Shops in Crisis? The Tech
Shortage - You’ve heard about it. You’ve read about it. Perhaps you’ve
experienced it. It’s ‘The Tech Shortage,’ the most critical personnel issue
facing businesses involved in automotive repair, including tire dealers. It’s
a disaster waiting to happen. -- Or is it?
Harrassment Lawsuit Filed
Against San Jose Shop - The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
today slapped a San Jose auto repair shop with a lawsuit alleging sexual and
racial harassment, claiming that a handful of workers barraged a former
employee with daily degrading comments and that management knew about it but
failed to react.
Sign Experts wrap cars in ads
- Part of what they do is to "wrap" vehicles in printed vinyl to give the
appearance of a custom paint job.
SEMA Exam Deadline Moved -
The deadline to register for SEMA Installer Certification Exams has been
extended to this Friday, Sept. 29.
La. Owner Wins Babcox
Scholarship - Automotive Management Institute (AMI) and Babcox
Publications announced that Steve Sallinger, owner and president of Ole
Metairie Car Care Inc. in Metairie, La., is the recipient of the 2006 Tom B.
Babcox Memorial Scholarship.
NWRA Issues Fall Conference
Updates - The National Windshield Repair Association (NWRA) Fall
Conference has joined the auto glass extravaganza that will co-locate its
event with the Auto Glass Expo @ NACE at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in
Las Vegas in early November. The conference schedule includes a presentation
about working with LYNX Services, given by Fahmy Mechael of LYNX, as well as
an update on the ROLAGS and AGRSS Standards work.
NWRA Launches New Website
- The National Windshield Repair Association (NWRA) launched its new website
recently, unveiling a new look and new home page.
China delays WTO probe into
auto parts - China on Thursday exercised its right to delay a World Trade
Organization (WTO) probe into its rules on auto part imports sought by the
United States, the European Union and Canada. -- The case, the first involving
China to reach litigation, will automatically proceed, however, as soon as
Washington, Brussels and Ottawa make a further request.
Identify the Day-to-Day
Developments in the Automotive Components Market-Research and
Markets has announced the addition of Automotive Components Manufacturers -
September 2006 Issue to their offering. -- Automotive Component Manufacturers
is a dedicated round-up of all the latest global happenings on all the
activities of the world's automotive suppliers.
AIAG Hosts Third Annual Summit - The Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG)
will host its third annual IMDS/ELV Summit on Oct. 12, 2006, at the Rock
Financial Showplace in Novi, Mich., to help the automotive supply chain better
manage and comply with materials content reporting as required by the European
Union End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) Directive.
Philly Residents Fight
Proposed Auto-Salvage Yard - Residents crowded into a city zoning hearing
to oppose a high-tech auto-salvage yard proposed for a 20-acre site in the
Holmesburg section. -- “You’re talking 3,000 customer cars a week,” Peter
Montini told the Zoning Board of Adjustment at a third hearing on the proposal
by Atlanta-based Pull-A-Part.
Plastics material solution for
dashboards - Borealis, innovative plastics solutions provider, and the BMW
Group, have developed a new material and testing solution for instrument panel
carriers. -- This innovation will help to reduce system costs and development
lead times for future models and has, as a result, been awarded a second prize
in the Society of Plastics Engineers’ (SPE) 10th Automotive Division Award
2006 in the category body interior.
Investor pushes for outside
review - General Motors Corp. may not want an alliance with Renault SA and
Nissan Motor Co., but its biggest shareholder, Kirk Kerkorian, is determined
to push GM in that direction.
Deal numbers don't add up for
GM - Just because Las Vegas mogul Kirk Kerkorian is determined to bend
General Motors Corp. to his will -- that is, force an alliance with
Renault-Nissan that puts industry superstar Carlos Ghosn atop GM -- doesn't
mean GM will do it.
GM to build new car for U.S.
off new global platform - General Motors Corp, will build at least one car
from its new global family of rear- and all-wheel-drive cars at a plant in the
United States, company vice chairman Bob Lutz revealed in an interview at the
Paris auto show today.
