Ford Provides the Ultimate in Armored Cars LCT Magazine - The
$145,000 vehicle, which for reasons of discretion looks exactly like a regular
Town Car and is otherwise known in Los Angeles as a "studio car," can withstand
rifle rounds that would fell an elephant, including a Winchester .308-caliber
round.
AAA offers array
of services to compete with new rivals Daily Record - When Frederick L.
Gruel was hired by the AAA-New Jersey Automobile Club 24 years ago, management
followed much the same mindset as a regulated utility.
General Motors Pledges Aid to Tsunami Disaster Victims PRNewswire -
General Motors today announced that the GM Foundation will donate $1 million in
cash to the International Response Fund of the American Red Cross to support
relief efforts on behalf of victims of the tidal wave disaster. According to
reports, fatalities from the recent disaster which struck nations of Southeast
Asia and Africa now exceed 115,000. Millions more are in need of medicine,
shelter, food and water.
Custom
Rims, Yes; TV in Steering Wheel, No NY Times - Pimp the ride, pay the
price. -- In the first of what is expected to be a broader crackdown against
auto customization shops, federal regulators on Wednesday imposed a $16,000
fine on West Coast Customs, the auto body shop affiliated with "Pimp My Ride,"
an MTV reality show that makes over rundown cars.
NeoMedia Micro Paint Receives $290K Order from Australasia Business
Wire - NeoMedia Technologies, Inc., said today that it has received a $290,000
order for proprietary paints and related materials from Micro Paint Systems
(Australasia) Limited of New Zealand, which holds distribution rights to
NeoMedia's micro paint repair products in Australia and New Zealand. -- "We
are focusing on selling the NeoMedia system to existing businesses which
specialize in auto body repair," said Mr. Ellison. "In addition, Micro Paint
Repair Systems is targeting automobile dealerships, as well as organizations
which serve groups of automobile dealers, much as NeoMedia has done in Canada
and the U.S."
Agreement could save contracts Roanoke Times - Intermet Corp., which
operates the New River Foundry in Radford and which sought Chapter 11
bankruptcy protection in September, has reached agreements that could keep it
from rejecting contracts with its largest customers.
Industries
face headwinds in '05 DetNews.com - Michigan economy should inch ahead,
but U.S. automakers and airlines to struggle, analysts contend.
State pulls insurance agent's license Pittsburgh Tribune-Review -
Customers who met with Michael D. Newton Jr. at the Mt. Washington insurance
agency where he worked often paid him cash to secure immediate policies and
left with the peace of mind that they were covered. -- Instead, in at least 19
cases, Newton took about $7,525 in customers' money for his personal use and
didn't apply it to the insurance policies they sought, said investigators with
the state Insurance Department.
December 30, 2004
Ky. seeks to cancel tailpipe testing Cincinnati Enquirer - Officials
wishing to end the tailpipe tests that most vehicles in Northern Kentucky must
go through every two years hope they'll have U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency approval for scrapping them by next year. -- To get rid of the Vehicle
Emissions Testing program - which checks to make sure car emissions aren't
higher than allowable under the law - the Kentucky Division for Air Quality has
come up with a plan that would crack down on paint spray guns that many
auto-body shops use.
N.Y.
No-Fault Insurance Fraud Ring Busted Insurance Journal - New York
Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and State Insurance Superintendent Gregory Serio
on Wednesday announced the arrest of 31 members of a Bronx based no-fault
insurance fraud ring that reportedly submitted phony no-fault claims to 13
different insurance carriers.
Fired PPG engineer files discrimination lawsuit Pittsburgh
Tribune-Review - Kathleen Moyer, 57, of Hampton, filed a lawsuit against PPG in
federal court alleging discrimination. -- Moyer was a senior engineer at the
company and "one of the top scientific experts in the world in the field of
windshield glass distortion measurement" -- Moyer's attorney, Bruce Fox, wrote
in the lawsuit that PPG fired her before she could reach the higher pension
benefit level in order to save money, which he said is a violation of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
Former collision repair instructor sues county school system
Rogersville Review - A former Volunteer High School vocational instructor is
claiming he was terminated because he complained about the way federal funds
were being used, although school officials say the decision was made because
the class he taught was abolished due to low enrollment.
Carmakers
pay $10 million in civil fines Detroit News - Automakers paid more than
$10 million in civil fines for violating safety rules and fuel economy
standards in 2004, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.
Ford
picks up trick from MTV DetNews.com - Car manufacturers are beginning
to offer options that once were available only from the local hot-rod shop.
'Jewelry' for car glistens DetNews.com - Husband-and-wife team makes
unique jewelry for auto enthusiasts and their custom cars.
Kenworth to recall seven models The Trucker - The models involved are
C500, K100, T200, T300, T600, T800 and W900. The models are being recalled
because on certain trucks, the power feed harness terminals were not properly
crimped, possibly leading to intermittent power loss, which could possibly
result in a fire.
Insurer
Donates Anti-Fraud Tools to N.Y. City Police Insurance Journal - The
latest tools in surveillance technology — "Joey and "Whisper" - have joined the
fight against no-fault insurance fraud in New York City, reports the National
Insurance Crime Bureau.
