Beyond Parts and Equipment Newsfeed

Industry Related News from Various News Sources

February 2004 Archives

February 27, 2004

Insurance Auto Auctions Announces Fourth Quarter Results Yahoo News - Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc., a leading provider of automotive salvage and claims processing services in the United States, today reported a net loss for the quarter ended December 28, 2003. The Company recorded a net loss of $0.3 million, or a loss of $0.03 per diluted share, versus net earnings of $0.5 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, for the same quarter a year ago.
Daniel R. Coulson to Retire March 31 As Visteon Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer PRNewswire - Visteon Corporation today announced that Daniel R. Coulson, executive vice president and chief financial officer, will retire on March 31, 2004, after a distinguished 38-year career at Visteon and Ford Motor Co.
NAGS Bumps Back Revaluation Start Date to this Fall The Salient - The Spring Calculator will be as usual.
Firm wrenches profit from salvaged parts Jackson Clarion Ledger - There will always be a need for replacement fenders, low mileage used motors, transmissions and front caps.
Ford Excursion tires to be replaced CBS Market Watch - 297,000 Steeltex tires on Excursions targeted
Police make two chop-shop arrests Glendale Star - The total value of the stolen property was estimated to be $250,000.
Ford to Participate in Society of Automotive Analysts Conference Yahoo News - Lewis Booth, Ford Motor Company group vice president and president and chief operating officer, Ford Europe, will participate in the Society of Automotive Analysts Conference at the Geneva Auto Show on Tuesday, March 2.
6,500 strike at auto supplier plant Washington Times - The United Auto Workers called a strike Thursday at Detroit's American Axle & Manufacturing Inc. after negotiators on a new contract broke down.
GM teams up with IBM to improve Onstar service capabilities Detroit News - Companies work on better voice recognition, digital technology

February 26, 2004

LKQ Corporation Announces Fourth Quarter 2003 Results - 2004 Outlook Business Wire - 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 its subsidiary Global Trade Alliance, Inc., LKQ is 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.
Group 1 Automotive Reports Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year Earnings Business Wire - Company Raises 2004 Guidance; Seven New Franchises Acquired Sixth Consecutive Year of Revenue, Net Income and EPS Growth
US Auto Industry Makes More Use of Aluminum VOA News - Rick Milner, vice president of Alcoa Automotive, a major aluminum supplier to the auto industry, says automakers find several features of his product to be attractive.
Asbury Automotive Group Reports Fourth Quarter and 2003 Financial Results Yahoo News - Parts, service and collision repair revenues and gross profit for the year increased 10.9 percent and 10.2 percent (5.5 percent and 4.5 percent same-store), respectively.
Audi Improves Auto Design Lead-Times With think3 MarketWire - Facilitates Key Improvements for Shape Modification in Aerodynamics
Automotive Supply Company May Choose Arkansas Site KATV - The new plant would be the third automotive supplier to locate in eastern Arkansas since Toyota Motor Corporation announced a year ago that it chose San Antonio over Marion for its next manufacturing plant.
Unclaimed Money KELO-TV - The state of South Dakota is holding on to 13-million dollars. -- Some of that money could belong to you. -- Some names made the list because of insurance issues.
GM sends design wunderkind to Europe Detroit News - GM appoints Nesbitt, who designed PT Cruiser to lead Opel
Steel prices soar 66% in a world market 'gone mad' Detroit News - Shortage fears are leading to a rapid rise in steel prices, squeezing U.S. manufacturers already reeling from a deep three-year downturn. -- Some steel companies are adding surcharges or even renegotiating contracts to raise prices to help offset their higher costs. Nine out of 10 steel users said suppliers raised their base prices in January, while 85% said they had to pay a surcharge, according to the PMA survey.
Wrecked, But Newer: Foster Auto Parts updates, restructures Five Corners yard Columbian - It's not often that a business destroys its inventory in an effort to refocus operations.

February 25, 2004

Getting Around: A stowaway that eats away at your cars Omaha World-Herald - Body damage from salt will decrease your car's value and can be expensive to repair.
After Hours Lowrider Magazine - Elvin Alvino, Jr. is a painter by trade so there is no wonder why he has such an eye-catching paint job on his latest lowride.
Automotive Women's Alliance Annual Spring Panel Event Business Wire - The Automotive Women's Alliance (AWA) Annual Spring Panel Event "Brand Marketing-Industry at a Crossroads" will be held Tuesday, March 23, 2004 at the Troy Marriott Hotel, 200 W. Big Beaver, Troy, MI.
Great Designs in Steel Seminar Draws Over 1200 Automotive Engineers Yahoo News - Attendance for the American Iron and Steel Institute's (AISI) Great Designs in Steel Seminar nearly doubled for the second year in a row
Auto refinish co starts ICT in B’lore CIOL - Based in the Akzo Nobel site in Bangalore, the company expects the global center to play an important role in the development of new IT related services for the global collision repair industry.
Alcoa Sells Automotive Fastener Unit to Kaminski PandCT - Alcoa has sold its automotive fastener business to the Kaminski Holdings group. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
ILOG Optimizes Automotive Steel Production for Nippon Steel Yahoo News - NS Solutions developed the SCM solution for a leading Japanese automaker.
Copart Reports Second Quarter Financial Results Business Wire - Copart earned net income of $17,367,800 in the second quarter of fiscal 2004 on revenues of $92,634,900. This quarter's net income is 26% higher than the $13,756,500 earned in the same period of fiscal 2003 on revenues of $82,783,400. Fully diluted earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter was $.19 compared to $.15 last year, an increase of 27%.

