Beyond Parts and Equipment Newsfeed

June 2004

Industry Related News from Various News Sources

June 30, 2004

CARSTAR Endorses OEConnection Parts Procurement Solutions PRNewswire - CARSTAR successfully completes pilot of CollisionLink(R)
Auto body shops still feeling pinch Connecticut Post - Economic numbers look good; troubles linger in real world
DaimlerChrysler to recall 120,000 Mercedes-Benz passenger cars Japan Today - DaimlerChrysler Japan Co said Tuesday it will recall about 120,000 Mercedes-Benz passenger cars to fix defects in their braking systems three months after the German automaker's Japan unit was instructed by the government to take appropriate measures following driver complaints over the defects.
Toyota stays on top in dependability; Big Three make progress Louisville Courier Journal - Toyota Motor Corp. remains the automaker with the most dependable vehicles, led by its Lexus luxury brand, though Detroit's Big Three manufacturers all showed improvement in the past year. Those are the findings in the latest J.D. Power and Associates vehicle dependability study released yesterday.
Honda Expands U.S. Auto Recall for Transmission Flaw Bloomberg - Honda Motor Co. is widening a recall of vehicles in the U.S. and Canada to 1.14 million units, among its largest, covering Accord and Acura cars that have the same transmission fault that triggered a light-truck recall this year.
Honda's Best-Selling Accord Goes Hybrid JCNN - Honda has released the first images of its 2005 Accord V6 Hybrid, a gas-electric hybrid version of Honda's best-selling car, scheduled to go on-sale at Honda dealerships nationwide later this year.
AutoZone says same-store sales off at start of qtr Reuters -. AutoZone Inc, the largest U.S. auto parts dealer, said on Tuesday its sales at stores open at least a year fell 1 percent in the first seven weeks of its fiscal fourth quarter.
Unions threaten long Hyundai Motor strike Reuters - The union for workers at South Korea's top car maker, Hyundai Motor Co, said it would extend a four-day strike if its demands for a wage hike and a big profit bonus were not agreed to in talks on Wednesday.
ClearOrbit and ArvinMeritor Tackle Automotive Shipping Solution Business Wire - ClearOrbit, the leading provider of real-time supply chain execution software solutions, today announced that ArvinMeritor's Commercial Vehicle Systems business has partnered with ClearOrbit to implement a comprehensive Advanced Shipping Methods solution for ArvinMeritor's Oracle ERP system. With $8 billion in annual revenue, ArvinMeritor serves light vehicle, commercial truck, trailer and specialty original equipment manufacturers and related aftermarkets.
Tenneco Automotive Receives Prestigious European Supplier Award PRNewswire - Repair Centre Speedy Recognizes French Aftermarket Team
Automotive Weatherseal Systems JobWerx - Advanced Elastomer Systems, an Akron, Ohio-based affiliate of ExxonMobil Chemical, and Trexel, Inc., Woburn, Mass., announced recently a long-term exclusive license agreement to develop dynamic sponge / foam automotive weatherseal systems.
Texas Students Win Ford/AAA National Auto Repair Title Business Wire -Racing against the clock and against 49 other student teams from around the country, aspiring auto technicians Garrett Johnson and Jacob Tilley of Cy Fair High School in Cypress, Texas, needed only 39 minutes and 37 seconds to repair their vehicle, a 2005 Ford Escape, to win the 2004 FORD/AAA STUDENT AUTO SKILLS national finals this morning at Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, the first time the event has been held in the City of Dearborn.
Lawman Armor: Secrets Car Thieves Don't Want Us to Know, Techniques Used To Fuel Black Market Trade in Auto Parts Business Wire - Recent reports note that the black market in stolen car parts is booming. Certain parts are sought after because they have either been discontinued, are too expensive to purchase, or highly interchangeable among subsequent years/models. Specific vehicles are targeted by car thieves and stripped of these parts, which are easily sold on the black market.
100 Indianapolis Visteon workers expected to take buyouts Indy Star - Some may return to Ford jobs; shuffle is part of implementation of new two-tier union wage package.
Insurance agent is sentenced Kingston Daily Freeman - The arrest was part of an upstate insurance fraud sweep by the state Attorney General's Office which resulted in charges being filed against a total of 36 individuals and seven corporations since December for insurance fraud and related offenses.
Consumer Reports: Can 15 minutes really save you more on car insurance? News 24 Houston - Consumer Reports checked out that catchy ad line, asking staffers to make a call to GEICO.
Car Insurance Scam WRIC Richmond - State Police divers spent Monday pulling automobiles from the James River.

June 29, 2004

Eight Solid Reasons for Dumping DRPs AutobodyOnline - Though this may seem like a strange time in the history of collision repair to consider dumping your DRPs, consider what plodding along in the same steadily deepening rut will cost you in the future. Many shops, having terminated their DRPs, are running very successful businesses, while drastically reducing their exposure to liability. Consider the costs of Direct Repair:
Steel costs slam auto suppliers Detroit News - As prices increase, many lose profits, make cutbacks
Nissan fights model defects Detroit News - Automaker sends 200 engineers to three factory sites
Court won't stop minivan air bag case Seattle Post Intelligencer - Oklahoma's top court had ruled that DaimlerChrysler Corp. could face a lawsuit by up to 1 million owners of 1996 and 1997 minivans, in Oklahoma court but under a Michigan law.
Ford, Visteon offer buyouts to hourly employees Reuters - Ford Motor Co. and auto parts maker Visteon Corp. are offering $35,000 to hundreds of older, higher-wage hourly workers to retire early in an effort to cut costs, the second-largest U.S. automaker said on Monday.
Visteon CEO Pestillo to retire next year Reuters - President and Chief Operating Officer Michael Johnston will succeed Pestillo as CEO on July 1, Visteon said. Pestillo, 66, will retire on May 11, 2005, the date of the company's next annual shareholders meeting.
Exclusive INCAT(R) Software Deployed at Automotive OEM to Improve and Better Secure Data Exchange With Suppliers PRNewswire - The INCAT software package, called ConnectDirect(TM), allows supplier organizations to connect directly with OEMs for safe, secure data exchange. In this particular deployment, it is the only allowed connection method by which supplier organizations may access the OEM's VPM database -- essentially providing and securing the "front door" to data exchange between that OEM and its suppliers.
Web-based Virtual Auto Mechanic Library Helps Consumers Avoid Automotive Repair Rip-Offs PRNewswire - Having been taken to the cleaners to the tune of $2,300 by disreputable auto repair shops, Mike Smith of West Fargo, North Dakota decided it was time to put the power of the Web to work for other consumers who may have had similar experiences.

