Direct Repair Programs and Repair Guarantees: Steering In Disguise? -
If you have recently been involved in a motor vehicle accident, you may have
discussed which repair facility will be fixing your car with either your own
insurer or with the insurer of the person who caused the accident.
Body shop customers kept in the loop Mansfield News
Journal - Having to make repairs to the family vehicle can be a traumatic
experience. Not knowing how those repairs are progressing can be maddening.
Downtown entrepreneur sells to larger competitor
Cincinnati Post - A larger auto repair company that has locations throughout
Greater Cincinnati plans to move into the building on downtown's outskirts,
spending a couple hundred thousand dollars on a major renovation, including the
front showroom that's been vacant for years.
How Consumers Benefit from ASE Technician Certification
Duluth Weekly - Finding a competent auto repair professional should not be
difficult…and with that guiding principle, the non-profit, independent National
Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) was founded in 1972.
Nasty weather highlights vehicle safety DetNews.com -
When winter weather turns our roads into skating rinks it does an excellent job
of focusing peoples' minds on vehicle safety issues. So it's timely that
anti-rollover stability systems for sport utility vehicles are in the news.
State police may drop lawsuit against Ford Shreveport
Times - A week after lawyers won the right to bring any Louisiana police
department that owns a Crown Victoria Police Interceptor into a lawsuit
claiming the model is unacceptably dangerous, state police are considering
whether to drop the suit.
Tailgate problems may widen recall of GM pickups
Indianapolis Star - General Motors Corp., the world's largest automaker, may be
forced to add 1.42 million vehicles to its recall of Silverado pickups for
broken tailgates as the auto safety agency begins a new investigation.
State Farm to open research center in Champaign KWQC-TV
- The center's director, David Cummings, says they'll focus on doing research
for State Farm's property-casualty actuarial department, which helps set the
price for auto and homeowners' insurance.
November 29, 2004
Special reason to give thanks Rockingham News - You can
get by with a little help from your friends. But sometimes help comes from
someone you don’t even know. -- Donations to help Daniel Greeley can be sent
to: Bump N’ Grind Autobody, 43 Route 125, Kingston, NH 03848.
Complexity of vehicles, more vigilance cited as reasons for
record recallsDetNews.com - Automakers can claim the dubious
achievement of recalling more vehicles in the United States this year than ever
before, though analysts and other observers say the record stems more from the
increasing complexity of cars and trucks and greater vigilance than a lapse in
quality.
Despite recall efforts, one in three vehicles fails to be
repaired DetNews.com - Sometimes, vehicle owners are at fault for not
getting repairs. But some safety experts say automakers and federal regulators
share the blame because they haven't developed a better system to track
repairs.
Region's first snowstorm a boon for repair shops
Lansing State Journal, MI - Auto repair shops across mid-Michigan were swamped
Friday as victims of the season's first snowstorm brought in their vehicles -
mostly the result of fender benders or sliding off the road.
Struggling Nissan asks for more steel Detroit Free
Press (AP) - Japan's Nissan Motor Co., struggling to keep its factories
churning out cars amid a steel shortfall, has asked South Korean steel maker
Posco to boost shipments, a Posco official said Friday.
Insurance chief says she's heard no complaints in wake of
scandal Newsday - Despite charges of bid-rigging and conflicts of
interest against the insurance industry, Connecticut insurance Commissioner
Susan F. Cogswell said she has not found corruption in Connecticut. -- Tom
Bivona, president of the Auto Body Association of Connecticut, told The
Hartford Courant he believes the industry is too comfortable with Cogswell and
the state agency she heads.
7 suspected of fraud L.A. Daily News - Seven San
Fernando Valley men fabricated more than 100 crashes that bilked automobile
insurers of $2 million, Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi alleged
Wednesday. -- The insurance department got word of the scheme after two
adjusters from competing companies ran into each other at TNS and realized they
were writing checks for the same car. Allstate Insurance Co., one of a slew of
companies named in the suit, cheered the news of the arrests.
Air Bags 40% to 70% Cheaper Than Dealer Prices
eMediaWire.com - With the enormous cost of replacement srs air bags and air bag
parts from the auto dealers, saving 40 to 70 percent on the same factory
manufactured parts, just used and taken from salvaged vehicles is a viable
alternative.
Region lands
2nd big car-repair school Sacramento Business Journal - A trade school
that specializes in car and other engine repair has signed a 50-year lease for
a 22.5-acre campus in North Natomas that will accommodate 1,100 students.
About prayers and car repairs The Capital - Many of us
pray before we take our cars into the shop, but you seldom see mechanics
praying before they begin working on your car.
Insurance bigs called on carpet NY Post - The state's
top auto insurers have been summoned to meet with the head of the state
Insurance Department to discuss lowering their rates. -- Insurance
Superintendent Gregory Serio took the unusual step of sending a letter to the
top 13 auto insurers in New York, including Allstate, GEICO, Progressive and
State Farm, requesting individual meetings within the next 30 days.
Spotlight on insurance falls on broker-agents The
Star-Ledger - After paying a broker $160 to get her a deal on auto insurance,
Maria Vargas assumed that the policy she bought was the best available for the
money.
Ford faces potential recall of 644,000 trucks, SUVs
Indystar.com - Ford Motor Co. faces an investigation and potential recall of
644,000 of its F-150 pickup trucks and Expedition and Navigator sport-utility
vehicles after complaints of engine fires.
Angell Job Corps to offer advanced auto training
Newport News Times - America is short by some 60,000 automotive repair
technicians, explained Angell Jobs Corps instructor Ed Rowan, and that job
corps center, located south of Waldport, signed an agreement on Tuesday with
the United Autoworkers Union to enhance and advance the training Angell
provides students in that field.
Family car is a wagon once again Modbee.com - Only a
few years ago, wagons were an endangered species. As sport utility vehicles and
minivans evolved into the family car, the number of wagons on the market
dwindled from 34 models in 1980 to 13 in 1997. -- But the tide has turned.
DuPont Will Build Automotive Paint Laboratory in Japan
PRNewswire-FirstCall - DuPont today announced that it will build a $10 million
laboratory in Japan to facilitate technical approvals for automotive coatings
used by Japanese auto manufacturers worldwide and to support their home country
assembly operations.
