chinese Market for Automotive Coatings is Forecast to Continue its Fast Growth Pace Over the Next Five Years - China's demand for automotive coatings has grown at a fast pace in the past decade. In the next five years, both production and demand will continue to grow. This new study examines China's economic trends, investment environment, industry development, supply and demand, industry capacity, industry structure, marketing channels and major industry participants. Historical data (1994, 1999 and 2004) and long-term forecasts through 2009 and 2014 are presented. Major producers in China are profiled.
• eAutoclaims, Inc. - Negotiates Sale of Property Asset, Generating Additional Growth Capital - eAutoclaims, a leading provider of managed collision repair services and insurance claims processing technology applications, today announced the Company had signed an agreement to sell the Oldsmar facility to the Barrett Family Partnership, 1 Ltd. ("Barrett").
• Hybrid car parts falling short in U.S. - In the quest to keep up with U.S. demand for hybrid vehicles, Detroit's Big Three may have to look beyond their U.S. supply chain for parts and innovation.
• Police nab Web thief - San Mateo Police are warning people that car parts purchased online may be from a fraud out to take people’s money. -- On Friday, John Derwin Vargas, 23, was arrested at his residence in the 400 block of N. Bayshore Blvd. He was later taken to the San Mateo County jail on felony charges of fraud and grand theft. -- In April, police began investigating a report that a San Mateo man was advertising import car parts online, but never delivered them after collecting money from potential buyers.
• AuctionCities.com Engages Automotive Auction and Fleet Management Expert - AuctionCities.com, Inc., the originator of "Micro-auctioning", local geography focused online auctions; today announced that Lionel L. Freitas, an automotive consultant with over 30 years experience with automotive auction management and development, will assist the company as it continues to develop and enhance its Automotive Marketplace.
• Amerityre Begins Automotive Industry Testing Phase for Non-Pneumatic Polyurethane Temporary/Spare Tire - Amerityre Corporation announced that it has completed the developmental phase of its non-pneumatic [no-air] temporary/spare passenger car tire and is now in the process of delivering production quality prototype tires to the automotive industry for additional testing and evaluation.
• JM Family Enterprises Donates $2 Million to American Red Cross for Hurricane Relief - Responding to the tragic events unfolding in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, diversified automotive company JM Family Enterprises, Inc. has donated $2 million to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.  The Disaster Relief Fund allows the Red Cross to provide immediate emergency assistance including food, shelter, health and mental health services to the victims of all types of disasters
  including Hurricane Katrina.
• JM Family Enterprises, the Nation's 15th Largest Privately Held Company, Selects Attunity Data Integration Platform to Federate and Stream Real-Time Information - Attunity, the strategic Enterprise Integration Platform of choice for large organizations looking to implement real time and on-demand data and information integration, announced today that JM Family Enterprises, the 15th largest privately held company in the United States and a recognized national leader in the automotive industry, has selected Attunity's data integration software platform to federate information between its diverse business units.
• Gas-station advocate: ‘Banks are making a killing' - “The banks are making a killing,” said O'Connell, who is also executive director of the Billerica-based New England Service Station and Automotive Repair Association. -- O'Connell spoke to legislators yesterday during a hearing about gasoline prices for the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. -- He said credit-card companies have increased fees for gas stations that allow customers to use credit cards to pay for gasoline.
• Think your "new" used car is a lemon? - If you're wondering whether it's time to take legal action, you should know that lemon laws cover only those cars that are less than a year old. And warranty enforcement laws cover only those cars still under warranty. Dealers of new or used cars can be sued for fraud, however.
• Protecting Yourself from Hurricane Flooded Cars - Buying a good used car can be a daunting task, but imagine purchasing a vehicle with hidden flood damage. It could be a problem coming near you.
• Judge rules against local business in trademark infringement suit  - VA: Jody Korman calls herself a ''doctor of windshields.'' --  But she won’t be able to say that in advertisements, in phone listings or on business cards anymore. -- Waco, Texas-based Synergistic International LLC, which controls the Glass Doctor trademark affixed to about 400 glass repair and replacement outlets nationwide, sued Korman for trademark violation in January. Morgan agreed and said in a hearing for monetary damages Monday that he will issue a formal summary judgment against Korman. -- On Monday, Synergistic’s attorneys requested that Korman pay damages $466,010 in damages and $150,000 in attorney’s fees. The $466,010 equals Korman’s revenues for a period of more than four years starting June 1, 2000, a time when they say she used Glass Doctor and Windshield Doctor interchangeably.
• Record Number of OEMS to Exhibit at SAE 2006 World Congress - An unprecedented number of car manufacturers will exhibit their advanced technology and vehicles at SAE International's 2006 World Congress set April 3-7, 2006, at Cobo Center in Detroit. Confirmation that Toyota will join host company BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Ford and GM as an exhibitor was received by SAE executives at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt.
• Dow CEO Liveris Joins Citigroup Board - Dow Chemical Chief Executive Andrew Liveris is joining the Citigroup board of directors. He'll take the seat vacated by Robert Willumstad, Citi's chief operating officer, who left the company at the end of the summer.
• S.C. drivers pay less than U.S. average for insurance - S.C. drivers on average spend $744.79 per year on auto insurance, a price that is lower than the national average of $820.91.
• Is it a hurricane or a flood? - Court may have a say on what insurers pay

