Mom and Pop Auto Parts Shops File Antitrust Suit CBS.MarketWatch.com -
A group of 160 independent car parts shops filed an antitrust lawsuit in New
York aimed at mega-retailers like AutoZone and Wal-Mart, companies they say
enjoy price breaks that are driving the little guy out of business.
Students revive friend's Jeep Des Moines Register - Auto collision
repair students at Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny have brought new
life to an old Jeep in honor of a classmate and friend.
Court
overturns verdict clearing Ford in deaths Detroit Free Press - A U.S.
appeals court reversed a 2003 jury verdict that found Ford Motor Co. wasn't
liable for the death of a mother and daughter in an Explorer rollover accident.
Group
backs anti-rollover device CNN - Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
says systems to prevent rollovers can reduce crashes.
ABRA Auto Body & Glass Adds Thornton, CO Repair Center Business Wire -
ABRA Auto Body & Glass, a Minneapolis-based damaged vehicle repair company,
announced today the opening of their twelfth repair center in Colorado. This
newly-constructed facility, located at 10120 Grant Street in Thornton, brings
the total of ABRA repair centers to eighty-nine in ten states.
US parts suppliers focus on steel, auto production Yahoo/Reuters -
North American production and the impact from steel are key questions for the
2005 outlook for parts makers, although rising steel prices have not had as
devastating a toll on some suppliers as might have been expected, analysts
said. That surprise, and higher sales, helped send suppliers' shares higher on
Wall Street.
Mistrial declared in Honda airbag case sun-sentinel.com - A mistrial
was declared on Thursday in a crash case in which lawyers claimed an airbag
nearly severed a then 7-year-old girl's spine and left her paralyzed. The
family was seeking more than $10 million in damages from carmaker Honda.
Tenneco to cut
jobs Detroit Free Press - Tenneco Automotive Inc., the biggest maker of
vehicle shock absorbers, will cut as many as 250 mostly senior- and
middle-management jobs as it restructures its workforce to deal with rising
steel costs.
Conn. Subpoenas
Allstate in Insurer Probe Yahoo News - Allstate Corp., the
second-largest U.S. home and auto insurer, on Thursday said it received a
subpoena from the Connecticut state attorney general's office seeking
information on alleged bid-rigging in the industry.
October 28, 2004
LKQ Corporation Announces Third Quarter 2004 Results Business Wire -
LKQ Corporation today reported results for its third quarter ended September
30, 2004, with revenue of $106.0 million and net income of $4.6 million,
representing growth over the third quarter of 2003 of 27.0% and 29.7%,
respectively. -- On October 26, 2004, LKQ acquired Foster Auto Parts, Inc. and
related companies, a recycled OEM automotive replacement parts business located
in Portland, Oregon, which serves the Oregon and Washington market areas. This
company has seven primary locations including three self-service facilities.
Farewell, Silver? A Look Ahead at Car Colors NY Times - While
automakers and experts are predicting more vivid colors three and four years
down the road, much of the current shift is a bit more subtle. Silvers blended
with either green or blue are becoming more prevalent, as is silver mixed with
gray to make rich graphite colors.
Universal Technical Institute Expands Ford Training Program to Additional
Campuses PRNewswire - Universal Technical Institute, Inc., a provider
of technical education training, today announced that it has expanded its OEM
relationship with Ford Motor Company to offer the Ford Accelerated Credential
Training (FACT) elective to students at new UTI automotive training campuses in
Exton, Pennsylvania and Norwood, Massachusetts.
OEConnection Launches CollisionLink V3 PRNewswire - OEConnection LLC, a
premier provider of web-based supply chain, order management, and data mining
and reporting solutions for the automotive and collision repair industries, is
pleased to announce the launch of CollisionLink(R) v3, the company's next
generation of its e-commerce ordering software for original equipment (OE)
parts.
Asbury Automotive Group Reports Third Quarter Financial Results
PRNewswire - Parts, service and collision repair revenue and gross profit
increased 15.4 percent and 12.2 percent (5.1 percent and 2.6 percent
same-store), respectively. Excluding results in Florida, parts, service and
collision repair same-store revenue and gross profit were up 5.0 percent and
4.0 percent, respectively.
Tower Automotive Hires Terry Gohl as Vice President of North American
Operations Business Wire - Tower Automotive, Inc. today announced that
Terry Gohl, 43, has joined the company as vice president of North American
operations, effective immediately. Gohl reports to Kathleen Ligocki, president
and chief executive officer of Tower Automotive.
Head of Dow steers company out of 'bumpy ride' Yahoo News - Dow is able
to pass on the high cost of oil and natural gas its main raw materials to
customers such as the automotive industry.
Auto shop expands, adds new employees The Jackson Citizen Patriot -
Tripp's Auto Shop and Collision Center has recently added sandblasting to its
services.
Cars Inside
Burned Body Shop Destroyed The Louisville Channel - An overnight fire
didn't just destroy an auto shop, but the cars that were inside awaiting
service as well.
New Auto Safety Trend Business Wire -The National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration says that highway fatalities have declined dramatically
since the introduction of seatbelts and airbags in the 1960s. However, that
decline has leveled off in the last decade -- leading manufacturers to find new
ways to reduce crashes. Instead of preparing drivers for accidents, the newest
technology is helping drivers avoid accidents in the first place.
162 Opel
vehicles recalled over exhaust pipe problems Japan Today - General
Motors Japan Ltd said Wednesday it is recalling a total of 162 vehicles in
three Opel models for free repair parts related to the exhaust pipes.
Fireman's
Fund to Stay in Massachusetts Personal Auto Market Insurance Journal -
Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, on behalf of its various subsidiary
companies, has reportedly rescinded its decision to withdraw from the
Massachusetts personal automobile insurance market.