BMW Recalls 75,000 Cars Worldwide to Fix Seat Heating Bloomberg - The
worldwide recall applies to 69,750 5-Series cars and 5,500 7-Series cars built
between Feb. 26, 2003, and June 9, 2004, Andreas Sauer, a spokesman for
Munich-based BMW, said in a telephone interview.
Auto shop workers suspected of fraud DailyBulletin.com - Prosecutors
have charged an Upland auto body shop owner and his shop manager with insurance
fraud.
Automotive
training on the Web growing AZCentral.com - Paul Zagnoni, UTI director
of business development, said the FlexTech program is a major improvement over
other "e-learning" systems, thanks to its rich graphics and animation that hold
students' interest far better than screens of text.
A formula
for franchising Kansas City Star (subscription) - If the current
management team of Carstar has its way, company founder Lirel Holt will someday
be regarded as the Ray Kroc of the auto body shop business.
Potentially Explosive Truck KSL News - Some tense moments at a Salt
Lake City auto body shop when a truck came in with ammonium nitrate inside it.
That led to the evacuation of the building and surrounding businesses.
Winter Wrecks Mean Business For Body Shops WRAL.com - Some body shops
are getting a post-Christmas present after the weekend's winter weather --
plenty of damaged cars to repair.
Car dealer settles
deceptive ad complaint for $188,000 WHNT - Columbus, Georgia-based auto
dealer Bill Heard Enterprises has agreed to a 188-thousand dollar settlement
after the investigation of deceptive advertising practices by the governor's
Office of Consumer Affairs.
Donated van opens new doors for wheelchair-bound man Pottstown Mercury
- When it comes to talking about what it’s like to have a wheelchair as his
primary source of mobility, Damien Thornton has plenty of stories to tell.
Ford to Recall More Compact SUVs Reuters - Ford Motor Co. has expanded
its recall of Escape and Mazda Tribute sport utility vehicles because of
problems with the rear liftgate, which if left unlocked could open during a
crash, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Monday.
Paying deerly Vicksburg Post - Although there are no comprehensive
statistics kept, area law enforcement, insurance agents and body shop managers
all agree that vehicle collisions with deer are a big problem in Warren County
and constitute a significant threat to safety.
Students are driven to succeed Long Beach Press-Telegram - Major
automakers donate cars to repair program, get skilled workers in return.
Car starts showing its age after accident Syracuse Post Standard - You
might consider taking the vehicle to a repair shop that specializes in both
mechanical and electrical repairs. Explain the situation and ask that the
vehicle be completely evaluated for any possible concealed damage that was
caused by the accident.
Firms vie
to armor vehicles DetNews.com - California company will open a plant in
Wixom to make a lightweight prototype.
Latest rumor a combination of two old tall tales Pittsburgh
Tribune-Review - For years, there have been those who believe that auto
insurance companies -- desperate to pay out less in claims for deer-vehicle
collisions -- influence the Game Commission's deer management strategies.
Others are convinced the Game Commission has stocked coyotes across the state
in an attempt to lower deer numbers.
USAA ranks tops in JD Power study for filing auto insurance claims San
Antonio Business Journal - Based on a 1,000-point scale, San Antonio-based USAA
ranked 859 on the 2004 Collision Repair Satisfaction Study. USAA customers were
the most satisfied with the firm when they had collision repair or body work
performed on their vehicle.
Regulator says lower premiums show fraud fight is working Newsday - As
several major auto insurers voluntarily scale back rates in New York, the
state's top insurance regulator says anti-fraud efforts are starting to pay off
in the way that matters most _ lower premiums for motorists.
Michigan joins
nationwide insurance investigation Detroit Free Press -The state has
asked certain domestic insurers to submit information needed for the probe by
Jan. 17. It is part of an investigation backed by the National Association of
Insurance Commissioners, a voluntary organization of the chief insurance
regulatory officials of the 50 states.
December 24, 2004
Mom and daughter receive early present North Channel Sun - One lucky
North Channel mother received an early Christmas present from Bates Custom and
Collision Dec. 16. Teamikka Adolph and her four-year old daughter, Taylin were
the recipients of this year's Responsible Parenting Award and Benevolence Car
by Bates and Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) Head Start. The
Adolph family drove away in their new 1997 Pontiac Sunfire to start their new
lives.
Tough Times at U.S. Makers of Auto Parts Lakeland Ledger - The
shrinkage in the customer base of General Motors and the Ford Motor Company has
long squeezed their Midwestern suppliers large and small. But in the last year,
the outlook has become much grimmer for the largest domestic suppliers, Delphi
and Visteon, which were spun off half a decade ago by G.M. and Ford.
Toyota
replacing part in 150,000 sedans CNN - Toyota Motor Corp. is replacing
a defective seat belt component in 150,061 sedans in the United States, the
U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Thursday.
VW
recalls 369,284 cars in U.S. DetNews.com - Volkswagen is recalling
369,284 cars for various defects, including leaking fuel pumps and defective
hazard light switches, U.S. safety regulators said on Thursday.
Volkswagen probes US reports of airbag problems DetNews.com -
Volkswagen is checking reports of possible problems in three U.S. models after
officials came up with 107 cases where side-door airbags may have discharged
improperly, the carmaker said on Thursday.