September 20, 2005

• How New Technologies Affect Partial Part Replacement - A vehicle with side impact damage is being analyzed. The B-pillar, which is made of ultra-high-strength steel, has a kink. Taking into consideration that the part is made from ultra-high-strength steel, can the part be sectioned, or does it need to be replaced at factory seams? Over the past several years, many advancements have been made in regards to the construction of full-frame and unibody vehicles. We have seen new joining methods, increased use of aluminum and advanced high-strength steels, and alternative part designs. Each of these innovations brings with them new considerations for part repairability. These new materials and construction methods may have a significant effect on your repair decisions.
• Auto Network Provides Update of Spin-Off Strategy and Year-End Audit - Auto Data Network, a provider of software and real-time data services to the worldwide automotive industry, today released an update on the current status of its spin-out strategy and year end audit.
• New Automotive Youth Program Addresses School-to-Work Initiative - Helps Meet Shortage of Qualified Auto Technicians -- The California Motor Car Dealers Association (CMCDA) is pleased to announce the launch of its new Automotive Youth Education Systems (AYES) program at Granada Hills Charter High School in Granada Hills. An open house will take place Wednesday, September 21, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Auto Lab of the high school located at 10535 Zelzah St.
• Nostalgic muscle cars making comeback - Ohio: If youth were for sale, it surely would come with a supercharger, a paint job that changes colors in the sunshine, and, of course, not one but seven interior television sets. -- That's Greg Geis' version, anyway.
• Former CEO and Chairman of M2 Automotive Appointed New President of Rentech - Rentech, Inc. today announced changes in a key executive management position at the Company. Effective immediately, the Board of Directors has named Mr. D. Hunt Ramsbottom president of Rentech, Inc. and appointed him to the Board of Directors. -- Prior to accepting his position at Rentech, Mr. Ramsbottom held various key management positions including: Principal and Managing Director of Circle Funding Group LLC (CFG), a value added partner which leverages relationships between senior lenders, equity sponsors, investment banks and management teams; CEO and Chairman of M2 Automotive, 1997-2004, an operator of automotive collision facilities in California; and CEO of Thompson PBE, 1989-1997, a NASDAQ traded company which became the largest US distributor of auto body paint and supplies before being acquired by FinishMaster, Inc. in 1997.
• Better Data Makes A Powerful Potion - For PPG Industries Inc.--a maker of a variety of industrial and specialty chemical products such as protective and decorative coatings, sealants, and adhesives--satisfying customers means more than simply shipping the right paint to a given auto-repair shop. PPG over the past year has established the Performance Power program, which collects data from estimating and management systems at repair shops, including average repair cost, repair time frames, and customer-satisfaction statistics. PPG analyzes the data and then E-mails performance reports back to its customers. Shops can use these reports to tout performance capabilities to the auto-insurance companies that pay for the repairs, says Chris Caruso, global business IT director for PPG's automotive aftermarket business. The more repair work these shops win, the more PPG products they order.
• A new, preferred location for shop - MN: Moving from one industrial area tucked behind a car dealer to another industrial area with highway frontage, Preferred Body Shop and Glass owner Duane Dornbush said he feels his business will be better off in the new location.
• GM hit with investor lawsuit - General Motors Corp. was hit with a lawsuit on Monday claiming that it misled investors about its financial outlook before the dramatic earnings warning GM issued in March that battered its shares and debt.
• Senator questions aspects of auto insurance reform plan - Mass.: Hearings will be held this fall on auto insurance reforms proposed by Governor Romney, but the chairman of the Senate Committee on Financial Services is already expressing concerns with the bill.

