March 31, 2004

• Visteon witholds bonuses from top execs Reuters - "The bonuses were not made because we as a company did not meet our performance targets for 2003," Visteon spokeswoman Kim Welch said.
• Universal Automotive Reports Results for 2003 Year, Fourth Quarter Yahoo News - Company Reports Good Progress Integrating Acquisition Completed in January, Doubling Universal's Size
• Caliber Collision Centers Appoints Vincent Claudio as Vice President of Client Services Business Wire - Claudio brings over 18 years of collision repair and insurance industry experience to Caliber, with his most recent position being director of physical damage claims for Safeco Insurance Co. As director, he was responsible for the oversight of the physical damage claims processes and management of Safeco's direct repair relationships throughout the United States.
• Technological Advances in Auto Security Devices That Stomp Car Thieves Yahoo News - A car is stolen every 27.5 seconds totaling 1.2 million per year nationally, according to the recent National Insurance Crime Bureau's report on the most stolen vehicles. California is the epicenter of activity, with five of its cities ranking in the top ten locations for the most auto thefts.
• Shot of alcohol greases micromachines Newscientist.com - A tiny shot of alcohol could one day perk up worn-out micro-motors in digital camera displays, car airbags and other micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). The injected alcohol would cause an alcoholic vapor to condense on the tiny crevices in the motor and provide lubrication.
• High Steel Prices Take Toll on Winston-Salem, N.C.-Area Companies Winston-Salem Journal - Metal fabrication companies that supply parts to the auto industry are getting hurt, analysts said. - The American Institute of Steel Construction Inc. blames demand for scrap steel from China as the main culprit in the sharp rise in scrap prices. The trade group said that scrap was selling at about $120 a ton last summer. By the fall, prices increased to $160 a ton and by mid-February it was more than $255 a ton.

March 30, 2004

• New, Expanded Rancho Cucamonga Campus to House up to 800 Additional Students PRNewswire - Universal Technical Institute, Inc., one of the nation's leading providers of technical education training, today announced that it has entered into a long-term lease agreement to build a new campus in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
• Nine people accused of filing false auto accident claims San Jose Mercury News, CA - The nine are accused of filing false auto insurance claims and receiving a total of $300,000 in illegal settlement checks between 1994 and 2001 through a former senior claims representative with three insurance companies.
• Progressive Marks One Year Anniversary of Concierge-Level of Service with the Opening of 20th Claims Center in Miami Business Wire - Miami Site Handles Entire Claims/Repair Process From Soup to Nuts, Providing One-Stop Convenience for Customers or Anyone in the Area Who Has a Claim with Progressive
• CAR dealers rev up on service Contra Costa Times - When it comes to customer care, some car dealerships wow more than others. But with many vehicles so close in technology, quality and performance, dealers and manufacturers need to stand out.
• Lejeune eyes ventures with automotive sector The Daily News, NC - Marines and cars go together like, well, engines and gasoline. - The automotive services mall could include a car wash, a facility for the sale and installation of automotive wheels and stereos, an automotive parts and service facility, an automotive theme restaurant, a car and truck rental facility, a transmission repair facility, an automotive painting facility and a collision repair facility.
• Another 885 auto jobs are off to Mexico Detroit Free Press - The move comes as manufacturing jobs seem to be heading from Michigan to Mexico in droves.
• Under-Maintained Vehicles Cost Motorists Billions; Education is Key Yahoo News - The Council estimates that more than $60 billion in vehicle maintenance and repair are not performed every year, evidence that there is considerably more that people should be doing to protect their automotive investments.

March 29, 2004

• Driver's fault vs. auto's fault Daily Herald - A car crashes through a building. Someone must be asleep at the wheel, right? -- Not necessarily, says a Des Plaines car wash manager whose employee drove a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee through a neighboring restaurant.
• Minnesota Glass Association Creates a Network Salient  - The Minnesota Glass Association (MGA) partners with the Minnesota Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers Association (MIIAB) to form, the first of its kind, auto glass claims processing network. Typically, the auto glass industry networks have been owned by a glass company(s), or in LYNX's case, a glass manufacturer.
• ASA Launches New Government Affairs Web Site ASA - TakingTheHill.com enhances grassroots effort on federal, state levels
• Deregulation gets mixed reviews The Tallahassee Democrat - Bill would loosen reins on insurers
• Senior Automotive Manufacturing Executives Around the World for the First Time PRNewswire UK - Automakers' and suppliers' top executives will be meeting on June 8 and 9 in The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Dearborn, Michigan in the first global automotive manufacturing conference, AutoMan Global 2004.
• Glimmer of hope in job market for this year's graduates Pittsburgh Post Gazette - Companies talking to Pitt students include Alcoa, PPG Industries, Ford Motor and KPMG.
• US auto companies prefer India Washington Times - The U.S. automotive industry has voted India as the most preferred destination for outsourcing engineering and technical jobs, the Times of India reported.
• It's Not Often a Truck Cut This Much Looks This Good Classic Trucks Magazine - Making something that was fat and bulky into something streamlined was difficult but very rewarding when it was completed.
• The St. Paul Companies and Travelers Property Casualty Announce Merger Transaction Date, Stock Symbol Business Wire - The companies intend to close the transaction on April 1, 2004. The common shares of St. Paul Travelers will be traded under the New York Stock Exchange symbol STA.

