Allstate
victorious in crash lawsuitBelleville New-Detroit - A jury on Thursday
sided with insurance giant Allstate in a class-action lawsuit filed in St.
Clair County. -- The jury ruled that more than 387,000 Allstate Insurance Co.
policyholders who joined the class-action suit should receive payment for
repairs, but not any more money for the value their vehicles may have lost
after an accident.
Delphi, Visteon Reach UAW Deals for Lower WagesReuters - The two
largest U.S. automotive parts suppliers, Delphi Corp. and Visteon Corp., said
they reached agreements with the United Auto Workers union on Thursday allowing
them to pay lower wages and benefits for all future hourly workers.
N.Y.
Insurance Adjuster, Four Others Plead Guilty to Million Dollar Scam
Insurance Journal - New Jersey Attorney General Peter Harvey announced that
five New York residents have pleaded guilty in Essex County Superior Court to
charges they attempted to collect nearly one million dollars as part of an
insurance fraud scam designed to cash-in on a million dollar insurance policy.
Finishmaster Announces First Quarter Earnings up 18% Business Wire -
FinishMaster, Inc. today reported that net income for the first quarter of 2004
increased 18 percent, to $3,282,000, or $0.42 per share, compared with net
income of $2,773,000, or $0.35 per share, in the prior year period. The
improvement in net income for the quarter compared to the prior year period was
a result of higher net sales and decreased interest expense.
A Shaky Automotive Ménage à TroisBusiness Week - With
Daimler backing away from Mitsubishi, that's bad news for Chrysler -- and for
CEO Jürgen Schrempp's global strategy
Hyundai Gets Hailed in Auto Quality Business Week - J.D. Power's latest
report shows the Korean carmaker making major strides, now tied with Honda for
No. 2 behind Toyota
R&R Auto Body closes Ipswich Chronicle - After 38 years in the
community, R&R Auto Body is closing this Friday. -- Rolly and Diane Gallant
opened the business as newlyweds, and the Avery Street body shop has a loyal
following in Ipswich. -- "I have the best customers in the world. I had
to turn away 18 customers in the last three weeks. One woman begged me to work
on her car. But I have to close, because we're just not making money," Rolly
says.
Oldsmobile brand rolls into automotive history Detroit News - Sometime
between breakfast and lunch today, a dark red Oldsmobile Alero will roll off
the assembly line here surrounded by an invitation-only audience paying its
last respects to America’s oldest automotive brand.
Diamond Triumph Calls Safelite's New Claims `Meritless Smokescreen'
PRNewswire - "Safelite's new counterclaims do not have any merit," said Michael
Sumsky, Diamond Triumph's President and General Counsel. "We believe this
is another in a series of attempts by Safelite and its attorneys to distract
the court and the public from the legitimate issues of our lawsuit - Safelite's
unlawful conduct and the damage it has caused Diamond Triumph. We are not
distracted, however, and will continue to pursue our case - a case we believe
we will win."
Gov.
Romney to Unveil Report on Mass. Auto Insurance Subsidies Insurance
Journal - A much-anticipated analysis of the Massachusetts private passenger
auto insurance system finds that 14 percent of the state's drivers pay less
than loss costs indicate they should, while 86 percent pay more to subsidize
the others.
Auto Glass Specialists'
business expands Ironwood Daily Globe, MI - Restructuring included a
three-point plan, which started with PPG Auto Glass, LLC being chosen as the
primary supplier of glass and sundry parts. With this relationship, PPG Auto
Glass operates from two Auto Glass Specialists warehouses and its own
distribution locations to distribute glass to Auto Glass Specialists stores in
five Midwest states.
LKQ Corporation Announces First Quarter 2004 Results Yahoo News -
LKQ Corporation today reported results for its first quarter ended March
31, 2004, with revenue of $100.1 million and net income of $5.6 million,
representing growth over the first quarter of 2003 of 26.3% and 43.0%,
respectively. -- LKQ Corporation is the largest nationwide provider of recycled
OEM automotive replacement parts and related services, with 44 sales and
processing facilities and 11 redistribution centers that reach most major
markets in the United States. Through our subsidiary Global Trade Alliance,
Inc., we are one of the largest suppliers in the Midwest of aftermarket
collision automotive replacement parts, operating over 20 locations serving 15
states primarily east of the Mississippi River.
Tower Automotive Reports First Quarter 2004 Results -- Announces Refinancing
Business Wire - First Quarter Highlights: -- Exceeded first quarter earnings
guidance -- Revenues of $781 million, up 6.6% from prior year -- Launches
challenging, but on-track -- Earnings still bear costs of launching new
business backlog
Toyota again leads in auto-quality study Seattle Times - Toyota led an
auto-industry quality study for the seventh straight year, as U.S. car and
truck brands ranked behind Asian and European competitors even after
registering improvements.
Milacron forms
joint venture in China Cincinnati Post - Jiangyin Mould Plastics Group
makes auto parts, including bumpers for Volkswagen and Buick car plants in
China. It was seeking a partner to reduce the cost of plastics machinery as it
expands, Milacron officials said.
April 28, 2004
Judge will rule
on Geico's suit status Belleville News-Democrat - Geico is the
defendant in one of about a dozen nationwide class actions filed by The Lakin
Law Firm of Wood River against automotive insurers, claiming they use biased
data to determine values of vehicles when customers' cars are damaged beyond
repair. None of those cases has yet reached the point of certification, when a
judge determines the case can proceed as a class action.