Partners complete Cooper Tire acquisition NC News Observer - The
Cypress Group, a New York-based private equity firm, and Goldman Sachs Capital
Partners said Thursday they have completed the $1.1 billion acquisition of
Cooper-Standard Automotive from Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.
Car
Theft Bust The Journal News - A Stony Point couple, 12 other people and
a corporation were indicted this week after a three-year investigation by the
Bronx District Attorney's Office into allegations that a stolen car and
chop-shop ring was operating in Rockland and New York City.
J.D. Power and Associates Ranks Erie Insurance Highest in Collision Repair
Satisfaction PRNewswire - The 2004 Collision Repair Satisfaction Study
is based on responses from consumers who had collision repair or body work
performed on their vehicles in the past 12 months. According to the study,
Erie Insurance ranks first overall among the country's major auto insurance
companies, and performed particularly well in areas of claims representatives
and claim policies and procedures.
American Capital Invests $33 Million in Leading Diversified Automotive
Aftermarket Parts Manufacturer PRNewswire - A syndicate of lenders led
by Antares Capital Corporation is investing in a revolving credit facility,
senior term loans and a second lien term loan. Thayer Capital Partners is the
lead investor and majority owner in Qualitor with Baird Capital Partners
playing an active supporting role in the transaction.
Federal-Mogul Aftermarket Awarded 'Vendor of the Year' by Aftermarket Auto
Parts Alliance PRNewswire - Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance --
Federal-Mogul's largest Aftermarket customer -- recently awarded the company's
Aftermarket group with its prestigious Vendor of the Year 2004 Award. The
company was also honored with awards for Outstanding Marketing Support,
Outstanding Manpower Support and Outstanding Web site.
Toyota devises
safer auto body via crash tests at highest speeds Japan Today - Toyota
Motor Corp said Wednesday it has developed an automobile body with higher
safety through all-directional collision tests conducted at the highest-ever
speeds in the world.
Saying
goodbye to auto legend DetNews.com - Owner of 1965 Mustang takes a
sentimental journey in donating the icon to Smithsonian museum.
State Farm Auto Rates Down In 5 States NU Online News - In Alabama, the
rate will go down an average of 4 percent for an annual savings of $21.2
million for the state's policyholders. Colorado customers will see their rates
go down 3.2 percent for an annual savings of $18.2 million. In Mississippi, the
reduction will amount to an average of 2.1 percent for an annual savings of
$9.1 million. South Dakotans will receive a 1.3 percent reduction for an annual
savings of $890,000. And finally, Tennessee policyholders will see a 2 percent
reduction for an annual savings of $12. 2 million.
December 22, 2004
Tulsa
Business Celebrates Christmas With Free Auto Repair Work KOTV - What
would you say to free automotive service this week? You'd probably say "what's
the catch?" The catch is that the owner of "Faith Automotive" in Tulsa has
caught the Christmas spirit and the response has been overwhelming.
Driven to
India Detroit Free Press - Seeking savings and faster production, GM
taps into cheap help and a vast new market
Auto Centrix, Inc. Announces the Launch of Its On-Line Salvage Auction
Business Wire - "The proxy bid salvage auction system software will allow us to
penetrate another sector of the automotive industry and will add significant
revenues to our company " stated Auto Centrix, President and CEO David
Highmore. "As well as offering our Salvage auction to our existing clients, we
will now also have a software solution to offer potential new clients in the
salvage sector of the automotive industry."
Investigation Into Side Airbag Problem On Volkswagens KGO - The
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it has over 100 reports of
side airbags suddenly inflating for no apparent reason. Nineteen people
suffered minor injuries because of this problem.
Honda
to move production of CR-V for U.S. market to Ohio DetNews.com -
Honda's CR-V sport utility vehicle will be made for the first time in the
United States at one of two Ohio plants, the production sites of five other
Honda vehicles.
More car mercury
switches recycled Bangor Daily News - Maine has rescued at least 16,896
mercury switches from junked cars since the state approved the nation's first
mandatory switch recycling program two years ago, according to a study released
Monday by the Natural Resources Council of Maine.
Ford refuses to sell police cars to state Arkansas Democrat Gazette, AR
- Ford Motor Co. has placed law enforcement agencies in Arkansas on its
blacklist, refusing to sell them police cars after Attorney General Mike Beebe
started investigating the automaker.
Safelite Denies Rumors
of Financial Problems GlassBytes - Rumors of financial problems at
Safelite are nothing more than that, according to a company spokesperson.
"There are been rumors, we hear them too," said vice president of marketing
Denise Klapper in an exclusive interview with AGRR/glassbytes.com™ today. "But
Safelite is fine. Our November sales were the strongest of the year and we are
very profitable."
ShatterGARD to
Donate Life Saving Glass Protection Armoring Kits for 100 Military Humvees in
Iraq PR Web - Applied directly to vehicle glass surfaces, VehicleGARD
film multiplies the strength of ordinary windows. In the event of a bomb blast
the coating helps hold the razor sharp pieces of glass together, therefore
greatly reducing the likelihood of injury to passengers in the vehicle.
VehicleGARD is the latest generation of well-accepted window protection films
currently in use throughout the military and law enforcement industry.