June 28, 2004

Charities launched in soldier's memory San Joaquin News Service - Staff at Akins Collision Repair in Palo Alto established the Patrick McCaffrey Memorial Fund at a Palo Alto Citibank branch. Patrick was a manager and longtime employee of the shop.
Age-old repair shop shuts off last motor The Courier-Journal, KY - Despite a passionate following, the repair business, used-car lot and body shop, a green giant at Bardstown Road and Grinstead Drive, closed last night. -- Economic slowdown finally drove him out of business. "I got tired of working for nothing," he said.
Carrying on the tradition The Morning Call - Daku Auto Body Shop has been repairing cars in North Catasauqua since 1948.
Body Shop Reaps Sweet Rewards From Patrons, Chamber The Ledger, FL - Employees at Francisco Custom Paint and Body Shop rarely go hungry. With satisfied customers eager to say thanks with a key lime pie or a tray of lasagna, owner Steve Francisco and his staff are used to bonus rewards after they repair wrecked rides.
New law could mean no business for repair shop News 10 Now, NY - Syracuse zoning laws may force a local car repair shop out of business. The city says Mielnicki Motors can't stay where it is because of the kind of repairs the shop makes.
China's auto parts industry facing difficulty in expansion Xinhuanet - While automakers worldwide rushed to attend a closed biennial Beijing auto parts show earlier this month expecting continued dizzying auto growth in the market, China's auto components producers complained about slow growth and being squeezed out by foreign rivals.
Auto Repair Ripoff WSOCtv.com - Charlotte,NC - Pep Boys charged customer twice for the thermostat they never installed.
Fix the auto leasing law? YES New York Daily News - A 1924 law holds the owner of a car responsible for accidents caused by anyone driving the car. It's called vicarious liability, and it made sense when only the wealthy owned cars and their chauffeurs lacked the income or insurance to pay for the damages. But today that antiquated law has been inappropriately construed to hold leasing companies liable for accidents caused by the negligence of people who lease cars.
Michelin Applies its Expertise to Range of Automotive Accessories PR Newswire - Michelin Lifestyle Limited (MLL) has launched its line of high performance wiper blades in another step to extend the Michelin brand to a full range of automotive accessories.
Geico already selling, hiring, training Buffalo News - The nation's fifth-largest auto insurer has opened for business in an Amherst office park, demonstrating the rapid growth that has characterized its nationwide success. It has hired the first group of employees at its new sales, customer service and claims center, and is now bursting at the seams.
Good news for NJ motorists Philadelphia Business Journal - A recovering auto insurance market in New Jersey is expected to result in more special dividends and rate reductions for drivers.
Geico Insurance Documents Found In Dumpster KFDX-TV, TX - It`s a startling find in a Wichita Falls neighborhood. Piles of highly sensitive insurance documents containing photos of Texoma residents all left lying in a dumpster.

June 25, 2004

Akins Collison Center employee killed in Iraq Palo Alto Online - Army Spec. Patrick McCaffrey, 34, the manager of the body shop, was killed in Iraq Tuesday while on patrol. He and another soldier were ambushed by insurgents.
Vision Insurance Group Expands Business Relationship With eAutoclaims, Signs New Annual Agreement PRNewswire - This exclusive agreement continues the use of eAutoclaims' national collision repair network while the call center services are expected to significantly expand the number of Vision customers utilizing the eAutoclaims national repair network.
Dealers have big edge on hybrid auto repairs Lexinton Herald-Leader - Many independents not interested because of complexity and cost.
Top Student Auto Technicians Travel to Ford Headquarters to Compete for Scholarships, Prizes, and Ultimate Bragging Rights Business Wire - For the first time in many years, the best high school automotive technicians from each state will travel to the heartland of the American automobile industry for the National Finals of the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills competition, to be held June 29 in Dearborn, Michigan, home of co-sponsor Ford Motor Company.
Auto repair shop owner pleads no contest to theft charges Los Angeles Daily News, CA - An auto repair shop owner accused of charging for repairs that state investigators said were unnecessary has pleaded no contest to a felony count of grand theft.
Hummer struggles to regain luster The Detroit News - For those who just had to have a Hummer H2, it didn’t matter that it wouldn’t fit in a typical suburban garage, cost more than $50,000 and burns through a tank of gasoline quicker than a Britney Spears marriage.
Ford consolidates in Ohio The Detroit News - $130 million to help meld assembly operations of 2 van plants to 1
Allstate Gives Consumers the Chance to Instantly Win One of Five Brand New Cadillacs Business Wire - Want to win a new car? Allstate Insurance Company is giving consumers a chance to win one of five brand new Cadillacs during the company's first-ever Allstate U.S. Olympic related consumer promotion.
Emissions inspections probed Valley Independent, PA - Investigators with the state Attorney General's Office concluded that emissions tests take longer to conduct than the highway department estimated.
New ASA Web Site Sends More Than 900 Messages to Elected Officials ASA - Since its initial launch in mid-March, the Automotive Service Association's new grassroots Web site, www.TakingTheHill.com, has been responsible for sending more than 900 messages to elected federal and state officials.
Insurance agents lose commission Tallahassee Democrat - High-risk insurer cuts off State Farm
The Hartford Names Dana Drago to Head Property-Casualty Field, Sales and Service Operations PRNewswire-FirstCall - The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. today announced that Dana A. Drago has been appointed executive vice president of field, sales and service for its property-casualty operations, effective July 15.

June 24, 2004

Small Plane Hits Fla. Auto Body Shop; 2 Dead KTVU - A small plane crashed into the roof of an auto body shop shortly after takeoff on Wednesday, killing two people and critically injuring another, authorities said.
Body shop fire ignited by paint recycler St Petersburg Times, FL - It appears the machine in the shop's front malfunctioned and spewed paint thinner into the air, sparking the blaze that torched much of James Auto Body.
15 departments fight fire at Red's Auto Body Shop Pioneer Press Online Glenview, IL - A 5-alarm fire Monday night destroyed the 150-by-200 foot body shop that had stood almost 50 years at 1904 Lehigh Ave., and the 30 vehicles inside it.
Community college adds three new programs The Journal-Standard, IL - A new auto body repair associate of applied science degree will also be available, increasing students' knowledge of damage analysis, cost estimation, cutting and fixing fiberglass body parts, auto glass and trim repair and paint mixing and application.
AMECA Announces Accreditation to North American Lighting for Testing Automotive Lighting Equipment PRNewswire - AMECA (Automotive Manufacturer Equipment Compliance Agency) announces it has extended accreditation to North American Lighting's facilities in Salem, Paris and Flora, Illinois to test automotive lighting.
DuPont to pay $36 million settlement Delaware Online - DuPont Dow Elastomers LLC, a Wilmington-based joint venture between the DuPont Co. and Dow Chemical Co., has agreed to pay $36 million to settle claims by customers who say they were overcharged for neoprene, a synthetic rubber.
Visteon's Pallash Emphasizes Keys to Success in Chinese Automotive Market PRNewswire - Robert Pallash, vice president and general manager of Visteon Corporation's Asian Customer Business Group, recently spoke at the Automotive News China Congress in Beijing, where he emphasized five keys to success for operating in the Chinese automotive market.
Detroit designers reveal their trade secrets The Detroit News - In advance of this Sunday's 'Eyes on Design' car show at the Edsel Ford house in Grosse Pointe Shores, several of Detroit top designers have been talking shop.
Copycat cars worry American automakers in China's market The Detroit News - Piracy remains a real problem despite the government’s pledges to crack down on trademark and patent violations.
Jury finds for auto maker in lawsuit over fatal accident Ledger-Enquirer, Ala. - A Lowndes County jury has found in favor of Hyundai Motor Co. in a lawsuit brought by the family of a woman who was killed when her car was struck by a Freightliner 18-wheeler.
Consumer group criticizes government decision on auto defect notification Fox23 News - A consumer group is criticizing the government's decision to allow automakers to decide when to tell dealers about a vehicle defect.
GM to upgrade SUV factory in Texas Detroit Free Press - The upgrading and retooling of the plant's body shop and general assembly area will start this year, the automaker said in a statement. General Motors wouldn't identify the new models or say when they'll be introduced.
Support mounts for car insurance shift Boston Globe - State regulators and insurance industry officials voiced support for moving to a competitive auto insurance market but said the shift shouldn't be done as part of the rate setting process for next year.