DCX ordered to pay $105 million in minivan crash death
detnews.com - A Tennessee jury on Tuesday ordered DaimlerChrysler AG to pay
$105.5 million, saying the company's minivan seats were unsafe and led to a
baby's death in a crash.
Defeated insurance commissioner candidate wants job with agency
new-in-forum.com - Shortly after Terry Barnes lost his race to unseat
Republican insurance commissioner Jim Poolman, the Democratic challenger asked
Poolman for a job. -- "I have a lot of good ideas that I think will help you,"
Barnes said in an e-mail to Poolman. "I think that a person who has worked with
insurance companies for over 30 years will help the consumer, and the small
businessman." -- Barnes owns a Mandan auto glass repair business, but his wife,
Nancy, handles day-to-day operations, he said. "Since the start of the
(campaign), she's been running the whole works," Terry Barnes said.
Tricked-out cars rev revenue across Valley The Arizona
Republic - The quest to make cars go faster and look better - from classics to
your every-day sedan - has created a $28.9 billion retail industry. -- But
unlike other industries, it's dominated by small businesses and auto shops that
offer enthusiasts willing to drop a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars
everything from custom seats, fancy rims and tricked out paint jobs to
supercharged engines and Comptech/Brembo brakes.
Githesh Ramamurthy, Chairman and CEO of CCC Information
Services Recognized as Leader in Technology by KPMG LLP Business Wire -
Githesh Ramamurthy, Chairman and CEO of CCC Information Services Inc, a
subsidiary of CCC Information Services Group Inc., is a 2004 recipient of KPMG
LLP's prestigious Illinois High Tech Award. Ramamurthy received recognition
from the Big Four audit, tax and advisory firm Monday evening for helping to
lead CCC's innovative application of technology. CCC is a leading supplier of
information and technology software and services to the auto-claims and
collision-repair industries.
Tower Automotive seeks $200 million credit for payment loss
detnews.com - The Novi parts firm is hurt by rising steel costs and automakers'
trim on production. -- Rising steel costs and decisions by customers such as
Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. to trim production, as well as to stop
the payment programs, have prompted Novi-based Tower to seek the credit.
No Santa for troubled Visteon Ft.com - Visteon, a
multinational automotive parts supplier, has reported plenty of good news
lately. Consumers have lauded its new CD player. Police departments from Boston
to California are installing Visteon electronic systems in their cruisers. Its
chief information officer received the Top Michigan Women in Computing award.
-- But Visteon has remained mum on the issue uppermost in the minds of
shareholders, workers, customers and others its future.
Discount Brake Job Could Become Expensive Surprise WFTV - Action 9 has
investigated the car repair chain that advertises $99 brake jobs. Some
consumers have claimed that's a classic bait and switch, and they've been taken
for hundreds of dollars.
Massachusetts insurance commission order auto insurance changes
to help entice carriers to state AP - Commissioner Julianne Bowler
approved new rules that change the infrastructure of the industry. Her office
called the changes, developed after a year of public hearings and comments from
the industry and consumer advocates, the most significant reform in private
passenger auto insurance in more than a decade.
November 23, 2004
Global M&A Experts Predict More U.S. Auto Suppliers Will Merge,
Based on IMAP Research PRNewswire - U.S. auto suppliers must compete on
price and quality with the best suppliers from around the world -- including
such low-wage nations as China and Mexico -- if they hope to survive. According
to the International Network of M&A Partners, too many suppliers, rising
interest rates, soaring raw material prices and U.S. automaker overcapacity
coupled with a 20-year history of downward price pressure have created a
fiercely tough operating environment in which many firms will be merged,
acquired or forced to seek bankruptcy protection.
Federal Court Allows Safelite to Proceed With Counterclaims
Against Diamond Triumph PRNewswire - In a ruling issued on November 12,
2004, the Honorable James M. Munley of the United States District Court for the
Middle District of Pennsylvania denied Diamond Triumph's attempt to dismiss
commercial bribery and false advertising counterclaims filed by Safelite. The
court dismissed one claim alleged under an Illinois statute but gave Safelite
permission to restate the claim as a civil common law claim. In November 2002,
Safelite filed a defamation counterclaim against Diamond Triumph, which Diamond
did not seek to dismiss.
Looking for Mr. Goodwrench Boston Globe - Blue-collar
jobs abound, but skilled workers are hard to find. -- Just 4 percent of high
school graduates pursue careers in technical fields, whether auto or boat
mechanic, plumber, heating and air-conditioning technician, or factory worker.
Mechanically minded young people are instead pushed by parents and guidance
counselors to attend college or are pulled by the high-technology industry into
a cutting-edge field.
Ford CEO Invites Government to ‘Help’ The Lincoln
Tribune - Bill Ford, CEO of Ford Motor Company, seems to have invited the
federal government to become more involved in the car business, and to be an
extension of its affairs.
Despite Defect, G.M. Keeps Selling S.U.V. NY Times -
The government has permitted G.M. to continue selling Vues before they are
fixed because it has determined that the highly unusual failure during its new
rollover test does not constitute a safety defect.
Air Bags Prompt U.S. Recall of 257,616 Honda Accords
Reuters - Japan's Honda Motor Co. Ltd. is recalling 257,616 of its Accord
sedans from the 2004 and 2005 model years because of potentially faulty air
bags, U.S. federal safety regulators said on Monday.
Russian criminals active locally Buffalo News - The
arrest of Robert Stein in an auto accident fraud scheme signals a growing
infiltration of Russian crime groups into the Buffalo Niagara region, the FBI
says.
I-CAR e-newsletter Lexus Recognizes I-CAR Training
Advantage Online: Open Butt Joint Welds
Toyota Collision Repair And Refinish Certification Program Recognizes I-CAR
Training Programs
I-CAR Education Foundation Recognizes 2004 CRIN Instructor Of The Year
"The Most Influential Women Of The Collision Repair Industry" 2004 Scholarship
Winners Announced
Are You Registered For An Upcoming Qualification Test In The Southern Region
Collision TV Interactive Distance Collision Repair Training Available To Entire
Canadian Collision Industry
November 22, 2004
Auto Body Shops Experiencing Record Profits Emediawire
- Laughlin Industries' Pinwheel™, introduced at NACE Collision Repair Event, is
spinning record profits for car dealers, auto body shops, and pinstripers
across the nation.