SONIC president resigns Charlotte Business Journal - The president of
Sonic Automotive Inc., Theodore Wright, has resigned to pursue other interests.
Judge Grants Safelite Leave to File Counterclaim Against Diamond TriumphPRNewswire - In an April 22, 2004 ruling, Judge Munley of the United States
District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania granted Safelite Glass
Corp.'s motion to file new counterclaims and defenses against Diamond Triumph
in the Diamond Triumph Auto Glass Inc. versus Safelite Glass Corp. litigation.
The amended counterclaim states that Diamond Triumph used allegedly illegal and
improper "push payments," including commercial bribery, such as gift cards, to
induce various insurance agents to refer or recommend auto glass customers to
Diamond Triumph. Safelite seeks damages, a declaration that the payments were
illegal and an injunction to stop Diamond Triumph from using push payments.
Escondido man found guilty in auto repair scam San Diego Union Tribune
- A Superior Court jury yesterday found an Escondido man guilty of conspiring
with the manager of an auto body shop to defraud several elderly customers out
of thousands of dollars worth of unneeded repairs.
Two auto insurance panels in the works Boston Globe - The auto
insurance overhaul effort is getting crowded: Governor Mitt Romney is planning
to unveil a task force to study the issue, and the House has approved a budget
amendment that would set up a $400,000 commission financed by a 10-cent
assessment on each auto insurance policy.
Too Expensive to Fix ABC News - Can Be Cheaper to Buy a New Car --
Costly air bags, expensive electronics, and lightweight body materials are
driving up the cost of fixing new cars.
Sherwin-Williams to Webcast 1st Quarter 2004 Earnings Results Conference Call
Business Wire - The Company will conduct a conference call to discuss its
financial results for the first quarter and its outlook for the second quarter
and full year 2004 at 11:00 a.m. ET on April 29, 2004. Participating in the
call will be Sherwin-Williams' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
Christopher M. Connor, along with other senior executives.
"Chicago Group” Begins Unveiling New Pricing System GlassBYTES - A
group of 26 auto glass companies representing 430 locations around the United
States, has developed and is in the process of unveiling a new pricing system
for use as an alternative to NAGS pricing.
DuPont execs' pay questioned Delaware Online - The labor union
representing about 3,000 DuPont Co. workers in the United States is asking the
company's board of directors to take a critical look at how it sets the pay of
senior executives in light of continuing layoffs.
DuPont First-Quarter Profit Rises Reuters - The Wilmington, Delaware,
company posted net income of $668 million, or 66 cents per share, compared with
$535 million, or 53 cents a share, a year earlier.
Steelworkers union
aims to organize Tower Automotive workers Sun Herald - Tower is a
global, Michigan-based company with $2.5 billion in revenues, and its plant in
Madison is a major supplier for the nearby Nissan Motor Co. assembly plant. --
The United Auto Workers failed to unionize Nissan's Mississippi plant in 2001.
Yet Nissan and Tower plant managers seem to react to Neal like Goliath catching
a first, uneasy glimpse of David.
Auto
shop gets tech savvyImperial Vally Press - Nationwide, the demand for
qualified technicians far out-weighs the supply. -- Still, many students
are graduating from local high schools without the knowledge to easily slip
into a technical field. -- General Motors will need an extra 35,000 auto
technicians nationwide within the next couple years because of the growing
automobile industry.
Radiator.com's marketing drives sales Detroit News - A California
company has found gold under the hood of America’s older vehicles — with a
little help from Visteon Corp.
Sales
jump, profit surges at auto parts maker Lear Detroit News - Lear
Corp., which makes car seats and other auto parts, Monday posted a 35 percent
jump in first-quarter profit as higher sales offset price cuts and
consolidation costs.
State Farm hit by state high court San Mateo County Times - State Farm
Insurance companies in California have to reveal the total number of auto
premiums written along with the sales volume for a specific ZIP code, the state
Supreme Court ruled Monday.
April 26, 2004
Mitsubishi Motors CEO steps downReuters - Mitsubishi Motors Corp said
on Monday its German CEO had resigned after DaimlerChrysler AG announced last
week it would cut off all financial aid to its ailing Japanese partner.
State Legislatures
Focus on Insurer-Owned Shop LegislationASA - After a strong showing in
California and bill passage in the state of Texas, policymakers have set their
sights on a number of insurer-owned shop bills around the country. Eight states
now have legislation introduced and there is increasing interest in a number of
other states. Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Iowa, Hawaii, Maryland, Missouri and
Minnesota have bills at various stages of the legislative process.
Ford Masters Program
Recognizes I-CAR® Training, ASE Certification Autobody Online - Ford
Motor Company, through its Collision Repair Masters Program, will continue to
recognize and incorporate I-CAR Enhanced Delivery training programs throughout
the United States. Over 25 I-CAR programs are included in the Ford Masters
initiative as are the I-CAR Steel and Aluminum Welding Qualification Tests.
Ford has also incorporated the ASE “B” series certification tests into the
Master program.
Even a dummy would ask for side-impact air bags Newsday - Own a car
without side-impact protective air bags? -- If the answer is yes, paint a big,
red "X" on your side windows. Buy a crash helmet. Say your prayers. Consider
yourself no better off than one of those crash-test dummies. (We don't mean the
band.)