June 23, 2004

PCI: Tenn. Auto Parts Regulation Would Make Consumers 'Double Losers' Insurance Journal - According to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI), a Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance proposal requiring written permission from auto policyholders or third-party claimants to use competitive auto replacement parts would make consumers "double losers" by eliminating competitive pricing and possibly having to pay more for parts.
Crawford's VTech Software Puts Claims in the Fast Lane PRNewswire-FirstCall - Crawford & Company is now offering VTech(TM) -- a state of the art, web-based application that fully automates the vehicle appraisal process from intake through work product distribution.
Breaking Big: For Embezzlement, Press 2 Fortune - You can't be a whistleblower if no one hears you. That's why companies pay an outfit called the Network to provide hotlines; 150 operators gather information from anonymous callers, then send a report to a responsible party designated by the client. (Among the Network's victims: a managing director of Pittsburgh's PPG Industries who filed false expense reports.)
Lawman Armor: Black Market in Stolen Car Parts Booms Business Wire - Recent reports note popular cars are stolen and stripped of parts that are easily sold on the U.S. black market and/or shipped to other black markets in Europe, Central or South America. The most theft-prone vehicles are the 1995 Saturn SL, 1998 Acura Integra and 1994 Saturn SL. Their parts are sought after because they have either been discontinued, are too expensive to purchase, or highly interchangeable among subsequent years/models.
Woman sues Shell Oil, refinery for damage caused by gasoline The Advocate - The class-action lawsuit is the first filed in the Baton Rouge area targeting defective fuel from the Norco refinery that suspended sales at 400 stations just before the Memorial Day holiday weekend. -- As of Monday, Shell had recorded 19,816 claims in Louisiana. Drivers in Florida and Mississippi also purchased the high-sulfur gas.
Fire in auto body shop injures two firefighters St. Petersburg Times, FL - It's unknown what caused the blaze at James Auto Body, which took crews from four cities to battle. The two people hurt are expected to recover.
Auto Contracts KTXL Sacramento - Legislation to bar auto dealers from saddling car buyers with extended warranties, insurance policies and service contracts they don't know they're paying for has been killed by a state Assembly committee.
Ford's audit teams find fat in purchasing Detroit Free Press - Ford Motor Co., which spends $90 billion annually for parts and materials, said it found $780 million in purchasing cost cuts that will be made as early as 2007, as the automaker trims expenses to boost profit.
Visteon denies plans for Slovakia plant The Detroit News - Thomas Schmidt, manufacturing manager of Visteon’s German unit said the company is still looking at several countries.
Does your job pass the crash test? The Hartford Courant -Your profession could warrant a discount on auto insurance, but you might be surprised by which occupations get a break or annoyed by which ones do not.
Drive a bargain for car insurance KVOA-AP -- An insurance industry group says the average driver is paying 871 dollars for car insurance this year, up three and a-half percent from 2003.

June 22, 2004

Chemical price-fixing probe Yahoo News/CBS.MW - The federal government has launched a massive, worldwide investigation of price-fixing of half a dozen chemicals used in plastic, rubber and synthetics in manufacturing in the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan, according to a report published late Monday. -- The investigation includes such major chemical industry players as Dow Chemical Co., DuPont and Bayer.
Copart Acquires Facility in Northfield, Ohio Yahoo News/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 vehicle dismantlers, rebuilders, repair licensees and used vehicle dealers.
eAutoclaims Announces Third Fiscal Quarter Results PRNewswire - eAutoclaims Prepares for Additional Business From Co-Marketing Agreement
OEM Purchasing VPs to Discuss Industry Collaboration at Auto-Tech 2004 PRNewswire - Auto-Tech is an automotive industry trade conference organized by the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG).
Visteon Deutschland comes to Nitra Slovak News - Visteon Deutschland plans to open a plant for car interiors and air conditioning products at the start of 2006, the SME daily wrote.
TRW Automotive Safety Products Help 2004 Saturn Ion Earn Five Stars in NHTSA's Frontal Impact Crash Test PRNewswire - TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. today announced that the state-of-the-art inflatable restraint system supplied by its TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. subsidiary for the 2004 Saturn Ion recently helped the compact car achieve a five-star rating in the federal government's frontal impact crash test for both the driver and passenger side.
Ford and General Motors Lead Automotive Loyalty mrweb.com - Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation had the highest levels of automotive customer loyalty in early 2004, according to R. L. Polk & Co’s mid-year consumer loyalty rankings. The results are published as a precursor to the Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards, held annually in Detroit.
Paintable Film is used for automotive masking Industrial Newsroom - It can be cut away and taped to expose area to be painted without need for masking paper around critical edge.
Automotive "black boxes" aiding police WMTW - Police are increasingly using crash data from automotive black boxes to bolster accident reconstructions.
Sumitomo to buy car parts maker Kiriu Japan Today - Sumitomo Corp said Monday it will acquire Tochigi Prefecture-based auto parts manufacturer Kiriu Corp from Unison Capital Inc in July.
Itronix Wireless, Rugged Mobile Computing Solutions Certified by Top Three Leading Claims Software Providers PRNewswire - Itronix Corporation, a world-class developer of wireless, rugged mobile computing solutions, announced today that its award-winning GoBook(R) II wireless, rugged laptop has been certified by the insurance industry's top three software providers, including ADP Claims Services Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Automatic Data Processing, Inc., CCC Information Services Inc., and Mitchell International Inc. With these industry certifications, the GoBook II has been tested and approved to operate with each provider's respective estimating and collision repair software solutions. In addition to the GoBook II laptop, ADP also certified Itronix's wireless, rugged GoBook Tablet PC.
Ford Motor Company Names Robert L. Shanks New Ford of Europe and PAG Vice President PRNewswire - Shanks, who previously served as chief financial officer for Ford's Premier Automotive Group, continues to report to Mark Fields, executive vice president, Ford of Europe and PAG. His appointment is effective July 1.
Kelley Blue Book Editors Name the Cars of Summer PRNewswire - 10 Great New Cars for All of Summer's Great Activities
OnStation Selected as the Preferred Customer Relationship Management Solution Provider for Auto Value and Bumper to Bumper PRNewswire - New Agreement to Help Auto Value and Bumper to Bumper Increase Customer Sales and Retention for Its 2,000-plus Certified Service Centers Across North America by Recommending Deployment of OnStation ShopConnect
Bad-gas restitution sputters along The Times-Picayune - Shell slow to send checks for gas gauges -- For a list of the service centers, go to www.interactclaims.com/shell or call 1 (877) 825-2467.