DCX sues over outage claim fight The Detroit News -
Chrysler Group takes insurers to court over their refusal to cover reported $33
million lost in 2003 blackout.
Automobile HMO's Useless-Knowledge.com - Imagine that
you are driving your car, and suddenly hear an odd sound. It is towards the end
of the month, and you are broke, but it is OK, you have car insurance. Not just
collision protection, but repair insurance.
China's largest auto glass manufacturer launches new product
line China Daily - Fuyao has invested a total of US$200 million to
build three float glass production lines. The two other lines will become
operational in August 2005, according to a senior official from the group. --
Having won a close-to-zero rate in an anti-dumping case in United States in
May, Fuyao is China's only auto glass maker that does not have anti-dumping
taxes levied on its exports to the United States.
Honda and Regulators Meet on Engine Fires in S.U.V.'s
NY Times - Honda officials met with federal regulators on Friday to discuss an
engine problem that has led to about 80 fires in Honda CRV sport utility
vehicles.
Ford Issues Notice About New Rangers WCCO - On Friday,
the Ford Motor Company said there may be something wrong with the transmission
on many of its new vehicles. -- Letters will go to people who bought a 2004
Ford Explorer, Mercury Mountaineer, Ford Ranger Truck or Lincoln LS.
Problem With Lights Causes Saturn Recall WBAL - The
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the vehicles have a problem
that can cause the front turn signals and daytime running lamps to stop
working.
Oh, deer! Deer vs. vehicles creates $1 billion problem with
deaths and injuries Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - They've tried
reflectors. They've tried lighted crosswalks. They've even tried constructing
deer overpasses and underpasses. -- But no matter what wildlife experts do,
they've been unable to find an effective, affordable way to keep deer off
highways.
State Farm looks to be dismissed from suit Madison
County Record - State Farm Insurance Co. recently filed a motion to dismiss a
class action suit in which it is accused of violating the Illinois Insurance
Code. Madison County Circuit Judge Phillip Kardis, however, quickly denied the
motion, and set a class certification hearing for June of 2005.
Jones v. State Farm in court this week Edwardsville
Bureau - Daniel Jones, D.C., who filed a class action suit against State Farm
Fire & Casualty, will be in court this week on a motion to amend his complaint
and proposed order against the insurance company. -- Jones, a chiropractor in
Alton, alleges State Farm systematically and improperly reduced medical bills
submitted by licensed medical providers covered under medical payments (Medpay).
Jones, who filed the suit in April 2003, claims that State Farm used a
computerized database program to systematically and secretly cap payments to
him and other members of the class.
November 19, 2004
National Auto Body Council Announces 2004 Pride Award
Recipients PRNewswire - The National Auto Body Council bestowed its
2004 Pride Awards on three individuals. The ceremony took place during the
Industry Night of Achievement, held annually during NACE week.
Court Overturns $8.2 Million Verdict Against GM Over Alleged
Seat Belt Failure The Ledger - The 2nd District Court of Appeal in
Lakeland ruled the judge in the case improperly allowed jurors to see
prejudicial videotape simulating how the seat belt buckle could be accidentally
triggered. The court ordered a new trial, saying the videotape did not meet
legal standards for scientific reliability and did not simulate actual
conditions of the accident.
Auto suppliers struggle with rising material costs, pressure
from carmakers Detroit Free Press - Although new car and truck sales
rose more than 2 percent during the first 10 months of 2004, many of the
companies that supply parts to the big automakers have little to celebrate -
their profits are shrinking as raw materials costs rise and production falls at
General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co.
Global deal on car door safety protects passengers The
Detroit News - Countries representing 90 percent of carmakers agreed on
Thursday to the first global standard on vehicle safety, which will save lives
and lead to other moves to harmonize rules, industry and government officials
said.
Audi Canada recalls 2,432 A6s Vehicles 1998 and 1999 models
Brampton Guardian - Audi has determined that, in rare cases while driving at a
steady rate of speed for a considerable period of time and during extremely low
ambient temperatures (below -15 degrees C), the throttle on affected vehicles
may not return to idle position due to ice accumulating in the throttle body.
Auto body shop fire damage tabbed at +$2 million
Pioneer Press Online, IL - Fire investigators this week continued sifting
through the rubble of Auto Center of Glenview, 1725 Chestnut Ave., which was
destroyed by fire early last Thursday. -- It was the third blaze at a Glenview
auto body shop in less than five months. A fire destroyed Red's Auto Body Shop,
1904 Lehigh Ave., in June and a car inside Carl's Automotive, 2010 Lehigh Ave.,
caught fire Aug. 27.
High court settles dispute between insurers Aberdeen
American News - Deciding an issue never settled before in South Dakota, the
state Supreme Court said Thursday that secondary, umbrella insurance does not
kick in until another insurer's primary coverage has paid its full limit.
State joins nationwide insurance probe Portsmouth
Herald News- Maine has joined a nationwide investigation into price fixing and
other abuses in the insurance industry.
Universal Technical Institute, Inc. Announces Annual Meeting
PRNewswire-FirstCall - Universal Technical Institute, Inc., a provider of
technical education training, announced today that it will hold its Annual
Meeting of Shareholders on February 16, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. local time at UTI's
Avondale, Arizona campus located at 10695 West Pierce Street, Avondale, Arizona
85323.
Explosions and fire level Warrenton VA business The
Daily Press - A fire and a series of explosions leveled an automotive body
repair shop Wednesday. -- The blaze broke out around 4:30 p.m. and destroyed
the Trusted Auto Care.
Lawsuit claims Sonic dealerships charged customers hidden
prices Wilmington Star - A lawsuit filed by a Fort Mill, S.C., couple
this week against Sonic Automotive Inc. claims the company's dealerships sold
bogus anti-theft and illicit insurance products at inflated and hidden prices
in South Carolina. -- The lawsuit is similar to a case in Florida, where state
regulators last month say they made Sonic refund about $1.7 million to more
than 1,000 residents.