Autobody shops
team up against Country Mutual Madison County Record - Eight Illinois
auto body shops and owners teamed up against Country Mutual Insurance Co.
alleging the insurer's “calculated and malicious conduct” caused them a
substantial loss of business.
Family gets a car for Christmas The St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Collision
Plus donated a 1993 Ford Tempo with 75,000 miles and paid for the taxes and
title fees. -- The car, which was bought by Collision Plus after the previous
owner elected to not have it fixed, was checked and serviced for major and
minor problems.
She auto like this!
Herald Bulletin - It could have been the “Price is Right.” Karen Hyatt’s mouth
dropped open as a crowd of business people pulled the white wrapping and red
velvety bow off a green 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix SE. The licensed and
refurbished car came with a year’s worth of insurance and oil changes, a $200
Meijer gift certificate, $100 of gas cards and four boxes of household gifts.
Safelite Rescinds $15
Fee for Non-Network Shops: Independent Glass Association Claims Victory
GlassBytes - According to a release issued today, Safelite says that it was
"pleased that more than 1,500 shops responded by contacting us to pursue
electronic invoicing" and that network providers are "receiving payment
approximately ten days faster than when they were using paper."
Car Repair
Program Helps Working Poor NPR (audio) - A St. Louis program helps
low-income folks qualify for loans to fix their cars. Often, the lack of
dependable transportation is the difference between having a job and a welfare
check.
Cutbacks rock
struggling auto parts makers Crain's Chicago Business - Auto parts
makers in the Chicago area are bracing for the latest in a series of body blows
when Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. slash new car production early
next year.
More than
a Dozen Arrested in Los Angeles Auto Collision Fraud Ring Insurance
Journal -Warning drivers that anyone can become a victim of insurance fraud,
Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi and the California Highway Patrol
announced the bust of an alleged auto insurance fraud ring that cost insurers -
and ultimately policyholders - at least $1.5 million in the past year alone.
Holiday parties: Eat, drink and be wary MSN Money - Throwing a holiday
party? ‘Social host’ laws say you may be liable if your guests get into an
accident on their way home.
December 20, 2004
Auto parts firm
upgrades software Chicago Sun Times - J.C. Whitney, the Chicago-based
direct marketer and retailer of automotive accessories and parts, will announce
today it has streamlined its operations to improve customer service with new
software and hardware from IBM and CommercialWare to more efficiently process
orders and handle inventory.
Kia
Spectra gets worst crash test rating Aberdeen News - The Kia Spectra is
the first vehicle since 2001 to get the insurance industry's worst safety
rating in a frontal crash test, according to results released Sunday.
Dealer's not always
best shop for auto repair Bankrate.com - Dealerships claim their
factory-trained mechanics know your car better than a general garage or quickie
service center. They use factory parts made for your car, they say.
Hyundai
recalls 120,000 Elantra sedans for air-bag fixDetNews.com - Spokesman
Mike Anson said the air bag failed to deploy in a test conducted by the
institute in May, but worked properly in 25 subsequent tests done independently
and by Hyundai. There have been no reports of accidents or injuries related to
the failed test, Anson said.
Closing a Ford plant The Morning Journal - Closing the Lorain Assembly
Plant and consolidating Econoline van production at the Ohio Assembly Plant in
Avon Lake will cost Ford Motor Co. ''at least $100 million,'' according to one
bidder on the project.
Aisin Seiki
sets up auto body parts firm in China Japan Today - Aisin Seiki Co said
Friday it has established a joint-venture auto body parts company in Guangdong
Province to cope with an expansion in Toyota Motor Corp's production in China.
Visteon
engineers vote to join UAW Detroit Free Press - The Sterling Heights
vote is the UAW's second recent successful effort to organize Detroit-area
automotive engineers.
Lav's Auto Body helps equip accident reconstruction team Milford Daily
News - On Thursday, Lavallee and his wife, Joanne, gave $3,000 to the Central
Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council's Accident Reconstruction team. The money
will be used to buy a Vericom 3000, a car-mounted computer that allows police
to accurately analyze an accident scene.
Council rejects body shop The Republican - The message to Calvin Potter
at Monday's City Council meeting was he would have been a good neighbor, but
bad for the air.
Raleigh
Businessman Helps Out Family Who Lost Their Home to a Fire ABC 11 - Jim
Malenda, who owns an auto paint and body shop, heard their story about how all
14 members of the family made it out in the nick of time, and he just couldn't
stand to think of them without a home.
Task force tackles insurance fraud Boston Globe - The task force
officially started in October but began work less formally in the summer,
spurred on by the fact that the city sees more fraudulent insurance claims per
capita than most other communities in the state.
New
Hampshire man convicted for role in auto insurance scam Foster's Online
- Martinez and Knight were among eight people indicted last December after the
group allegedly tried to create a phony car accident to make false insurance
claim and collect thousands of dollars on fake chiropractic bills.
Bill aims to block auto plan Boston Globe - Legislation has been filed
to block a Romney administration plan for assigning high-risk drivers to auto
insurers as an industry executive warned the initiative was illegal and could
undermine group discounts.
Geico's top Macon
exec transferring Macon Telegraph - Regional vice president Dave
Pushman said he will transfer to the Fredericksburg regional office effective
in February. He said his move was announced to Macon employees last week.