June 21, 2004

Vinyl car roofs return to cheers and jeers The Detroit News - Metro drivers like the look, much to dismay of designers
Insurers reopening investigations on traffic accidents involving Mitsubishi vehicles The Detroit News - The Japanese automaker and truck maker have suffered a major blow in announcing a spate of recalls this year for defects it acknowledged it had hidden for years.
Your Own Money Used Against You? Autobody Online - Each one of you business owners is probably a member of a few professional groups or associations, but how many of you really know if these organizations represent the interests of your industry? Probably very few of you!
Gas Gauges Still Failing 2 Weeks After Shell Says It Fixed Problem WPTV - Some people are still reporting gas gauge problems more than two weeks after Shell Oil Co.'s refiner, Motiva Enterprises, said it removed all of the tainted gasoline from hundreds of gas stations in Florida.
Ford plant leads revolution in Russian auto industry Oakland Tribune - Foreign competition is spurring nation's economic growth
O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. to Present at the William Blair & Company 24th Annual Growth Stock Conference Business Wire - O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. (the "Company"), plans to make a presentation at the William Blair & Company 24th Annual Growth Stock Conference in Chicago, IL, on Wednesday, June 23, 2004, at 4:20 p.m. central time. -- O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. is one of the largest specialty retailers of automotive aftermarket parts, tools, supplies, equipment and accessories in the United States, serving both the do-it-yourself and professional installer markets.
Alcoa Automotive Receives 2004 Casting of the Year Award Manufacturing News Center - Alcoa announced today that its Alcoa Automotive Castings business has been recognized by the American Foundry Society with the 2004 Casting of the Year award for development of the hollow rear lower control arm, an aluminum suspension component, used on the BMW X5 SUV, 5- and 7-Series sedans, 5-Series Touring Wagon and Rolls Royce. Control arms essentially hold the rear wheels on a vehicle and impact ride and handling performance.
GM suppliers might build in Lansing LSJ - Capital Choice official says firms considering area
Smile Machine VW Trend - Tim Case found the perfect candidate for his wild and cartoonish project car: a decaying '67 Sedan purchased for $300
Health-insurance costs challenge small businesses' bottom line The News Journal - That would be attractive to Charles Hipp Jr., the president of Charles Auto Body Inc. in White Plains, though he said he is unclear on why the cost would be so much lower if his business was part of a group. He said his two employees have health insurance through their spouses but he is uninsured.
Man charged with soliciting assault Seattle Post-Intelligencer - An Edgewood auto body shop owner has been charged with trying to hire someone to blind a teenager he thought had stolen his car, Pierce County sheriff's deputies say.
Ford Falcon recall removes 300 police cars from frontline New Zealand Herald - Hundreds of police Falcon cars have been pulled off frontline duties until their steering controls are strengthened after a major vehicle recall by Ford New Zealand. -- Ford has been telling thousands of owners who inundated a phone hotline yesterday not to panic, but to drive carefully and within speed limits until their cars can be fixed with simple spot welds in coming weeks at the company's expense.
BASF announces third quarter of 2004 Automotive Refinish training schedule Manufacturing News Center - The courses cover the latest and most advanced techniques for proper application and color adjustment of Glasurit(R) and R-M(R) paint systems. All of the U.S. facilities offer Glasurit and R-M programs that meet the mandatory requirements for General Motors and Ford certification.

June 18, 2004

Flooded Cars Flooding Repair Shops ABC News 4 - Charleston, SC - Auto repair shops across the lowcountry are flooded with vehicles after three consecutive days of rain.
Car-Insurance Adjusters in Scam NY Post - The feds busted 16 Brooklyn insurance adjusters yesterday on charges of taking bribes to inflate damage estimates on cars involved in accidents. -- The adjusters, who worked for companies like State Farm, Prudential and Allstate, took bribes of up to $300 for inflated appraisals or estimates, the feds said.
GM Europe Reins in Some Units Reuters - General Motors Corp clipped the wings of its independence-minded European car companies on Friday by concentrating power at its continental headquarters, but has not closed any plants or cut jobs in the plan to return the European business to profit.
University of Tennessee Team Wins Visteon Award at FutureTruck Competition PRNewswire-FirstCall - Visteon Corporation, a sponsor of the FutureTruck 2004 competition, salutes the team from the University of Tennessee, winner of the Visteon Award, given to the team that demonstrated the most innovative use of electronics in its FutureTruck vehicle.
AutoEval Adds CarFax Data to its Standardized Evaluation Process Emediawire - AutoEval has entered into a contractual agreement with CarFax. AutoEval will now include CarFax vehicle history reports as part of its automotive evaluation process, thereby providing more information and transparency to consumers in the used car market.
MG Rover, Shanghai Auto Sign Cooperation Agreement Yahoo News - The agreement was signed Wednesday, said Xue Hao, spokesman for Shanghai Automotive, also known as SAIC. But he declined to give further details until SAIC obtains government approval for the cooperation.
Chrysler to Highlight More Than 50 Years of Automotive Excellence PR Newswire - Chrysler is the title automotive sponsor of the 2nd annual Indianapolis Concours d'Elegance, which features the best of classic cars, fashion and art. The event will be held on Monument Circle in the center of downtown Indianapolis on Saturday June 19th, the day before the U.S. Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Charles Rotuno, OEConnection President & CEO, Named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) PRNewswire - This newly created category recognizes those organizations with fewer than 100 associates that have demonstrated success and growth by leveraging computer-related technology. -- Under Rotuno's leadership, OEConnection has built a leading market presence serving more than 11,000 automotive dealerships and collision repair facilities nationwide in just 3 years.

June 17, 2004

PPG Total Service Solutions Wins Its First Chemical and Process Management Contract in China PRNewswire - PPG Total Service Solutions recently signed a contract with Wuxi Vehicle Body Co. to provide the vehicle manufacturer with a chemical and process management program at its facility in Wuxi, China.
Auto repair shops accused of customer rip-off Tampa Bay's 10 News - An auto repair chain in the Bay area is accused of scamming customers. The state is investigating three "Just Brakes" repair shops in Tampa, Largo and Clearwater.
Hudson mechanic killed in explosion at his auto repair shop Boston Globe - A local mechanic died in an explosion at his repair shop Tuesday evening when a blowtorch he was using to cut sheet metal apparently ignited vapors from an empty drum of motor oil, officials said.
Auto Mechanic Accused Of Ripping Off Customers, IRS WFTV.com - The suspect's auto body shop in Tavares is closed. The owner was hauled off to jail on charges that he ripped off his customers and the IRS.
Auto Parts Suppliers On The Right Track Forbes - Although U.S. sales of passenger cars and light trucks have hovered in the 17 million unit range for several years, it has been a difficult stretch for companies that make automotive components.
Secrets scar Mitsubishi The Detroit News - Defects repeatedly covered up
Ford Issues Major Auto Recall In Australia Yahoo News - Ford Motor Co. has issued one of the largest vehicle recalls in Australia to check the steering system in its flagship Falcon model.
Acura changes speeds with jazzy TSX, TL Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Can car companies undergo personality changes? -- You bet.
Subaru adds looks to its durable image Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Svelte, distinctly European-looking touring sedan.
Chevy debuts cars Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - New ones to the list: Aveo, Equinox and Colorado
UAW makes another pitch to Subaru workers Indy Star - The United Auto Workers union is trying for the third time in just over 10 years to win the right to represent most of the 2,600 workers at the Subaru of Indiana Automotive plant.
Power Windows Become Serious Safety Issue News4Jax.com - In the past 10 days, two Detroit-area children have died and one was seriously injured in family cars by being strangled by power windows, television station WDIV reported.
Consequences in auto scam are far-reaching Portsmouth Herald - The number of ambulance runs to accidents in Lawrence fell sharply in the five months after the city began cracking down on automobile fraud, according to police.
Insurance bureau won't divulge profits nb.cbc.ca - The Insurance Bureau of Canada says it has decided to stop releasing quarterly financial reports on the industry. The decision to withhold such information comes just as profits have begun taking off.
Insurer honks at reform: Auto group horns in vs. efforts Boston Herald - Auto insurance reform hit a major speed bump yesterday when Commerce Group Inc., the state's largest car insurer, threatened legal action if the state moves too fast to overhaul its system to cover high-risk drivers.