Glaring headlight kits are banned The Detroit News -
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is beginning to target
companies that sell high intensity discharge (HID) conversion kits that turn
ordinary headlights into those blue/white supernovas that blind oncoming
drivers.
Will your car insurance pay damages for a deer collision?
Eldrige North Scott Press - The Iowa Insurance Division (IID) offers tips for
making sure vehicles are covered in case of accidents involving deer. Iowa
drivers should be aware that they need a specific type of insurance to cover
their car repair costs.
Top 10 Ways to Steal a Car (and how to defend against them)
Edmunds.com - Lists come out every year detailing the most stolen cars and,
with that, what steps one can take to deter car thieves. Yet, a car is stolen
in the United States every 24 seconds according to the Insurance Information
Institute. Auto theft continues to thrive despite those lists and regardless of
new anti-theft technology that emerges with every new model year.
November 17, 2004
PPG, Kansai Launch Alliance for Automotive OEM Coatings
Business Wire - PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG) and Kansai Paint today announced the
successful conclusion of negotiations to launch an alliance for the sale of
automotive coatings to global original equipment manufacturers. The joint
venture, to be known as PPG Kansai Automotive Finishes (PKAF), has just
established legal entities in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Registration certification has been initiated in Canada, Mexico, France and
Japan and should be finalized shortly.
Your Black Box KAIT-TV - In light of some of these
court cases across the country, the National Traffic Safety Administration has
put together a proposal that would require car manufacturers to include a
statement in owners' manuals telling people that the data recorders do exist in
their vehicles.
Minicars set to invade America The Detroit News - DCX,
VW, BMW will test the waters with fuel-pinching Lilliputian models.
1,100 losing jobs at GM Baltimore plant Delaware Online
- General Motors Corp., the world's largest automaker, announced Tuesday that
the 1,100 remaining workers at its Baltimore assembly plant will lose their
jobs next year when the company discontinues the two lines of vans made there.
GM expands significantly in Middle East MLive.com
- General Motors Corp., the world's largest automaker, has seen its business in
the volatile Middle East grow more than 60 percent this year, but the company
has no presence in Iraq and no immediate plans to re-enter the ravaged country.
Global auto-safety standards on way USA TODAY- Auto
regulators from the USA and other nations will meet Thursday in Geneva to sign
off on the first-ever global safety standard for vehicles.
Keystone Automotive Acquires Chambers Parts Distributors of
MainePrime Zone - "The acquisition enables Keystone to expand its
presence in a geographic region not currently served by the company. We look
forward to capitalizing on opportunities available to the company in this
territory," said Richard L. Keister, president and chief executive officer of
Keystone.
eAutoclaims Announces Progress of Newly Formed Special Markets
Group PRNewswire-FirstCall - eAutoclaims, Inc. announced today the
early success of its recently formed Special Markets Group. The Special
Markets Group includes the eAutoclaims personnel who are charged with executing
the activities of the recently announced Co-Marketing Agreement with ADP Claims
Services Group.
Universal Technical Institute, Inc. to Present at Lehman
Brothers 2004 Small Cap Conference PRNewswire-FirstCall - Universal
Technical Institute, Inc., a provider of technical education training,
announced today that it will present at the Lehman Brothers 2004 Small Cap
Conference at The Phoenician Hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona. The conference is
taking place November 17-19, 2004. UTI's President and Chief Executive
Officer, Kimberly McWaters, and Chief Financial Officer, Jennifer Haslip, will
participate in the conference.
Windshield IQ: Five Ways Your Automobile's Windshield Protects
You Feature Xpress - Most drivers motor happily along totally oblivious
to the thin layer of glass which stands between them and the perils of the open
road. But, according to Leo Cyr, vice president of the National Glass
Association's Auto Glass Division, motorists don't realize the modern
windshield plays an important role in the vehicle's safety restraint system
(SRS), which also includes air bags and seat belts.
Diamond Triumph Auto Glass, Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2004
Results PRNewswire - Diamond Triumph Auto Glass, Inc. announced today
that net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 decreased $7.1
million, or 4.2%, to $163.9 million as compared to $171.0 million for the nine
months ended September 30, 2003.
Dana aftermarket parts unit sale to close in Nov
Reuters - Auto parts maker Dana Corp.on Monday said it remains confident it
will complete the sale of its automotive aftermarket parts business to an
affiliate of private-equity firm Cypress Group by the end of November.
Metal stamping industry reported in squeeze Duluth News
Tribune - As many as half of the U.S. metal stamping plants which supply parts
for the automobile industry could be out of business in six years, an industry
attorney and trade group say.
Everett may ban new auto body shops Boston Globe - City
Councilors, taking a lead from Revere, are considering a ban on the opening of
another type of auto-related business: auto body shops.
Visteon offering employee buyouts Lansing State Journal
- Struggling automotive supplier Visteon Corp. told its 8,300 white-collar
workers that it plans to offer buyouts to a "significant" number of employees
by year's end.
SWAFC Showcases New Optically Enhanced Paints at NACE IP
- Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes Corp. (SWAFC) unveiled two, supercharged
custom colors, Yellow Jacket and GT Black on the new Ford GT at NACE 2004 in
Las Vegas. The car, one of Ford Motor Company's "Centennial Supercars, is
capable of speeds of 200 mph with a 500 horsepower engine.
SWAFC Partners with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. IP - The paint
is an easy-to-apply, fast-drying basecoat that uses unique state of the art
technology resulting in superior performance for a basecoat/clearcoat system.
Launching November 15, 2004, the paints will be available for racing fans
across the country through SWAFC's network of more than 160 branches.
CARS Features OEM
Technology Sessions ASA - Independent repair shop owners and
technicians got an opportunity Thursday, Nov. 4, to prepare for the vehicles
they will be servicing in the near future. A first for the Congress of
Automotive Repair and Service (CARS), which was held Nov. 4-6 at the Flamingo
Las Vegas, representatives of seven automobile manufacturers held new product
technology sessions. Representatives of Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda,
Isuzu, Toyota and Volkswagen presented the sessions.
Inspection defections: Some mechanics balk at new rules
Kingston Daily Freeman - Vehicle owners in the Mid-Hudson Valley and across New
York may be looking for a new mechanic once tougher emission inspection rules
go into effect next month.