February 24, 2004

Former President of Caliber Collision Centers No Longer with Company Crash Network - Bill Lawrence, who'd been the president of Caliber Collision Centers, a chain of 67 body shops in Calif. (38) and Texas (29), is no longer with the company.
Sonic Automotive fourth-quarter earnings fall Reuters - Auto dealer group Sonic Automotive Inc. said on Tuesday its fourth-quarter earnings fell as the company lost more money at its discontinued operations.
PPG taps v.p. for auto aftermarket units Pittsburgh Business Times - PPG Industries Inc. has aligned its automotive aftermarket businesses under a single leader, Garry Goudy.
Cooks Collision Chooses ADP Claims Services Group's Shoplink for All Bay Area Shops Yahoo/PRNewswire - ADP Claims Services Group, a leading provider of integrated business solutions for the property and casualty, collision repair and automotive recycling industries, announced today Cooks Collision will use Shoplink®, ADP's computerized estimating system, in all of its 13 shops. Cooks Collision is one of the largest consolidators in the San Francisco Bay Area and in California.
Training Tomorrow's Auto Technicians Washington Post - White collars depend on a lot of blue collars to stay that way.
CarQuest joins with fellow parts distributor San Antonio Express-News - Competitiveness in the auto parts industry has led one of the city's oldest families to merge its CarQuest Auto Parts business with Raleigh, N.C.-based General Parts Inc.

February 23, 2004

LKQ Corporation Enters Aftermarket Automotive Parts Industry Through a Significant Acquisition Business Wire - LKQ Corporation, the largest nationwide provider of recycled OEM automotive replacement parts, today announced that it has acquired Global Trade Alliance, Inc., one of the largest suppliers of aftermarket collision automotive replacement parts in the Midwest. GTA operates primarily under the trade names Action Crash Parts and Midwest Fender.
Study Finds Car Color Relates To Safety NBC 17 - The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety says colors can create conditions that can cause fatigue, increase stress or decrease visual perception. Color can also impact mood and people make purchasing decisions based on mood.
Promotion Power Autobody Online - "If you just do the usual and the ordinary, that's all you'll ever get." And that may be good enough for many shop owners, but I've found that most have a strong desire to go beyond the usual. To do that, their marketing will also have to go beyond the usual.
Automotive safety improves Arizona Republic - Consumers are wanting more safety features in vehicles. More than three-quarters of consumers surveyed said that rollover curtains or side-impact airbags would be important or very important in their next vehicle-purchase decision, according to research conducted by Dohring Co. in 2003.
Carmakers push squeak-free, snazzy interiors Detroit News - Industry uses rich fabrics, woodgrains to help boost sales
Lowcountry cashes in on automotive aftermarket Charleston Regional Business Journal - A national study by independent marketing consultants Frost & Sullivan concluded that truck bed liners are now one of the most popular accessory items purchased by new truck owners.
Louisiana and State Farm To Meet To Discuss Transition Bayou Buzz - The purpose of the meeting is to discuss a transition strategy that will address the closure of the company’s Operations Center and Claims Annex facility in Monroe. The closures will result in a loss of approximately 1,000 jobs in the community.
Geico still feels bankruptcy 40 years later Virginian Pilot - “It took GEICO 40 years to build our reputation, and in a heartbeat, we lost it,” chairman and president O.M. “Tony” Nicely told a gathering of Old Dominion University students.
Consumers find some insurance inquiries return to haunt them Seattle Times - Two bills have been introduced to address the problem of consumers' inquiries morphing into claims. The regulatory push places Washington among a handful of states that have adopted such legislation or are considering it.
EX-AUTO Insurer Hits a Red Light WBBM - Illinois regulators aren't ready for James Hallberg to buy another insurance company; they're still sorting through the $37-million wreckage of his last two.