March 26, 2004

• Classic-car owners court top auto doctors Indy Star - "I was worried," David Letterman said, "that he wouldn't see me when I called him." Letterman wasn't trying to get an appointment with a top-notch cardiac specialist. He was looking to get one of his vintage cars into the garage of Francois Sicard, a Connecticut mechanic widely known as the go-to guy for Ferraris.
• Steel Dynamics denies breaching contract with GM Reuters - Steel Dynamics, one of several U.S. steelmakers that has slapped big surcharges on customers to offset rising steel prices, argued it is not obligated to give General Motors "the steel it wants at the price it wants to pay."
• C3D, LLC Launches ServiceDirector™ Automotive Repair Shop Software - High Performance And Low Price eMediaWire -The First and Only Intuitive, Cross-Platform, Shop Management Program for Independent Automotive Repair Shops with no Monthly, Annual or Renewal Fees.
• GEICO is getting settled Buffalo News - The nation's fifth-largest auto insurer is setting up a new national insurance service center in Amherst that will ultimately house at least 2,500 employees in customer service, sales, and claims jobs.
• AAA Arizona to open its own auto-repair facility Phoenix Business Journal - After offering its stamp of approval on others' auto repair businesses, AAA Arizona this afternoon will break ground on its own auto repair facility in the Northwest Valley.

March 25, 2004

• Chrysler Group Facilities Recognized by National Safety Council for Safety Achievements Yahoo News - More than 100 locations receive awards for year-over-year safety improvements in 2003
• Defective parts prompt Mitsubishi to launch massive recall Mainichi Shimbun - The troubled Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corp. will recall a staggering 113,000 vehicles, admitting that a manufacturing defect could cause their wheels to fall off.
• PPG takes gas cost worries to lawmakers Mansfield News Journal - High natural gas prices could force PPG Industries to lay off up to 10 percent of workers.
• Bluetooth Handsfree System Moves PEIKER Acustic Into Mainstream U.S. Automotive Markets Eworldwire - Already Used By Chrysler, Ford And BMW/Mini, Peiker Is Responding To An Increasing Need For A Safe Alternative To Holding Or Operating Cellular Phones While Driving
• Cooper Tire considers automotive unit sale Bizjournals.com - Cooper-Standard is the tiremaker's automotive parts division. Based in Novi, Mich., the business unit manufactures fluid handling systems, body sealing systems and active and passive vibration control systems for vehicles.
• Steelworkers Union May Fight Sale of Bankrupt Auto-Parts Supplier Veltri Miami Herald - The concern follows Monday's announcement that auto parts supplier Flex-N-Gate Corp. has offered $66.5 million to buy Troy-based Veltri's Royal Oak plant, equipment from its New Baltimore plant and three plants in Canada.
• Surveillance tape dismantles alleged East County chop shop San Diego Union-Tribune - The owner of the auto shop and a friend denied they dismantled the car, unaware they had been caught on tape, said Sgt. Fritz Reber of the county Regional Auto Theft Task Force.

March 24, 2004

• Automotive supplier Lextron files for bankruptcy Sun Herald - Under Chapter 11, a company seeks court approval to remain in business as long as it pays its current debts. However, the company must eventually reorganize and pay off creditors or go out of business.
• Public Auto Auction Raided, Police Search For Owner WCPO - Police raided a Northern Kentucky auto auction business Tuesday and the search is on for that business's owner.
• Auto yard deal may be scrapped Herald - To the relief of north Everett residents, the Port of Everett says talks with a firm that auctions off junked cars aren't going well.
• Groups push bill on auto safety Detroit News - Consumer advocates make case for Senate measure for more and tougher U.S. rules
• IBM unveils middleware for automotive customers Computer Weekly - IBM has launched software to help automotive customers solve key business challenges, including the faster introduction of new products to market and more efficient communications with customers and suppliers.
• State Farm to Shut Four New Jersey Offices; 276 Workers Shifted to New York The Record - It remains possible that State Farm could cut its New Jersey payroll by hundreds more as part of a separate plan. The insurer announced three years ago that it would leave the auto-insurance business in New Jersey because of continued losses and what it said was over-regulation by the state.