Auto
Inspections Could Jolt Drivers Rochester R News - New York motorists
are in for a big change the next time the state inspection is up on their cars.
Daimler 'merger of equals' claim a fraud-KerkorianReuters - Pressing
his claim for more than $1 billion in damages, Las Vegas casino mogul Kirk
Kerkorian insisted on Friday that the so-called "merger of equals" that created
DaimlerChrysler was a fraud.
Ford Considering Closing PlantOhio News Network - An internal memo
says Ford Motor Company might close its Lorain assembly plant by the end of
next year.
Nissan posts bumper profits, forecasts more growthReuters - Japan's
Nissan Motor Co confirmed its status as the world's most profitable car maker
on Monday with a 12 percent jump in annual operating profit and it forecast
further growth over the next four years.
Auto insurers cut rates, for some Baltimore Sun - Strong profits fuel
downward trend, but many companies are looking beyond credit history and
driving record to set prices
April 24, 2004
State Farm
ordered to pay $9M award The Salt Lake Tribune - The Utah Supreme Court
on Friday ordered State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. to pay more than
$9 million in punitive damages to end a lawsuit that exposed company practices
of cheating customers to maximize profits. -- The figure is a far cry from the
$145 million Utah jurors said the company should pay Lewiston resident Inez
Campbell and her late husband, Curtis, after a two-month trial in 1996.
North
St. Paul: City, auto body shop at odds Pioneer Press (Subscription) -
The city of North St. Paul wants to purchase nearly half his property at Foster
Auto Body Shop for roadway improvements scheduled to begin this summer.
April 23, 2004
Insurance Auto Auctions Announces First Quarter ResultsPRNewswire -
Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc., a leading provider of automotive salvage and
claims processing services in the United States, today reported higher net
earnings for the quarter ended March 28, 2004. The Company recorded net
earnings of $2.3 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, versus net earnings of
$2.0 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, for the same quarter a year ago.
GM To
Use Covisint Connect To Link 6,000 Auto Suppliers MI Tech - Covisint
Connect supports both traditional EDI as well as future ebXML-based
communications through an advanced technology platform. GM will continue to
provide suppliers no-cost access to exchange data with the company as they do
today.
Chinese Auto Industry Attracts Major Manufacturers Voice of America -
The world's major automobile manufacturers are pouring money into China these
days, working out joint ventures with domestic automakers to satisfy the
exploding Chinese middle class desire for personal transportation.
Ford Management Shake-Up Means New COOReuters - The shakeup and naming
of Jim Padilla to replace Nick Scheele as COO came one day after Ford said its
first-quarter profit more than doubled due to cost cuts and a surprisingly
strong gain in its automotive business.
Daimler Says It Won't Bail Out a Partner, Mitsubishi Motors Ledger -
DaimlerChrysler, the largest shareholder in Mitsubishi Motors, with a 37
percent stake, said in a brief statement released in Germany late Thursday that
it had decided not to pump cash into the company to keep it solvent.
Visteon Honors Outstanding Suppliers with 'Visteon Important Partner' AwardsPRNewswire -Visteon Corporation has announced the winners of its
second annual Visteon Important Partner award program, which recognizes those
suppliers that have exceeded expectations and demonstrated excellence in their
collaborative efforts with Visteon.
ASA Holds Annual
Business Meeting in San Antonio ASA - This year's gathering was shorter
and more business-oriented than those of years past. ASA's annual business
meeting provides a forum for several association leadership activities
including an ASA affiliate assembly meeting; a board of directors meeting; a
State of the Association address by Ron Pyle, ASA's president and chief staff
executive; and the installation of the 2004-05 board of directors.
ASA
Announces New Board of DirectorsASA - The Automotive Service
Association (ASA) announces its new board of directors, installed during the
association's annual business meeting held April 16-17 in San Antonio.
U.S. court dismisses challenges to HMO settlementReuters - The bulk of
the nation's doctors, some 700,000, have signed onto a massive racketeering
lawsuit against the managed-care industry, charging the insurers with breaching
contract terms by shortchanging them on payments and curtailing necessary
patient care. -- Under the terms of the settlement, Cigna agreed to spend $400
million to improve its billing systems and pay some $70 million to doctors in
addition to $55 million in attorneys' fees.
April 22, 2004
Visteon returns to profitability, boosts outlookReuters - Auto parts
maker Visteon Corp. returned to profitability in the first quarter and raised
its earnings forecast for the year on expectations of stronger revenues and
cuts in costs, the company said on Thursday.
GM
buys IBM supercomputer for design, crash test workUSA Today - GM said
in a release Wednesday that the computer is the fastest in the industry, "by a
wide margin," and can compute at a rate of nine teraflops, or nine trillion
calculations per second.
Government says auto safety warning system working AP - The
government's auto safety agency said Wednesday that data on deaths and injuries
compiled in its new defect warning system will be made public despite attempts
by tire manufacturers and others to keep the information confidential.
GM Chairman and CEO to
Kick-Off Auto-Tech 2004 Yahoo News - General Motors Corporation
Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner will open Auto-Tech 2004, the annual automotive
industry trade conference organized by the Automotive Industry Action Group
(AIAG).
Keystone Automotive Industries Selects New Chief Executive
OfficerPrimeZone - Richard L. Keister (58), who will join Keystone to
begin the transition on June 1, most recently served as president of Delco Remy
International's Aftermarket Group - joining that company in 1997 following
Delco Remy's acquisition of World Wide Automotive.