December 17, 2004
Arrest
of Bethpage Man Accused of Defrauding Auto Body Businesses Throughout the USnassauda.org - According to Dillon, "Lupowitz, the Owner and President of
Ocean Spray Technologies, Inc., of 317 W. John Street in Hicksville was engaged
in the business of selling a spray on truck bed liner epoxy to auto body shops
around the country. In order to induce the auto body shops to buy his product,
the defendant, using as alias, would pose as a fictitious owner of a fleet of
trucks that needed to be sprayed specifically with Ocean Spray’s product. This
fictitious company would enter into an agreement with the auto body shop and
based on this agreement, the shop would then purchase Ocean Spray’s product.
After receiving the product, the shop would never hear from the fi ctitious
truck owner again. Ocean Spray would then refuse to refund the auto body
shops."
Auto repairer, other businesses help abused woman The Gloucester County
Times - This is the first year the 32-year-old Boggs Auto Collision Rebuilders
Inc. has participated in the National Benevolence Program, sponsored by Akzo
Nobel, the world's largest paint manufacturer. Every year a number of auto body
shops throughout the country help refurbish cars and present them to deserving
individuals during the holiday season.
Local
automotive professional Gulden recognized The Sleepy Eye Herald
Dispatch - Tony Gulden was honored with the ASE Parts Specialist of the Year
Award in recognition of outstanding achievement as an auto parts salesman.
Governor Perry Joins Toyota to Introduce On-Site Suppliers in Texas
PRNewswire - Eighteen suppliers to be located on the site of Toyota Motor
Manufacturing, Texas will employ 1,500 and invest about $150 million, Governor
Rick Perry said today in a news conference. Employment and investment are 50%
greater than earlier estimates.
GM Daewoo sues
Chery Automobile claiming its model was copied Detroit Free Press - "GM
Daewoo alleges that Chery produced the QQ through copying and unauthorized use
of GM Daewoo's trade secrets, while claiming that it had developed the vehicle
on its own," GM Daewoo said in a news release.
December 16, 2004
Auto crashes spike in Dec., Jan. Scranton Times Tribune - There are
more car crashes during the first and last months of the year than in any of
the other 10 months, according to state Department of Transportation data.
Costing us 'deerly' Hampton Chronicle - If State Farm's total is just a
quarter of the claims filed in Iowa, that would place the number of reported
deer-vehicle collisions at more than 24,000 last year alone, a far cry from the
6,665 claimed by the DOT.
Apogee Reports Third
Quarter Fiscal 2005 Earnings TMCnet - Auto glass segment revenues and
earnings dropped significantly, as expected. Results were impacted by soft
market conditions and termination of certain supply pricing amendments in
fiscal 2004.
Woman's prayers
answered with a car Belleville News-Democrat - England is one of 45
people nationwide Tuesday who received a car from the newly formed Acoat
Selected National Benevolence Program. Acoat Woman's prayers answered with her
donated 'new' car. Selected auto body repair shops, an international
association, organized the program to give economically disadvantaged families
refurbished cars.
Small biz has lots of heart Winnipeg Sun - The folks at Fawcett Auto
Body have a bit of Christmas cheer all year round. Diana Fawcett and her team
of eight employees regularly contribute to the community by supporting special
events, raising funds or offering to help those less fortunate.
Body shop expands Flint Journal - Superior Paint & Body Works adds
store to sell supplies -- McConnell said he added the 900-square-foot shop in
an attempt to smooth out some of the boom-and-bust cycles of the auto body
business by generating additional sales.
Options in PPG Industries Inc. begin trading on the American Stock Exchange
PRNewswire - PPG Industries will open with position limits of 7,500,000 shares.
The options will trade on the February expiration cycle. PPG Industries, Inc.
supplies products for the manufacturing, construction, automotive, chemical
processing and other industries worldwide.
Finalists for North American Car of the Year and North American Truck of the
Year PRNewswire - Forty-eight automotive journalists from the United
States and Canada have selected the 2005 Chevrolet Corvette, the Chrysler
300/300C and the Ford Mustang as finalists for the North American Car of the
Year. The Ford Escape Hybrid, the Ford Freestyle and the Land Rover LR3 were
chosen as finalists for the North American Truck of the Year.
Auto Glass
Damage? File a Claim or Pay Cash? The Weekly - When you have windshield
damage, you will probably consider whether or not you want to pay cash or file
an insurance claim. You should also consider something else: safety.
Groves Council
tables decision on Auto Body shop expansion Port Arthur News - The
owner wants to carry after market items such as bumpers and bed liners. He has
lost some business to competitors who decided to go to a different shop that
offers the after market items.
DCX weighs $300M plant investment Windsor Star - DaimlerChrysler Canada
Inc. is looking at spending up to $300 million at its Windsor Assembly Plant to
replace the factory's aging paint shop.
Car Glut Has Repercussions for Visteon and Delphi Bloomberg - The glut
of Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. vehicles throughout North America
portends lean times for their two biggest suppliers, Delphi Corp. and Visteon
Corp.
Drive Insurance From Progressive Launches New Web Site for Independent Agencies
and Consumers Business Wire - The Web site is a key component of
Drive's marketing campaign, which communicates to consumers the advantages that
independent agents provide over captive agents. Consumers who see Drive
television advertising will be directed to driveinsurance.com to get more
information and to find a local agency.