February 20, 2004

Kansai and PPG Look to Form Automotive Coatings Alliance Azom USA - The alliance is being set up to respond quickly to the demands of automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEM), in particular Japanese automotive manufacturers that had set up operations overseas. It also comes after Kansai’s alliance with DuPont ended at the end of last year.
Frontier Adjusters Selects ADP Claims Services Group's PenPro(R) to Standardize Estimates for Insurance Clients Nationwide PRNewswire - ADP Claims Services Group, a leading provider of integrated business solutions for the property and casualty, collision repair and automotive recycling industries, announced Frontier Adjusters, Inc., a national provider of independent adjustment and appraisal services, has chosen PenPro as its auto appraisal software provider.
GM lifts ban on Aveo sales, says car didn't cause crashes IndyStar - Five crashes involving the new Chevrolet Aveo prompted General Motors Corp. to temporarily instruct dealers not to sell the cars, but the automaker said it has determined the car did not cause the wrecks.
Copart, Inc. to Webcast Second Quarter Fiscal 2004 Results Business Wire - Copart, founded in 1982, provides vehicle suppliers, primarily insurance companies, with a full range of services to process and sell salvage vehicles through auctions, principally to licensed dismantlers, rebuilders and used vehicle dealers.
Car repair costs soar with today's parts, technology ABC12 - How much do even minor repairs cost?

February 19, 2004

Auto dealers running short of mechanics USA Today - Despite concerns about work being sent overseas and a jobless economic recovery, car dealerships can't find enough mechanics to fill their service bays.
Daimler Moves Seen As Good For Cost Cutting, Quality Dow Jones - Executive moves announced Wednesday by DaimlerChrysler AG should be good for the auto maker, which has been struggling to cut costs and improve quality.
Ford VP: Will Continue to Seek Cost Cutting Moves Dow Jones - Ford Motor Co. will never stop searching for ways to cut costs, said Phil Martens, the company's vice president of product creation in North America.
Customers give the Bloomington-based insurer good marks for quality of services Bloomington Pantagraph - State Farm Insurance Cos. scored above the national average in customer satisfaction, according to results from a survey released Wednesday.
781 Auto Body Gets Ideal Spot Winchester Star - John Harlan had wanted to open his own automobile body shop for a while, but waited to find the perfect opportunity. -- Harlan, who opened 781 Auto Body Feb. 2 after working as an insurance adjuster with Allstate for seven years, said he was happy to get back into the mechanical side of the automotive industry. -- Harlan said his connections in the insurance business should help bring in more business to 781 Auto Body.
Ford to lay off 300 in Wayne Detroit News - Planned summer furloughs at assembly plant come as Focus car, wagon sales dip.
Despite recent plant closings, all hope is not lost in manufacturing Detroit News - Last week wasn't a happy one for workers at the Milwaukee plant of Tower Automotive Inc., which announced that it is transferring production of steel frames used in DaimlerChrysler AG's Dodge Ram pickup truck to Mexico.

February 18, 2004

Chrysler to make top management changes AP/Yahoo - DaimlerChrysler AG is preparing to make changes at the top of its automaking divisions, moving Chrysler's No. 2 executive back to Germany to lead Mercedes-Benz and replacing him with Chrysler's top manufacturing executive, two Chrysler officials said Tuesday.
Pyle Provides Consumer Tips on CBS Morning TV Program ASA - Ron Pyle, president and chief staff executive of the Automotive Service Association (ASA), got an opportunity recently to educate consumers nationwide on how to find quality auto repair facilities. Pyle shared his recommendations when he appeared on CBS-TV Thursday morning, Feb. 12, for an interview by Harry Smith on "The Early Show."
Gotta V-8? Americans again hungry for horsepower AP/Yahoo - Automakers installed eight-cylinder engines in 29.1 percent of passenger vehicles built in North America for the U.S. market last year, the highest rate since 1985, according to Ward's Automotive Reports. The rate has risen every year since 2000.
Coordinating Committee For Automotive Repair Aligns with OSHA US Newswire - "The signing of this Alliance provides us with a tremendous opportunity to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses in the automotive industry," said OSHA Administrator John Henshaw. "CCAR brings a wealth of expertise and knowledge that will help us ensure greater protection for thousands of workers in this industry. We're looking forward to getting started."
Maine Law Upheld to Keep First-in-Nation Law to Require Carmakers to Pay to Recover Toxic Mercury From Cars Environmental Media Services - U.S. District Court in Bangor, federal judge John Woodcock upheld Maine's landmark automobile switch law. The law, "An Act to Prevent Mercury Emissions when Recycling and Disposing of Motor Vehicles," which was enacted July 25, 2002, was a legislative priority for the Natural Resources Council of Maine in 2002.
Do-Not-Call Registry for Telemarketing Upheld in Court New York Times - A panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in Denver ruled that a do-not-call registry created by the federal government last fall helped to combat abusive telemarketing and "prevents the invasion of consumer privacy."