Cars rated on whiplash impact USA Today - Most cars do
a poor or marginal job protecting passengers from whiplash injuries in a
rear-end crash, according to crash tests of several models.
Students test drive automotive career Asbury Park Press
- Tony Levens, manager of the GM Training Center in Tarrytown, N.Y., said the
automotive industry is in desperate need of specially trained technicians
because those leaving the field aren't being replaced at the same rate, despite
an average nationwide salary of $36,000. Technicians in the Northeast tend to
earn $55,000 or more.
Driving off of the beaten path Appeal-Democrat - Joy
Wilcox may be as much of a rarity as some of the Maserati Biturbos she works
on. -- Wilcox, one of the few women working in the automotive trade, said she
got her start as a teen doing odd jobs at a repair shop across the street from
her home.
Michelin expands its tire technology Times Argus - Flat
tires aren't likely to disappear anytime soon, but for some drivers, changing a
flat by the side of the road is becoming a thing of the past.
Insurance Auto Auctions "outperform," target price raised
New Ratings - The rebound in the salvage processing industry, the roll-out of a
new internet auction system and the rationalization of Insurance Auto Auctions’
fee structure are also expected to boost the company’s results in the near
future, Barrington Research says.
Jury orders insurer to pay $6.5M to client Asbury Park
Press - The insurance company presented testimony from a neurologist who said
multiple sclerosis could not be aggravated by trauma and that the crash's
impact did not generate enough force to cause the herniated disc, he said. --
"The jury found otherwise," said Gill. "His trauma in the accident was related
to his MS worsening."
PPG Industries' Paint Division Purchases Family-owned Paint
Business The Jackson Citizen Patriot - Tingley's has always carried
Pittsburgh Paints products, but the change in ownership will allow it to
broaden its inventory and stay more competitive in pricing. -- "This puts us on
a more level playing field with the superstores," said co-owner Craig Tingley.
November 12, 2004
In whose good hands? Post-Dispatch - When Allstate
Corp. acquired Sterling Collision Centers Inc. three years ago, the insurer saw
the deal as a way to enhance customer service, improve repair quality and lower
costs in some markets. -- Independent collision-repair shops, however, saw a
conflict of interest, created when insurance claims and repair services are
managed by the same corporation.
Tire Makers Oppose U.S. Plan for Monitors Reuters - Big
tire manufacturers are formally opposing portions of a proposed regulation that
would require tire pressure monitoring systems on all passenger vehicles,
saying the government's current plan could actually increase the risk of tire
failure.
Supplier Earns Prestigious Accreditation from AMI
Jobwerx News - The Automotive Management Institute (AMI) announced that BASF is
the only automotive refinish paint company in North America to have all of its
training instructors earn the organization's prestigious Accredited Automotive
Manager (AAM) designation.
Half-million Ford SUVs to have rollover control by end of '05
MLive.com - Ford Motor Co. says more than 500,000 of its sport utility vehicles
will be equipped with the company's anti-rollover system by the end of 2005,
and it plans to try to market the technology to other automakers.
Ford May Again Help Parts Maker Visteon Reuters - Ford
Motor Co. may again help its former unit Visteon Corp., but the struggling
parts maker has some hard decisions to make first, Ford Chairman and Chief
Executive Bill Ford Jr. said Wednesday.
BMW donates vehicles for repair Talon Marks - Cerritos
College's Automotive Technology Department received a donation of two vehicles
from BMW North America Monday. -- The vehicles will be used in the
department's Auto Body Collision Repair program. -- European cars' bodies and
exterior paint coats are crafted very differently than domestic vehicles,"
explained Dr. Randy Peebles, dean of Cerritos College's Technology Division.
N.Y. Cracks Alleged Auto Salvage Fraud Ring Insurance
Journal - New York officials are hailing the arrest of 24 individuals alleged
to have been involved in an auto insurance fraud operation they say has ties to
organized crime.
High tech car safety devices standard The Detroit News
- The cost of smart gadgetry has dropped and automakers seek new ways to stand
out from the crowd.
Harvick, Kahne fined, placed on probation for post-race
incident nascar.com - Tony Eury Sr., crew chief for the No. 8 Chevrolet
of driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., was fined $2,500 for violating Section 12-4-A
(Actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 12-4-Q (Any determination by
NASCAR Officials that the car, car parts, components and/or equipment used in
the Event do not conform to NASCAR rules) for having a windshield on the car
that was not an approved part and also did not meet the minimum required
thickness of one-quarter inch.
Insurance Powerhouse Greater Baton Rouge Business
Report - Funded by angels and rising from the wreckage of the state's high-risk
auto insurance market, USAgencies is thriving under Greg Tramontin.
November 10, 2004
Video Device May Help Prevent Traffic Accidents
abcnews.go.com - A new device is on the market, and its developer hopes it will
one day provide an eyewitness to every commercial traffic accident in the
country.
BAR Shuts Down Allpro Paint & Body Shops 10News.com -
Investigators from the California Bureau of Automotive Repair have swept down
on Allpro Paint & Body shops in San Diego County, seizing licenses and shutting
the doors, 10News reported.
DOT site gives users crash data FCW.com - A new Web
site, Safercar.gov, gives users a detailed look at the data used for
determining the safety of passenger vehicles.
Fake Airbags WOAI.com, Sanantonio TX - News 4 WOAI
Trouble Shooter Jeff Coyle went undercover. His investigation reveals some
local body shops are profiting by putting your life at risk.
Car parts supplier's losses near $56 million The
Oakland Press - Collins & Aikman, the Troy-based automotive supplier, reported
its losses widened and sales dropped during the third quarter, as the company's
top customers trimmed production of new vehicles.
What Happened To Free Air & Water At The Gas Station?
ABC7news.com - Nothing in life is free, but when it comes to filling your tires
or radiator at the gas station, it's supposed to be. 7 On Your Side's Michael
Finney explains what happened to this promise of free service.
Tower Automotive to Present at Robert W. Baird Conference on
November 10 Business Wire - Tower Automotive, Inc. today announced that
it will present at the Robert W. Baird 2004 Industrial Conference in Chicago,
Ill., on Wednesday, November 10, 2004, at 1:25 p.m. Central Time (2:25 p.m.
ET).