September 19, 2005

• Keystone Auto sees $1 mln sales loss from Katrina - Car parts maker Keystone Automotive Industries Inc. on Monday said it expects to lose $1 million in sales due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina.
• Financier seeks success in auto parts - Wilbur Ross wants to take downtrodden suppliers and transform them into one large, diverse company.
• Getting a foot in the door in China requires a careful dance - A friend working at a Detroit parts company recently asked how to win some business in China. "How do we get things kick-started over there?" is the way he put it. -- The first and most uncomfortable thing to do is to forget what's been learned in Detroit. That is because getting a contract in China depends not only on what you can deliver but also the way you offer it, and who you make the offer to.
• Higher energy prices cutting into profits - PPG Industries is also seeing rising energy costs. -- “It’s affected us both in manufacturing and in shipping,” said Frank Urbaniak, director of human resources. “We’re constantly looking for ways to cut costs, but in the automotive glass market it’s not as easy to pass on costs. They (auto manufacturers) are looking for prices to go down from their suppliers.” -- PPG uses natural gas at the plant to manufacture glass used by the automotive industry. -- PPG constantly studies which plants should ship to which of its customers for the most efficient shipping. -- PPG does have its own natural gas wells on its Greenwood Township property, but those wells don’t have the volume necessary to operate the plant, Urbaniak said. Gas from those wells are sold to natural gas utilities as a way to try to offset costs.
• Pilkington Shares Jump as Investor Bet on Company Being Target - Robin Walker, a spokesman for Pilkington, declined to comment on the increase in stock price, trading at the highest since Oct. 1997. The company is also the world's No. 1 maker of auto windshields, supplying glass for cars including Aston Martin's DB9.
• New Online Service Makes Automotive Maintenance Easy - BetterAutomotive.com presents handy research information for vehicle owners to make repairs and maintenance easier.
• The long goodbye: Neon fades from view - The small car never lived up to lofty goals of topping Japanese rivals; Dodge sport wagon takes its place.
• Several minivans fare poorly in insurance industry tests of head restraints - Ford Freestar, Mercury Monterey receive hightest ratings; Two Chryslers, 4 from GM rated 'poor'
• Chrysler recalls Jeeps - DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group is recalling 101,925 of its 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs to fix a leak in the transmission that could cause a fire. -- Vehicles with 3.7-liter engines and automatic transmissions are being recalled because water can leak into the transmission, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on its Web site Friday.
• Virtual Reality: The Internet Changing Shop Operations - The Internet has enriched opportunities for small business success, particularly in independent repair facilities. In a survey conducted by ACNielsen, a marketing information company, 51 percent of small businesses cited the Internet as helping them become more profitable - while 49 percent of respondents stated the Internet helps their business reduce overall cost. So why wouldn't you integrate the capabilities of the Internet into your shop?
• Collision Industry Relief - Leading collision industry organizations are organizing a relief effort to assist collision industry professionals affected by Hurricane Katrina.
• CCAR: Safety Concerns of Hazards Dealing with Katrina Flooded Vehicles - Goals of This Document: 1. To inform companies and workers as to the best practices in handling vehicles coming from the flood waters specific to New Orleans. -- 2. To inform affected industries that are most likely to come in contact with vehicles from the New Orleans disaster.
• Gas-gouging gripes down - Drop in complaints mirrors decline in cost at the pump
• Flaky suit v. Ford floats on - Two years ago, a lawsuit over paint flakes on Fords turned into a struggle over much tougher matters. That flaky lawsuit represents enormous changes that have taken place in Madison County:
• Woman: Repair Shop Has Had Car For Month - A woman told Call 6 for Help that an Indianapolis repair shop said it could fix her daughter's car in a week but has kept it for more than a month.
• Car Insurance Claims - While many evacuees are preparing to salvage what's left of their homes, they're also facing the loss of another major investment...their cars.
• When disaster strikes, will your insurer come through for you? - The New York Times reported last week that during a meeting called by Louisiana's insurance commissioner, J. Robert Wooley, 300 industry representatives were already discovering ways to avoid and limit payouts.
• Insurance reform called risky business - The battle over insurance revisions in Massachusetts is speeding up again, with the governor's staff touring the state to promote his proposal and consumer advocacy groups lamenting the effects they say his plan would have on consumers.