December 13, 2004
Crawford & Co. gets subpoena in New York Atlanta Business Journal -
Crawford & Co. reported it received a subpoena on Dec. 9 from the New York
Attorney General Eliot Spitzer requesting information in connection with an
industry investigation. -- Crawford, the world's largest third-party insurance
claims manager, has suffered from a six-year downturn in property and casualty
claims -- its largest source of business. Crawford also took an $8 million hit
last year to settle with the U.S. Department of Justice over questionable
billing practices, and has been buffeted by instability in the corner office.
The company is now hoping for a turnaround.
Insurance Auto Auctions Announces Opening of Greenfield Facility in Lincoln,
Illinois Business Wire - Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc., a leading
provider of automotive salvage and claims processing services in the United
States, today announced the opening of a new greenfield facility in Lincoln,
Illinois. The facility represents IAA's fourth new branch of the year and opens
with the Company's new IT system fully operational.
DaimlerChrysler, GM Join on Hybrids Reuters - DaimlerChrysler and
General Motors will jointly develop new hybrid motors to compete against
Japanese rivals on the fuel-saving technology that reduces harmful emissions,
the companies said on Monday.
Chrysler Group Recalls Dodge Durangos, Dakotas to Replace Ball Joints
PRNewswire - Chrysler Group will recall approximately 600,000 Model Year
2000-2003.5 Dodge Durango 4x4 SUVs and Dodge Dakota pickup trucks to replace
front suspension upper ball joints that may be subject to progressive wear.
Thinking Outside the Black Box Cato Institute - The National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration has proposed standards for the data collected by
EDRs, but the agency emphasized in a recent notice that it is not mandating
Black Boxes.
Study Shows Benefits
Of Side Impact Airbags KIROtv.com - You may be protected by front
airbags if your car is hit from the front, but what if the other vehicle comes
from the side?
Automotive supplier announces job cuts The Desert Sun - Delphi Corp.
said Friday it plans to cut 8,500 jobs -- or 4.6 percent of its total work
force -- worldwide next year as part of an ongoing restructuring.
Scores charged in crackdown on auto claims Boston Globe - Police have
arrested and charged more than 100 people with filing millions of dollars in
fake auto insurance claims in Lawrence, in the largest investigation into auto
insurance fraud in the state's history.
Ford Escape, Honda CR-V Get Top SUV Crash Marks, Group Says Bloomberg -
Honda Motor Co.'s CR-V and Ford Motor Co.'s Escape, two small sport utility
vehicles, won an insurer group's top rating in side crash tests when the
vehicles were equipped with head-protecting air bags.
Ford Escape Recall
- WTOL-TV - Ford is recalling about 474,000 Escape sport utility vehicles
worldwide. -- The recall is because of the possibility of an accelerator
problem that could result in elevated engine speeds. Ford says the vehicles
involved are from the 2002-to-2004 model years and most are in the United
States.
Car
to be given to local single mom Beloit Daily News - When Drevdahl Auto
Body first received the 1996 Chrysler Concord, the vehicle didn't even run.
Authorities Investigating Car Theft Ring Linked To Jamaica NBC6 -
Authorities in Broward County are investigating a car theft ring that bilked
millions of dollars from insurance companies by shipping cars to Jamaica and
then reporting them stolen.
December 10, 2004
Drivers prefer silver for cars The News Journal - Silver topped DuPont
Co.'s annual list of the world's most popular car colors for the fourth year in
a row, the company said Thursday. But other colors are catching up. In North
America, that means red, blue and light metallic brown, which is the hottest
new color for luxury cars.
Aadco
sees a rise in first quarter The Brampton Guardian - Brampton's Aadco
Automotive Inc., a supplier of quality used automotive parts is reporting
improved financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2004.
RI gets EPA
grant to help auto salvage businesses Providence Business News - The
grant is one of 12 awarded nationwide, including three in New England. Maine
got $152,000 for an “environmental results” program for auto body and repair
shops, and Vermont got $200,000 for a self-certification program for retail gas
stations.
Richmond Hill Man Implicated In Counterfeit Auto Parts Ring Queens
Chronicle - A Richmond Hill man was one of four people charged in a $700,000
scheme in which Queens and Manhattan auto shops knowingly used counterfeit auto
parts with fake Ford and Chrysler labels.
Auto
Recyclers Go By The Book KELOLAND TV - Chop shops can give legitimate
auto recyclers a black eye through their dealings in the black market.
US Could Seek Recall of Up to 600,000 Dodge Trucks Reuters - The U.S.
government has asked DaimlerChrysler AG's Dodge to recall some of its Dodge
Durango SUVs and Dodge Dakota pickup trucks due to concerns over their safety,
Chrysler officials said on Thursday. -- CBS News said the government began
investigating possible premature wear of the trucks' wheel assembly following
numerous reports of the wheels suddenly detaching and flying off.
Southern Lehigh alum to get $8.7 million in suit against Ford Allentown
Morning Call - Ford Motor Co. was responsible for a defect in the roof design
of a 1996 Ford Crown Victoria, and that contributed to spinal injuries suffered
by Barry Muth in 1999, an eight-member jury decided on Wednesday.