February 17, 2004

New rules could strain Ford's relationships with parts suppliers Detroit News - Already facing shrinking profit margins, some Ford Motor Co. suppliers are questioning new contract language revisions that give the automaker sweeping new power over their relationship.
Body shop owner makes name for herself in male-dominated field The Macon Telegraph - Two decades after her husband died, leaving her with two children to raise and a business to run, Kathy Tripp has more than made a go of it.
Thousands of cars bought each week at auto auction Hattiesburg American - Drive past Mississippi Auto Auction on U.S. 49 on most days, and it looks like a huge parking lot filled with vehicles. But on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, go inside the gates and you'll find plenty of activity. -- In the next months, Mississippi Auto Auction will begin offering collision repair and detailing to the general public.
30 jobs lost as State Farm closes area claims offices Buffalo News - About 20 additional Buffalo-area representatives will continue to work from home, telecommuting as needed and assisting with local claims, but they will not work from an office, said State Farm spokeswoman Michelle Hare.

February 16, 2004

Steering Issues Discussed at CIC AutobodyOnline - It’s a battle that has waged for years: At what point does an insurer referral of a customer to a shop become “steering,” and what practices regarding recommendation of a shop by an insurer are unethical or even illegal?
Automotive veteran to head new FCCJ center Jacksonville Daily Record - Professor Tom Pease has made a career of the automotive industry. Now he will lead a new generation of automotive technicians at Florida Community College at Jacksonville’s new Collision and Refinishing Training Center.
Crooks grab dozens of cars off Mid-South roads WMC-TV, Memphis - Every day, crooks grab dozens of cars off Mid-South roads. Many wind up in area chop shops. Target 5 reports how those chop shops are dealing in danger. A chop shop can often get 500 bucks for just one door or a fender, or a windshield. And you don't have to drive a fancy car to be a target.
GM, Toyota Vow Commitment to Manufacturing Venture Dow Jones - General Motors Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. vowed to continue to cooperate and operate a small-vehicle manufacturing venture in California to share ideas in manufacturing and other aspects of the business.
Blanco shows support for Monroe as State Farm job losses loom Leesville Leader - Gov. Kathleen Blanco delivered words of consolation and encouragement Friday to a crowd troubled by the impending loss of more than 1,000 jobs with the planned closure of a State Farm Insurance operations office here.
Geico has 38,000 jobless to choose from Buffalo News - Upwards of 38,000 people in Erie and Niagara counties were unemployed by the end of last year, according to the state Labor Department, whose statistics show that the number of people out of work in December was the most for that month in 11 years.
One Premium Cut That May Only Extend So Far Newsday - State Farm's reduction in premiums is "a very good sign," said Maura Clancy, chairwoman of the board of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers Association of New York and president of Clancy & Clancy Brokerage in Garden City. But Clancy said she did not know any other major companies reducing premiums yet. And even a decrease may not make up for a previous increase.
Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Indicted Insurance Journal - What the indictment alleges is still unclear, though a grand jury has been investigating a Fisher-organized charity's fundraising activities.

February 13, 2004

PCI Responds to CBS News Story on Insurer-Owned Repair Shops Insurance Journal - The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) issued a stern response to a Wednesday, Feb. 11 CBS Evening News story that reportedly contained unfair allegations from the auto body industry that insurer-owned auto body shops are a "colossal conflict of interest."
Dealers Take Car Buyers For Ride CBS News - Disgruntled consumers are not alone in accusing some car dealers of fraud. Industry insiders are now stepping off the showroom floor to blow the whistle.
Michigan Auto Rates Rise Slower Than National Average Insurance Journal - Other factors impacting rates include higher auto repair costs, which have increased two to three times the overall rate of inflation, and insurance fraud.
New technology highlights Chicago Auto Show WLS - Chicago,IL, —When you're talking new technology, the buzzword at the auto show is hybrid, and it's not just in concept cars. The Toyota Prius is already available, the Lexus 400 H comes out in production this year; Honda also is in the hybrid market with the insight.
Automotive parts supplier to call Clinton home Oak Ridger - Oak Ridge,TN - The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development announced that Aisin Automotive Casting Tennessee Inc., a subsidiary of Japanese auto parts manufacturer Aisin Seiki Co. Ltd., is locating a 280,000-square-foot plant in the Clinton l-75 Industrial Park, just off Highway 61. The company, which is one of the Toyota groups, plans to create 400 jobs in the area by 2007.
Tower Automotive Posts 4th-Quarter Loss on Charge Dow Jones - Tower Automotive Inc. swung to a fourth- quarter loss as the unexpected write-down of a joint venture led to a higher- than-expected overall charge, pushing the bottom line into the red.
Automotive jobs to keep moving overseas Detroit News - Auto suppliers, already pinched by cost-cutting requirements by Detroit and other automakers, will remain under increasing pressure to shift production and jobs overseas to tap cheaper labor, according to a new industry study that cast more gloom over the country’s manufacturing sector.
Tires wear better since Firestone recall Detroit News - Tires are better at resisting wear than they were in 2000, when Firestone recalled millions of tires that were prone to lose their tread and blow out, according to federal data released Thursday.
New trial begins in lawsuit over Ford Crown Victoria Detroit News/AP - A lawsuit against Ford Motor Co. by a couple who claim a defective Ford Crown Victoria caused an accident that crippled them is back in court.