September 28, 2006
I-CAR To Conduct Qualification
Tests At NACE 2006 - For the first time ever, I-CAR will be conducting
both the Automotive Steel GMA (MIG) Welding and Automotive Aluminum GMA (MIG)
Welding Qualification Tests (QTs) at NACE. The prep class and test for both
steel and aluminum QTs will be held from 8 a.m. - 12 noon and 1 - 6 p.m.
respectively November 2 - 4, 2006 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center
parking lot.
Avoid registration lines at
NACE, save with CCIF affiliation - Haven't registered yet for NACE? Do so
online to avoid long registration line-ups at the show, and to take advantage
of a promotion discount available to CCIF participants. -- CCIF is the
official Canadian endorser of NACE.
Watch your car's back -
Truck tailgates and SUV third-row seats are latest cash-making targets for
thieves. -- Though 60 percent of all cars stolen are returned, the rest end up
on the black market, shipped overseas or in chop shops, where vehicles are
dismantled and the parts sold on the black market, said Frank Scafidi,
spokesman for the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
Universal Technical Institute,
Inc. Announces Reduction in Force - Universal Technical Institute, Inc., a
provider of technical education training, announced a reduction in force of
approximately 70 employees nationwide effective today. The nationwide
headcount of the Company following these terminations is approximately 2,400
employees.
Settlements cut PPG results - PPG Industries Inc. said Wednesday it will
reduce its third quarter earnings by 72 cents a share because of the costs of
proposed environmental remediation of sites in Louisiana and New Jersey, plus
a proposed settlement of a class action lawsuit by the U.S. automotive
refinishing industry. -- The company has agreed to settle a federal
class-action lawsuit related to alleged antitrust violations in the U.S.
automotive refinish industry from 1993 through 2000. -- PPG said it does not
believe it violated any laws, but settled to avoid costly legal expenses.
Lilbuddy Scores at Best of
Belron - At the recent Best of Belron competition in Nurberg, Germany
earlier this month, the top three finishers all used the Lilbuddy Pro
windshield tool for one-man sets.
Manheim Honored with the 2006
Vehicle Remarketing Client Value - For its innovation in technology and
its focus on continuously providing outstanding service to customers, Manheim
has today been recognized with the 2006 Vehicle Remarketing Client Value
Enhancement Award in by Frost & Sullivan.
Sales for the Automobile
Aftermarket Reached $35 billion in the US - Report encompasses auto parts
or products used to modify the appearance, performance and/or handling of
automobiles, including light trucks/SUVs and passenger cars. The focus of this
report is on non-original equipment products that are purchased for passenger
vehicles.
Washington Automotive
Professional Selected as 2007 NAPA/ASE Parts Specialist of the Year - NAPA
Auto Parts and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)
have named Ernesto Cerrillo the 2007 NAPA/ASE Parts Specialist of the Year.
Cerrillo, who is employed by Allen’s Auto Parts, Inc. in Tonasket, Washington,
is the eighth individual to receive this special parts professional honor
within the NAPA system.
Verio Survey Reveals Small
Business Data Left Vulnerable to Loss - Small businesses at risk say the
impact of data loss would be costly and want to remedy the problem. -- As a
vehicle collision repair shop with locations across the state of Pennsylvania,
The Body Shop @ Andretti says it regularly provides repair estimates to
insurers, and it’s vital for the company to back-up those estimates for future
reference, not to mention customer information and financial data.
DuPont Offers Titanium Powder
for Parts - Chemical maker DuPont Co. on Wednesday said it developed a new
process for making high-purity titanium metal powder that could reduce cost
and boost efficiency in parts manufacturing for the aerospace and automobile
industries.
Visteon Up on Buyout Rumors -
Shares of Visteon Corp. rose Wednesday, a day after cutting its profit
guidance for the year, on analyst predictions of long-term growth and
speculation that the auto supplier may be bought.