March 23, 2004

• Boyd Group Income Fund reports Q4 profit of $197,000 after year-ago loss 940 News - Auto body shop owner Boyd Group Income Fund earned a small profit in the fourth quarter, reversing a year-ago loss despite lower revenues and weaker markers in parts of the United States. -  Boyd Group is the largest operator of automotive collision repair centers in Canada and among the biggest in North America. In addition to its 81 corporate locations, Boyd Group has 11 franchised outlets. 
• Buttafuoco gets year in LA County jail for auto insurance fraud Newsday - Buttafuoco was arrested in December during a sting that led to charges against 10 other owners or employees of Southern California auto repair shops.
• Lawmakers Must Finish the Job After Ford-Firestone, Enact Top 10 Auto Safety Protections, Including Rollover, Safety Groups Say U.S. Newswire - The current bill to reauthorize the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration would require issuance of long- pending standards for rollover stability, roof strength and occupant protection in rollovers.
• Beware of auto insurance scams KAAL - A bill currently working its way through the Minnesota legislature would fund a fraud department housed in the state department of commerce.
• Consumer Protections Added for NJ Drivers Insurance Journal - New Jersey Governor James McGreevey took further steps Monday toward a consumer-directed, competitive auto insurance market, announcing the adoption of additional consumer initiatives as part of his auto insurance reforms – a series of consumer protection regulations designed to put consumers in the driver's seat.
• MID-SIZED parts suppliers under merger pressure Financial Times - Mid-size car parts suppliers are being forced into mergers as their larger customers attempt to cut the number of partners they do business with and put pressure on prices, according to a study by PwC, the accountancy firm.
• GM Bows to Steel Suppliers CNN - General Motors Corp. (GM) agreed for now to pay two of its suppliers to cover rising steel costs rather than risk cutting off its supply of parts, even as the auto giant fights those price increases in court, Tuesday's Wall Street Journal reported.
• GM ships more jobs abroad to cut costs Detroit News - Outsourcing to grow from $3.5M in 2003 to $48M this year.
• Midsize cars score higher in high-speed crash tests Detroit News - The 2004 Suzuki Verona was the only vehicle among six midsize cars to get less than the top rating in high-speed crash tests conducted by the insurance industry.

March 22, 2004

• BEWARE using aftermarket auto parts Marion Star - Aftermarket parts could cost you your life. You shouldn't have to sacrifice your safety so that the insurance companies can save a few dollars on your claim. - It is with the aftermarket parts that we have a problem. They are generally of lesser quality, fit poorly and do not go through the rigorous testing that OEM parts must endure. In a $6.5 million class action lawsuit that was settled in Pennsylvania in January 2004, it was proven that aftermarket parts diminish the value of the vehicle, jeopardize the manufacturer's warranty and impair the vehicle's structural integrity, thereby jeopardizing passenger safety. It is with this in mind that we may continue with my story.
• STEEL businesses feel pricing heat The Journal News - In the auto body business, the trend is toward more plastic and aluminum replacing steel parts, said Charles Hipp, owner of Charlie's Auto Body in White Plains. - "It will hasten the demise of steel" in the business, he said. "Unfortunately, what's being replaced isn't cheaper for the consumer. We're seeing plastic bumpers that are $900 on a Mercedes."
• EXPERTS predict tough future for automotive jobs Myrtle Beach Sun News - South Carolina is chasing automotive manufacturing jobs even as the industry's work force is slipping away from the United States.
• AUTO Manufacturers Await Annual Consumer Reports Car Issue Voice of America - The April issue each year is devoted to new and used cars and light trucks, their ratings by the Consumers Union auto test division and a survey of subscribers' experiences with their own vehicle's reliability.
• State Farm to add jobs The Saratogian - Spokeswoman Sandy Demskie said the movement is part of a restructuring of operation centers in Malta, Concordville, Pa., and Parsippany, N.J.
• In Albany, Opposing Views on the Mission of a Business Incentive The New York Times - Depending on your point of view, the deal that the Geico insurance company struck to move 2,500 jobs to the Buffalo area in exchange for valuable tax breaks is either shining proof that one of New York State's main economic development programs works or further evidence of how far it has strayed from its original goal, revitalizing blighted areas.
• Side Air Bags Keep Drivers Safe Yahoo News - Investigators found that bags designed to cushion both the head and torso during a side impact reduced drivers' risk of death by nearly 50 percent. Torso-only side air bags provided somewhat less protection, the authors note.
• California Small Business Leaders Converge on State Capitol to Lobby for Workers' Compensation and Auto Repair Reform Business Wire - Over two hundred leaders from the California automotive repair and service industry will gather in Sacramento this Monday, March 22, to lobby the legislature for reform of the state's workers' compensation and auto repair regulatory systems.
• Bill Ford pledges bonus to workers' kids MSNBC - Ford Motor Co.'s chief executive, Bill Ford Jr., will give his first official bonus — worth about $1.5 million — to company employees for their children's college tuition. - Ford, the great-grandson of Henry Ford, had refused to accept a salary since taking the helm of the company in 2001.

March 19, 2004

• GM announces recall of 4 million 2000-04 full-size pickups Detroit News - There have been reports of 134 minor injuries but no crashes or fatalities because of the problem, the automaker said. GM said it has been cooperating with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on an investigation of tailgate support cables.
• Designer alleges Chrysler had secret contract deals Detroit News - A product designer at DaimlerChrysler AG’s Chrysler Group has filed a federal complaint against the United Auto Workers union alleging workers were kept in the dark about a secret agreement that lets the automaker cut jobs.
• Auto safety rules battle brews Detroit News - House likely to write different regulations than sweeping change mandated by Senate
• Officers named by repair group Arizona Republic - The ACCA is a non-profit organization whose mission is to be a single voice that speaks for the collision repair professionals in Arizona.
• Auto supplier Collins & Aikman details insider deals with board Kansas City Star (Subscription) - TROY, Mich. - Auto supplier Collins & Aikman Corp. said it paid a board member $300,000 to serve as vice chairman for six months.
• EDS sells its auto services unit to ADP Business Journal - EDS' automotive retail group, which is based in Troy, Mich., was purchased by the dealer services unit of ADP in Hoffman Estates, Ill.
• EAUTOCLAIMS.COM(TM) Issues Guidance as a Result of New Marketing Programs/Alliances Yahoo News - eAutoclaims, Inc., which provides online claims management for the auto insurance industry through both application services provider (ASP) and outsourcing solutions, recently announced a new Co-Marketing Agreement with ADP Claims Service Group.
• Local officials upset about $2.3 million Charleston Daily Mail - The Dow Chemical Co. gave its top executive a $2.3 million bonus, a move that one area leader says sends a “bleak message” to a community where the corporate giant has been cutting jobs for two years. - "It’s a shame Dow rewards its higher management to figure out ways to do away with jobs in the Kanawha Valley. Hopefully, it will end soon, but I’m afraid it won’t,” said Gresham, whose union Local 598 represents about 270 hourly workers at Dow’s South Charleston plant.
• The St. Paul Companies Announces Settlement of Litigation Relating to Merger with Travelers Property Casualty Business Wire - The St. Paul Companies announced today that The St. Paul and Travelers have entered into a memorandum of understanding with the plaintiffs in all three of the pending purported securities class action lawsuits related to the proposed merger between The St. Paul and Travelers.