February 12, 2004

Garages' Conflict Of Interest? CBS News - In the third part of the "Taking Advantage" series, jointly presented by the CBS Evening News and The Early Show, the questionable practice of car repairs by insurance companies is investigated.
Rear-Ended By Auto Repair Fraud CBS News - Jim Asay was rear-ended on California's I-15. -- "All of a sudden I got hit from behind, then I passed out for a few seconds," says Asay. -- Then, as CBS News Correspondent Mika Brzezinski reports, he was clobbered by the Caliber Collision Centers. -- "The folks in that facility actually work for the insurance company," says Pyle, the president of the Automotive Service Association. "I think the consumer is not served by that. -- And it's not just Caliber, insurance giant Allstate owns Sterling Auto Body centers in at least 14 states. So how is not a conflict of interest? -- Watch the CBS News Early Show on Thursday morning to learn how to protect yourself from auto body-shop ripoffs.
Cost cuts drive Dana quarterly profit Reuters - Dana, one of the world's largest auto parts makers, has closed more than 30 plants over the past two years to shed excess capacity and focus on core product lines. The company on Wednesday said its restructuring program is nearly complete.
Midlevel Women Execs Face Job-Search Hurdles ComputerWorld - Until her job was eliminated last July, Sue Smedinghoff, 46, was a vice president and strategic project manager at CCC Information Service in Chicago, which develops commercial software for the auto insurance and car-repair industry. She's now seeking a position in a consulting firm, but after 12 years with CCC, has had to create a network from scratch. "My network was pretty much my colleagues and customers," she says. "I've had to rebuild it from the ground up."
Auto parts retailer revs up Ocean Pines Independent, MD - Wall Street high-flier offers full stock at a handy location in Berlin
Opel says report four execs to go is speculation Reuters - German carmaker Adam Opel said on Wednesday that a top manager would leave to head-up U.S. parent General Motors' South African operations, but described as speculation a report that four executives will go.
DaimlerChrysler Expert: '98 Merger 'Godsend' For Chrysler Dow Jones - Shareholders of the former Chrysler Corp. came out ahead of their counterparts at Daimler-Benz AG in the 1998 merger that combined the two companies, an expert for DaimlerChrysler AG testified Wednesday at the trial of a lawsuit over the deal.
Flood of auto parts to come from China Detroit Free Press - Surge in imports by GM, others is seen as a threat to jobs in U.S.

February 11, 2004

CBS News Programs to Address Insurer-Owned Shop Issues ASA - Pyle Presents ASA Views on Behalf of Independent Repairers, Consumers
Auto techs no longer just grease monkeys San Antonio Express - The increasingly sophisticated and ever-changing technology of cars and trucks requires today's automotive technician to be an electronics engineer skilled enough to work on a vehicle where everything is computer-controlled.
Top 5 Most Stolen Cars KLTV - When it comes to stealing cars in Texas, thieves have their favorites. Last year, the GM Suburban came in 5th. Dodge trucks came in 4th. The Honda Accord took 3rd. Ford trucks were the 2nd most stolen vehicles. And the number one stolen vehicle in Texas: the General Motors pickup truck.
Proposed cap irks garage owners Monessen Valley Independent, PA - A proposed cap on the amount garage owners can charge for a new computerized emissions test has some Mon Valley business owners outraged.
TOWER Automotive to move Dodge frame plant to Mexico Detroit Free Press - The move means that most of the 500 workers on the Dodge Ram light truck line will lose their jobs by the end of the 18-month transition, Tower spokeswoman Bev Pierce said.
GM Will Recall Some Chevrolet Corvettes Dow Jones - General Motors Corp. will recall about 127,000 Chevrolet Corvettes that can continue to operate even when the car's steering column fails to unlock. -- In a press release Tuesday, the automaker said it hasn't received any confirmed reports of crashes, injuries or fatalities resulting from the problem.
Volvo Recalls 105,000 Cars to Fix Steering AP - The problem affects the 2004 S60, S80 and V70 models and can be fixed at a Volvo repair shop, company spokesman Peter Ganjbar said.
Maryland Pizza Delivery Drivers Claim Victory in Car-Insurance Dispute Baltimore Sun - The General Assembly has designated certain "exemptions" of higher-risk drivers that insurers can treat differently, such as motorcyclists and taxi drivers. In ruling in Salamon's favor, the appellate court said that legislators had not made an exception for pizza deliverers in state auto insurance law.
S.C. ranked first in fighting insurance fraud The State - South Carolina leads the nation in convictions per dollar spent fighting insurance fraud, according to an annual report by Attorney General Henry McMaster.