Delphi to Outsource to HP, EDS -
Delphi Corp. said it has struck deals with two of the world's biggest
providers of outsourcing services to shift its information-technology
operations to them, a move that will shrink the company's global roster of IT
suppliers by 90 percent.
Lutz lauds GM's progress in
leveraging company on a global scale - The Renault Nissan alliance and
General Motors issued a joint statement saying that their leaders had met
today, on the eve of the biennial Paris Car Show, and decided to carry on
examining the merits of the proposed alliance, and report their findings in
mid-October.
Ford Exec Says Jaguar Not for
Sale Now, but That Could Change - Lewis Booth, chairman of Ford of Europe
and vice president of the company's Premier Automotive Group, told industry
analysts in a webcast from Paris that Jaguar's status could change as the
company goes through a strategic review of all its assets.
Airbags, Antilock Brakes Not
Likely to Reduce Accidents, Injuries - Researchers have determined that
airbags and antilock braking systems do not reduce the likelihood of accidents
or injuries because they may encourage more aggressive driving, thwarting the
potential benefits of such safety features.
AG, rating bureau submit steep
cuts in auto insurance rates - Boston: The attorney general and the state
Division of Insurance on Wednesday proposed steep cuts in Massachusetts auto
insurance premiums that could save some drivers between $85 and $180 annually
on their bills, depending on the proposal.
Safeco Names
Director - Property and casualty insurance company Safeco said Wednesday
its board appointed John Hamlin a director effective Nov. 1.
Progressive offers concierge
service, opens Lynnwood office - WA: The Progressive Group of Insurance
Cos. recently unveiled its concierge level of claims service for the Puget
Sound region, an effort to reduce the amount of time drivers have to spend
repairing or replacing their cars after accidents.
Federal judge refuses to block
testimony of State Farm employees - A federal judge says employees of
State Farm Insurance Company will have to testify in a Hurricane Katrina
lawsuit despite the company's claim they might incriminate themselves in
ongoing investigations.
CIECA Collaborate, Begin Work
on Subrogation Vendor Assignment Project - Collision Industry Electronic
Commerce Association (CIECA) and the Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) X12
announced the beginning of a joint effort to collaborate on the development of
standards used in the collision electronic commerce environment.
Restoration shop gears for
growth - OK: Trinity constructs auto repair facility, awaits broadcast of
reality TV show -- Trinity Restoration owner David Miller expects sales at his
collision repair and restoration firm to approach $6 million annually after he
opens a new 25,611-square-foot automobile repair facility in south Tulsa next
year.
Love bugs could turn your car
to rust - Florida: You might be seeing a lot of love bugs as you drive.
They like to hang out near roadways. All the car exhaust attracts them. --
"Eventually the bugs will deteriorate the clear coat and just start eating
into it, because apparently their, whatever they've got in them, guts, is
stronger than what's on the paint," said Arlington Car Wash owner Mark
Pfiester.
Tarzana man faces charges in
fraud case - CA: A Tarzana man was arrested Tuesday on charges that he
allegedly duped and defrauded customers who brought cars into his two local
auto repair shops, authorities said.
Delphi buyouts add 1,400 more
- The number of workers deciding to leave the auto parts supplier totals
20,100 -- 70% of staff.
Auto-parts supplier Visteon
Corp. warns - Auto-parts supplier Visteon Corp. said Tuesday it would not
meet its financial targets for the rest of the year because of production cuts
by auto makers and other factors.
GM reportedly demands billions
for tie-up - General Motors is reportedly demanding a "multibillion"
dollar payment from Renault and Nissan as the price to join the French and
Japanese companies' alliance, according to a published report on Wednesday.
Ghosn to GM: Deal could save
$10B yearly - Carlos Ghosn was expected today to tell General Motors Corp.
Chairman Rick Wagoner that GM could save at least $10 billion a year by
entering into an alliance with Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co., according to
people close to the situation.
Chrysler will cut, LaSorda
warns - Chrysler Group CEO Tom LaSorda said Monday that the company will
continue to focus on cost cutting and warned again of possible structural cuts
-- not just production cuts -- in response to bloated inventories, high
incentives and an expected $1.5-billion operating loss for the three months
ending Sept. 30.