September 16, 2005

• Car Parts Plant To Cut 270 Jobs - OK: ArvinMeritor Inc. manufacturer will cut 270 jobs as it moves a part of its operations to a plant in Mexico. -- The company has faced problems including rising steel prices and lower volume performance of customers General Motors and Ford. Over the first nine months of the 2005 fiscal year, operating income fell by 10 percent from the same period the previous year.
• Cars took a terrible beating - Most of the damage-assessment focus after Katrina has been, understandably, on South Mississippi homes and businesses, but insurance officials reminded lawmakers this week that tens of thousands of automobiles were destroyed or damaged, and dealing with them could be a problem. -- Repairing automobiles in South Mississippi will likely prove a long, arduous task, lawmakers were told. Many body shops were destroyed, and those that remain will be swamped with work.
• Advance Auto Parts Announces Acquisition of Autopart International, Inc. - Highly successful AI provides replacement automotive parts to the growing Do-it-For-Me commercial market, as well as to warehouse distributors and jobbers. In 2004, AI generated annual sales of approximately $90 million. Advance expects this transaction to be immaterial to its financial performance for the third and fourth quarters of 2005.
• PPG Total Service Solutions Awarded Custom Solvent Business For New Venture Holdings LLC - PPG Total Service Solutions - a PPG business that provides manufacturers with a range of products and services for the coatings application process and related chemical management - was recently awarded the paint purge and reducer business for automotive supplier New Venture Holdings LLC.
• Diamond Triumph Auto Glass, Inc. Announcements - Diamond Triumph Auto Glass, Inc. ("Diamond Triumph"), a leading provider of automotive glass replacement and repair services in the United States, announced today that it is extending the expiration date of its modified "Dutch Auction" tender offer (the "Offer") for up to $19,000,000 aggregate principal amount (the "Offer Amount") of the $72,058,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 9-1/4% Senior Notes due 2008 (CUSIP No. 252768 AC 0) (the "Notes") and a consent solicitation (the "Consent Solicitation") to adopt an amendment to the Indenture, dated as of March 31, 1998, between Diamond Triumph and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, relating to the Notes. -- Diamond Triumph also announced today that it is increasing the cash amount that it is offering for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes.
• Motorola may sell automotive unit - Motorola Inc. has hired J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. to pursue a possible sale of its 5,000-employee automotive-products unit, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. -- Motorola's automotive unit makes so-called telematics products that are used for vehicle navigation and safety services, as well as sensors used in steering, braking, and power doors and windows. Motorola sensors, for instance, alert drivers to oil-pressure problems and are used for remote keyless-entry systems. -- The Journal said the offer comes at a time when the auto-parts sector is in financial turmoil, squeezed between rising costs, lower vehicle production and cost cutting by customers.
• Everybody wants it, Toyota's got it - Rivals have tried for years to copy the Japanese auto maker's formula for success on the auto shop floor.
• Hyundai Recalls Elantras To Reprogram Airbags - Hyundai says it will recall 240,000 Elantras due to a glitch with its air bag system. -- The South Korean automaker says the computer that operates the air bag could confuse a child seat for an adult in the front passenger seat.
• A smashing success - IL: Alsip company pounds out the dents for 35 years
• Inquiry on auto repair turns into ethics issue for some in Penn Hills - One side of an ongoing dispute between political factions in Penn Hills says if it smells like a coverup and walks like a coverup, it must be a coverup. -- The other side says it's politics, pure and simple, and no one's hiding anything. -- At issue is a repair bill from a local auto body shop owned by Don Kuhn, husband of Democratic Councilwoman Sara Kuhn. Penn Hills Republican Committee Chairman Bob Sevcik contends that Kuhn Auto Body was given a repair job last winter even though another body shop had a lower bid.
• The glory that was chrome - There's a story behind every classic car, and oh, the tales they'll tell at the Glenmoor Gathering
• State insurance rates remain highest - The official results are in, and New Jersey motorists are again the losers.
• N.Y. AG Spitzer Indicts Former Marsh Execs for Roles in Bid Rigging, Fraud - New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and Insurance Superintendent Howard Mills on Thursday announced the indictment of eight former executives of insurance brokerage giant Marsh Inc. for their roles in a bid rigging scheme that officials maintain defrauded clients of millions of dollars.

September 15, 2005

• Apogee Enterprises 2nd Quarter Earnings Per Share Increase 25 Percent; Apogee Reaffirms Guidance for Fiscal 2006 - Apogee Enterprises, Inc. today announced fiscal 2006 second quarter earnings. Apogee develops and delivers value-added glass products and services for the architectural, large-scale optical and automotive industries.
• IAA CAR SHOW Magna Steyr interested in buying VW's auto parts ops - Magna International Inc's Magna Steyr AG & Co KG unit is interested in acquiring some of Volkswagen AG's automobile components businesses as it strives to become the world's second largest car parts supplier, Siegfried Wolf, head of the unit told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
• Car suppliers determined to pass on costs - Caught between a rock and a hard place, automotive suppliers say they are determined to pass on steep rises in raw material costs to their customers even as carmakers step up pressure for lower manufacturing costs.
• Study by Preh Automotive Explores New Designs for Vehicle Interior Controls - The results of a new study, unveiled by Preh Automotive at the 61st International Frankfurt Auto Show IAA, demonstrate better ways to improve the "human-machine interface" (HMI) by reducing the number of burgeoning driver controls for system functions in the vehicle interior space.
• Ford could shut more plants - Restructuring could raise number of factory closures; Padilla says he'll do 'whatever it takes.'
• Federal Fatality Data Show Positive SUV Safety Trends - "Safety-minded vehicle purchasers should ignore the hyperventilations of anti-SUV activists and closely study these new findings, which prove that SUVs are among the safest vehicles on the road," said SUVOA President Barry McCahill.
• Moran supports Motor Vehicle Owners Act - Rep. James Moran (D-8th) of Virginia has declared his support of the Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair Act. -- The “Right to Repair Act” would require the car companies to make the same service information and tools capabilities available to independents that they provide their franchised dealer networks. Architects of the Right to Repair Act added new language to clarify that car company trade secrets are protected unless that information is provided to the franchised new car dealer. The new language also clarifies the responsibilities of the Federal Trade Commission in enforcing the bill’s requirements.
• Plastics offer Automotive energy absorbing systems for pedestrian safety - Plastics offer energy absorbing systems for pedestrian impact safety that will help automotive manufacturers and suppliers better meet new regulatory obligations.
• Check Scam Targets Small Businesses - Florida: There's fraud in Fern Park, and it's rocking a little corner of the car repair world. Every repair shop that has been ripped off -- and there are at least four of them -- are small business owners, who need money stolen out of their bank accounts like they need a wrench on the head.
• Health premiums soar 73% over 5 years - Health-insurance premiums for employer-sponsored coverage increased an average of 9.2 percent in 2005, according to a national survey of almost 3,000 firms released Wednesday. -- At family-owned Stockton Auto Glass, with about 30 employees, Chief Operating Officer Jim Horrox said his company would never eliminate coverage for its workers. -- "We would never think of not offering a health benefit," said Horrox, explaining that in recent years it has become very complex to differentiate the best plan for his mix of employees. -- "You can find plans that cost from $150 a month to a $2,000 Cadillac plan. Most brokers will break out a spread sheet so you can see the choices," he said.
• Calculating the Cost of Risk - Figuring out how much you should pay to insure your operation can be a daunting task. Here are some tips
• Police may bill insurers for working accidents - Ocala police officials say more and more of their time is spent on traffic crash investigations - from minor fender benders to fatalities. -- Now department brass want insurance companies to pick up the tab, with a proposed law that would bill $28 an hour for each officer on the scene of a traffic crash. Deputy Chief Greg Graham said the intent is to recoup expenses, without an increase in property taxes. -- "We truly investigate crashes, unless they involve criminal violations, for the insurance companies," Graham said. "The insurance companies are the ones who benefit from our services, so they should pay."
• Auto Insurance and Hurricane Katrina: Replacing What Was Lost - As relief efforts from Hurricane Katrina begin to clean up the devastated Gulf Coast region, estimates are beginning to trickle in regarding the numbers of lost vehicles in the Louisiana and Mississippi. The National Automobile Association is estimating that up to 10 percent of the registered vehicles in the states of Louisiana and Mississippi were lost to the hurricane and flooding. The losses are estimated to be around 466,000 vehicles -- or over $1 billion in damages.
• Fitch Moves 5 Insurers to Rating Watch Negative Following Katrina - The affected companies include: The Allstate Corporation, Horace Mann Educators Corp., Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd., PXRE Group Ltd., and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co.