Crash Tests and Safety Ratings to Spread the Importance of Active Safety
Systems Business Wire - Raising consumer awareness on active safety
systems has been a significant challenge in the North American automotive
industry. Crash tests and safety rating programs are arguably more potent than
regulation-driven change and have emerged as strong drivers for building
consumer awareness regarding vehicle safety.
Car
magnets may leave lasting impression NBC2 News - Your vehicle may pay a
price if you Support Our Troops – or America, a football team or just about
anything else involving popular car magnets. They might be baking right onto
your car's paint finish. -- The problem is not the magnet itself. Drivers are
leaving them on their cars for weeks and months at a time without moving them –
and when you finally do, car body shops say you might have a long-lasting
surprise.
AutoZone First Quarter EPS Up 12.7% PRNewswire-FirstCall - AutoZone,
Inc. today reported sales of $1.286 billion for its first fiscal quarter (12
weeks) ended November 20, 2004, up 0.3% over fiscal 2003. Same store sales, or
sales for domestic stores open at least one year, decreased 3% for the quarter.
Union Franchise Offers Auto Surface Restoration Missourian Publishing -
Creative Colors International (CCI), a Chicago-based mobile repair company,
recently announced expansion plans in Greater St. Louis area, including the
addition of a mobile unit.
Jury clears GM
in rollover Detroit Free Press - A Texas jury cleared General Motors
Corp. of responsibility for injuries to a 34-year-old man who was left
quadriplegic when his 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe sport-utility vehicle rolled over.
Oxford Automotive files Chapter 11; will sell N. American plants
Crain's Detroit Business - Oxford Automotive Inc. filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy
petition Tuesday with plans to sell its five remaining plants in North America
and give its secured bondholders majority control of the healthy European
operations.
RepairOne(R) to Acquire Meineke Car Care Center in South Daytona PR
Newswire - RepairOne(R) Automotive Concepts LLC announced today the creation of
a purchase agreement to acquire the Meineke Car Care Center in South Daytona
within the month. Once renovated, the Meineke building will serve as the
second RepairOne(R) auto repair/service center in central Florida.
Mobile
Productivity, Inc. Introduces Revolutionary Diagnostic System for Automotive
Industry Market Wire - Diagnosing, servicing and repairing vehicles
just got easier and more efficient thanks to a revolutionary new product
introduced by Mobile Productivity, Inc. (MPi). The Advanced Repair Guidance
Information System (ARGIS™) will allow the automotive industry to reliably
service increasingly complicated vehicles in a cost-effective and high-quality
manner.
Auto club settles overtime suit San Jose Business Journal - The
Automobile Club of Southern California has agreed to pay a total of $19.5
million to more than 1,300 of its current and former insurance agents who sued
the nation's largest auto club after being denied overtime.
There's Still Money in
That Wreck Motley Fool - I had to find a whole new angle to discuss,
which is easy with Copart because it's in the rather unique business of
auctioning off wrecked cars, mostly to licensed vehicle dismantlers, rebuilders,
repair licensees, used vehicle dealers, and exporters. -- I first came across
the concept of the salvage vehicle market last year, when I was searching the
Internet for a used car. -- After insurance companies pay out for your crushed
car, they have to do something with it, right? Thus arose Copart and competitor
Insurance Auto Auctions.
December 7, 2004
Vermont Collision Repair Facility Owner Awarded Snap-on Box I-CAR -
Adam Grant, owner of Xtreme Collision Center, LLC in Morrisville, Vermont, was
the winner of the Snap-on toolbox presented by I-CAR, ASE, I-CAR Education
Foundation, and NATEF during NACE 2004. Grant qualified for the toolbox by
visiting all four co-sponsoring booths during the exposition and by being I-CAR
trained as well as ASE-certified. His name was randomly selected in a drawing
on Saturday at NACE.
GM revives Mr. Goodwrench ads, throwing in comedic twist USA Today
- Improvements in vehicle design, manufacturing and parts have resulted in a
level of quality that's getting way too good for the auto repair industry's own
good.
Government investigating Hummer H2 for possible safety defect
DetNews.com - Federal regulators are investigating the Hummer H2 after
receiving three reports of wheels falling off the vehicle, the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration said Monday.
Aftershocks of a fender bender Boston Globe - In Massachusetts, where
the average annual auto insurance premium is nearly $1,100 and drivers are
involved in more accidents than anywhere else in the country, a claim for
$4,000 barely raises an eyebrow.
Watch, wait and worry MLive.com - The stakes are high for workers at
troubled Ypsilanti Visteon plant
The parts of
a lifetime add up in Gardena auto shop Daily Breeze - Home to memories
in metal, the steel structure is packed with icons and remnants of a different
era. Alan Mest isn't just a collector. He's a mechanic who knows the value of
junk.
New
bill would criminalize 'running' for insurance scams Lowell Sun - The
anti-fraud bill, which has broad support in both branches, is an attempt to
crack down harder on auto-insurance fraud in the Bay State, which lawmakers,
police and insurers say is a major factor in skyrocketing insurance premiums.
Insurance
adjusters see firsthand the deer-vehicle dilemma LaPorte Herald Argus -
Nationwide annually, there are 750,000 collisions between vehicles and deer,
moose and elk, causing $1.2 billion in medical and vehicle damages, according
to the Insurance Information Institute.