Accident can wreck car's resale value Concord Monitor - In the era of
full disclosure and Internet tracking firms like Carfax, they have come to
realize that their Lincoln will now be forever a "wrecked" car.
Does Your Car
Have a Spy in the Engine? New York Times - With millions of vehicles
already equipped with data recorders and millions more joining them every year,
such witnesses — computer chips that store data, like how hard the collision
was, whether the brake was applied, whether the car was accelerating or
decelerating, whether a turn signal was used and whether the seat belt was
buckled — will be present in more crashes and in more cases, criminal and
civil.
CustomerLink Adds CustomerLink Service Advantage Program to Product Offering
Business Wire - CustomerLink Systems, the premier provider of multi-media
customer acquisition, development and retention programs for the automotive
service and repair industry, announced the addition of the CustomerLink Service
Advantage(TM) Program to their service center programs.
Two More Leading Maintenance Service Companies Now Accept The Fuelman Fleet
Card Daily Business News - 1. Cottman Transmission operates over 400
transmission service and repair locations throughout the United States. -- 2.
Netcost Glass Repair and Replacement Network manages a network of over 7,000
independent merchants nationwide, and will begin accepting the Fuelman cards by
the end of October 2004.
Akzo signs car parts paint deal in Japan Reuters - Akzo said in a
statement the deal made by its car refinishes unit enhanced the group's access
to the Japanese vehicle manufacturing market and would supply coatings used on
car parts like dashboards, bumpers and wing mirrors.
ABRA's Rick Assumes Sales and C.E. Position in Wisconsin Business Wire
- ABRA Auto Body & Glass, a national damaged vehicle repair company located in
Minneapolis, announced today the appointment of Robert Rick as Regional Vice
President of Sales and Continuing Education for their Wisconsin market. Within
this position, Rick will direct and develop a sales team to build business
relationships with ABRA's customers, insurance partners, and dealerships, as
well as develop and teach Continuing Education for internal and external
partners.
Mitsubishi apologizes for defect cover-ups Seattle Post-Intelligencer -
Scandal-plagued Mitsubishi Motors Corp. spent more time apologizing for defect
cover-ups and promising better quality at a media event to unveil a new model
Monday, the first vehicle launch under new management.
PPG Extrusion Coatings Group Reaches 100,000th Color Match Business
Wire - The PPG Industrial Finishes Color Services team has reached a milestone
with creation of its 100,000th custom color match, labeled UC100000 Polycron(R)
III Harp Beige.
DuPont swings to Q3 profit CBS.Marketwatch.com - Chemicals giant DuPont
Tuesday reported a third-quarter profit against a year-earlier loss due to
higher volumes and favorable currency transactions, but warned that industrial
production growth is slowing due to higher energy costs.
Magna bids to privatize auto parts spinoffs cbc.ca - Auto parts giant
Magna International on Monday unveiled bids worth a total of about $1.3 billion
to take its three publicly traded subsidiaries private.
Auto salvage company plans expansion after buying city lots
Record-Journal - An auto salvage company on North Broad Street has plans to
expand its operation into three adjacent city owned lots. Statewide Recovery
agreed to buy the lots in 2003 on the condition it received local approval to
build its $1 million office, sales and garage building on the site.
Deal creates largest steel company CBS.Marketwatch.com - U.K.
billionaire Lakshmi Mittal created the world's largest steel maker on Monday,
buying out Wilbur Ross' International Steel Group and merging it with his Ispat
International and LNM Holdings groups in a deal worth almost $18 billion.
Feds may
add shoulder belt The Detroit News - Experts say middle seat restraint
in back will help save lives
Injured
motor vehicle occupants cumulatively lost 60.8 million days of work
News-Medical - More than 6.3 million adults were involved in police-reported
motor vehicle crashes in 2001, resulting in more than 3 million injuries and
health-care visits. While most injuries do not result in permanent disability,
the amount of time the injured lost from work is an important consequence of
motor vehicle crashes, the leading cause of injury death for Americans through
the age of 65. After a crash, more than 30 percent of drivers and passengers.
Insurance industry latest to be accused of pocketing kickbacks, bilking clients
American-Republican Inc. - "The insurance industry needs to take a long, hard
look at itself," Spitzer said in a statement. "If the practices identified in
our suit are as widespread as they appear to be, then the industry's
fundamental business model needs major corrective action and reform."
October 25, 2004
U.S.
Steel, Alcoa spar over auto dominance Journal Gazette - J.P. McGuire is
a secret weapon for U.S. Steel Corp. in one of its most important battles: the
struggle with the aluminum industry for the hoods, doors and bumpers of
American cars. -- Many engineers at Detroit’s Big Three auto makers said their
future was in plastics. -- “We looked at plastic as the Antichrist if you
will,” says Pete Peterson, who retired this month as head of automotive
marketing at U.S. Steel and is regarded by many as the “godfather” of the steel
industry’s efforts to beat back competition from other materials.
New Front-end
Module Molding Method Blends Resin and Metal Composites World -
Patented as HydroPlast Structures, the method combines hydroforming of tubular
steel and overmolding with a filled engineering resin in an injection molding
process, which developers claim can reduce overall tooling costs.
Dangerous time of
year Milwaukee Sentinel - Half of car-deer crashes happen in 3-month
period
Prop 64 limits lawsuits -- too much, some critics say Napa News -
California is the only state that allows private individuals and consumer
rights groups to sue for unfair business competition, but recent abuses have
galvanized the business community to try and amend the law.