September 14, 2005

• Ford looks abroad for 50 percent of parts - Move by new boss to low-cost countries in 5 years will mean more changes for U.S. workers.
• High-Strength Steel Sheet in Outer Skin Quality - The Auto Division of ThyssenKrupp Stahl AG has investigated the possibility of using advanced high-strength steels for exposed automotive body panels. Large outer skin panels offer great potential for weight reduction. Using higher-strength steels makes it possible to reduce sheet thicknesses. However, it also reduces component stiffness, which means that additional measures are necessary to prevent engine hoods, roofs or door outers from fluttering or denting too readily.
• New life in the after-market - The aftermarket car parts industry has been growing an average 8 percent a year during the last 10 years, with 9 percent growth in 2004, according to the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), a California-based trade agency that tracks the sector.
• Planning Board Looking At Junkyard Ordinance - The Henderson, NC, planning board will hold a hearing regarding an ordinance requiring amortization of auto-repair facilities and junkyards in the city. -- At a retreat this past summer the city board took a second look at a draft ordinance drawn up in April that would have put many auto-repair shops out of business.
• Mitchell International Acquires ClaimIQ - Mitchell International, Inc., a leading provider of information and workflow solutions to the automotive insurance and collision repair industries, today announced it has acquired San Francisco-based ClaimIQ, a leading provider of claims decision optimization and best practices applications for insurance carriers. ClaimIQ will join the Mitchell organization as a business unit of Mitchell's medical division. All products of both Mitchell and ClaimIQ will continue to be supported and expanded, and a new set of integrated products that combine the strengths of decision support, bill review, and collision estimating will be introduced.
• Mom and Pop Station Dries Up - Hawaii: After 14 years of doing everything automotive, Priam's Service and Repair is running out of gas - literally. Sharon Stewart says the station at the foot of Pacific Heights has 440 gallons of fuel left in the station's underground tanks, enough for two days of service. That's it. -- If the station stops selling gas, their underground tanks would have to be dismantled, costing the small business a small fortune.
• Delphi chief says auto-parts supplier still seeks to avoid Ch. 11 - Speaking at the IAA, the international auto show held in Frankfurt, Delphi CEO Robert Steve Miller said the company will be working until next month to reach a deal with unions to cut labor costs and get help from GM, its largest customer.
• Cheap Chinese cars rattle industry giants' nerves - City cars that cost $4,000? SUVs that retail at 15,000 euros? The Chinese are coming and global car giants are biting their nails.
• Quality Must Be Job No. 1 in Auto Once Again - Remember when quality was Job No. 1 in the Auto industry? It’s time it was again. Warranty issues cost $12.7B a year just in North America, which doesn’t even account for the damage to brand and image. -- Since 1995, the Auto industry has recalled, on average, 18.1 million vehicles a year. Why? Can the massive financial impact of defects be reduced anytime soon?
• Volvo Presents to West Coast First-Ever Car Designed by Women - Though created from a woman's perspective, the car includes features appealing to both sexes -- including easier maintenance, clever storage solutions, a better line of vision, computer-aided parking and a bold, yet elegant, exterior.
• Taking auto insurance to the shop - It isn't news that there is something wrong with Massachusetts' auto insurance system, but the extent of the problem is stunning. In no other state does the government control the market by setting the rates. No other state has created such an inhospitable environment for companies to operate. In no other state do the rules serve the top five insurers, who insure 65 percent of the population thanks to their ability to game a broken system.