Buyers will see
more of Mohr dealerships Indy Star - The operation on Allisonville Road
is tentatively scheduled to open in mid-May with sales and a collision repair
center, a children's play area and a cafe. The service area will have at least
40 bays.
Auto body shop paints picture of Earth Day's meaning Pasadena Citizen -
An auto paint and body shop seems an unlikely site for a banner proclaiming
Earth Day's arrival, but that is exactly why one local shop owner places such a
banner outside his business.
Auto class in
winner's circle Eudora News - Eudora,KS - The cacophony of garage
sounds and paint smells coming out of Heath Daniel's classroom might be cause
for alarm in most schools. Then again, the heaps of cars strewn outside might
raise a few principals' eyebrows, too.
State Farm to cut
jobs in Salem Salem Statesman Journal - State Farm Insurance told
employees Wednesday that a companywide restructuring will consolidate its
billing departments to four locations in the Midwest and the South. For the
Salem office, the company’s decision means about 58 jobs are leaving the state.
State Farm Will Close Office The Ledger, FL - The Winter Haven
subrogation site's 67 jobs will be transferred to four other offices
Jaguar recalls 67,798 cars for transmission fixReuters - Jaguar, a
unit of Ford Motor Co., on Wednesday said it was recalling 67,798 cars because
of a defect that can inadvertently slip them into reverse gear.
U.S. companies top expectations, raise forecasts Reuters - Companies
from Ford Motor Co., to Allstate Corp., to Motorola Inc., are not just beating
analysts' forecasts -- they're saying the future is looking just as bright.
Ford Posts Better-Than-Expected ProfitReuters - The robust performance
comes as Ford, which last year booked a full-year profit for the first time
since 2000, struggles against cut-throat competition and a declining U.S.
market share. The strong report powered Ford shares to a gain of nearly 8
percent in premarket trading.
GM
Earnings Top Estimates, Outlook Raised Reuters - General Motors Corp.
raised its full-year earnings forecast on Tuesday after reporting a
better-than-expected first-quarter profit on stronger results from its finance
arm and automotive operations in Asia.
CCC Information Services Group Inc. Reports EPS of $0.22 for the First Quarter
Yahoo News - CCC Information Services Group Inc. today reported net income of
$6.2 million, or $0.22 per share, for the first quarter ending March 31, 2004,
compared to net income of $6.0 million, or $0.22 per share, for the same
quarter in 2003.
Auto
Repair Shop Controversy KLAS - Las Vegas,NV - All across the country,
insurance companies are opening their own auto repair garages and causing
repair shop owners to question whether there is a conflict of interest?
Two auto insurers to refund $700,000 to Texans Houston Business Journal
- Home State County Mutual Insurance Co. and Consumers County Mutual Insurance
Co. have agreed to refund more than $700,000 to Texas automobile policyholders
who paid more on their auto repair claims than their policies required.
GM-Ford
deal secures 1,100 jobs Detroit News - The deal between GM and Ford
won’t be the last time rivals bury the hatchet to defray costs, industry
experts predict.
Paintless shops defend procedure Current-Argus CARLSBAD — Some local
paintless dent repairmen are saying that criticism by local auto body repairmen
has resulted in less business, and they want to defend the procedure.
Local auto
suppliers trying to turn a profit WOOD-TV - It is no secret that it's
getting increasing more difficult for auto suppliers in West Michigan to turn a
profit. -- They are under constant pressure to cut costs, but there is an
opportunity for growth. -- 24 Hour News 8 attended a symposium to learn what
that opportunity is.
CCC Information Services Group Inc. Names Interim CFO Yahoo News - CCC
Information Services Group Inc. announced today it has named David L. Harbert
as interim chief financial officer, effective May 1, following the departure of
Reid Simpson on April 30. Harbert immediately joins the company in an advisory
role prior to formally assuming the responsibilities of interim chief financial
officer on May 1.
Allstate first-quarter earnings jump 43 pctReuters - Allstate has
benefited from higher rates pushed through by large home and auto insurers in
the past several years. While rates have begun to flatten out, fewer car
accidents and claims on homes are also helping.
How to smooth
an auto claim Houston Chronicle - The claims process after an auto
accident is supposed to be simple. You make a claim, an adjuster estimates the
repair costs and the insurance company cuts you a check to cover the repairs.
Men Posing As Auto Mechanics Are Scamming Customers WFtv.com, FL -
Investigators say the two men pretend to work at a reputable auto body shop in
Orange County, called M & M Auto Body. The men have taken customers for
hundreds of dollars.
12 of 15 midsize cars fail new side-impact test USA Today - Most
midsize family sedans failed a new test by the insurance industry designed to
see how well the cars would stand up to a side-impact crash with a pickup or
SUV.
New cars are getting
too expensive to fix Christian Monitor - "We're moving closer and
closer to the disposable car," says Dan Bailey, an executive vice president at
Carstar, the largest auto-body repair franchise in the United States.
Rate hikes give State Farm first profit in 5 years Palm Beach Post -
Soaring bills for homeowners and auto insurance have irked State Farm's
policyholders, but the rate increases have been good for the bottom line of the
state's largest insurer.
Progressive to
expand claims center, add staff Buffalo News - The news comes on the
heels of the opening by Geico Corp., the nation's fifth-largest insurer, of a
service center in Amherst that will eventually house more than 2,500 employees.