March 18, 2004

• Dent in profits Calgary Sun - Auto body repairers shut out of insurance firms' bonanza
• Clemson sues to keep ICAR name for new auto park The State - An Illinois company called the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair has threatened to sue the university to protect its own "I-CAR" acronym.
• Calif. Judge Rejects Steeltex Class Suit Reuters - A California judge on Wednesday rejected a bid to certify a $3 billion national class action lawsuit claiming lethal defects in 41 million heavy duty Steeltex tires made by Bridgestone/Firestone.
• Rizzi's Work: An Interview with the Man Behind the Movement GlassBytes - Mark Rizzi, owner of ACR Glass in Alliance, Neb., has been involved in the auto glass industry since 1985 and in recent years has become known for his work documenting substandard windshield repairs and replacements.

March 17, 2004

• Displaced workers turn to auto tech Gainsville Times - With a growing number of corporations moving their jobs from the United States to other nations, and laying off employees at home, thousands of workers find themselves seeking new career paths.
• Mechanic Shortage Could Mean Longer Wait WHO-TV - Once you get your car out of the ditch you may have to wait awhile to get it fixed.  There's a nationwide shortage of auto mechanics and body shop technicians.  We checked with a downtown Des Moines body shop to see how long you might have to wait to have your car fixed.
• Auto Mechanics Turning Away Newer Cars ShortNews.com - In what is becoming a trend, auto mechanics are turning away owners of newer vehicles because they find it to difficult to crack the computer codes which control everything from brakes to climate systems. Locksmiths are also finding it difficult too.
• Tenneco Automotive Wins Toyota Supplier Awards Yahoo News - Company Recognized for Successful Lexus Launch
• Auto insurers rake in big profits CBC - Parking lots in Atlantic Canada are full of vehicles with unrepaired dings and dents – a sign of consumers reluctance to use their auto insurance.
• Firestone faces possible Steeltex class action Reuters - Days after settling a $149 million class action in Texas, Bridgestone/Firestone goes to court on Wednesday in California to try to stop what could become the nation's largest-ever class-action lawsuit claiming the tire maker allowed lethal defects in its heavy-duty tires.
• Ford to appeal judge's crash test order, sanctions Reuters - Ford Motor Co. plans to appeal an Illinois state judge's decision to order a new crash test to determine how well a trunk liner prevents fuel leaks during police car crashes, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday.
• Copart hires New CFO Reuters - Auto salvage services company Copart Inc. hired former telecommunications executive Will Franklin as chief financial officer and senior vice president as of Tuesday, the company said.

March 16, 2004

• Anti-Steering bill introduced in Nebraska ABRN - Mark Rizzi is best known in the glass installation industry where he’s made a name for himself collecting data on shoddy, potentially deadly windshield repairs. If supporters of a new anti-steering legislation in Nebraska have their way, Rizzi, owner of ACR Glass in Alliance, Neb., could become a central figure in their fight to curtail insurer influence over policyholders’ choice of collision repair shops.
• Caliber Collision Centers Appoints Dan Pettigrew as Executive Vice President of Operations Business Wire - As Executive Vice President of Operations, Pettigrew will assume responsibility for the oversight of all center operations in California and Texas, and in other new markets as the company expands. In addition, Pettigrew will be responsible for regional and support functions including regulatory compliance, procurement and facilities management. In this new position, Pettigrew will continue to focus on enhancing Caliber's best-in-industry operations execution and service delivery.
• Late-model car codes frustrate mechanics Seattle Post-Intelligencer - Automakers keep high-tech specifics from repair shops
• DEALERSHIPS use service to win loyalty Beacon Journal - From coffee to seminars, service equals sales
• NJ insurer's failure jolts thousands Philadelphia Inquirer - Security Indemnity, in the midst of a court squabble with backers, is not renewing policies.
• Your car is watching you Ottawa Citizen - The use of black-box recordings in the investigation of automobile accidents has become so widespread that Canada's lawmakers need to set clear rules about how the data can be used.
• Firestone parent says lawsuit settlement OK'd Reuters - Firestone maker Bridgestone Americas Holding Inc. said on Monday the settlement covers only the owners of Firestone tires who did not suffer injuries or damages from crashes attributed to the tires.
• Travelers Property Casualty Executes Definitive Agreement on Previously Announced Asbestos Settlement Business Wire -Travelers Property Casualty Corp.announced that it has executed a definitive agreement settling asbestos-related statutory-based direct actions pending against Travelers under various unfair trade practices acts and similar statutes, including the Wise, Meninger and Cashman purported class actions and similar cases.