TSTC unveils new auto-tech facility Sweetwater Reporter - Texas State
Technical College West Texas Sweet-water (TSTC) unveiled a new state-of-the-art
auto-tech facility at a dedication ceremony Thursday. -- The new Transportation
Technologies Center is a 27,000-square foot facility and contains such features
as progressively-equipped classrooms, computer rooms and laboratories. The new
center caters to students and faculties of the Automotive Technology, Auto
Collision Repair and Diesel Technology programs.
Suppliers' Counterfeiting Concerns Being Heard as MEMA and its Members Meet
with Leading Government Officials PRNewswire - Executives from several
automotive parts manufacturers joined representatives of the Motor & Equipment
Manufacturers Association (MEMA) Oct. 21 in a meeting to discuss the
seriousness of the industry's counterfeiting issue with Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) Under Secretary Asa Hutchinson and other members of his
department.
Insurance Auto Auctions Announces Third Quarter Results PRNewswire -
Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc., a leading provider of automotive salvage and
claims processing services in the United States, reported higher net earnings
for the quarter ended September 25, 2004.
October 22, 2004
PPG Industries profit rises in third quarter Yahoo News - PPG
Industries Inc. on Friday reported higher earnings in the third quarter on
lower costs and strength in its coatings business.
Pajaro Valley Collision is a two-generation family operation Register-Pajaronian
- Watsonville's newest auto body shop, Pajaro Valley Collision, Inc., is a
two-generation family business. Located at 615 Walker St., the auto collision
repair facility is owned by Manuel and Sandy Cabral and their son Michael.
A rad
car shop The MidWeek News - Husband and wife team found Kingston to be
the perfect fit for their own automotive repair shop.
Auto
body/repair business expansion OK’d in Somersworth Foster's Daily
Democrat - Dover,NH - The Planning Board gave an existing auto body/repair
business located at 25 Interstate Drive conditional approval to expand during
its regular meeting Wednesday night.
Safety Groups
Want Car Window Rule Review Associated Press - Eleven auto safety
groups asked the government Thursday to revise a new rule that requires safer
power windows in vehicles, saying it does not adequately protect children.
New
measures sought to battle auto insurance fraud The Salem News - State
Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly called for a statewide grand jury to
investigate auto insurance fraud at a groundbreaking summit meeting on fraud.
Two claims adjusters sue American Family Rocky Mountain News - Two
former auto claims adjusters for American Family Insurance filed a civil
lawsuit Wednesday, accusing the insurance company of improperly classifying
claims adjusters as salaried workers to avoid paying overtime wages.
American Family to fight suit on overtime Wisconsin State Journal -
American Family Insurance Group of Madison said Thursday it would fight a
lawsuit alleging the company failed to pay overtime wages to workers.
Visteon Net Loss Jumps to $1.36 Billion MSN - Visteon Corp., the No. 2
U.S. auto parts maker, on Thursday said its quarterly net loss jumped to $1.36
billion on noncash writedowns driven partly by North American vehicle
production cuts and rising raw materials costs.
Ex-auto parts
plant workers sue company over NAFTA Indy Star - Argos (Associated
Press) -- Former employees of a closed Marshall County auto parts plant are
suing the company and top executives, accusing them of lying to the government
and holding up benefits provided under the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Visteon
drops plan to sell a factory to Plastech Detroit Free Press - Visteon
Corp., the second-biggest U.S. maker of auto parts, dropped its plan to sell a
Chicago factory to Plastech Engineered Products Inc. because the companies
couldn't agree on terms, a Visteon spokesman said.
TRW Automotive Occupant Protection Technology Selected as Finalist for PACE
Award PRNewswire - TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. nnounced its Next
Generation Roll Over Curtain Inflator (ROI V2) -- the first inflator to utilize
cold gas to fill the airbag -- has been named a finalist in the Product
category for the 2005 Automotive News PACE Award competition.
Profit at auto-parts
maker Tenneco soars 50 percent KWQC - Tenneco Automotive today says
third-quarter profit has jumped 50 percent. -- The Lake Forest-based auto-parts
maker credited the improvement to a stronger position in the North American
after-market and favorable exchange rates.
Toyota develops
plastic from potato oils Let's Recycle - Car manufacturer Toyota has
developed a biodegradable "Eco Plastic" that uses oils from sweet potatoes. --
Toyota is currently using the plastic in the production of floor mats for the
Toyota Raum, which is on sale in Japan, and it hopes to develop the use of the
plastic further.
US SEC onlooker for now in Spitzer insurers probe Yahoo News - Spitzer
has made the SEC look flat-footed in the last three years by taking the lead in
a variety of inquiries that ranged from conflicts of interest in Wall Street
research reports to abuses in mutual fund trading that harmed small investors.
Mass.
Couple Drive Into Auto Fraud Conviction Insurance Journal - Two former
Pittsfield, Massachusetts residents who reportedly submitted false claims to an
auto insurance company were found guilty of insurance fraud, Attorney General
Tom Reilly announced.
NHTSA Illegal Lighting Crackdown Continues NHTSA - Continuing its
crackdown against manufacturers and suppliers of illegal lighting equipment,
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today announced its
decision that high intensity discharge (HID) conversion kits produced by a
Texas company do not comply with federal safety standards.
New auto
gadgets come with headaches The Detroit News - Automakers face big
challenges as they try to meet consumer demand for more in-vehicle
entertainment and other electronics. -- Automakers don't want, and can't
afford, to take the blame when an ill-timed crash of a vehicle's inboard
computer system causes a traffic accident.
Deal
near on oil-change 'environmental charge' lawsuit The Detroit News -
An agreement has been reached in class-action lawsuits by drivers claiming
they were cheated when Jiffy Lube International tacked on environmental
surcharges to their oil-change bills.
Vehicle
dealers scrap body shops The Detroit News - Lack of equipment,
qualified mechanics is growing problem. -- Unlike the dealerships, independent
body shops are better able to deal with the expenses and regulations because
they focus solely on collision repair work and are not sidetracked with new and
used car sales.