N.M.
Supreme Court Ruling Hurts Auto Ins. Policyholders, AIA SaysInsurance
Journal - "This case takes New Mexico way out of the mainstream by imposing
third party bad faith on compulsory auto insurers. Most other states have
refused to adopt this principle, for good reason," said David Snyder, AIA vice
president and assistant general counsel.
April 16, 2004
Illinois Appeals Court Quashes Diminished Value ClaimInsurance Journal
- An Illinois appeals court has rejected a plaintiff's claim that its auto
insurer breached its contract by refusing to pay for diminished value in an
auto repair case.
GM
recalls surpass 2003 levels Detroit News - Latest seat-belt safety
problem pushes total to 7.7 million cars and trucks this year
Mob
Connection To Queens Auto Insurance Scam 1010WINS - Thirty people --
including lawyers and doctors -- have been arrested on charges that they took
part in a lucrative insurance scam involving bogus car accidents.
Visteon Plans to Cut
600 Jobs in Bedford, Ind. Yahoo News(AP) -- Auto parts supplier Visteon
Corp. said it would relocate part of its Bedford plant operations to cut costs
in a move that could affect about 600 of the plant's 1,150 hourly and salaried
workers.
Wespac tackles AAA Arizona project Phoenix Business Journal - Through
its Approved Auto Repair program, AAA Arizona has recruited and certified 175
repair shops statewide. The new Peoria facility is the first one that will be
owned and operated by AAA Arizona, said Gary Gibbs, vice president of service
delivery for the statewide motor club.
Annual Student Auto Skills Contest to Start in Florida, Ends at Ford
Headquarters Business Wire - The hands-on portion of the nation's
largest competition for high school auto technicians begins with the first
statewide competition on Friday, April 16, in Daytona Beach, Fla., and ends
with a National Finals event June 29 at Ford Motor Company's World Headquarters
in Dearborn, Mich. -- More than $5 million in scholarships and prizes will be
awarded over the next few months, as competitions are held in all 50 states
culminating in the National Finals contest, according to co-sponsors Ford Motor
Company and AAA.
Mass.
Consumer Advocate Questions Benefits of More Competition in Auto System
Insurance Journal - Steve D'Amato, the former director of the State Rating
Bureau in the Massachusetts Division of Insurance, who has emerged the past few
years as an unofficial consumer advocate on insurance issues in Massachusetts,
is questioning whether competition will bring much relief to the state's auto
insurance customers.
PPG Industries profit up 47 percentBusiness Journal - PPG Industries
Inc. on Thursday reported first-quarter earnings well above analysts' estimates
as sales grew across the company's glass, chemicals and coatings businesses.
Auto
club plans to send 500 jobs out of CaliforniaMarin Independent -The affected workers will be encouraged to relocate to an existing auto
insurance claims call center in Las Vegas or one to be built either in Colorado
Springs, Colo., or Salt Lake City.
United
Steelworkers Aims to Organize Tower Automotive Biloxi Sun Herald -
Tower is a Michigan-based company that makes suspension components and parts
for most major auto manufacturers including Nissan, which operates a nonunion
plant in Canton.
Fla.
Woman Caught Again with Hand in Cookie Jar Insurance Journal - A woman,
arrested a month ago on charges of stealing more than $100,000 from the Florida
Insurance Guaranty Association, has been arrested a second time on charges that
she stole more than $310,000 from another insurance company, according to
Florida's Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher.
April 15, 2004
UTI Announces Training Alliance With Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc.
PRNewswire - Universal Technical Institute, Inc., one of the nation's leading
providers of technical education training, today announced that it has entered
into a training alliance with Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc., to develop
Toyota Professional Automotive Technician (TPAT), a new Toyota and Lexus
brand-specific training program.
PPG Reports Strong Volume, EPS Growth in First Quarter Business Wire
- Coatings sales increased $150 million, or 13 percent, because of stronger
volumes in the architectural, industrial, aerospace, automotive OEM and
automotive refinish businesses and the strengthening of foreign currencies,
offset by slightly lower prices in the automotive OEM business. Operating
earnings were up $43 million largely because of increased volumes, improved
manufacturing efficiencies and the favorable effects of foreign currency
translation. Lower selling prices reduced operating earnings.
Auto body
shops warn car owners Current-Argus, NM - Several automotive paint and
body repairmen are cautioning against having cars fixed by paintless dent
repair operations that arrived in Carlsbad shortly after the April 2 hailstorm.
I-CAR Gold Class Professionals Honored By American Honda Motor Company
I-CAR - The American Honda Parts and Service Operations Division is recognizing
Honda and Acura dealership owned collision repair facilities that are I-CAR
Gold Class Professionals businesses for their commitment to promoting collision
repair training with their dealers and for their significant investment in
providing the highest level of quality expected by their customers.
Automotive accessories maker halts production Parry Sound North Star -
After 16 years of making automotive accessories at its Hamer Bay Road location,
Nomadic Sport Incorporated has closed its doors. The shutdown of production
took effect on April 5.
Autozone Completes Purchase of ABC Discount Auto Parts PRNewswire - The
asset purchase of 12 stores, previously owned by Lou and Carla Fishman, fits
perfectly with AutoZone's desire to develop market areas through asset
acquisitions where the company currently is under-penetrated.