March 15, 2004 Please do not use us as your source for your news page unless you would like to pay us for the research.

• Shops and Associates Speak Out AutoBodyOnline - Most of the following quotes were sent over the past year by shop personnel. Others were gleaned from industry periodicals. “Words are the wings of actions."
• Weakening insurance laws would only hurt consumers The Herald-Dispatch - Because I am a licensed insurance agent in Ohio and an auto repair expert specializing in the calculation of diminished value of vehicles in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia, I know the rights and responsibilities of both consumers and insurers.
• AUTOXRAY Lands on the Shelves of NAPA Auto Parts Yahoo News - AutoXray, Inc. is the leading provider of effective, affordable diagnostic equipment to both professional and amateur automotive technicians.
• EX-COMMISSIONER takes on insurer Indianapolis Star - In a lawsuit against the insurance giant, Longstreth claims its officials conspired with a sheriff's detective to implicate her in a criminal scam and deny her insurance claim after a robbery.
• New perils of rescue The Herald - "They are making cars safer for occupants but more hazardous for emergency personnel," said Todd Hoffman, an auto industry expert who earlier had joked about the speed of cars coming off the assembly line. "Cars are being marketed to go faster and faster. What that means is you have job security."
• AUTOMOTIVE supplier reports quarterly loss Oakland County Press - Collins & Aikman Corp. reported a net loss of 14 cents per share for the fourth quarter of 2003 despite a 5 percent increase in revenues.

March 12, 2004 Please do not use us as your source for your news page unless you would like to pay us for the research.

• LA appeals court rules consumers can sue over insurance rates Contra Costa Times - Upholding the insurance reform measure Proposition 103, a state appeals court ruled Thursday that consumers can sue over rates charged by insurers.
• GEICO Workers Get 17.7% Bonus The Ledger - GEICO's Lakeland employees received a profit-sharing bonus of 17.7 percent, a slight decline from 19.6 percent last year, employees told The Ledger.
• Telemarketers search for Do-Not Call loophole KATU - PORTLAND - The phone may start ringing again for people on the Do-Not Call List.
• Repair shops get top award from AAA MNSUN - The sixth annual Top Shop award is given to those repair facilities scoring 98 percent or higher in ongoing customer satisfaction surveys. The evaluations are monitored and processed by AAA.
• Ford F-150 gets top marks in U.S. crash tests Reuters - The redesigned Ford F-150 was the only 2004 pickup to earn the government's top rating in the most recent crash tests, regulators said on Thursday.
• Jay Leno uses GM Performance Parts to Rebuild His First Love AutoFan - Everyone remembers their very first love. For many, it means a special car or truck. Rekindling the passion stimulated by a great street cruiser has inspired thousands to reclaim their past by restoring their first love. That's what happened when Jay Leno decided to rebuild and improve his vintage 1955 Buick Roadmaster.
• CCC Information Services Group Inc. to Present at Credit Suisse First Boston's Global Services Growth Conference Business Wire - CCC Information Services Group Inc., headquartered in Chicago, is a leading supplier of advanced software, communications systems, Internet and wireless-enabled technology solutions to the automotive claims and collision repair industries.
• At Genuine Parts, stability pays off big The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Firm famous for increasing its dividend

March 11, 2004 Please do not use us as your source for your news page unless you would like to pay us for the research.

• ADP Claims Services Group and eAutoclaims Announce Joint Marketing Agreement PR Newswire - ADP to Offer a New Managed Repair Service for Insurance Carriers
• Big 3 should take a bow for survey, but the work is not over Detroit News - The reaction was predictable. After years of declaring Detroit’s cars and trucks shoddy, dull and just plain bad, Consumer Reports used surveys covering 675,000 vehicles to proclaim that Detroit metal now is more reliable than the Europeans.
• Consumer groups sue US over auto recalls Reuters - Leading consumer groups sued the U.S. government on Wednesday to stop regulators from limiting some auto safety recalls to selected states rather than forcing manufacturers to take nationwide action.
• Ford recalls more than 1.3 mln cars for 2 problems Reuters - Ford has recalled more than 1.3 million Taurus and Sable sedans in two separate actions in the United States to fix a faulty brake light and to replace an air filter that can catch fire, the automaker said in letters to safety authorities released on Wednesday.
• New paint process at Kentucky Truck Plant wins award Business Journal - DuPont Performance Coatings has received a national award for implementing a painting process used by Ford Motor Co.'s Kentucky Truck Plant to produce two-tone pickup trucks.
• AUTO giants turn to Taiwan for parts Taipei Journal - Taiwan is a major production base for high-quality automobile replacement parts, as evidenced by this year's visits of buyers from major international auto firms.
• FCCJ auto repair school shifts into gear Jacksonville Business Journal - The facility was created through a public and private partnership with Southeast Toyota Distributors, whose representatives suggested the center to train existing technicians and provide younger, more skilled workers.
• State Farm gives police grant for breath testers Pocono Record - The Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department received "a very pleasant surprise" Tuesday.
• Tucker bill targeting auto-insurance fraud Lowell Sun - BOSTON Insurance companies would be allowed to recover triple the amount they pay out for fraudulent claims under an auto-insurance fraud bill being pushed by Sen. Susan Tucker, who along with industry officials insists cracking down on fraud will reduce costs for rate-payers statewide.
• Due Diligence: Good times for insurers means drought in mergers Market Watch - The era of big deal-making may be back, but not for the insurance industry, where a booming stock market has strengthened reserves and has insurers growing the old fashioned way: selling more products.