AK Steel Announces November Surcharges PRNewswire-FirstCall - AK Steel
has advised its flat-rolled carbon steel customers that a $149 per ton
surcharge will be added to invoices for products shipped in November, a
decrease of $8 from October's surcharge of $157 per ton. Also, AK Steel has
advised its electrical steel customers that a $250 per ton surcharge will be
added to invoices for electrical steel products shipped in November, down $45
from the October surcharge of $295 per ton for those products. November
surcharges for the broad range of stainless steel products that AK Steel
produces can be found on the company's web site.
$110 million asked in suit Sun-Sentinel - Attorneys for a 7-year-old
girl paralyzed after an airbag nearly severed her spine asked a Broward Circuit
Court jury on Monday to level a verdict of more than $110 million against Honda
Motor Co.
U.S. insurance probe widens as investors flee Reuters - At least three
U.S. states -- California, Connecticut and Pennsylvania -- said they are
studying the lawsuit Spitzer filed last week against New York insurance broker
Marsh & McLennan Cos. for allegedly rigging bids and inflating client costs.
Scams Push Brooklyn
Insurance Rates to Top NY Post - Scams by criminal syndicates are
jacking auto-insurance rates in Brooklyn to the highest in the country and
costing consumers millions of dollars, according to a new report.
October 19, 2004
Small
plane hits auto-collision repair shop in Atlanta - A small plane
crashed into a building about 40 yards from the birthplace of Martin Luther
King Jr. in downtown Atlanta, killing both people on board. -- The aircraft's
wing clipped an auto body shop. There were two people inside the shop, but
neither they nor anyone on the ground was injured, said Eric Alleyne, aviation
safety investigator for National Transportation Safety Board.
Delphi Delaying Filing Of 10-Q Due To SEC Investigation CNN Money -
Delphi Corp. will delay filing its third quarter 10-Q statement with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission until an internal investigation over
payments with a technology provider is resolved.
Prop. 64 would limit suits against businesses SF Gate - The automotive
industry has been the single-largest backer of the measure. -- The automotive
industry, particularly retailers and repair shops, were a primary target of the
allegedly unscrupulous cases, in which dealerships were sued over issues such
as failing to use the correct type size in advertisements.
Advice to motorists: Don't get rear-ended by any DEA agents St. Louis
Today - Jack Cancila bought a 2001 Infiniti I30 in July. It was pre-owned, as
they say in the luxury car business, but practically new. It had only 20,000
miles. It was black and snazzy.
China Fuyao Glass To Be Refunded $3.9 Million US Dumping Duty iwon.com
- According to the ruling issued Friday by the U.S. Commerce Department, the
average import duty on Fuyao's windshield glass was set at 0.13%. An
antidumping tariff of less than 0.5% is regarded as a zero tariff, Fuyao said
in a statement published in the Shanghai Securities News.
Infineon CEO urges centralized architectures for vehicles EE Times
- Drawing on a futuristic vision in which smart automotive systems "talk" with
each other and make life-and-death decisions, Infineon Technologies AG CEO
Wolfgang Ziebart told an audience of engineers that the auto industry is
entering a era in which new technology will be defined more by software than
hardware.
State's biggest insurers get most complaints Florida Today - Florida's
state-created, high-risk insurance pool has had the most complaints against it
among more than 200 insurers handling hurricane claims.
Delphi posts quarterly net loss Reuters - Auto parts supplier Delphi
Corp. on Monday reported a steep quarterly net loss, pressured by North
American motor vehicle production cuts and rising materials costs.
Visteon Plans
$110M in Two Expansions GlobeSt.com - City
officials are expected to decide Oct. 19 whether to give auto components
manufacturer Visteon Corp. tax breaks expected to spur $110 million in new
investments at two Sterling Heights facilities.
Wage
tiers threaten UAW unity The Detroit News - Disparity: New employees
get less than half pay | Solidarity: Worker relations a long-term worry.
BASF sponsors five educational seminars, other events at NACE 2004 Inside
Paint - BASF will sponsor five educational seminars at NACE 2004 that address
topics of vital interest to collision repair businesses and jobbers. The
seminars are part of an expanded collision-industry education program offered
at NACE.
Fuming about fumes Allston-Brighton TAB - Needham,MA - New Balance
Athletic Shoe Inc.'s plans to move an auto body shop into one Brighton
neighborhood has become a battle that has some people questioning why the
athletic gear giant would want to move the shop into a mainly residential area.
-- Residents are worried that paint fumes and other chemicals used in the shop
will create an environmental hazard for the community.
Attorney general is on target with aim at insurance industry ills News
Day - State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has embarked on another crusade
against an industry whose wealth-fueled influence makes most politicians cower.
Spitzer's investigation of giant insurance companies, which already has yielded
several guilty pleas from top executives for price-fixing and bid-rigging,
should benefit more than just New Yorkers.
October 15, 2004
Poker
run from Bob The Brampton Guardian - In an effort to battle against
cystic fibrosis, CARSTAR Auto Collision Repair Centres and the Peel Chapter of
the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CCFF) are hosting a Poker Run this
Sunday.
Keystone
Suspends Sale of Two Aftermarket Light ApplicationsPrime Zone -
Keystone Automotive Industries, Inc. announced that it has voluntarily
suspended the sale of aftermarket headlamps for the Ford Taurus ('96 -- '04)
and for the General Motors Pontiac Grand Am ('99 -- '04) as a result of
independent tests indicating that at the present time, these headlamps do not
fully comply with the federal standards. -- As a result of the publication of
the independent test results, at least six insurance companies have indicated
that they have also suspended the use of the non-complying aftermarket
headlamps in repairing damaged vehicles. In addition, Keystone believes that
one or more insurance companies may have discontinued specifying all
aftermarket headlamps in vehicle repair.