June 16, 2004

Ohio Casualty Group Selects LYNX Services to Manage DRP Repairs, Desk Audits and Car Rental Business Wire - LYNX Services announced today that it has become the exclusive national provider of automotive physical damage (APD) repair management services for Ohio Casualty Group. The LYNX managed repair services include the LYNXSelect(R) direct repair program (DRP), estimate auditing and rental car concierge.
Chrysler to Expand Truck Lineup Yahoo/Reuters - The Chrysler arm of DaimlerChrysler raised the ante in Detroit's horsepower wars on Tuesday by unveiling two new variants of its powerful Dodge Ram pickup truck.
Ford lawyer denies SUV defect remark The Detroit News - He calls transcript of trial wrong, but no complaint filed.
Japan's U.S. plants urged to organize Detroit Free Press - The fight to unionize Japanese auto plants in the United States may be getting a boost from across the ocean.
Car parts makers exploit their technology FT.com - Foreign carparts manufacturers now setting up en masse in China are displaying a confidence similar to multinational carmakers about their ability to compete against the wave of low-cost Chinese newcomers to the industry.
New Automotive Center Opens at Savannah Tech WTOC - The next time you need someone to work on your car, they might learn what they need to know at Savannah Technical College on White Bluff Road. They opened their brand new Automotive Technology Center today. Boasting high-tech classrooms, work bays and a state-of-the-art paint booth. it gives students a chance to learn to work in a professional environment.
Auto body repair business reopens with new name Sacramento Business Journal - Dan Wallach, former operator of the local Colors On Parade franchise has reopened his business as Advanced Auto Cosmedics.
Study: 25-thousand crashes due to vehicle-related road debris - Washington-AP -- Researchers say such automotive debris causes 25-thousand crashes and up to 90 deaths a year on U-S and Canadian roadways.
Former claims adjuster sentenced in insurance fraud Newsday.com - TRENTON, N.J. -- A former insurance claims adjuster was sentenced to six years in federal prison and ordered to pay nearly $1 million in fines Monday for his role in a million-dollar check fraud scheme.

June 15, 2004

Ford lawyer makes Explorer apology The Detroit News - A record $368.6 million jury verdict earlier this month against Ford Motor Co. in San Diego ended the automaker’s win streak defending the Ford Explorer’s design and safety, but also may have opened the door for more lawsuits.
GM thinks big with small Cobalt The Detroit News - New model seeks to turn tide of losses
Copart reports second quarter results up East Bay Business Times - Auto-salvage company Copart Inc. of Fairfield filed its form 10-Q with the SEC on Monday, recording second quarter results more than 24 percent higher than for its year-ago period.
Is Detroit Power Crazy? Forbes - Everyone talks about the price of gasoline, but maybe we should pay more attention to the fact that today's vehicles are overpowered. Horsepower has ratcheted up, year after year, and that's one reason why we haven't seen significant gains in fuel economy, despite more-efficient engines.
LKQ buys Albert Lea Auto Salvage Washington Times/UPI - LKQ Corp. of Chicago said Monday it has agreed to acquire Minneapolis-based Albert Lea Auto Salvage. -- LKQ said the acquisition is not expected to dilute its earnings per share.
PATENTS: Automakers race to claim new features Detroit Free Press - Turning cars into flying machines is not among the intellectual property rights recently granted to automakers by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, Va., but judging by the hundreds of patents General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group file and receive each year, drivers are in for an increasingly smooth ride.
Advance Auto Parts Cracks the Mystery of Car Maintenance and Repair PRNewswire - Program Encourages Consumers to Become 'Do-it-Yourselfers'
Exco Technologies to sell paint automotive paint lasing business, take $5.6M charge Canadian Press - Toronto-based Exco said Monday it has signed a non-binding letter of intent for the sale of its former Bantech Lasing division, which uses lasers for precise automotive-trim painting. The cash deal is expected to close at the end of July.
Hospitals Losing Money From Auto Insurance Law TheDenverChannel.com - Insurance Commissioner: New Law Saved Drivers Money

June 14, 2004

Ford Escape improves crash test rating Detroit News - Redesigned 2005 SUV earns 2nd highest rank; Volvo S40, Titan excel
Cars of the future to be assembled atom by atom Detroit News - High-tech will make vehicles safer, more powerful and lighter
Auto supplier deal is rejected Detroit News - Union balks at plan to save Fed-Mogul plant in Greenville
US chemical firm on merger trail China Daily - US-based PPG, the world's No 1 producer of vehicle coatings and specialty chemicals, is seeking merger opportunities to quickly expand in the Chinese market. -- PPG was the first global coating company to enter China in the late 1980s, and currently holds a 15 per cent share of the automotive coating market.
Indiana Visteon workers approve 4-year pact Indy Star - Workers at the Visteon Corp. auto parts plant in Bedford approved a contract Sunday that union leaders say includes both wage concessions and a guaranteed limit on job cuts.
Pestillo finds himself in a tough spot Detroit Free Press - Here's a story I never thought I'd read. -- A company headed by Pete Pestillo has employed temporary replacement workers to help keep an Indiana auto parts plant running during a strike. -- This is the same Pete Pestillo who was hailed for forging the auto industry's best labor-management relations during 20 years as a Ford Motor Co. executive and labor negotiator.
Steel demand crushing availability of car parts The Joplin Globe - The United States is exporting more metal, which causes a glut domestically, said Mike Becker, president of the Mid-America Chapter of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries. Auto salvagers strip cars of usable parts and then sell the rest to be recycled when prices look good, Becker said.
Steel firm clings to GM Detroit Free Press - Canadian steel company Stelco Inc. says it's at risk of losing its biggest customer after General Motors Corp. moved to terminate a supply contract over concerns about a potential strike next month.
Automotive Use of Metal Hybrids Motor Trend - Every car review that remarks on the exquisite handling of the new '04 BMW 5-Series makes executives at aluminum giant Alcan Inc. smile. -- The 5-Series is the poster child for a new trend in aluminum use: a material hybrid where the front end of the car, from A-pillar forward, is lightweight aluminum and the back is steel.
'Expensive, but fulfilling' Bucyrus Telegraph Forum - Restoring old cars takes time, money
US insurers urge renewal of terror risk law Yahoo News - Insurers pressed Congress to extend the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act for another two years yesterday as concerns grow that the industry could collapse without it. -- John Degnan, vice-chairman of Chubb, the New Jersey insurer, told the Senate banking committee that another terrorist attack could "very well bring the insurance industry to its knees " if TRIA were not in place.

June 11, 2004

NHTSA Proposes Requirements For Voluntarily Installed Event Data Recorders NHTSA - "EDRs are in most new vehicles and are already providing valuable safety information for our crash investigators and researchers," said NHTSA Administrator Jeffrey W. Runge, M.D. "We hope that eventually this crash information will be available in real time to emergency medical systems and physicians to improve trauma care after a crash."
IGA Announces Staff Changes GlassBYTES - The Independent Glass Association (IGA) has announced that chief executive officer Tim Smale and marketing director Jenna Smale are resigning from the IGA to pursue other interests.
Eautoclaims Announces the Signing of Four New Clients Yahoo News - The new customers are running on eAutoclaims' eJusterSuite® Internet claims platform and processing their claims through the eAutoclaims' national Guaranteed Repair Network (GRN). The GRN stretches nationwide and numbers over 2,600 collision repair facilities. In addition, the new clients are also utilizing eAutoclaims' national network of independent appraisers, the Appraisal Assignment Network (ANN).
Chrysler Productivity Passes Ford Yahoo News - DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group made the biggest gain in North American manufacturing efficiency last year, passing Ford Motor Co. for the first time in a closely watched study of automotive productivity.
Germany's automotive sector under pressure F.A.Z. - One of Germany's last bastions of economic stability is wavering. Hopes that the automotive sector would gather speed during the year were quashed after new vehicle registrations collapsed by 8 percent in May.
Clemson still searching for funding for International Center for Automotive Research wind tunnel WIS-TV - Clemson University officials say they still plan to build a full-scale wind tunnel at the International Center for Automotive Research in Greenville, but the school hasn't found the $50 million for the wind tunnel.
Tags Under The Table follow-up KPHO Phoenix - The 5-i team's hidden cameras exposed a valley man illegally selling license plates from his car repair shop.
ZAP Launches 60-MPG SMART Car to Auto Industry at NIADA 2004 Yahoo News - Independent auto dealers from across the country caught a glimpse of the new 60-MPG SMART Car from Europe, distributed in the United States by ZAP, at NIADA 2004, running today through Saturday at the Hyatt Regency at Reunion in Dallas, Texas.
State Farm assesses damage from May storms Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil, IA - State Farm Insurance announced that it is expecting to make customer payments totaling more than $29 million as a result of homeowner and auto claims in Iowa because of storms experienced since May 15.