September 13, 2005

• DaimlerChrysler Donates 100 Dodge Trucks and Needed Supplies, Continuing Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts - "When the going gets tough, the tough get going" is more than just a phrase to the Chrysler Group and its philanthropic arm, the DaimlerChrysler Corporation Fund. Although the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina could aptly be described as more than "tough," Chrysler Group will answer the call with a donation of 100 of its most powerful and capable vehicles -- the Dodge Ram, Durango and Dakota -- to help those in need.
• Quick cure, quick cash - Using UV-cured materials to speed the refinish process can improve cycle time, but also provides an opportunity to sell consumers quick-turnaround repair of minor damage.
• Ford and Visteon Reach Definitive Agreements on Transfer of 23 Visteon Facilities Targeted for Oct. 1 - Ford and Visteon are one step closer to the expected transfer of 17 plants and six offices, research centers and other facilities in the U.S. and Mexico. 
• Judge Rejects Proposed Settlement of Isuzu Class Action - Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Mark I. Bernstein has rejected a proposed settlement of a tentative class action stemming from the recall of roughly 162,000 Isuzu SUVs due to defective brake systems.
• Two Great Events to Take Place This Fall in Las Vegas - The Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standards Council (AGRSS) will hold its first ever conference October 16-17 at the Rio All Suites Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. AGRSS is holding the event to provide more education and information to those interested in the ANSI/AGRSS Standard (ANSI/AGRSS 002-2002) and to AGRSS-registered companies. -- Noted automotive safety advocate Ralph Nader will be the keynote speaker and will discuss automotive safety and how it relates to AGRSS. Nader will open the Conference on Sunday, October 16 at 9 a.m. -- State Farm national glass manager, Bob Bischoff, will also speak at the AGRSS Conference to further explain the insurer's new Offer and Acceptance program.
• Pilkington IFRS Pretty Straight Forward - Pilkington IFRS statement "looks pretty straight forward," says Numis analyst Rachael Waring. The accounting changes have had little effect on the key profit figures and she maintains her reduce rating. "The shares have had a good run on bid rumors but in the absence of a bid they just look a bit expensive," she says. Shares closed Friday at 140.5p.
• The Safest Cars 2005  - What would you rather read about, airbags or going 200 mph on a racetrack? -- Only five cars on the market have perfect crash-test scores--but 14 cars on the market have top speeds of 202 mph or higher. Making safe cars instead of flashy ones might be too boring to make business sense.
• Automobiles Developed in China to Present in the World's Highest Level Auto Show - Five Automobile Models from Geely to Showcase in Frankfurt
• Lear Won't Take a Backseat - For decades, Lear Corp. made car seats. Today, with the help of virtual reality and other digital technologies, Lear makes a whole lot more -- and makes it a whole lot faster.
• Katrina Bites Steel, Chemicals - More signs emerged Monday that industrial companies are feeling the sting of soaring energy prices in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
• First Trenton Changes Name to Travelers of New Jersey - Phyllis Forsyth, president and CEO of First Trenton Indemnity Company, a personal lines subsidiary of St. Paul Travelers, today announced the changing of the First Trenton brand to Travelers of New Jersey effective immediately.
• Collecting insurance a headache all its own - Policyholders live on stipends and worry about payouts; insurers ask for patience