Universal Automotive Industries, Inc. Letter to Shareholders PRNewswire
- Arvin Scott, president and chief executive officer of Universal Automotive
Industries, Inc., today sent the following letter to shareholders and
customers, addressing the company's progress integrating a milestone
acquisition completed earlier this year:
Rehabilitation work Washington Times - Inmate Al Dumas says he knew
zilch about repairing cars when he signed up for an auto-body work program at
the minimum-security prison where he is trying to rewrite his criminal past.
Suspected Chop Shop Busted KOMO - Seattle,WA - Troopers moved in on T&T
Auto Body and Collision and arrested owner Quy Tran and two customers who drove
their cars into the shop during the raid.
Firms marketed with Christian theme South Bend Tribune - If you take
your car to Christian Brothers Automotive, don't expect a Bible lesson while
your oil is being changed.
PPG
Industries upgraded to "buy" New Ratings - In a research note published
this morning, the analyst mentions that the company’s earnings growth is
expected to be driven in the near future by the substantial price and margin
increases of caustic soda. The benefits derived from the increase in the price
of caustic soda are expected to offset raw material pressures on coatings and
weak auto demand, the analyst adds.
Akzo receives 110 million euro bid for coating resins business Reuters
- Dutch-Swedish chemicals and pharmaceuticals giant Akzo Nobel said on Friday
that it received an offer of 110 million euros (136 million dollars) from New
Zealand's Nuplex Industries for its coating resins business, free of cash and
debt.
LKQ Corp cuts Q3, 2004 earns outlook CBS MarketWatch.com - The
automotive parts company also lowered its 2004 earnings outlook to 88 cents a
share to 92 cents a share from a previous range of 92 cents a share to 97 cents
a share.
October 14, 2004
Sonic Automotive, Inc. Announces Hiring of James D. Evans as New Division Vice
President PRNewswire-FirstCall - Sonic Automotive, Inc. today
announced that Mr. James D. Evans has joined the Company in the position of
Division Vice President - West. Mr. Evans will be responsible for oversight of
operations for four of the Company's Regional platforms in Northern California,
Southern California, Las Vegas and Denver.
Stolen
bumpers found at Venture Detroit Free Press - Law-enforcement officials
last week broke up a long-running, stolen-auto-parts ring at a Michigan plant
owned by bankrupt auto supplier Venture Corp.
Rescue at the auto dealership News Day - Pinned under the weight of
collapsed cinderblocks and only able to move his toes, Danny Penna felt
helpless. With blood gushing from the deep cuts on his scalp and the heat of
approaching flames creeping closer, all the Nissan manager could do was cry out
and hope for help.
Monro Muffler Brake, Inc. Announces Record Second Quarter Results
Business Wire - Second quarter sales increased 19.3% to $88.4 million from
$74.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2004. The sales increase was
driven, in part, by a 0.6% improvement in comparable store sales, following a
6.6% increase in the same quarter of last year.
Ankeny Auto Body strives to be 'a leader in the industry' DesMoines
Register - At Ankeny Auto Body, customers will find a knowledgeable staff, the
state-of-the-art tools of a successful auto-body shop, and a family-owned
atmosphere.
North American Risk Services Chooses ADP Solution To Administer Managed Repair
Programs - ADP Claims Services Group, a leading provider of integrated
business solutions for the property and casualty, collision repair and
automotive recycling industries, announced North American Risk Services will
use ADP Managed Repair Solution, powered by eAutoclaims, to administer new and
existing managed repair programs, streamline appraisal assignments and
accelerate the claims process.
Auto Data Network Schedules Conference Call to Present Fiscal Second Quarter
Financial Results Business Wire - Auto Data Network, Inc , a provider
of software and real-time data services to the worldwide automotive industry,
today announced that a conference call to discuss the Company's financial
results for its fiscal second quarter ended August 31, 2004 has been scheduled
for Tuesday, October 19, 2004 at 10:00 am (EDT).
Auto industry faces gloomy third-quarter Billings Gazette - The auto
industry's upcoming earnings season could be discouraging. -- High prices for
steel and oil, so-so vehicle sales despite huge discounts and the remnants of
an inventory hang over make for a potentially ugly round of financial results -
and outlooks for coming quarters - at automakers and parts suppliers alike.
Head-up
display is easier to see The Detroit News - Projecting speedometer on
windshield lets driver check speed while watching road.
Founders Equity Breaks Into the Auto Glass Replacement and Repair Business
PRNewswire - Founders Equity Inc. through Founders Equity SBIC I, L.P., has
added its first portfolio company to the fund through the buyout of the assets
and business of Glass America. Glass America, headquartered in Chicago,
conducts an automobile glass replacement and repair business in 14 states.
Founders Equity sponsored the buyout and with co-investors, including Main
Street Resources and affiliates of JO Hambro Capital Management, invested a
total of $13.6 million in the equity of the company.
Panel
pumped on convenience of run-flat tires The Detroit News - Michelin
described run-flat tires as the biggest breakthrough in tire technology since
the radial tire more than 50 years ago.
Workers from
Ford are burden for Visteon Detroit Free Press - Visteon Corp., trying
to end three years of losses, hasn't been able to cut costs as much as the
auto-parts supplier expected because of delays in sending higher-paid workers
back to former owner Ford Motor Co.
Visteon to Build Plant in Slovakia Forbes - Auto parts maker Visteon
Corp. said Wednesday that it is building a factory in Nitra, Slovakia, to
support new business from Kia Motors Corp. and PSA Peugeot Citroen SA.