February 10, 2004

Automotive dealers 'Hire the Heroes' Daily Press - Automobile dealers and manufacturers, through their consortium Automotive Retailing Today, recently announced a campaign called "Hire the Heroes." The initiative hopes to place qualified recent military veterans in auto repair technician jobs.
GM recalls 636,000 SUVs in 2nd recent major recall Reuters - GM, the world's largest automaker, said there had been two reports of crashes related to electronics that could short-circuit when water leaks into a wiper module. No injuries or fatalities were reported from those two crashes, GM said.
Yost to retire as CEO of automotive supplier ArvinMeritor AP Yost, who's approaching 66, has held the two jobs since Meritor Automotive Inc. and Columbus, Ind.-based Arvin Industries Inc. merged in 2000. Yost had served as chairman and chief executive of Meritor, the larger of the two companies.
Siemens to buy 2 DaimlerChrysler plants Detroit News - Alabama factories now employ about 2,400 people and they generate about $1 billion in annual sales
Steel costs tax suppliers Detroit News - Many auto parts suppliers, reeling from the latest price hikes, are asking Detroit automakers for leniency on prices, with both parties waging a battle with steel mills to lower steel costs.
VW stock falls as plant stoppages spur Golf fears Reuters - Shares in Volkswagen fell over two percent on Tuesday as plans by the car maker to halt production at three key plants over Easter reignited fears that its new Golf model is not selling as well as hoped.
Monro Muffler Brake, Inc. to Acquire Mr. Tire Locations from Mile One Automotive BusinessWire - Monro Muffler Brake, Inc. today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement with privately held Mile One Automotive to acquire 36 Mr. Tire locations in Maryland and Virginia.

February 9, 2004

Virtual image lets Ford engineers craft vehicles Detroit News - Technology mimics driver behavior, movement
Friction still exists between Ford, Firestone Detroit News - Bridgestone/ Firestone Inc. is no closer to resuming business ties with Ford Motor Co.’s North American operations, following a tumultuous breakup over recalls and rollovers.
Goodyear's new tires shine Akron Beacon Journal - With all the glitz of a Hollywood premiere party, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. formally rolled out its two newest tires here on Friday morning, drawing cheers and a standing ovation from a crowd of 1,000 independent tire dealers.
WEATHER Repairs KAKE - Wichita, KS - The snow may be done, but the ice is hanging around still causing headaches for drivers around Kansas. Local body shops are swamped with the damage left behind.
ASA Appoints Scully Executive Vice President ASA - The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has appointed John Scully, AAM, as executive vice president. Scully has served as ASA's vice president of member services and operations since 1998.
New auto body shop built with faith Bucyrus Telegraph Forum - They may fix the vehicles, but God is in the driver's seat, according to one local auto body shop owner.

February 7, 2004

Farmers Insurance Sued by Orange County, Calif., Men for Selling Damaged Car The Orange County Register - Farmers Insurance is being sued for selling a car destined for the junkyard to an unsuspecting buyer in a case that consumer attorneys say underscores a little known form of auto fraud.
Body shop buyouts Daily Southtown - Gerber acquisition stirs fears of consolidation
Students get glimpse of career world Argus- Kathy Mello, who owns the body shop with her husband, Rich, said job shadowing is one way to reduce the current shortage of body shop workers. She also said she wants to set up an internship program, adding that interaction with the deaf students opened her mind to the possibility of having deaf employees.
GM recalls 1.8 million cars for fire risk CBS MarketWatch - Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick included
Court OKs $300M Settlement In Hldr Suit Against Daimler Dow Jones - A federal judge Thursday approved the $300 million settlement of a shareholders class-action lawsuit against DaimlerChrysler Corp. that focused on allegations of fraud in its 1998 merger with the former Chrysler Corp.

February 6, 2004

SUVs do well in rollovers Detroit News - They prove as safe as other vehicles
DuPont raises stakes in Chinese auto coatings Reuters - DuPont Co. has increased its stake in two Chinese joint ventures that make car coatings, another sign that the second-largest U.S. chemicals maker is increasing production in that nation, analysts said.
Sherwin-Williams Earnings Up 24 Percent Dow Jones - The paint maker said Thursday it earned $70.8 million, or 48 cents per share, on fourth-quarter sales of $1.28 billion, up from fourth-quarter 2002 profits of $57.1 million, or 38 cents per share, on sales of $1.16 billion.
Keystone Automotive Industries Reports Record Fiscal Third Quarter 2004 Results PrimeZone - Keystone Automotive Industries, Inc. reported record results for its third quarter ended December 26, 2003, reflecting continued momentum in its aftermarket collision parts business.
Visteon Experience, Innovation and Research Help Distinguish New Vehicles Showcased at Chicago Auto Show PRNewswire - Visteon Corporation applies its experience, innovation and consumer research to deliver a variety of distinctive features that help differentiate several customers' new 2004 and 2005 models showcased at the Chicago Auto Show.
Extra security prowls State Farm facilities The News Star - A day after State Farm Insurance Cos. announced a reorganization that would eliminate operations in Monroe, it was not known how long extra security would be in place at the company's facilities.
La. can learn from State Farm departure, Gov. Blanco says Shreveport Times - BATON ROUGE - Gov. Kathleen Blanco will travel to Monroe to meet with community leaders about coping with the loss of State Farm Insurance, Northeast Louisiana's largest private employer.
Auto 'Clipping' Exposed In Central Fla. Local 6 - During a three-month investigation, Central Florida repair shop owners gave Local 6 News unprecedented access to records of auto wrecks and repairs in progress.
South Dakota Legislature Kills Auto Liability Increase Bill Insurance Journal - The South Dakota legislature has killed a House bill that would have reportedly increased the cost of auto liability insurance by as much as 20 percent.
Top insurer reports on tap CBS Marketwatch - Several of the nation's largest insurance companies will report their earnings next week.
Don't Die at Work Motely Fool - Courtesy of the nice folks at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), here are some statistics on fatal occupational injuries in 2002