March 10, 2004

• "Steering" Allegations WOWT - Owners of body and glass repair shops in Nebraska are voicing concern over a practice called steering. Some car owners who need damage repairs say they are being pushed toward certain shops that are less expensive but might not do the job right.
• Collision repairs can run smoothly Charlotte Observer (Subscription) - Nearly one in five vehicles on the road right now will be involved in an accident within the next year, according to auto industry estimates.
• Insurance reform still not a done deal Herald-Dispatch - West Virginia Insurance Commissioner Jane Cline said as part of the Insurance Commission, the fraud unit would act on behalf of the state and not insurance companies. The fraud unit would investigate fraud on the part of consumers as well as insurance companies, she said.
• Chrysler to revive Charger Detroit News - Reborn car is planned for 2006 model year as a mass market rear-wheel-drive sedan
• VW earnings sputter; firm to cut 5,000 jobs Detroit News - Automaker blames price competition, weak dollar
• Smart airbag proves man was speeding The Globe and Mail - The airbag in Éric Gauthier's car was designed to save his life. But it could put the 26-year-old behind bars.
• Bump shop business booming after snowstorm KSTP - ST. PAUL - The day after a sudden snowstorm caused many pileups in the Twin Cities, the repair shops are getting some new business.
• IBS Software Launches PPG's GLAXIS-enabled ELMO Application GlassBytes - "With more than 50 years of experience in the auto glass business, we understand the hassle involved with processing insurance claims for both shops and vehicle owners," said Kyle Kryger, president, IBS Software. "This GLAXIS-enabled ELMO software helps our customers eliminate inconvenience, saving them time and money and helping them serve their customers better."
• Visteon Highlights Leading Technologies on Production and Concept Vehicles PRNewswire - Visteon Corporation highlighted its leading technologies and capabilities on current production vehicles and concept demonstration vehicles during a technical overview led by John Kill, vice president of product development for Visteon, at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center.
• Delphi Supplier: Courts Should Let Firms Fix Steel Issue Dow Jones Business News - One of Delphi Corp.'s steel parts suppliers is arguing that Delphi has only begun refusing to pay for steel surcharges since prices went up, and says the courts should not stop the two companies from working the issue out.

March 9, 2004

• Governor Ousts Auto Shop Regulator LA Times (Subscription) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has ousted the chief of a state office that regulates auto repair shops, shifting him into another job even though supporters credit him with tough enforcement of the industry.
• Dana Corporation, National Automotive Center Sign Agreement to Advance New Vehicle Technologies PRNewswire - Dana Corporation and the National Automotive Center announced today that they have signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement to help develop key technologies for the U.S. Army's Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles.
• Superior Automotive Group continues to expand The Daily Courier - The Superior Automotive Group has extended its operations, gained new inventory in Morgantown and will continue to further expand.
• Tower Automotive Says Amends Results Reuters - Tower Automotive Inc., the maker of auto body structures and frames, said on Monday it amended its previously announced fourth-quarter results, due to a reversal of an extraordinary gain from its Mexico joint venture.
• OUTSOURCING: Good or evil? Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Pittsburgh-based PPG Industries Inc. routinely sends research-and-development and engineering work to the former Soviet Union, as well as India and China.
• Spitzer's office accuses downstate clinic of auto insurance fraud Albany Business Review - The defendants are accused of manipulating New York's no-fault automobile insurance system by steering accident victims to IK Medical P.C., a clinic in Queens. The clinic is reportedly owned by Dr. Irna Kimyagarova, an osteopathic doctor, according to Spitzer's office.
• Big 3 reliability gets a lift Detroit News - Consumer Reports ranks several U.S. cars ahead of Europeans, but Asians still lead
• Visteon, UAW still discussing pay Detroit News - Visteon Corp. said Monday that negotiations are continuing with the United Auto Workers union on a supplemental agreement that covers “future employees.”