Former GW Engineering
Professor Charged With Stealing $600,000 WJLA - Former engineering
professor Nabih Bedewi is accused of stealing $595,000 from the cooperative
venture between the university, the Federal Highway Administration and the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. -- The center used federal
money to run crash tests in Langley and at a new test center at the
university's Ashburn campus.
Allstate sees $1 billion in losses CBS MarketWatch - Insurance giant
Allstate issued its latest estimate late Wednesday of its catastrophe losses
from Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne.
October 13, 2004
Car
parts plant to expand, add jobs The Journal Gazette - The new product –
a glass-free rigid foam – is used as padding and insulation in automotive roof
panels.
ADP Claims Services Group Announces Cars Collision Centers Will Use Shoplink
and Claims Management Applications PRNewswire - ADP Claims Services
Group, a leading provider of integrated business solutions for the property and
casualty, collision repair and automotive recycling industries, announced that
Cars Collision Centers will use ADP's estimating system and claims management
applications in its 30 shops to manage assignments for insurance companies.
State Offers Free
Environmental Compliance Workshops For Auto Body Businesses EIS - Due
to recent changes in the environmental laws, auto body shop owners and
operators have new responsibilities. Those in the auto body business will want
to be sure to attend New York State's free workshops to learn more about these
important changes.
Why Chrysler Is Smiling Again Business 2 - The hot-selling 300 has
reversed the fortunes of the once-troubled automaker. The secret? Bold design
-- and managers who knew when to get out of the way.
Dana Corporation Revises 2004 Earnings Outlook PRNewswire - Dana
Chairman and CEO Michael J. Burns said, "Like most in our industry, we are
being impacted by the rising cost of steel and other raw materials, as well as
reduced North American light-vehicle production volumes. Both factors are
contributing to lower-than-expected operating results, not only in our original
equipment business, but also in the automotive aftermarket business.
Michelin Expands RFID Tests Information Week - The manufacturer is
starting pilots of RFID-tagged tires with several other companies. -- The tire
industry faces regulatory pressures from the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration requiring tire companies to monitor pressure and temperature in
tires as part of the Tread Act, a much-publicized law passed in 2000 in
response to the rollovers of Ford Motor Co.'s Explorers equipped with certain
Firestone tires.
Elbow Lake pair combine forces for 'harebrained' idea Fergus Falls
Journal -It might seem odd to have a computer painted like an automotive, but
that is the idea Steve Orlan and Dave "Flip" Wilson came up with one night in
June.
Asbury Automotive Group Comments on Third Quarter Earnings Expectations PRNewswire
- Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., one of the largest automotive retail and
service companies in the U.S., announced that based on preliminary unaudited
financial information for the quarter ended September 30, 2004, the Company's
earnings from continuing operations are expected to be between $0.39 and $0.41
per diluted share, compared to $0.51 in the prior year quarter.
Middle East based
Automotive Brand Protection Coalition announces launch of website and leaflet
ameinfo.com - The Automotive Brand Protection Coalition, Middle East (ABPC) the
non profit making organization dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers
of using counterfeit car parts in the Middle East whose members are BMW,
DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Toyota,
has launched its website www.nofakeparts.com and announced the production and
distribution of an information leaflet.
Germany
taken to court for protecting VW The Guardian - The European commission
will take Germany to court today for refusing to scrap a 1960 law protecting
Volkswagen from a hostile takeover by in effect giving the state control of
Europe's biggest car maker.
Travelers Integrates Auto Report Ordering into Agent Web site Business
Wire - Travelers, a member of St. Paul Travelers, today announced it has made
it easier for personal lines independent agents to do business by integrating
the ordering of auto underwriting reports into its Agent HQ Web site. For auto
quoting, agents can now order insurance score, claim history (CLUE), and motor
vehicle record (MVR) reports within ATLAS3, the Travelers Internet-based
automation system that provides real-time policy quoting and issuing.
October 12, 2004
Sonic Automotive, Inc. Revises 2004 Earnings Target PRNewswire - Sonic
Automotive, Inc. today revised the Company's earnings target for the year
ending December 31, 2004. The Company now expects that its diluted earnings
per share from continuing operations for the year will be in the range of $2.20
to $2.30.
Chrysler
recalling 955,000 minivans because of potential air bag problem Indy
Star - Chrysler Group is recalling 955,000 minivans because an electrical
problem could cause the driver's side air bag to fail. The vehicles affected
are the Dodge Caravan and Grand Caravan, Plymouth Voyager and Grand Voyager and
Chrysler Town and Country from the 1998 through 2000 model years.
VW
workers employees stop work, protest before wage talks Duluth News
Tribune - Negotiators for Volkswagen and its unionized employees headed into a
third round of crucial wage talks Tuesday after brief work stoppages by workers
underlining their resistance to the automaker's demand for a wage freeze.
Side Impact
Design News - How hard is it to take what you know about front airbags and
design a side airbag? It is not easy.
The Other Black Box Boca Raton News - Ricci sued Ford Motor Co. and
Autoliv, the maker of the black boxes, in April of this year. -- Coppola
sustained pelvic fractures in a Nov. 28 2003 accident and wants access to the
data. She says she believes the data will show she stopped at a stop sign and
that the other driver was speeding. -- “We’re going to give (Autoliv) one more
chance” to provide the data, Ricci said, “and then we’re going to go to trial.”
Staggering Growth in India's Auto Components Sourcing Markets Business
Wire - The opening up of the sector over the last decade has caught the
attention of global auto majors as the only market rivalling China in terms of
potential market size and growth opportunity. As the automobile industry has
grown and matured, the Indian auto components industry has also grown
tremendously, and is rapidly achieving global competitiveness both in terms of
cost and quality.