PA DEP, Automobile-Recycling Industry, Environmental Groups
Launch Mercury-Reduction Plan PRNewswire - On behalf of Pennsylvania
Governor Edward G. Rendell, Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A.
McGinty today launched a new partnership with scrap dealers, the
automotive-recycling industry and environmental groups to recycle 600 pounds of
mercury in the next two years in Pennsylvania through the removal of
mercury-containing switches in salvaged cars.
Texas drops Ford scout car lawsuit The Detroit News -
Police departments withdraw the case, saying it was unlikely to win court
approval.
Auto-insurance reform applauded Gannett State Bureau -
New Jersey drivers, on average, pay the most in the nation for auto insurance.
-- They are almost three times more likely to crack up their cars.
Progressive earnings rise on low accidents
Yahoo/Reuters - Car Insurer Progressive Corp. said on Tuesday its third-quarter
earnings rose, helped by a low level of auto accidents in the quarter.
November 9, 2004
Magna Donnelly facing lawsuit for door handles The
Holland Sentinel - Magna International reported better than expected earnings
Friday under a tough environment for the auto-parts industry and while a
class-action lawsuit is pending against the company.
Auto supplier fined $360,000 over injury to worker
Detroit Free Press - An automotive supplier faces more than $360,000 in fines
imposed after a piece of machinery amputated a worker's hands and arms midway
to her elbows.
European vehicle reliability stalls The Detroit News -
Consumer Reports annual survey of cars and trucks rates Asian brands on top,
U.S. mixed, Europe worst.
Keystone Automotive Industries Reports Fiscal 2005 Second
Quarter ResultsPrime Zone - Net sales for the quarter increased 9.2
percent to $127.4 million from $116.7 million a year ago. Net income for the
same period was $2.4 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, compared with $2.7
million, or $0.18 per diluted share, last year.
Car repair dispute headed to court Sun Times - A
Chicago auto repair shop that sold a man's car for failure to pay will have to
explain to a judge how it came up with his final bill.
CCC Information Services Names John D. Collins to Board Of
Directors - CCC Information Services Group Inc., a leading supplier of
information and technology solutions to the automotive-claims and
collision-repair industries, has named John D. Collins to its board of
directors and to serve on the Board's Audit Committee. Collins fills a vacancy
created when CCC recently increased the size of the board of directors from
seven to eight members.
I-CAR Newsletter I-CAR - Enhance And Demonstrate Your
Skills Through I-CAR Qualification Tests! -- Recognized By Collision Industry
Leaders -- New I-CAR QT Promotional Video Available Online -- Find An Upcoming
I-CAR QT Near You -- New QT Price Structure For The Benefit Of The Students
Toyota Collision Repair And Refinish Certification Program
Recognizes I-CAR - Training Programs I-CAR - Toyota CR&R technicians
have the opportunity to complete either the I-CAR programs specifically
recognized through this relationship for the Toyota certified level, or attend
the Toyota delivered training programs. To gain the Toyota master certification
level, both I-CAR and Toyota training programs must be completed.
Lexus Recognizes I-CAR Training I-CAR - The training
relationship will improve training delivery and reduce redundancy for the
technician, serving a dual purpose by providing Lexus technicians I-CAR Gold
Class Professional and Platinum Individual points for successful program
completion as well as helping them qualify for their Lexus Certification.
PPG Bestows Company's Highest R&D Honor on Three Individuals
-Two scientists and one intellectual property attorney have been elected to the
PPG Collegium, receiving the highest honor PPG Industries can bestow upon its
researchers and developers.
Lacy Distribution, Inc. Announces Tender Offer for Shares of
FinishMaster, Inc. Business Wire - Lacy Distribution, Inc. ("Lacy"), a
wholly owned subsidiary of LDI Ltd., LLC, announced that on November 9, 2004 it
will commence a tender offer (the "Offer") for shares of FinishMaster, Inc. ("FinishMaster")
Common Stock. The Offer will be for a minimum of 850,000 shares of FinishMaster
Common Stock at $13.25 per validly tendered share, and Lacy intends to also
purchase all shares tendered in excess of that minimum number. The Offer will
expire at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on December 10, 2004, unless
extended or earlier terminated. The terms and conditions of the Offer will be
set forth in an Offer to Purchase and Letter of Transmittal dated November 9,
2004.
Drive Safer America! Presents Active Vehicle Safety at Meeting
of Public Health Officials PRNewswire - Drive Safer America! took its
message on the road today with a presentation for public health officials at
the American Public Health Association 132nd Annual Meeting and Exposition. --
Spokesperson Phil Headley gave a luncheon presentation on the importance and
benefits of active vehicle safety technologies, making America's roads safer
and helping to prevent crashes, injuries and fatalities on our nation's
highways.
Chinese Automotive Industry Adopts Brazed Copper-Brass
Technology for Mobile Heat Exchangers Business Wire - Baling is the
first to produce CuproBraze radiators in China. Its CuproBraze Splitter-fin
Auto Radiator Project in Nanning represents a significant increase in the
production of CuproBraze radiators worldwide. Baling will produce CuproBraze
radiators for the global automotive parts market as well as China's domestic
automotive industry. Its initial product line includes CuproBraze radiators
with splitter fins as well as other fin shapes, and the company also plans to
offer CuproBraze charge air coolers (CACs).
Fla. AG Launches Widespread Anti-Trust Probe, 10 Subpoenas
Issued Insurance Journal - Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist has
issued subpoenas seeking documents and records from 10 firms and anticipates
sending six more subpoenas out next week as insurance industry investigations
widen.
Insurer likely staying in N.J. The Star Ledger - State
Farm Indemnity, the state's third-largest insurer, is expected to announce
today it will drop plans to withdraw from the state's auto insurance market,
according to industry and Statehouse officials.
Safe Auto files for IPO Business First - Safe Auto
Group Inc. is about to sell shares to the public, in addition to its low-cost
car insurance.
Dept. of Labor confirms insurer probe CBS MarketWatch -
The U.S. Department of Labor confirmed late Monday that it is investigating
insurers for practices similar to those uncovered by New York Attorney General
Eliot Spitzer.