GM
to Recall Mid-Size SUVs to Fix SeatbeltsReuters - General Motors Corp.
will recall some of its 2001 and 2002 mid-size sport utility vehicles after
federal safety regulators determined a need to fix some seat belts that were
damaged in transit.
Ontario to invest C$500 mln in auto industryReuters - The investment
strategy is squarely aimed at challenging other regions for auto investment,
particularly targeting the southern U.S. states which offer big incentives.
GM
denies in talks to buy stake in Malaysia's ProtonReuters - Bloomberg
News reported on Wednesday that the U.S. auto giant was discussing taking an
unspecified stake in Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Bhd (Proton), quoting GM
spokesman Henry Wong. -- "We are not in discussions to buy an equity stake in
Proton. This is totally false," Wong told Reuters.
Honda recalls about 650,000 minivans, SUVsReuters - The recall
includes certain model year 2002, 2003 and early 2004 Honda Odyssey minivans;
2003 and early 2004 Honda Pilot SUVs; and 2001 and 2002 Acura MDX SUVs, all
equipped with V-6 engines and five-speed automatic transmissions.
N.J. Auto
Group Accused of Fraud WPVI - Alleged violations include failing to
disclose prior damage to vehicles and misrepresenting used auto parts as new.
Auto
dismantler to pay $400,000 feeL.A. Daily News - Considering them among
the most serious water polluters, regulators have begun a crack-down on
hundreds of auto dismantlers.
Mark Rizzi Featured In National MagazineAlliance Times-Herald - Mark
Rizzi, owner since 1987 of ACR Glass on East Tenth St., has written several
articles, in at least a half dozen publications, that concern safety issues in
installing windshields of vehicles.
April 13, 2004
Options
exist for stronger roofs Detroit News - Structural foam, high-strength
steel would absorb impact, create 'simple fix,' some say
Automotive
Suppliers Support Frink as Manufacturing Secretary BusinessRPM
-“Manufacturing in the United States is facing unprecedented challenges that
can only be addressed through a far higher degree of partnership between
industry and government at all levels,” said Chris Bates, president and CEO of
MEMA. “This new position has a critical role to play in championing regulatory,
tax, trade and other government policies that will help ensure the future
health of manufacturing industries throughout the United States,” he stated.
Sonic Automotive, Inc.
Schedules Release of First Quarter ResultsYahoo News -Sonic
Automotive, Inc. today announced it will release fiscal 2004 first quarter
financial results on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 at 7:30 A.M. (Eastern). Senior
management will hold a conference call at 11:00 A.M. (Eastern).
1-800-Radiator Launches New Matching Funds Program to Raise Money for West
Contra Costa County SchoolsPRNewswire - One quarter of the profits
from auto radiators purchased by auto repair shops, collision repair shops, gas
stations, and do-it-yourself mechanics anywhere in the Bay Area will be donated
to West Contra Costa County schools to fund sports programs, libraries, music
and art curricula, and other programs affected by the recent $16.5 million
budget shortfall.
ASA Announces
AutoWatch as New Member Benefit ProviderASA - The program creates a
customized Web site for collision repair facilities and allows vehicle owners
to view digital photos of their vehicle throughout the repair process via the
Internet. In addition to the latest vehicle repair status, the shop's Web site
also provides the estimated delivery date and a convenient e-mail link to the
assigned service advisor.
Auto Suppliers Mostly Unsuccessful in Efforts to Recover Steel Surcharge CostsPRNewswire - "Suppliers are mostly eating the costs," said Craig
Fitzgerald, a Partner with Plante & Moran, whose survey found that surcharges
have increased the price of steel by an average of 40 percent. "The
industry is being surprisingly timid despite already approaching a no-profit
zone."
Thousands killed, hurt as auto roofs collapse Detroit News - Penny
Shipler remembers the Chevrolet Blazer rolling over and over, then the sound of
the roof crashing down over her head.
Body Shops
VandalizedWTOC - Savannah,GA - Savannah-Chatham police are investigating a
rash of burglaries across the City of Savannah. Numerous auto body shops in
town have been vandalized and burglarized.
Salvage bill is a wreck, opponent says Kansas City Star
(subscription) - Under the bill, a vehicle is considered salvage if it costs
more than 75 percent of its fair market value to repair.
Auto aftermarket
generates billions in businessThe Daily News - Retail sales for the
so-called automotive aftermarket rose 7.7 percent to a record $28.9 billion
last year -- moving more than twice as fast as the general economy -- according
to a report released Friday by the Specialty Equipment Market Association.
Board Director ResignsOhio News Network - The chairman of the Ohio
Board of Motor Vehicle Collision Repair Registration says Jack Lundberg did a
good job in many ways, but the board accepted his resignation Thursday.
Sherwin-Williams Acquires Interest in Chinese Automotive Coatings CompanyBusiness Wire - The Sherwin-Williams Company announced the acquisition of a
majority interest in Shanghai Kinlita Chemical Co., Ltd. based in Shanghai,
China in order to participate in the growing Chinese automotive coatings
market. The company, now named Sherwin-Williams Kinlita Co., Ltd., will operate
under the direction of Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes Corp. and will be
included in the Automotive business segment of The Sherwin-Williams Company.
Logan students take on monster taskOakland Tribune - In an
effort to give Logan High's Regional Occupational Program students hands-on
training and exposure to potential employers, Larry Tehero, shop teacher at the
Union City high school, and local automotive professionals joined forces in
January.