High steel prices seen denting profits CBS.Marketwatch.com - As
third-quarter earnings reports start to roll in, look for a wide range of
manufacturing companies to blame soaring steel costs for putting a damper on
performance.
Legislation presses for recycling of mercury switches Gloucester County
Times - Car manufacturers would be required to pay the costs of recycling
mercury-containing switches in scrapped cars under a bill pending in the state
Legislature.
Window Canvas
To Unveil Their latest Industry Breakthrough at SEMA 2004 eMedia Wire
- Window Canvas™, the industry leader in manufacturing of high-quality
rear-window see-thru graphics for vehicles will be exhibiting again this year
at the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show 2004 held November in
Las Vegas and unveiling their patent pending Create Your Own product.
Monro Muffler Brake to buy tire stores in Baltimore Rochester Business
Journal - Monro Muffler Brake Inc. has signed an agreement to acquire five
Baltimore-area retail tire stores from Donald B. Rice Tire Co. Inc., a tire
wholesaler and distributor based in Frederick, Md.
Insurer to pay $5.5m to quit state Boston Globe - Fireman's Fund cites
delay in Massachusetts auto coverage revamp -- Fireman's Fund, which insures
less than 1 percent of the state's vehicles, gave official notice this year
that it planned to withdraw from the state on Dec. 31 unless significant
changes were made in the way high-risk drivers are apportioned among companies.
NH
lawmakers irked by black boxes in cars The Union Leader - Two News
Hampshire legislators are surprised to learn their vehicles are equipped with
electronic devices, popularly referred to as “black boxes,” that record a
driver’s behavior seconds before an accident.
Hands Up! Street
Rodder Magazine - The State of California Targets Street Rod Owners for
Potential Fraud
Fed-Mogul deal with union saves St. Johns plant The Detroit News -
Federal-Mogul had threatened to close the factory, which manufactures washers
and bushings for the auto industry, and move its 470 jobs to Mexico, Argentina
or China where labor costs are cheaper.
Car dealers building,
expanding The State - Columbia’s automotive world is growing as several
new vehicle dealerships are opening and other are expanding around the area.
Material Sciences Corporation Reports Second Quarter Results PRNewswire
- Sales of acoustical/thermal material-based solutions in the second quarter
were $25.2 million, 47.9 percent higher than the $17.1 million in the year-ago
period. This was due primarily to a significant increase in shipments of Quiet
Steel(R) for automotive body panels, as well as higher sales of noise damping
materials for original equipment and aftermarket disc brakes and engine
components.
Court sides with
regional policy in auto-recall lawsuit Seattle PI - A federal court
dismissed a lawsuit against the government's highway safety agency, saying its
policy of limiting some vehicle recalls by region does not violate federal law.
Visteon seeks
tax break to expand The Detroit News - Under state law, local
governments can cut taxes by 50 percent on new industrial investments for up to
12 years.
Insurance company made to
pay up WFSB,CT - A local insurance agent at the center of an Eyewitness
News investigation is now accused of failing to protect people's private
information.
October 8, 2004
Appeals court ruling upheld in leukemia case Northwest Arkansas Times -
On April 20, 2001, Betty Roach sued three paint companies in Washington County
Circuit Court, alleging that her husband got leukemia from benzene derived from
automotive paint made by those companies. The jury returned a verdict in
December 2002 finding that the companies were not at fault in causing damages
to Roach. Fourth Circuit Judge Mike Mashburn presided over the trial.
Pettigrew Named Pres., CEO of Caliber Collision Centers Insurance
Journal - As president and CEO, Pettigrew will assume leadership responsibility
for Caliber's strategy and operations in California, Texas, and in other new
markets as the company expands, according to the company's announcement.
Court finds fraud in car insurance case WFAA (subscription) - A Dallas
jury has ruled that the state's largest car insurance company, USAA, committed
fraud. -- The panel found USAA Insurance deliberately cheated a North Texas
pastor Alvin Bagsby and his wife. -- The vehicle had been wrecked by a previous
owner, bought and repaired by USAA. -- The preacher's lawyers claimed the
insurance firm got a new title showing the Cherokee was in top shape, but on
something called a "clue report" said the vehicle was "totaled" and warned
other insurance companies to stay away from it. -- The lawyers said USAA
pocketed an extra $9,000 in the scam. -- Alvin Bagsby refused to give up, and
in court, he won. "My integrity was called into question. My word was called
into question and I was angry," he said.
Lawsuit
alleges fraud by Stu Evans Automotive Group The Detroit News - A
lawsuit filed in federal court in Detroit is accusing the owners of Stu Evans
Automotive Group Inc., which operates two Metro Detroit Lincoln Mercury
dealerships, of fraud and squandering millions in dealership profits, including
the purchase of a 55-foot yacht for one executive's personal use.
October 7, 2004
Ultra Bond Prevails in
the Pleadings Auto News Bytes - In the lawsuit filed by Ultra Bond
against State Farm and Lynx Services from PPG in the Federal District Court in
Denver Colorado, Judge Robert Blackburn denied the defendants motions to
dismiss the Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices and the Tortious Interference
with Prospective Advantage and Contractual Relations.
US
auto parts makers steel price hit likely in '05Reuters - High steel
prices that have crushed U.S. auto parts suppliers' results for the second half
of the year show no signs of abating into 2005, analysts said.
Wrongful
death ruling upheld by court Arkansas News Bureau - The Arkansas Court
of Appeals on Wednesday upheld a Washington County jury's decision favoring
three paint manufacturers in a product liability lawsuit. -- The estate of
Randall Roach, who worked as an auto body repairman for more 20 years, sued the
manufacturers after he died of acute myelogenous leukemia in 2001. The lawsuit
argued the leukemia was caused by his exposure to paints, thinners and solvents
containing trace amounts of the carcinogenic chemical benzene.