November 8, 2004
Allstate Ranks Repair Quality; Allstate: New Repair Program
Drives Quality For Customers Business Wire - How do you know if you're
choosing a quality body shop after an accident? Allstate Insurance Company
thinks it knows, and has just taken a bold new step toward helping ensure its
customers are getting just that. Part of a program Allstate hopes will drive
body shops to compete aggressively with each other to provide the best customer
service and repair quality, the second largest auto insurer in the nation has
begun ranking repair facilities.
Automotive shows evolve into fall's convention powerhouse
Las Vegas Sun - The automotive aftermarket industry has officially taken over
as the Las Vegas convention industry's premiere fall guest with the arrival of
NACE -- the International Autobody Congress & Exposition show -- into one of
the city's three major convention halls.
Teresa Earnhardt unveils new 8Tonz colors at International
Autobody Congress & Exposition WhoWon.com - In a partnership with the
Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes Corp., Teresa Earnhardt, CEO and President
of Dale Earnhardt, Inc., announced the first line of basecoat paints endorsed
by Dale Earnhardt, Inc. called 8Tonz Paints for use in the automotive industry.
Wild stuff for your car CNN/Money - Tail-pipe flame
throwers, nitro kits and pet car seats are among the hot items at trade show.
Nissan refocuses on quality The Detroit News - After
lukewarm vehicle launches, the Japanese firm makes production smoother at its
Tenn. plant
Sticking up for auto inspections The Boston Globe - All
year long, Massachusetts motorists bring their cars to businesses authorized by
the Registry of Motor Vehicles to inspect vehicles.
Record year for auto recalls Newsday.com - Experts
attribute the increase not to a decline in quality but to the growing
complexity of cars, increased sharing of components across model lines and a
greater tendency by carmakers to acknowledge problems following the
Ford-Firestone tire debacle four years ago.
Mich. auto paint recycler joins Suppliers Partnership for the
Environment WasteNews.com - Gage Products Co. of Ferndale, Mich., a
developer of closed-loop automotive paint recycling systems, is joining the
Suppliers Partnership for the Environment, a group of 27 automotive-related
companies.
Law school grad rings up victory over telemarketer
Toledo Blade - Mr. Reichenbach, 34, received the prerecorded call from a
company advertising for a windshield repair service. He pressed a number to
have a repair specialist call him back. -- A representative returned the call,
and Mr. Reichenbach eventually talked to the owner, Hyek Chung. He asked him to
place him on the company's do-not-call list and send him a copy of the
company's do-not-call policy. -- When Mr. Chung didn't send the policy and
failed to respond to a letter asking for it, Mr. Reichenbach sued.
November 5, 2004
Hi-Tech Collision & Glass Centers, Inc. Signs Seven-Year
Contract with CCC Information Services Inc.; CCC to Provide Multiple Solutions
for Hi-Tech's Eleven LocationsBusiness Wire - CCC Information Services
Inc. announced today that it has signed a seven-year agreement to supply
Hi-Tech Collision and Glass Centers, Inc. with a suite of estimate-writing and
repair management solutions. Hi-Tech Collision, a leading automotive repair
business in Southern California, will implement CCC Pathways(R) Estimating
Solution with Digital Imaging, CCC Pathways Enterprise Solution(R), CCC
Accumark(TM) Advisor, CCC Connect(TM) and CCC Autoverse(R) Repair Management
Dispatch in each of its eleven locations. CCC is a leading supplier of
information and technology solutions for the automotive-claims and
collision-repair industries.
ADP Claims Services Group Expands Reporting for ADP Estimating
and Shoplink(R) for Multi-Site Businesses PRNewswire - ADP Claims
Services Group, a leading provider of integrated business solutions for the
property and casualty, collision repair and automotive recycling industries,
today announced the availability of ADP Shop Reports for multi-site repair
facilities, part of an extensive suite of products that complement ADP
Estimating and Shoplink. ADP Shop Reports helps collision repair facilities
proactively manage their direct-repair program business.
ADP Claims Services Group Automates Tire Database, Frame
Dimensions, Paintless Dent Repair, and Introduces Spanish in Shoplink(R)
PRNewswire - ADP Claims Services Group, a leading provider of integrated
business solutions for the property and casualty, collision repair and
automotive recycling industries, announced the availability of Shoplink version
6.35.4, which automates paintless dent repair, tire and frame dimensions
estimate entries and provides reports in Spanish for client estimates and
technician work orders.
Akzo: Women's Achievements to be Honored IP - Akzo
Nobel’s Car Refinishes business in the United States is this week staging its
sixth Most Influential Women in the Collision Repair Industry awards gala.
GM Recalls 1.5 Million Vehicles MSN - General Motors
Corp. (GM) has recalled nearly 1.5 million vehicles in North America, including
946,817 sport utility vehicles, to fix tail lights that could loosen and
flicker, the automaker said on Thursday.
Insurance probe puts agents on defensive Providence
Business News - In the wake of New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer’s
lawsuit against Marsh & McLennan and the nationwide review of insurance
companies it has triggered, Rhode Island officials say a local review is being
launched, and legislative reforms are likely.
November 4, 2004
Lawsuit limits get mixed reviews San Mateo County Times
- The overwhelming passage of Proposition 64, which makes it harder for private
attorneys to sue companies for violating environmental and consumer protection
laws, is being hailed by local business and denounced by consumer groups.
FinishMaster Announces Third Quarter Financial Results
Business Wire - FinishMaster, Inc. today reported that net income for the third
quarter of 2004 was $3,495,000, or $0.45 per share, compared with net income of
$3,615,000, or $0.47 per share, in the prior year period. The decrease in net
income for the quarter compared to the prior year period resulted primarily
from total expenses increasing at 13.2 percent while gross margin dollars
increased at 8.6 percent.
GM should rethink decision that made antilock brakes an
extra-cost option The Detroit News - It's true that research showed
mixed results on the effectiveness of antilock technology. But now, some two
years later, antilock electronics are providing the foundation for even more
important safety features. And that makes me wonder if GM officials were seeing
the whole picture.
SEMA Agrees! 'The Muscle Car Is Back' Prime Zone - The
SEMA Show's Opening Day Stronger Than Ever as Muscle Cars Bring Consumer Power
to the Aftermarket Industry
Custom cars in Vegas CNN - The annual SEMA show, a trade show for the
"aftermarket" car parts industry, is a huge annual event.