February 5, 2004

Crash tests could mislead Detroit News - Ratings may not indicate chances of survival in wreck
Ford to pay $23.7 mln in Calif. rollover lawsuit Reuters - Ford Motor Co. has agreed to pay $23.7 million to a family involved in a 1993 rollover accident in a decision that ends more than a decade of legal wrangling, a lawyer for the world's third-largest automaker said on Tuesday.
Dana Corp Names Michael J. Burns CEO And President Dow Jones - Burns, who has been responsible for all European operations at GM since 1998, succeeds the late Joe Magliochetti, who passed away last September.
GM realigns European unit Detroit News - Henderson will succeed Burns as president of operation; Lutz to act as interim overseer
GM's OnStar to Offer Expanded Cellphone Service in Cars Dow Jones - The service will broaden OnStar's personal calling service by allowing customers to couple their cellphones with their cars. As more and more states legislate the use of hands-free cellphones in the car, OnStar hopes to corner the market for hands-free cellphone use.
Allstate profit jumps 70 percent on higher rates Reuters - Car and home insurers have reaped benefits from rate hikes imposed in the last few years, after being hurt by a decade-long price war. Allstate also increased the number of policies in force.
State Farm closing Monroe operations in 2005 Advocate - State Farm said Wednesday it will close its Monroe operations center by the fall of 2005, ending state officials' bid to keep the company in Louisiana as it shrinks its operations nationwide.
Snap-on profits fall on higher costs The Business Journal - The company said sales of collision repair equipment were particularly soft, resulting in a $6 million decline in operating income in the equipment business.

February 4, 2004

Boyd Group Wraps Gerber Deal Winnipeg Sun - Boyd Group Income Fund has completed its deal for the Gerber Group Inc., a Chicago area operator of collision repair centers. -- The 16 outlets gives Boyd -- the largest operator of collision repair shops in Canada -- 81 corporate locations, making it among the leaders in the sector in North America.
Two former State Farm attorneys settle lawsuit with their one-time employer Salt Lake Tribune - Two former State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. attorneys have settled a lawsuit that accused the company of telling them to cheat policyholders.
Sonic Automotive, Inc. Schedules Release of Fourth Quarter, Year End Results and Conference Call - PRNewswire - Sonic Automotive, Inc. will release fiscal 2003 fourth quarter and year end financial results on Tuesday, February 24, 2004 at 7:30 A.M. (Eastern). Senior management will hold a conference call at 11:00 A.M. (Eastern).
I-CAR Restructures Qualification Test Fee to Benefit Customers I-CAR - Effective January 1, 2004 I-CAR has restructured the fee for all I-CAR qualification tests (QTs). The fee restructuring benefits the entire collision industry by making these ‘hands-on' skills based QTs more affordable.
N.C. Car insurers want more Newsobserver - Rate increase likely to be fought
Delphi Announces Personnel Appointments For Delphi Integrated Service Solutions Yahoo - Wrubel developed and implemented numerous training programs at the end user level, such as technician development programs and apprenticeship development programs (Collision Repair Industry development programs).
Ascot Automotive more than first in the alphabet Arizona Daily Sun - Joe Rosenfeldt, owner of Ascot Automotive in Flagstaff, doesn't have a clue how his shop was elected best auto service business this year. -- Ascot isn't the cheapest shop in town, but Rosenfeldt calls his rates competitive and points out that customers get what they pay for.
Insurer Owned Shops Not a Threat? AutoBodyOnline - More insurers aren’t likely to acquire collision repair shops in the United States – and insurer ownership is probably not the greatest threat facing independent shop owners.
Other cities worried about State Farm The News Star - Oklahoma, Missouri could also be lost without good neighbor.
Insurance Fraud Probe Stalled Newsday - Less than six months after Suffolk District Attorney Thomas Spota announced, with much fanfare, that his office had cracked a major auto insurance fraud ring, the investigation appears to have run aground.