Self-taught car mechanic has built an engine that runs on fumes The St.
Louis Post-Dispatch - Bill Caine's used-car lot and automotive repair shop, off
Highway 21 south of Hillsboro, doesn't look like the sort of place where the
next great innovation in automotive technology might be discovered.
Auto tech
career gets more attractive jobs Biloxi Sun Herald - McDonald
attributes some of that interest to the auto repair and custom vehicle shows on
television, as well as the movie "The Fast and the Furious."
Another
Rash of Body Shop Break-ins WTOC - Savannah,GA - It's an all too
familiar story, vandals breaking into local auto body shops stealing everything
from tires to stereos right off and out of the cars.
Auto salvage owner wins small business honors Holland Sentinel -
Veneklasen Auto Parts had humble beginnings. Founded by his father in 1946, the
sales building had a dirt floor and was heated by a potbellied stove,
Veneklasen said.
Hailstorm leaves $9 million bill for State Farm KOBTV, NM - One
insurance company says it anticipates claims stemming from the violent storm
that blew through New Mexico Monday and Tuesday will top $9 million.
VisiTrade" Network Now Trading PPG, Prudential, PeopleSoft, PilaGold
Investor's Business Daily - VisiTrade", a unique mechanism to enable individual
and institutional traders alike to buy or sell any sized blocs of stock
anytime, 24 hours a day, for a single transaction fee, regardless of volume or
price, has debuted at their website.
Tower
Automotive expects larger third-quarter loss Detroit Free Press - In
making the projection, Tower cited lower vehicle production in North America,
the ongoing rise in steel costs, and higher launch costs on new business.
Delphi Revises 2004 Earnings Guidance PRNewswire - Expects volume and
commodity price pressures to continue, particularly the impact of resins and
steel. -- Delphi completed consolidation activities of its Automotive Holdings
Group Flint West operations and has reduced U.S. hourly headcount by
approximately 5,500 since October 2003.
Government expands probe into GM pickups Seattle PI - Federal safety
regulators have reopened and expanded an investigation into General Motors
Corp. pickup trucks after receiving 73 reports of breaking tailgates.
AutoZone shuffles top management Memphis Business Journal - AutoZone
has announced several executive organizational changes Tuesday that the company
is implementing immediately.
Ex-Mitsubishi president pleads innocent Boston Globe - The former head
of scandal-plagued automaker Mitsubishi Motors Corp. pleaded not guilty
Wednesday to charges of professional negligence in a fatal crash that
prosecutors say was caused by a design defect.
Nissan, Volkswagen to recall vehicles for defects Yahoo/Forbes - Nissan
Motor Co. and Volkswagen Group Japan K.K. told the government separately
Tuesday they will recall some of their passenger cars in Japan for defects and
repairs will be done free of charge.
Alcoa Opens New Automotive Center in Detroit Business Wire - Alcoa
formally opened its new Automotive Center in Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA,
today and announced that it has been awarded more than a dozen new product
applications by some of the most respected brands in the automotive industry.
Auto insurance rates
in state are among nation's lowest Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - The
cost of auto insurance in Wisconsin is among the lowest in the country,
according to a just-released report. -- New Jersey was the most expensive
state in which to insure a car, at $1,284.
October 5, 2004
State
Farm case ends after 23 years Salt Lake Tribune - After two decades of
contentious litigation, it's official: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance
Co. must pay $9 million in punitive damages to a Lewiston couple who took on
the insurance giant and won.
Federal
court says area recalls are legal Detroit News - Two consumer groups
sued the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in March with the
complaint that the agency was not requiring manufacturers to notify all product
users about regional recalls.
Garages battle auto makers over repair data Bizjournals.com - As
computers make cars more complicated, independent repair shops fear they could
go the way of shade-tree mechanics.
AutoZone Announces Organizational Changes PRNewswire AutoZone, Inc,
announced the following organizational changes effective immediately. Veteran
retail executive Jim Shea has been hired to the position of Executive Vice
President, Merchandising and Marketing.
Highway safety tools, methods discussed Honolulu Advertiser - Most
drivers don't realize that today's auto windshields are designed to be the
third biggest safety device in a car, behind only seat belts and air bags, said
Janice Brannon of the National Glass Association, which is leading a nationwide
campaign to license commercial auto glass installers.
Supplier
files for Chapter 11 Detroit News - A crushing rise in the price of
steel and other raw materials forced Troy automotive supplier Intermet Corp. to
file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Rimrock Auto building repair center Billings Gazette - Gesturing to a
long paint room capable of handling multiple cars and trucks at once, Steve
Zabawa talks about how opening an auto repair center will boost business.
Offer made for Ford paint shop Morning Journal - A manufacturing
company has made an offer to purchase a portion of Ford Motor Co.'s Lorain
Assembly Paint, but a Ford official said the automaker has countered the offer
because it falls short of the $12 million asking price.
ADP Claims Services Group Joins ImageRight Business Alliance Program Program
certifies ADP as integration partner Business Wire - ADP Claims
Services Group, a leading provider of integrated business solutions for the
property and casualty, collision repair and automotive recycling industries,
has joined the ImageRight Business Alliance program (IBA). By virtue of this
alliance, two leading providers of technology for insurance companies -- ADP
for claims services and ImageRight for document management and workflow
services -- will collaborate to serve joint customers in the property/casualty
insurance industry.
Fast-fit car repair firms 'failed to detect 21% of defects'
news.scotsman.com - CAR owners who want their vehicles tested and repaired
should steer clear of fast-fit outlets and franchised garage dealers because
they are failing to spot common faults, it was claimed yesterday. -- Research
carried out by What Car? magazine suggested that local independent garages
offered the highest quality and best value service.