June 10, 2004

Former Mitsubishi head arrested Globe and Mail - Katsuhiko Kawasoe, the former president of scandal-plagued Mitsubishi Motors Corp., was arrested Thursday on charges related to a cover-up of auto defects suspected in a fatal accident, the Japanese auto maker said.
Honda recalls 130,617 CR-Vs, Accords to repair defects Indianapolis Star - Honda Motor Co. is recalling 130,617 CR-V sport-utility vehicles because the driver's air bag may inflate incorrectly, federal regulators said Wednesday.
SUV double whammy: dangerous and expensive to insure Bankrate.com - Sport utility vehicles have been posting some pretty impressive numbers over the past several years. Unfortunately, some could be bad news for both your health and bank account.
Union, Visteon resume talks as Indiana strike continues Detroit Free Press - Negotiators for Visteon Corp. and the union representing about 1,000 striking workers have resumed contract talks, but they have been unsuccessful so far, the president of the union local said Wednesday.
Successful Automotive Fastener Manufacturer Selects Glovia to Manage Company-wide Operations Business Wire - Glovia International, a subsidiary of Fujitsu and a leading provider of extended ERP solutions for engineer-to-order and high volume manufacturers, announced today that Rocknel Fastener has selected Glovia's extended ERP solution, glovia.com, to manage all their company-wide operations -- from sales and procurement to production, order management and post-sale service.
Datacolor Delivers New Software Tool to the Automotive Industry for Orchestrating Consistent Color Quality PRNewswire - What do world-class orchestras have in common with world-class color production for the automotive industry? Both can benefit tremendously from the influence of a master conductor. Aptly named Datacolor Maestro, a new software tool has been developed for easy adaptation by the automotive manufacturer's market for color harmony and incredible results.
Japanese car parts plant opens in Orangeburg T&D - An international flavor was a part of Orangeburg Tuesday morning as Japan-based automotive part manufacturer Hikari USA Inc. celebrated the grand opening of its Orangeburg facility and operations.
Lowriders MetroActive - In San Jose, as in other barrios of Aztlan, Latinos flaunt their heritage with tricked-out, bouncing automobiles
Call center workers file suit Houston Chronicle - The Chase suit comes on the heels of similar actions taken against Geico Insurance, T-Mobile and several chicken-processing plants. -- The call center industry has created a culture that convinces employees that to be considered "good," they have to give up their own time, said Justin M. Swartz, an employment lawyer with Outten & Golden in New York, a law firm specializing in class-action wage-and-hour law.
Lynn man nabbed on auto insurance fraud charge The Daily Item of Flynn - Lynn police investigators have made their first arrest a month after joining forces with other law enforcement agencies to declare war on automobile insurance fraud.

June 9, 2004

Auto shops approved to fix damage The Sun Herald - Shell and Motiva have released a list of pre-approved auto service centers that can fix vehicles whose gas gauges were damaged by tainted gasoline.
Coalition for Auto Repair Equality Launches New Website Highlighting 'Right to Repair Act' and Co-sponsors US Newswire - The Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE) has updated its website, http://www.careauto.org , with a new look, new resources, a Press Room, and more in depth information on automotive aftermarket issues, such as the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act which is now before Congress. The Right to Repair Act, H.R. 2735 and its Senate companion, S. 2138, guarantees the ability of vehicle owners to choose-on their own-where, how and by whom to have their vehicles repaired, whose parts they wish to buy -- even work on their vehicle themselves.
Visteon Continues Expansion in Asia Pacific Region PRNewswire - Visteon Corporation, one of the world's leading automotive suppliers, continues to grow its presence in China and the Asia Pacific region with the recent groundbreaking for its YanFeng Visteon Technical Facility and the opening of its Asia Pacific corporate office.
State police no longer assisting at site of Visteon strike Indianapolis Star - Bedford police Maj. Dennis Parsley said Monday officers from the Bedford Police Department continue to guard the gate outside the factory.
Honda to build new paint facility in Marysville Marion Star - Honda plans to build a $123 million paint facility, the largest single investment among a series of renovations and expansions at Honda's two auto plants in Ohio, according to a company news release. The company has invested more than $6 billion in Ohio.
Supplier, UAW sign tentative agreement Detroit News - Deal with Federal-Mogul keeps engine bearings factory and jobs in Greenville
Report: China auto industry a threat Detroit News - The auto industry’s rush into China could add to a global glut of cars and trucks, forcing the country to become a major vehicle exporter and threatening factory jobs in mature markets such as Europe and North America, the International Metalworkers Federation warned in a report distributed Tuesday.
Labor leaders say prospects dim for Chinese auto workers Detroit Free Press - As General Motors Corp. and other top automakers prepare to invest billions of dollars in China, international labor leaders paint a bleak picture for the prospect of organized representation for auto workers there. Labor officials say that's likely to mean low wages and poor working conditions.
DaimlerChrysler mulls suit against Mitsubishi MarketWatch - Fuso last month recalled 180,000 heavy-duty trucks and sight-seeing buses made from 1983 to 2002. DaimlerChrysler owns a 65 percent stake in Fuso, which Mitsubishi spun off in January 2003.
Owner of shop held on 7 counts Detroit News - A 48-year-old Howell man who owns Lee’s Collision is facing seven felony counts ranging from stolen property to narcotics possession following a Friday bust at the collision shop.

June 8, 2004

Boyd Group to roll out "Gerber" brand to U.S. operations CNW - Boyd Group Income Fund announced that, as part of its plan to leverage the strategic value of its recently acquired Gerber Auto Collision & Glass operations, it will roll out the "Gerber Collision & Glass" brand to all its U.S. operations.
A car rides like a dream thanks to caring friends The Register Guard - It didn't take the Make-A-Wish Foundation, only a group of caring friends, to make Carl Tognazzini's dream come true Saturday.
Auto Makers Working To Make Vehicles Safer KTRE-TV - The automotive industry is answering those concerns by offering several important safety features you wouldn't find as recently as a few years ago.
Van rollovers spark driver training, fixes Detroit News - Churches, schools abandon, modify 15-passenger vehicles
Ford to Triple China Output to Chase GM Reuters - Ford aims to more than triple output in China this year, executives said on Tuesday, as it races to catch General Motors and other foreign auto makers in the world's fastest-growing major car market.
Ford Explorer Scores Average in Rollover Test Reuters - The auto industry's best-selling sport utility vehicle, the Ford Explorer, posted average scores in the government's most extensive analysis yet of its risk for rollover, figures showed on Monday.
Rollover case opens door to more setbacks at Ford Reuters - The $369 million in damages slapped on Ford Motor Co. in an Explorer rollover case last week could expose it to more legal setbacks and highlight the automaker's inability to put one of the worst crises in its 100-year history behind it, experts said.
DaimlerChrysler to Invest $113 Million in St. Louis-Area Factory Yahoo News - DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler arm is investing $113 million in a suburban St. Louis factory to expand production of minivans with its fledgling "Stow 'n Go" seating-and-storage system.
GM teams up with Army Detroit News - Joint effort aims to cut number of crashes involving soldiers in their own vehicles
UAW plant chairman ousted Detroit News - Union workers at General Motors Corp.’s Pontiac Truck Assembly plant overwhelmingly voted Sunday to oust plant chairman Gene Austin following a raucous meeting at the Pontiac Silverdome in the latest in a long line of travail at UAW Local 594.
ASA Member Wins Maryland Small Business Person of the Year ASA - The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced that Brian England, AAM, of British American Auto Care, an Automotive Service Association (ASA) member, has been selected as the 2004 Maryland Small Business Person of the Year.
USAA to Reduce Auto Insurance Rates by Average of 7 Percent; Fee for Extended Billing Option Eliminated Business Wire - In 2004, USAA has already reduced, or has plans to reduce, automobile insurance rates by an average of 7 percent in almost all states. As a result, USAA auto policyholders will save more than $900 million in annual premiums over the next five years. USAA has approximately 3.6 million auto policyholders in the United States, and is the country's seventh-largest auto insurer.