March 8, 2004

• Companies Fight Rising Steel Prices Dow Jones Business News - Manufacturers are fighting rising steel prices, and in at least one case taking suppliers to court over the issue, even as they contemplate passing on the increased costs to consumers, Monday's Wall Street Journal reported.
• '03 vehicle recalls hit 19.5 million Detroit News - Observers blame rate on tougher federal rules, wider use of problem-prone computers
• Auto engineers want to scrap stodgy image Detroit News - SAE conference starts today at Cobo; organizers try to generate excitement among young engineers
• Delphi: Potential supply shutdowns could cost it $10 million per day Detroit News - Court documents show that Delphi Corp. fears that shutdowns by its steel parts suppliers could cost it $10 million a day.
• State Farm may be trendsetter in auto insurance rates Pantagraph - State Farm Insurance Cos. move to lower auto rates may herald the beginning of a national trend.
• Conn. Approves Travelers-St. Paul Merger with Certain Conditions Insurance Journal - With the condition that the combined firm keeps certain employment, tax and charitable commitments to her state, Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Susan Cogswell has approved the acquisition of Travelers Property Casualty Corp. in Hartford by St. Paul Companies. Inc. of Minnesota.
• JoeAuto steers into tough times MSNBC - Interim financing will keep the auto repair company on track as it works to emerge from bankruptcy
• Auto insurance not a priority for many low-income people Billings Gazette - Insurance isn't cheap, although it's not as bad in Montana as in other states with more traffic congestion. Montana ranks 36th in terms of cost of insurance, said state Auditor and Insurance Commissioner John Morrison
• Red Tape Slows Auto Insurance Checks WNBC,NY - It's easy get discouraged when an insurance claim is delayed. But the fact is, it's your policy and you have every right to check and double check on what's being done.
• Deputies bust vehicle chop shop WBBH - Ft. Myers, FL - Engines and gas tanks were just a few of the items that were part of the buffet of expensive car and truck parts police found.
• Toyota sets up China venture to make auto parts CBS MarketWatch - Toyota announced Monday that it has set up a joint venture in Tianjin, China, with China FAW Group Corp. to produce large automotive stamping dies.

March 5, 2004

• PPG Announces Management Assignments Business Wire - Reg Norton, director of global manufacturing and supply chain for PPG's automotive refinish business unit, has been appointed global director, environment, health and safety, effective April 1. He will replace David C. Cannon Jr., vice president, environment, health and safety, who is leaving the company March 31. --  Lynne D. Schmidt, director of government affairs, will be promoted to vice president, government and community affairs, and executive director of the PPG Industries Foundation, effective July 1. She will replace Jeffrey R. Gilbert, who is retiring as of the same date after more than 38 years with PPG.
• Mercedes coating comes up to scratch E4engineering.com - The new clear lacquer top coat, which provides gloss and weatherproofing properties, is the result of a four-year collaboration between Mercedes and US-based automotive coatings supplier PPG Industries.
• The 5 safest cars on the road MSN Money - When you are shopping for a car, you may be caught up in price, styling and feature choices, but don't forget safety. Our research turned up some excellent picks.
• Ford ordered to pay Georgia family almost $47 mln Reuters - A jury in Georgia has ordered Ford Motor Co. to pay more than $47 million to the family of a young girl who was partially paralyzed after a fold-down seat collapsed in a 2000 crash.
• Pep Boys Pumps Up Motley Fool - Fourth-quarter and full-year 2003 results show a retailer that appears to have turned things around.
• Court Orders Delphi Suppliers To Maintain Shipments Dow Jones - Delphi Corp. said Thursday a court issued a restraining order ensuring shipments to the auto supplier will continue as the company negotiates steel price hikes with its suppliers.
• Air Bags on Quest May Fail The Ledger - Nissan Motor Co. is recalling 13,757 Quest minivans because the passenger air bag could deploy when there's a child in the front seat, a company spokesman said Wednesday.
• ASA, ASC Testify at Michigan Senate Insurance Committee Hearing on Insurer-Owned Repair ASA - The Automotive Service Association (ASA) and the Automotive Service Councils of Michigan (ASC-MI) testified recently before the Michigan Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Committee on Senate Bill 819, Insurer Owned Repair legislation. Repair facility owners from throughout Michigan packed a Senate hearing room to show support for the legislation.

March 4, 2004

• Automakers keep close eye on rising steel prices Associated Press - Rising steel prices are causing major automakers to brace for an increase in the cost of building vehicles, a development that likely will force them to trim expenses even further.
• Auto Suppliers Threaten To Stop Shipment Over Steel Costs Dow Jones - Some tier 2 automotive suppliers are threatening to stop shipments to tier 1 suppliers if the companies won't increase prices to help absorb the impact of rising steel costs.
• State Farm's Lab Experiments NEWS25 - Analysts share their information with State Farm claims employees so they can more accurately assess vehicle damage. They also share their information with repair shops and manufacturers.
• NISSAN Recalls Quest Minivan for Failing Air Bag Standards Washington Post - The recall involves Quests from the 2004 model year. Nissan discovered during vehicle testing that the air bags could fire when a dummy the size of a 6-year-old was in the front passenger seat, Nissan spokesman Eric Booth said.
• Firm Sues DaimlerChrysler in Linux Fight Associated Press - SCO Sues DaimlerChrysler, AutoZone in Suit Alleging Use of Linux Containing Its Code
• The Midas Thing Hot Rod Magazine - A Pro Touring Gold Standard on a Budget. Kind Of.
• Powerfully chic: 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser Dunn County News - Launched in July 2000 as a 2001 model, the Chrysler PT Cruiser continues to win converts and fans with an exterior that is a cross between a 1930's style sedan and a "surfing safari" beach wagon/panel van.
• The Evolutionary C6 Vette Magazine - A Multitude of Refinements Make a Great Car Even Better
• Third-largest insurer drops coverage along coast CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) -  Nationwide Insurance Co. said the change, which took effect Monday, is intended to limit its exposure to claims payouts from wind and storm damage. The company designated 25 coastal ZIP codes, including parts of Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Johns Island and James Island, as "no write" zones.
• First responders learn about dangers in traffic accidents The Longview News-Journal - About 100 firefighters participated in the extrication safety training session sponsored by State Farm Insurance, local collision repair businesses, Kilgore College, Longview Fire Department, Insurance Auto Auction and the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR). Todd Hoffman of Houston, an I-CAR instructor, conducted the day-long training.