Honda touts pickup Detroit Free Press - New midsize
truck to enter the market as a 2006 model
Visteon's woes do not bode well for prospect of two-tier wages
The Detroit News - The defining issue of last year's contract between Detroit's
automakers and the United Auto Workers could soon be a dead issue if Visteon
Corp., the cash-strapped supplier two-tier wages were supposed to help, doesn't
step up hiring.
NeoMedia Micro Paint Repair Makes Auto Aftermarket Week Debut
at NACE Business Wire - NeoMedia Micro Paint Repair, which
revolutionized the profit picture for small paint repairs, will make its trade
show debut at NACE 2004, the collision repair industry's main event, during
Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week starting Thursday in Las Vegas.
Is Your Check Engine Light On? AutoXray Launches New Consumer
Product PRNewswire - The new AutoXray CodeScout is AutoXray's first
foray into the consumer marketplace. The CodeScout tells you what trouble
codes are causing your "CHECK ENGINE" light to come on and empowers you with
that information before a costly trip to a repair shop. It will then tell you
in plain English -- no codes to decipher -- what has triggered the problem,
enabling consumers to determine whether or not the problem can be fixed easily
at home or if a trip to a professional technician is required.
Visteon Brings Proven OE-Quality to Aftermarket; Adds Ignition
Coils to Product Offerings PRNewswire - Visteon Corporation announced
today the introduction of ignition coils to its aftermarket product line. The
addition further strengthens its already successful line of underhood parts
offerings and supports Visteon's commitment to building a robust line of
premium, OE-quality aftermarket products.
Dana Corporation Announces Amendment to Agreement for Sale of
Its Automotive Aftermarket Businesses PRNewswire - Dana Corporation
announced today that it and The Cypress Group have amended the agreement to
sell Dana's automotive aftermarket businesses to Affinia Group Inc., an
affiliate of The Cypress Group. Among other things, the amendment revises the
purchase price to approximately $1 billion, comprised of $950 million in cash
and a seller's note with a $74.5 million face amount.
More colors to blossom on cars The Detroit News - Paint
suppliers long for the time when silver is toppled from the top spot in U.S.
Court ruling jeopardizes Ford The Detroit News -
Automaker ordered to turn over sensitive papers to an ex-top executive who is
suing.
Consumers Digest Names Automotive Best Buys for 2005
PRNewswire - Thirty-eight vehicles received Best Buy ratings from Consumers
Digest magazine out of 265 total for the 2005 model year. The ratings,
published in CD's November/December issue, span eight categories: Small Cars,
Family Cars, Luxury Cars, Sporty Cars, Trucks, Vans, Compact/Midsize SUVs and
Luxury/Full-Size SUVs.
CRASH1 Establishes CollisionLink v3 as Standard Operating
Procedure PRNewswire - OEConnection LLC, a premier provider of order
management, supply chain, and data mining and reporting solutions to the
automotive and collision repair industries, announced today that the CRASH1
Collision Repair Network, a leading multi-state collision repairer network, is
deploying CollisionLink(R) v3 as a new component of their standard operating
procedures.
CCC Information Services Group Inc. Reports $0.02 EPS for the
Third Quarter Business Wire - The Company's third quarter results
include the net impact of a non-cash stock compensation charge in connection
with the self-tender offer and a net benefit related to a litigation
settlement. Please review the income statement line items summarized below when
analyzing the Company's third quarter results.
Nissan to simplify parts to improve cars' quality Detroit
Free Press - The plan would eliminate such extra steps as having to mold pieces
into parts on the assembly line and could increase productivity, Dan Gaudette,
senior vice president of manufacturing and quality for Nissan North America,
said Friday. -- Some parts also are being designed differently to make for
easier assembly, Gaudette said during a manufacturing update at the automaker's
plant in Smyrna, Tenn.
Chrysler recalling 240,000 minivans Reuters -
DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler division on Monday said it was recalling about
240,000 minivans because of an electrical short circuit caused by water
intrusion into their radios.
Carriers Enter The Eye Of The Storm Insurance
Networking - Nothing tests the resolve of an insurance company's claims
processing division more dramatically than a natural catastrophe.
November 1, 2004
ASA Announces Partnership with CAA - The Automotive
Service Association (ASA) announces a partnership agreement with the California
Autobody Association (CAA). The new partnership was recently approved and
ratified by ASA's board of directors.
Visteon plans major cutbacks The Detroit News - The
automotive supplier is in talks with Ford to sell plants, cut products and
transfer workers.
Rising costs hurt state auto parts makers' profits The
Detroit News - Rising raw material prices and lower light vehicle output across
North America continue to dampen profits at major Michigan auto parts makers.
David, 1 - Goliath, 0 Glassbytes.com - Chalk it up as a
victory for the little guy. Scott Harkey, president of Windshield Glass in
Greensboro, N.C., has accomplished something that many people have encouraged
glass shop owners to do, but few have done. He got a large, national insurance
company to pay his glass claim without bending to rules and regulations with
which he did not agree.
Is it time to dump your car? Bankrate.com - Sooner or
later it happens: The auto mechanic hands you the estimate and you wonder, "Is
it worth it this time?"
Court rejects Ogden police officer's 'Towgate' appeal Provo
Daily Herald - A state court has rejected an Ogden police officer's appeal for
his firing in the "Towgate" controversy nearly four years ago. -- Tony
Huemiller and two other patrol officers were fired in 2000 for allegedly
diverting towing jobs to one towing company, Ogden Auto Body, for favors.
Air bags the subject of fraud Washington Times - A
double deployment of an air bag system -- driver and passenger -- can cost up
to $1,500 or more, and a growing number of scam artists are not replacing the
airbag compartments properly.
Raffle revs up to aid disabled The Republican - Don
Roy's Auto Body and Appearance Center, 1416 Granby Road, is sponsoring the
Sunshine Village MR2 raffle and has donated the silver two-door hardtop that
will soon become a collector's sports car.
Calif. attorney general launches insurance probe
Reuters - California's Attorney General Bill Lockyer has launched an
investigation into possible antitrust violations and fraud by insurance
companies and brokers, his office said on Friday.