Microsoft Joins Automotive Industry Action Group PRNewswire -
Microsoft joins automotive
manufacturers and product part suppliers, as well as other technology solution
providers that cooperatively pursue initiatives through AIAG to benefit the
automotive industry.
Automotive
Suppliers Brand Protection Council to Address Counterfeiting, Non-Compliant
Products, Intellectual Property Rights Business RPM - The Motor &
Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), in conjunction with its market
segment associations, is creating a Brand Protection Council to help address
and set the association’s priorities in the areas of counterfeiting, diversion,
non-compliant products and intellectual property rights. The group is open to
any member of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), Heavy
Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA) or the Original Equipment Suppliers
Association (OESA).
Visteon Innovation Helps Distinguish New Vehicles Showcased at New York Auto
ShowPRNewswire - The challenge for all automotive suppliers is to
understand each automaker's design intent and brand image for each vehicle,
then deliver innovative technology quickly. Visteon is uniquely
positioned to deliver fast and flexibly on innovations that help a vehicle
stand out from the crowd.
Bend someone’s fender?Edinburgh Courier - Many of us think that we’re
well prepared to deal with an accident, but most of us don’t find out until
after we’ve had an accident what our insurance does not cover.
When auto repairs do not compute Boston Globe - How many car mechanics
does it take to repair a dome light? Just one -- if he has the right kind of
computer. But if he doesn't, you're in trouble.
Hawaii
Not to Pursue Study on Auto Repair Shop Ownership Restrictions
Insurance Journal - A resolution that calls for a study of the need to prohibit
insurance companies from owning auto repair facilities was deferred
indefinitely following a hearing on the issue in Honolulu recently.
Automakers Stress
Commitment to Road Safety Yahoo News - The following is a
statement by Fred Webber, president of the Alliance of Automobile
Manufacturers, on the World Health Organization's Road Safety Day:
Auto repair company growing Mansfield News Journal - The continuing
growth of Upstairs/Downstairs Automotive Repair may help create more local
jobs.
NJ
Governor Again Hails Auto Improvements Insurance Journal - New Jersey
Governor James E. McGreevey and Commissioner Holly C. Bakke are celebrating
what they say are two milestones on the road to a consumer-directed auto
insurance marketplace - more than $100 million returned to policyholders and
the opening of a new 57,000-square-foot office by the state's largest auto
insurance carrier, New Jersey Manufacturers.
Group 1 Automotive Names New Corporate Controller Business Wire -
Group 1 currently owns 82 automotive dealerships comprised of 122 franchises,
30 brands, and 29 collision service centers located in California, Colorado,
Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma
and Texas.
Rising auto-theft, accident rates push up Arizona insurance costs
Tucson Citizen - While safer cars and crackdowns on fraud are helping lower
auto premiums, insurance industry officials say those factors are more than
offset by climbing costs for medical care and vehicle repairs and skyrocketing
jury awards.
Airbags pose danger to rescue crewsThe TimesPlus - Motor vehicle
airbags are designed to protect drivers and passengers but they can pose a
threat to emergency workers arriving at an accident scene.
Chinese auto manufacturing: the only way is upDatamonitor - China
hopes to enhance its position as an exporter of cars and components to become a
major export base in Asia. However, the Chinese automotive industry needs to
concentrate on improving the quality of its vehicles and components so that it
can achieve the ambitious targets it has set itself.
Group
attacks UAW's contract Detroit News - Right-to-work foundation claims
Big Three help union organize parts supplier employees
Got a
better idea? Dana listens Detroit News - Auto parts giant invited
inventors to submit creations that might be used in future vehicles; 3 are
finalists
Adjuster charged with insurance fraudHome News Tribune, NJ - A
township woman who worked as a claims adjuster for an Edison insurer was
charged in a state grand jury indictment with cutting bogus settlement checks
to herself and her boyfriend, who was also charged in the more than $25,000
fraud scheme.
Nine arrested in alleged insurance scamBusiness Journal - Former
senior claims representative with Progressive, Grange, and Zurich insurance
companies used his insider position to issue fraudulent auto insurance claim
checks.
April 6, 2004
Honda Recognizes Dealers Participating in CertifiedFirst Network
Business Wire - For the second year in a row, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.,
through its Body Shop Recognition Program, has recognized Honda and Acura
dealers participating in the CertifiedFirst Network.
Romney: Overhaul auto insurance Boston Globe - Governor Mitt Romney
yesterday began a push for auto insurance competition, calling for the creation
of a special task force to develop legislation and the elimination or reduction
of subsidies received by inexperienced and bad drivers.
Firms eye Cooper,
Dana auto part units-sources Yahoo News - A handful of large private
equity firms are considering bids for two key automotive parts businesses on
the auction block, sources close to the situation said.
DaimlerChrysler CEO's job seen safe for now Yahoo News -
DaimlerChrysler AG boss Juergen Schrempp will have to brace himself for
blistering criticism from investors during Wednesday's annual general meeting,
but analysts believe his job is safe for now.
Chop Shop Busted In Jersey CityWNBC - Police said car owners who
wanted to get rid of a car they could no longer afford would pay a fee, and the
shop would make the car disappear. Car owners then would call their insurance
company and report the car stolen.