March 3, 2004

• AutoZone's 2Q Profit Climbs 16% on Solid Commercial Sales Dow Jones - The auto-parts retailer Wednesday reported net income of $91.7 million, or $ 1.04 a share, for the 12-week period ended Feb. 14, compared with $79.3 million, or 79 cents a share, a year earlier. Sales rose 3.4% to $1.16 billion from $1.12 billion a year earlier.
• SCO files suit against AutoZone ZDNet - SCO Group on Wednesday filed suit against auto parts retailer AutoZone, claiming the company has violated SCO's copyrights through its use of Linux.
• Industry group hails vehicle repair bills UPI - The Coalition for Auto Repair Equality has welcomed the introduction of a motor vehicle owners' bill of rights to repairs in the U.S. Senate.
• Mixed results for Big 3 automakers CNN International - GM posts strong gains; Chrysler sales up slightly, Ford's rental market hurts results.
• Earl Scheib Announces Two Additions to the Board of Directors Business Wire - Earl Scheib, Inc. announced that its Board of Directors appointed James P. Burra and Salvatore J. Zizza as members of the Board of Directors and accepted the resignation of Gregory Helm from the Board, all effective March 1, 2004. Mr. Helm resigned to pursue other interests.
• Car Dealership Faces Federal Affidavit SCOCTV Charlotte News - Eyewitness News has obtained a federal affidavit that accuses 5 Star Auto Mall, Monroe Auto Mall and South Boulevard Auto Mall of falsifying documents to sell cars.
• Mass. Auto Insurer Hanover Sues Over High Risk 'Scheme' Insurance Journal - The lengths to which an auto insurer in Massachusetts may go to circumvent the state’s unique high risk pool has been brought to light by an unusual lawsuit filed by one insurer against one of its competitors.

March 2, 2004

• Progressive Auto refunds $53,000 after overcharge Rocky Mountain News - Progressive Auto Insurance has refunded $53,000 to be distributed among 478 consumers the company overcharged last summer.
• Volvo Unveils First-Ever Car Designed by Women Yahoo News - 'Your Concept Car' Initiated, Designed and Developed by Women; Team Hopes to Inspire Others to Challenge Traditional Business Methods
• General Motors Fights To Improve Quality Image Dow Jones - They fixed their plants. They streamlined operations. They reorganized everything from how they make cars to how they make decisions to how they advertise.
• NHTSA Upgrades Investigation Into Accelerator Pedals Dow Jones - The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has upgraded its investigation into some of Ford Motor Co.'s heavy-duty pickup trucks and Excursion sport utility vehicles.
• GM Design Chief Meets Challenges With Calm Detroit Free Press - New GM design chief Edward Welburn is in charge of resurrecting the automaker's reputation after years of what experts call boring designs.
• Lord Corporation Opens New Michigan Facility to Better Serve the Automotive Market Yahoo News - Lord Corporation -- a pioneer in specialty adhesives, polyurethane coatings as well as electronic, vibration and noise control solutions for the automotive market -- has expanded their Detroit area facility in an effort to better serve the automotive market.
• Competition is called the fix to auto insure woes Boston.com - New research compiled by the Automobile Insurers Bureau of Massachusetts, which represents the state's auto insurance companies, indicates the subsidies flowing from suburban and rural drivers to urban ones are huge and growing at an alarming rate. Industry officials say the subsidies distort the market and are the chief roadblock to introducing competition in Massachusetts.
• Dura rolls down road to recovery Detroit News - Dura Automotive Systems Inc., one of many auto suppliers that grew through acquisitions in the 1990s, now finds itself challenged to adjust to the growth.

March 1, 2004

• Saturn may drop L-Series Detroit News - Despite high hopes, slow sales have GM ready to end production earlier than planned
• Insurance Adjustor Licensing Autobody Online - Why are insurers opposed to licensing adjustments?
• Mid-size car bumpers fare poorly in tests Washington Times - Bumpers on five of six 2004 midsize cars performed poorly in low-speed crash tests conducted by a Virginia insurance industry group.
• West Virginia’s automotive industry key to the state’s future Gazette-Mail - “Automotive is going to become even more important because of the downturn in the chemical industry and other staple industries.”
• State Farm fight 3 years long, with no end in sight Houston Chronicle - Consumer groups say insurers have little incentive to speed up the process, especially on small claims.
• Ford settles in 15-passenger van rollover Detroit News - The case was the first involving Ford Motor Co.’s 15-passenger E-350 Econoline van to a reach trial in six years
• Chemical firms hurt by CN strike Montreal Gazette - Some having trouble getting raw materials, might have to close. Canada Colours of Toronto, and PPG Canada two companies hit.

Continue to archives >>>>>>

Author: Geni
Copyright © 2004 [Beyond Parts]. All rights reserved.
Revised: 03/19/07