September 12, 2005

• Mitchell Offers Relief to Customers Hit by Katrina - Mitchell International, Inc., a leading provider of information and workflow solutions to the automotive insurance and collision repair industries, today announced it had established a toll-free number for customers impacted by hurricane Katrina to report storm-related losses and at which replacement software, manuals, account credits, or other relief may be obtained.
• Automotive Collision Repair Industry Offers Employment, Housing and Aid to Families Affected by Hurricane Katrina - The National Auto Body Council (NABC) and Collision Industry Foundation (CIF) are spearheading an effort by national, state, and local collision repair associations and organizations to help individual families employed within the automotive collision repair industry, displaced by hurricane Katrina.
• DuPont Establishes DuPont Hurricane Katrina Fund - In addition to its $1 million corporate cash contribution announced Aug. 30, DuPont has established the DuPont Hurricane Katrina Fund to channel financial donations from employees, retirees and others to communities near DuPont sites that have been impacted by the storm.
• PPG Coatings signs pact with Proton Edar repair centre - PPG Coatings (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd last Friday signed an initial pact with Proton Edar Collision Repair Centre to supply refinish products and training for the latter’s body and paint programme.
• Earl Scheib Announces Financial Results for the First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2006 - Net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2006 were $13,014,000, an increase of 2.5% from the first quarter of fiscal 2005 net sales of $12,691,000 despite the Company operating seven fewer retail paint and body shops at July 31, 2005. On a same-day basis, same-shop retail sales in the first quarter of fiscal 2006 increased by 4.6%.
• New Auto Body Shop Opens - Santa Clarita,CA: Centre Pointe Collision Center hopes to meet the increasing demand as the SCV accident rate rises.
• Signed, sealed, delivered - Advance Auto Parts' commercial delivery sales are now growing faster than its traditional retail store business.
• Spin-Offs That Won't Go Away - Why Delphi and Visteon continue to haunt General Motors and Ford
• Jury clears Ford in deaths - An Oklahoma jury on Friday found Ford Motor Co. not responsible for the deaths of five people in a July 2003 accident involving a Ford Expedition SUV.
• Ford cleared in crash - Ford Motor Co. wasn't responsible for the head injuries to a 34-year-old woman when her SUV turned over on a West Virginia highway, a jury found in one of hundreds of Explorer rollover cases the automaker faces. -- The woman, Sylvia Shatz, said she suffered brain injuries because the Explorer's roof was crushed in the accident. Shatz said the vehicle was prone to rollovers its roof was too weak to withstand. A federal court jury in Martinsburg, W.Va., on Wednesday found no defects in the Explorer. -- The suit is one of several hundred facing automakers in which it's alleged that weak vehicle roofs increase the risk of injury in rollover accidents. Ford lost two previous Explorer verdicts in such cases, one in 2004 for $369 million in San Diego, reduced by the trial judge to $150 million, and another for $10.2 million in March in Florida. Both have been appealed.
• Ford, Honda, Toyota unveil latest hybrids, technology - Three major automakers unveiled their latest hybrid cars and technology at an environmental conference Friday, promoting their most fuel efficient vehicles as gas prices soar in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
• Canadian Auto Workers union braces for job cuts at Ford - The Canadian Auto Workers union is close to finalizing a new labor deal with Ford Motor Co. that will mean significant job cuts, the union's leader said Sunday night.
• Stuck in Low Gear - To get an idea of the kind of changes Germany needs, take a closer look at the woes of its most famous automaker.
• At times an insurance claim isn't worth the trouble - As every driver knows, there are no good fender benders. But if you had to rate one the best, it would be the rear-ender. The guy whose car hits you from behind is almost always at fault. He should have been able to stop before he hit you, right?
• No Car Insurance Means Limits On Damages - In a rare split ruling, the Oregon Supreme Court has narrowly upheld a state law that limits damages for uninsured car accident victims.
• Does your boss want you dead? - 'Dead peasants' insurance pays your employer a secret, tax-free windfall when you die. Insurers have sold millions of policies to companies such as Dow Chemical.

September 9, 2005

• DuPont Performance Coatings Launches “Champion Challenge” To Contribute $250,000 for Katrina Relief - DPC and its Champion Distributors are joining other auto body industry organizations and suppliers in an effort spearheaded by the National Auto Body Council (NABC) to raise funds to help individuals from the collision industry who have either been displaced or have lost their jobs.
• S.D. court: Insurers win a big one - Lawsuit had argued policy included loss of worth -- Siding with a majority of courts in other states, the South Dakota Supreme Court ruled unanimously Thursday that auto insurance companies cannot be forced to pay policyholders for the lost market value of wrecked vehicles that have been repaired. -- The ruling in a pending lawsuit reverses Circuit Judge Jon Erickson of Huron, who decided last year that jurors must determine if Nancy Turbak and Patrick Culhane of Watertown should be compensated for any diminished market value of their car.
• Lamar Salter offering collision repair course as registration comes to a close - The Louisiana Technical College - Lamar Salter Campus will offer a Collision Repair Technology Program beginning in the fall semester. -- The Collision Repair Technology program prepares individuals to repair modern vehicles. This includes identification and analysis of damage, measurement, straightening, welding, structural repair and replacement and corrosion. Other areas included in the training are alignment, refinishing, trim and glass replacement, plastic repair and working with electrical and mechanical components as they pertain to collision repair.
• Gas retailers squeezed by high prices, too - Some close, citing losses -- ''It's the little independent guys that own one station, the mom-and-pop gas stations, that are really feeling the squeeze".
• Bridgestone Group Gives $1 Million to American Red Cross Katrina Relief Effort - "The American Red Cross is the way neighbors help neighbors in disasters," said Marsha J. Evans, Red Cross President and CEO.  "We are profoundly grateful to the Bridgestone Global Group of Companies for being good neighbors to the countless people displaced by Hurricane Katrina."
• Ford shuffles top managers - Automaker taps turnaround expert Mark Fields to revamp its troubled North America operations.
• GM puts squeeze on suppliers - Automaker wants parts makers to open plants in low-cost countries, a move sure to spark fury.
• TRW Automotive Backs Full-Year Forecast - Auto parts supplier TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. on Thursday reaffirmed its projected revenue and earnings outlook for the year.
• Volkswagen to make hybrid cars with China - Volkswagen will start making hybrid cars by 2008 with its main Chinese partner and may kick off large-scale production of the energy-efficient vehicles by 2010, the Chinese company said on Thursday.
• Gentex Three Mirror System Featured on SUV - Gentex Corporation, the leading supplier of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors to the worldwide automotive industry, is shipping exterior auto-dimming mirrors for Volkswagen's 2006 Touareg sport utility vehicle.
• Honda develops airbags for motorcycles - Safety device is a first, company says
• State Farm: Hurricane Katrina Claims Top 200,000 - State Farm(R) is responding to the devastating impact Hurricane Katrina has made on the Gulf Coast.  Despite a number of challenges including the availability of lodging and communication infrastructure, State Farm adjusters are in affected communities, meeting our customers and helping them begin to recover.  State Farm is the largest insurer of homes and cars in the Gulf States.
• Allstate: Insurer likely to weather Katrina - The worst natural disaster ever to strike the United States is unlikely to harm appreciably the nation's second-largest personal insurer, an Allstate Insurance Company official said last Thursday. -- Auto claims are being held to a much lower level than might be expected, since most of the cars in the troubled areas were driven out before the storm hit Aug. 29.
• Insurance Industry Ready to Pay Katrina Claims - Facing up to $1 billion in damage to cars by Hurricane Katrina, auto insurance rates could increase 5 to 10 percent, Donald Light, senior analyst for Celent, told USA Today.