June 7, 2004

GM seeks resolution on Chery 'piracy' Financial Times - General Motors says it has concluded its own investigation into the alleged piracy by a Chinese carmaker of vehicles designed by its South Korean unit, Daewoo, and has now taken the case to the Beijing government to seek a resolution.
"Database abuse" looked at by CIC Autobody Online - The problem of misuse or misinterpretation of the estimating databases – in particular in regard to paint procedures and times – was tackled by a number of committees at the recent Collision Industry Conference (CIC) held in Nashville, Tenn.
Visteon engineers seek UAW election The Detroit News - A group of Visteon Corp. manufacturing engineers — rankled by the supplier’s decision to eliminate overtime — is seeking to join the United Auto Workers union.
With Visteon workers on strike, community braces for tough economic times Detroit Free Press - The company has announced that more than half its workers could be laid off within the next 21/2 years, and workers have rejected a contract proposal that they say would cut wages and make them contribute more for health insurance. A strike to protest those changes is about to enter its second week.
DaimlerChrysler recalls more than 430,000 PT Cruisers Detroit News - DaimlerChrysler AG is recalling 438,391 PT Cruisers because fires can start under the hood, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Friday.
Subaru of America, Inc. Announces Voluntary Recall of 2005 Legacy Sedans and Outback Sedans PRNewswire - Subaru of America, Inc. announced a voluntary recall on 2005 Legacy Sedan and Outback Sedan models to
address a side curtain airbag problem.
Leaner, Faster, Better Automotive Aftermarket Is Poised For Future Growth, GAAS Speakers Say BusinessRPM - The automotive aftermarket is poised to reap the benefits of leaner, faster, better manufacturing and management processes, according to industry analysts and experts addressing the ninth annual Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS), held May 18-19 in Chicago, Ill.
Kearny Mesa dealerships acquired Sign On San Diego - The Houston company has 88 automotive dealerships and 31 collision repair centers in California and other states. Group 1 has set a target of acquiring dealerships with combined revenue of $1 billion this year. -- The local acquisitions are part of broad trend toward consolidation in auto retailing, said Gordon Wangers, president of AMCI, a vehicle testing and evaluation company.
Asbury Automotive Group Names Thomas G. McCollum President and CEO of its Texas Platform PRNewswire - Mr. McCollum, who had been Asbury's Vice President of Finance and Insurance ("F&I"), will replace McDavid's current President and CEO, Michael Kane, who has resigned to pursue other interests. The Company is searching for a replacement for Mr. McCollum in the corporate F&I position.
Auto supplier chooses Genoa Twp. over Brighton Ann Arbor News - Schneider Automotive to use existing building instead of new construction
Four indicted in insurance scam The Jersey Journal - Three Union City men, a Jersey City woman and a Florida resident have been indicted on auto theft and insurance fraud charges, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice.
Many driven to speak their mind on auto insurance Boston Globe - Responding to an article last Sunday that examined why Massachusetts drivers file more auto insurance claims than anyone else in the country, readers said the key reasons are inadequate driver training, lax enforcement of traffic safety laws, and a road system that is badly marked and often poorly designed.

June 4, 2004

Thousands of complaints filed over bad gas The Sun Herald - Two Florida drivers filed suit against the Louisiana refiner who allowed high levels of sulphur in its gasoline refining process. -- Shell officials have said the sulphur-tainted fuel can corrode the silver sensors in fuel gauges. -- Shell said it received about 15,000 calls from customers in Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana and about 9,000 claims have been filed to fix faulty gas gauges in the three states. Repairs could cost $300 to $600, and the first checks will go out today.
Information on the Shell Lawsuit Sun-Sentinel - The phone line was set up to handle complaints from motorists whose fuel gauges malfunctioned after filling up with the tainted gasoline.
'Bad gas' settlement offered New Castle News, PA - United Refinery Co., which operates a refinery in Warren, Pa., said yesterday it would reimburse eligible consumers who bought gasoline at the company's gas stations. -- Investigators traced the gasoline to the Warren refinery that supplies fuel to the majority of stations in northwestern Pennsylvania, according to the Attorney General's Office. Many complaining consumer said the malfunction cost them between $75 to $700 to replace or repair their gas sensors. Others said false gas gauge readings caused them to run out of gas resulting in towing service charges or other expenses.
Visteon picket line quiet Indy Star - About 50 pickets lined the street outside a Visteon Corp. auto parts plant today during the fifth day of the violence-marred strike.
Chrysler to launch three new vehicles Detroit News - Sebring stand-in, Hummer-like SUV, Charger planned
NHTSA warns of van dangers Detroit News - Third public alert highlights rollover risk of 15-passenger models in speeds over 50 mph
Inexpensive Chinese vehicles may be on road to U.S. Detroit News - An Arizona businessman hopes to begin distributing inexpensive Chinese-built cars and trucks to U.S. dealers by this fall.
Unique, Free Online Service for Millions of Car Owners emediawire.com - DingIT ™ offers a unique free service that saves time and money to millions of car owners by allowing them to receive estimates for their auto body work over the Internet. This service saves the car owners the need to spend hours driving to auto body shops to obtain estimates.
CCC Information Services Group Inc. Holds Annual Shareholders Meeting Business Wire - CCC Information Services Group Inc., a leading provider of software and information services to the automotive claims and collision repair industries, announced that stockholders at the company's annual meeting held in Chicago, Illinois yesterday (i) approved the election of seven directors to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders in 2005, (ii) approved the restatement of the company's 2000 Stock Incentive Plan; and (iii) ratified the reappointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the company's independent auditor for fiscal year 2004.
Technical Clinics Among Highlights of Upcoming I-CAR International Annual Meeting I-CAR - The technical clinics will be featured as part of the 2004 I-CAR International Annual Meeting – 25th Anniversary Celebration to be held August 4 - 8 at The Fairmont Chicago in Chicago, Illinois.
Arizona leads nation in auto theft rates - again Arizona Central - For the ninth consecutive year, Arizona leads the nation in automobile theft rate
Groups push for insurance reform The Daily Texan - One year after the Texas Legislature implemented new insurance regulations, watchdog groups are calling for more sweeping legislation. Though the state has cut $500 million in overcharges, controversy remains.