February 3, 2004

Visteon cuts 80 salaried jobs after vow to rein in costs Detroit News - Supplier: Move is part of normal dept. review; no other firings planned
DaimlerChrysler minivans investigated for possible defect Detroit News - WASHINGTON -- The government said Monday it is investigating DaimlerChrysler minivans after getting 109 complaints about failing air bags, horns and cruise control systems.
Army learns lesson from Ford Detroit News - Expert: Virtual reality driving has military applications
Car-Buyers Seeking Function, Utility, Comfort, Versatility in One Vehicle
Edmunds.com Web Site to Rank How Quickly Cars Lose Value Detroit Free Press - Cars and trucks sold by General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group have long had among the worst residual, or resale, values in the industry. That means their vehicles depreciate more quickly than those made by their foreign competitors and are worth less to consumers when they are turned in at the end of a lease or traded in for a new vehicle.
German automotive industry looks to a better 2004 Platinum Today - According to Reuters, VDA president Bernd Gottschalk told reporters at the VDA's annual conference: '2004 will bring a silver lining to the auto cloud, even if it will be paler than we would have liked.
Auto-parts plants in expansion mode The Courier-Journal - An auto-parts maker in Bardstown, Ky., has added 94 jobs, while another supplier in Campbellsville plans to add 75 more.
Officials investigate workplace death CBC Prince Edward Island - CHARLOTTETOWN — Provincial officials are investigating an accident at Blanchard's Auto Body in St. Raphael that killed a Summerside man.

February 2, 2004

HIGH schoolers earn certifications from industry
Spokane Journal of Business
The school also offers I-CAR certification, for automotive-collision repair. While both ASE and I-CAR certifications can be earned at the high-school level, “They must have industry experience before they can sew the patch on their arm sleeve,” says Howell.
http://www.spokanejournal.com/spokane_id=article&sub=1871
PRIMEDIA's IntelliChoice Selects Experian Automotive to Bolster Online Automotive Sites
SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Jan. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Experian Automotive, a division of global business solutions company Experian®, today announced the integration of its AutoCheck(SM) vehicle history solution with IntelliChoice, a PRIMEDIA company that develops and distributes consumer automobile pricing, specification and the cost of ownership/leasing data via its Internet portal. Visitors to the PRIMEDIA Web sites will now have access to Experian's AutoCheck service to obtain essential vehicle history information. http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040131/cgsa004_1.html
Chrysler chief vows 'no fear' about Toyota
LAS VEGAS, Jan 31 (Reuters) - The head of DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler division said on Saturday he wasn't worried about the possibility that Toyota Motor Corp. will overtake it as the third-largest automaker in the United States.
http://www.reuters.com/financeQuoteCompanyNewsArticle.jhtml?storyID=4255856&ric=dcx&infotype=news&compname=DAIMLERCHRYSLER
Confusion Reigns on the Massachusetts Auto Front
Insurance Journal - While everyone agrees that something should be done about Massachusetts' spiraling auto rates and uncompetitive market, no one seems to be able to agree on just what. When the state's Department of Insurance (DOI) Commissioner Julianne M. Bowler granted a 2.5 percent increase in premium rates last Dec. 15, she effectively countenanced a rise that would make Massachusetts the third most expensive state in the nation (after New York and New Jersey). Premiums for 2004 are expected to average $1047, up from $936 in 2001.
http://www.insurancejournal.com/magazines/east/2004/01/26/features/36122.htm
After 107 years, Oldsmobile on death bed
Salt Lake Tribune, UT
It's time to get on with the burial," said Gary Wight, who has sold Oldsmobiles,
the oldest automotive brand name in US history.
http://www.sltrib.com/2004/Feb/02022004/business/134842.asp

January 30, 2004

Keystone Automotive Industries to Report Fiscal 2004 Third Quarter Results (PrimeZone) Charles J. Hogarty, president and chief executive officer, and John M. Palumbo, chief financial officer, will host an investor conference call the same day to discuss the company's financial results and operations for the quarter.
Travelers sets March 19 for St. Paul deal vote (Reuters) Travelers Property Casualty Corp. said on Thursday its planned $16.4 billion purchase by insurer St. Paul Cos. Inc. could be completed by the second quarter of 2004.
State Farm Rating (week.com) A new J.D. Power and Associates survey ranks State Farm highest overall for customer satisfaction when it comes to getting policyholder back on the road after a car crash.
FullCircle Registry Announces Strategic Marketing Alliance With Safelite of America Inc. (PRNewswire) Emergency Notification Service Will Be Available to Over 20,000 Automobile Dealers in U.S.
Two Visteon Employees to be Honored by Society of Automotive Engineers (PRNewswire) Bryan Dodson, associate director of Product Development Quality Engineering, and Jack Stein, systems engineer, Advanced Cross-Systems Engineering, will be presented with the McFarland Award, inaugurated at the 1980 SAE World Congress.
Bumper crop of claims coming to auto body shops (Fayetteville Online) Ice storms turned roads into ice rinks, automobiles into bumper cars and a slow time of the year into rush hour for many businesses.

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