Suit claims
insurance check low News Observer - A Wake County woman has sued one of
the nation's largest insurance companies, claiming it penalized her for using a
specific car repair shop. -- Jill Driver Leite sued Nationwide Mutual Insurance
Co., claiming that when she took her damaged sport utility vehicle to Precision
Collision Repair Center in Wake Forest, the insurance company dramatically
underestimated the cost to repair it. The insurance company's actions were
designed "for the purpose of injuring or destroying the business of Precision
Collision to the detriment of consumers in Wake County," the lawsuit says.
Suffolk shop owners sue auto network The Virginian-Pilot - Two Middle
Eastern-American men trying to get a foothold in the region’s used auto-parts
business claim that the industry is rife with price-fixing and that they have
been blacklisted because of their nationalities, according to a federal
lawsuit.
Coalition for
Auto Repair Equality Recaps 'Right to Repair Act' Milestones U.S.
Newswire - As the 108th Congress draws to a close, Coalition for Auto Repair
Equality (CARE) recaps some of the major achievements and milestones for the
auto aftermarket since the Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair Act was
re-introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on July 15, 2003.
CCAR’s S/P2
Online Training Reaches 1,500 Schools Enrolled emediawire.com - The L.P
Card Skill Center in Pasadena, Texas, has become the 1,500th school to enroll
in the “S/P2” online training in Safety and Pollution Prevention offered by the
Coordinating Committee For Automotive Repair. CCAR makes S/P2 available on no
charge to automotive training programs throughout the U.S.
Nissan
steel woes mount Detnews.com - Automaker may be forced to cut output
again; Ghosn ended long-term supply contracts in 1999.
Suzuki
to cut output as steel shortage widens Detnews.com - Suzuki Motor Corp.
said on Friday it would scrap plans to boost production by about 13,000
vehicles in December, becoming the second Japanese auto maker forced to scale
back output because of a shortage of steel.
Court
Overturns Ruling on Auto Rate Settings Insurance Journal - The 11th
Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned a lower court ruling that would have
reportedly given a single jury the power to set rates for auto insurance across
the country.
Businesses
stir up spirit of giving WALB-TV - Albany,GA - Carriage Auto Body
Repair in Albany has joined forces with 11 other South Georgia body shops. --
Other body shops that are participating are Gieryic's Citco, Mitchell Auto
Repair, Hudson's Garage, Professional Restoration & Collision, Brooks Auto
Parts, Heldenbergs Auto Repair, G&G Auto Electric and Powell Garage.
Visteon Announces Auto Glass Partnership With the NFL(R) PRNewswire -
Football fans can now show their colors in a bold new way, thanks to an
agreement announced today by Visteon Corporation and the National Football
League(R) (NFL(R)), making Visteon the officially-licensed provider of NFL Team
Custom Windshields.
Beaver Dam
Marine reservist killed in Iraq The Green Bay News-Chronicle - Ryan
Cantafio worked at his father's business, Joe's Auto Body, for three years. --
Ryan was due to return home from Iraq in April 2005 and had planned to return
to the auto body shop, his father said.
Dana completes sale of
replacement products unit WOOD-TV - Dana's one (b) billion dollar sale
of the Automotive Aftermarket Group to Affinia Group includes 52 plants
worldwide that employ about 13-thousand people making brakes, filters and other
parts.
Need for auto technicians fuels new SMCC program Portland Press Herald
- The two-year automotive degree program at Southern Maine Technical College
seemed beyond repair in 2002, when school administrators suspended it.
Starting from scratch and ready for winter ic Coventry - Rugby-based
mobile autobody repair firm Revive! is launching a new service to stop frost
getting into car body scratches and scuffs and accelerating rust. -- The firm
has unveiled a winter protection package so that motorists can subscribe to
have their vehicle paintwork chips and bumper scuffs fixed.
Remembering a
Head-Turning, Neck-Snapping Year for Cars Tech Central Station - It's
been a half a century now, but I can still feel the excitement of October 1954,
when Detroit was revealing its 1955 model cars. In those days the fall
introduction of new car models was always a big event.
Deadline nears for
Farmers class-action award Bend.com - Eligible motorists and health
care providers have until Monday December 6th to claim a share in a $9.5
million jury verdict against Farmers Insurance. The verdict against Farmers was
returned in a class action lawsuit in Multnomah County Circuit Court on
December 5, 2003.
Copart Inc. Q1 earnings jump 49% CBS.MW - Salvaged automobile
auctioneer Copart Inc. reported a 49 percent rise in fiscal first-quarter
earnings after the bell Tuesday, citing sales growth because of its proprietary
virtual auction technology.
Honda to lose key U.S. executive CBS.MW - Honda Motor Co. said Tuesday
that Thomas G. Elliott, its highest-ranking U.S. executive, would retire next
year, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times online.
Ripplewood Holdings L.L.C. Acquires Honsel International Technologies S.a.r.l.
PRNewswire - Ripplewood Holdings L.L.C. announced today that is has acquired
the operations of Luxembourg-based Honsel International Technologies S.a.r.l.
("HIT"), one of the largest independent suppliers of light-metal products to
the automotive industry, from The Carlyle Group.