June 3, 2004

Keystone Automotive Industries Reports Record Fiscal 2004 Fourth Quarter/Year-End Results PrimeZone - Net Income Up 28.5 Percent for Quarter; Sales Climb 14 Percent
Jury hits Ford with $122 million verdict Market Watch - Ford may appeal 1st loss in an Explorer rollover case
AutoWatch provides repair updates online Detroit News - Internet company keeps customers satisfied, apprised
Newest air bag protects neck Detroit News - SunnyRec executive develops device after rear-end crash
RepairOne(R) Drives Ahead to Franchise Auto Repair and Service Concept Yahoo News - RepairOne® Automotive Concepts LLC, a privately held company, will launch their "Just One" national franchise program in the 4th quarter, based on their "Be-the-One" mission statement. The franchisees will operate in conjunction with the RepairOne® franchise agreement to pay a royalty based on the store's gross retail sales of parts and labor revenue.
Mitsubishi to recall 163,000 vehicles Indy Star - The Mitsubishi Motors Corp. admitted Wednesday that it had failed for years to inform safety regulators fully about defects in vehicles manufactured over the last decade.
Automotive Professor Who Has Tested Many Gas Saving Devices Is a Believer in Tornado PRNewswire - Ron Bell remembers the "energy crisis" that erupted in the 1970s. "Back then I ran tests on every gas saving device imaginable, and I only found one that really worked, but it had too many negative side effects on performance," explained Bell, professor of automotive technology at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif. It was many years later before a student came to Bell asking about the Tornado gas saving device.
Automakers report rise in sales Holland Sentinel - Auto sales rose 7 percent in May, as skyrocketing gas prices apparently did little to dampen demand for pickups and sport utility vehicles.
Economic Impact of Flooding WHO-TV - Des Moines - Now the repair bills are beginning to pile up. Iowa's largest insurance agency, State Farm, says it expects 29 million dollars in claims across the state.
Court rules against auto insurers' medical link Detroit Free Press - Motorists are potentially misled when auto insurers reduce their personal injury protection premium in exchange for receiving medical treatment exclusively from managed care providers, a state appeals court has ruled.

June 2, 2004

Downtown body shop replaced after 57 years Sky Way News - Lehman's Garage has replaced Minnesota Auto Body at 619 S. 7th St. -- Darrell Amberson, president of Lehman's Garage, which has five Twin Cities locations, said the Downtown repair shop will focus on collision and glass repairs.
Small Derby shop vies for state's top business award The Wichita Eagle - Shelton Collision Repair restores cars and the hopes of people who have fallen on hard times.
Precision work comes natural for local body technician Williston Daily Herald, ND - Horob is one of several auto body technicians who spend their days perfecting vehicle paint jobs and straightening out bodies that have been involved in fender benders and more serious collisions.
Reducing automotive design cycle time Star-Tech Central - “Today, a car is made in many pieces by many suppliers. Hence, there is need for greater collaboration between OEMs, suppliers and dealers when designing and producing cars.”
Link Plus Corporation Awarded OEM Contract for Wireless Automotive Security Devices Business Wire - Link Plus Corporation announced receipt of an original equipment manufacture contract for design, development and eventual production of a new technology wireless automotive security device.
Visteon Strike Turns Violent WTHR - An explosive situation broke out at the Visteon auto parts plant in Bedford as workers went on strike Monday. Union members blocked the way of a company van, which slowly inched forward trying to leave. -- The union voted down a contract offer on Friday and went on strike Sunday night at midnight. At one a.m. they say the company began moving equipment out of the plant on six flat-bed trucks and they fear their jobs are being moved out too. No one from Visteon or the security team would comment.
Visteon turns to temps to run strike-bound plant Indy Star - Striking employees said they saw four Greyhound-style buses drop off about 200 temporary workers at the Southern Indiana plant for the first time Tuesday after 1,026 hourly employees went on strike at 1:03 a.m. Sunday. -- Visteon is the 72,000-employee auto parts empire spun off in 2000 by Ford. Visteon inherited Ford's $26-an-hour United Auto Workers union wage scale and has been trying to cut costs in an effort to compete with rival suppliers paying lower wages.
Visteon Earns Honda Award For Quality Supply Yahoo News -Honda of the UK Manufacturing Limited recently recognized Visteon Corporation's Enfield plant in the U.K. for quality manufacturing of instrument panels and center consoles for the popular Honda CR-V model.
Auto shop receives environmental award San Mateo County Times - Those greasy auto shops aren't so greasy these days.
Electronic Service Information in a Collision Repair Facility ASA - AMI-approved course targets collision repair professionals
Auto insurance rates trimmed Houston Chronicle - At least two Texas companies have already cut rates, and another is waiting for regulatory approval. The discounts aren't huge, but they do signal that auto insurers are getting more competitive.
Car Insurance Costs Drop for Many Ohioans WTOL - Ohio's largest insurer _ State Farm Insurance Companies _ cut its premiums an average 4.1 percent percent in March. Nationwide, the state's third-largest auto insurer, says it cut rates an average of 1.7 percent in April.
Holden: Auto Insurers Should Avoid Surcharging, Denying Coverage To Returning Soldiers Kansas City InfoZine - Gov. Bob Holden urged Missouri's auto insurers to avoid surcharging or denying coverage to soldiers who return from active duty unless their driving records or other criteria justify that decision.

June 1, 2004

Senate takes up bill to keep insurers from steering claims Detroit Free Press - LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Auto insurers could not restrict policyholders from using the repair shop of their choice under legislation to be considered this week by the state Senate.
Drivers Want Code to Their Cars Wired News - Rachel Seymour, a college student from Portland, Oregon, has had her 2002 Kia Spectra serviced 12 times for a Check Engine light problem. Each time, she's forced to take it to a Kia dealership, where a technician hooks her car up to a computer, runs a battery of tests and charges her $120 to diagnose and repair the same problem: a loose gas cap.
Akzo's Nobilas to Acquire Aon's UK Auto Repair Unit Insurance Journal - The Netherlands' Akzo Nobel announced that its Nobilas Claims & Fleet solutions business has agreed to acquire the UK-based Aon Motor Accident Management company (AMAM), which it described as "the number one automotive service provider in the world."
CARSTAR exec books new job in Wichita MSNBC -CARSTAR President and CEO George Hansen is leaving the Overland Park company to lead Wichita-based Corporate Lodging Consultants Inc.
Lawsuits: This Year's Model NY Times - The Lopez family, which had bought several new Cavaliers over the years, is suing General Motors on the grounds that it made a car it knew was not safe enough to survive collisions with its other products, namely its large pickups and sport utility vehicles.
eAutoclaims Completes Capital Raise, Over-Subscribes With Total of $2.5 Million PRNewswire-FirstCall - eAutoclaims announced today the final closing of approximately $2.5 million in new financing. Of the $2.5 million, $2.25 million was a sale of equity to multiple investors at $0.28 per share and $250,000 was an 8% convertible debenture from one of the Company's Directors. Both the equity and convertible debentures include warrant coverage.
Dedicated to Detail Brownville Herald - Profile of an auto mechanic.
Ford Sues Government for Plant Clean-Up Yahoo News - General Motors Corp. and chemical giant DuPont Co. have also sued the government in the past for compensation for cleanup costs stemming from wartime production, Vokes said.
Regions Interstate Billing profitable from beginning Decatur Daily - Regions Interstate Billing buys accounts receivable invoices for automotive parts and repairs for commercial vehicles. For example, when a company sends a car from its fleet to be repaired, Regions Interstate Billing purchases the invoice from the repair service and bills the customer for the car repair.
Attorney helped stage crashes in insurance scam, judge rules Houston Chronicle - Stopping a car in traffic with the intent of forcing another car to crash into the rear bumper sounds crazy and dangerous, but that's what a number of people were recruited to do as part of an auto insurance scam, according to a decision last week by a federal judge.
State sells properties of failed insurer for cash Courier Times/The Associated Press - Philadelphia - Three years after taking over Reliance Insurance Co., the state Insurance Department attempting to raise cash by selling far-flung properties of the failed insurer.

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