17 arrested in $500000 auto theft sting The News Journal DE -
Undercover officers posing as brokers purchased 38 stolen vehicles in a
tri-county sting that has netted 17 arrests and the recovery of more than
$500,000 in stolen vehicles, authorities said Friday.
Fed up
with insurance, some doctors want payment in cashKCW - Dr. Vern
Cherewatenko is one of a small but growing number of physicians across the
country who are dumping complicated insurance contracts in favor of simple cash
payments.
CIC Makes Plans for 2004 Autobody Online - From “unintentional fraud”
to “estimating database abuse” and the added costs created by the lack of
standardization among direct repair programs, the Collision Industry Conference
(CIC) hopes to address a wide range of topics this year.
Sixteen Ways to be A Better BossAutobody Online - Your employees are
your most important resource. Without them, you can’t sustain business growth.
With them, you can do almost anything – if you bring out their best through
great leadership and supervision.
Auto
industry names Brown Legislator of the Year Newport News Times - Brown
sponsored HB 2455, NATA-supported legislation that was passed last year. Until
the legislation was enacted, small automotive and mechanical repair shops in
Oregon were faced with the expense of obtaining an automobile dealer's license
in order to sell a vehicle they had obtained under the possessory lien process
after its owner had abandoned it at the shop rather than pay for repairs.
Side Air Bags Work Newswise — Passengers in vehicles with side air bags
experienced a significant reduction in head and thoracic injuries after side
impact collisions, say UAB researchers in the Journal of Trauma.
As cars go
high tech, so do jobs The Boston Globe - A young man is standing
beside a row of personal computers in an old, capacious building. He types
hurriedly on a keyboard as colleagues scurry around him. He could be mistaken
for a computer-modeling specialist working in a business incubator. He's not.
He's an auto mechanic.
Robo-Cars Make Cruise Control So Last Century NY Times - The modern car
does not have to guess your weight. It already knows. -- In short, the
back-seat driver now lives under the hood. And it does more than just talk.
China steers
for $100 bln in auto exports by 2010 Yahoo News - China aims to export
up to $100 billion in cars and automobile components a year by 2010, more than
20 times last year's figure, as high prices of domestically made vehicles come
down, state media said on Monday.
Three-county auto body shop sweep nets 31 arrests SacBee - In the
undercover operation, investigators posing as insurance policy holders had
asked body shop workers for fake documentation to support fraudulent insurance
claims.
PPG Names New
General Manager of North America OEM Coatings Detroit Free Press - PPG
Industries named Michael Hartings general manager of North American automotive
original equipment manufacturer coatings, based at the Troy Automotive
Technical Center. Hartings was director of general industrial coatings sales
for North America for PPG.
Michigan Millers
Mutual Insurance Company Selects eAutoclaims Yahoo News - eAutoclaims
announced that it has secured a two-year contract with Michigan Millers Mutual
Insurance Company. eAutoclaims will provide its national network of body shops
and independent appraisers (IA) to process Michigan Millers' automobile and
commercial heavy equipment physical damage claims. The program will run on
eAutoclaims' online eJusterSuite® claims application.
Auto
repair gets a tuneupThe Free-Lance Star - Stafford students gear up
for internships, job shadowing at local auto dealerships
Ford Goes Ballistic with New Lincoln CarReuters - Ford Motor Co. calls
it the right vehicle for the wrong place. This month, as it moves to capitalize
on surging demand for armored protection since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in
New York and Washington, Ford will begin offering a "Ballistic Protection
Series" version of its Lincoln Town Car.
St. Paul Travelers Merger Complete Business Wire - St. Paul Travelers
today completed the merger that combines The St. Paul Companies and Travelers
Property Casualty Corp. Beginning April 2, 2004, St. Paul Travelers
Companies stock will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
"STA."
Ariba plans another
acquisitionNetwork World Fusion - PPG Industries uses the vendors'
tools to analyze $5 billion each year in spending data, culled from 20
different data sources, according to Jim Polak, director of general purchasing
at the Pittsburgh manufacturer of glass, coatings, fiberglass and chemicals.
April 1, 2004
NEW DuPont(TM)
AccuAngle(TM) Protractor Improves Automotive Color Communications Yahoo
News - Now automotive stylists, designers, paint process engineers, auto repair
technicians and coatings suppliers -- anyone involved in automotive color
decision making -- can easily view color panels from the same viewing angle in
different locations with indoor or outdoor lighting.
CarParts.com Updated...
Largest Selection of Automotive & Truck Parts OnlineYahoo News -
CarParts.com, in partnership with J.C. Whitney, is a replacement parts web site
where individual consumers and DIYers can find and purchase regular parts such
as brakes, starters and timing belts--common auto parts--for repairing and
maintaining their own car or truck.
GM to Show
Rear-Wheel-Drive Cars in U.S. Yahoo News - Americans soon will
see several new better-handling rear-wheel-drive cars now that technological
advances have allowed manufacturers to overcome past drawbacks such as poor
handling on ice and mediocre fuel economy.
DuPont Announces New Responsibilities for Senior LeadersPRNewswire -
Diane H. Gulyas, group vice president - DuPont Electronic & Communication
Technologies, will become Chief Marketing & Sales Officer. -- Craig G. Naylor,
group vice president - Asia Pacific, will add responsibility for DuPont
Electronic & Communication Technologies.
Quiet
Steel mutes vehicle noise Detroit News - Farmington Hills firm offers
metal sandwich with tuned polymer core that reduces sounds