September 8, 2005

• Katrina Relocation Effort Begins by National Auto Body Council  - On Friday, September 2nd, a conference call was set up to discuss the assistance options for those ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. “Over a hundred people from all facets of the industry were on or tried to get on the call,” stated Chuck Sulkala, Executive Director of the National Auto Body Council (NABC). “The result of the call is that NABC will spearhead an effort to relocate ANYONE in the collision industry who has either been displaced or who now finds that he or she doesn’t have a job.
• Imitation Car Parts discovered in France - The French police have confiscated counterfeit car replacement parts to the value of 1,5 million euros. The seized goods constitute the largest find that has ever been made in France and is already the third this year.
• Tomboys make way in male field - Growing up, Ruth Young had always been a tomboy, she says. "I took auto shop and mechanics in high school and was interested in cars." -- That interest in mechanics planted a seed for a career. Today, Young and Denise Ellert are co-owners of Lovett's Paint and Body Shop in Phoenix. -- Young is unfazed by being a female business owner in a male-dominated field. -- "Competence is the key to our success," Young says. "We just continue doing what we're doing, and we do it with a smile. People who may have been our detractors at first are now our friends and mentors."
• Tractor-Trailer Crashes Into Auto Body Repair Shop - SANFORD, N.C. -- The State Highway Patrol is investigating a truck crash that caused the wall of an auto body repair shop to partially cave in. -- At about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, a tractor-trailer rear-ended a car on U.S. 1 near Tramway Road in Sanford. Officials said the tractor-trailer crossed over the median and careened into the shop.
• Auto components sector grows five fold in seven years - INDIA: The Indian automobile components industry is an example of a successfully nurtured infant industry, says the 2005 UNDP Human Development Report. Domestic content restrictions were used to stimulate development of the components industry, with extended participation from international original equipment manufacturers.
• Ford, Toyota Recall Nearly 5 Million Trucks, SUVs - Ford and Toyota, two of the world's largest automakers, on Wednesday recalled nearly 5 million pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles in separate moves to respond to concerns of engine fires and problems with the power-steering system.
• TRW to buy 68.4 pct of Spanish parts co. for $137 mln - Auto parts supplier TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. said on Wednesday it had agreed to buy a 68.4 percent stake in Spain's Dalphimetal for 113 million euros, or about $137 million, to strengthen its safety business and broaden its presence in Europe.
• Apogee Enterprises to Host Second Quarter Conference Call - Apogee Enterprises, Inc. today announced that it will host a live conference call and real-time webcast to discuss the company's second quarter results and operations on Thursday, September 15, 2005 at 10 a.m. Central Time (11 a.m. Eastern Time). The call will last approximately one hour. Second quarter results will be released after the market closes on September 14.
• Consumer Reports Finds New-Car Window Stickers Vastly Overstate Vehicle Fuel Economy Ratings - New-car fuel economy tests conducted by Consumer Reports show that government figures posted on new-car window stickers can have shortfalls of up to 50 percent, according to an investigation published in the October issue of Consumer Reports magazine. Hybrid cars and the diesel version of one small SUV are among the worst offenders, costing consumers hundreds of dollars more in fuel per year than they were led to believe.
• The Wolf Is At The Door - What we have here is what they call a defining moment. The automobile business has changed forever. Even if you are financially comfortable, paying $47 for a half-tank of gasoline does not feel good. The pain is even greater for those who own big pickups and sport utility vehicles that have fuel mileage in the low teens.
• State Farm already faces more than 100,000 claims from Katrina - In the week since Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana, State Farm Insurance customers have filed around 95,500 homeowner's and more than 27,000 automobile claims, a company spokesman said Tuesday. -- "The vast majority of that is in Louisiana," State Farm spokesman John Wiscaver said.
• Car insurance rate report due out later this month - Colorado motorists