Toyota, Nissan Shelve
Heavy-Duty Truck Plans...For Now - In the meantime, Ford is rolling out a
redesigned Super Duty pickup in spring 2007. The redesigned heavy-duty
Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups will arrive from General Motors
about the same time.
Small Sells Big--For Now -
Fuel prices have been dropping the past few weeks. No one knows how low they
will go or when they will begin to climb again. Nevertheless, it is reasonable
to think that recent experience is making buyers more cautious when it comes
to big and fuel-thirsty sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks.
GM's bitter pill -
Automaker spends billions on drugs for aging workers, retirees
Automakers win bid to fight
Calif. rules - General Motors Co., Ford Motor Corp. and other automakers
won a court bid to challenge California rules limiting emissions linked to
global warming.
Distressed Debt Hits 8-Year
Low - No surprise to anyone keeping up on business news, automotive
companies feature prominently on the list of companies in the distressed
speculative-grade bond market. For example, Ford Motor Co., Exide
Technologies, Keystone Automotive Operations, and Metaldyne had distressed
credits having 600 bps and 800 bps spread minimums as of September 15. Still,
the automotive sector had some of the largest declines in the share of
distressed credits in late summer.
MIA to run UKTI-supported
mission to SEMA exhibition - The Motorsport Industry Association (MIA) is
mounting an initiative to help capture business on the West Coast of the USA
by running a UK TI-supported Business Development Mission to the SEMA
exhibition, open from October 31-November 3 at the Las Vegas Convention
Centre.
October is 'Michigan Car-Deer
Crash Safety Awareness Month' - October and November are two of the most
dangerous months in Michigan, especially for the state's 1.75 million
white-tailed deer and the motorists who crash into them each year.
NHTSA Releases List of Model
Year 2007 Vehicles For Crash and Rollover Testing - A total of 38
passenger cars, 40 sport utility vehicles, three vans, and five pickups will
be tested in NHTSA’s crash test program. This testing will provide consumers
with access to frontal crash ratings for almost 84 percent of all 2007 models
offered for sale in the U.S. Side crash ratings will be available for nearly
70 percent of the 2007 fleet.
"Watch Your Car Program"
Deters Theft, Reduces Insurance - New York State Department of Motor
Vehicles (DMV) Commissioner Nancy A. Naples today announced that Buffalo area
residents had an opportunity to make their vehicles less attractive to car
thieves and safer for their children.
Progressive Commercial Auto
Releases Insurance Claims Data; Pinpoints When Most Crashes Occur -
Progressive Commercial Auto, part of The Progressive Group of Insurance
Companies, which ranks third in the nation for commercial auto insurance based
on premiums written and sells commercial auto insurance to small businesses
over the phone and through independent insurance agents and brokers, recently
reviewed claims data from crashes that occurred between September 2005 and
August 2006 involving commercial vehicles it insures.
What You Need To Know About A
Car Insurance Adjuster? - If you’re in need of a car insurance adjuster
then there are a few facts you should know before you meet with him/her. The
first rule of thumb is that if your car insurance adjuster is over friendly
remember, he is there to save money for the company he works with, not
especially for you.
US court to hear appeal by
insurers on credit law - The U.S. Supreme Court said on Tuesday that it
would decide the level of proof required for insurers to be held liable for
violating a federal law requiring that consumers be notified when their rates
have been increased based on their credit reports.
September 26, 2006
I-CAR Gold Class Professionals
Highlighted On Motorweek's Goss' Garage - Tune in and watch as I-CAR Gold
Class Professionals designated businesses will be highlighted on Goss' Garage,
a segment of the television program MotorWeek, which is scheduled to air on
Saturday, October 14, 2006.
I-CAR Training Approved For
CEU Credit In Ontario - I-CAR Live training programs have been approved
for continuing education unit (CEU) credit in Ontario by the Registered
Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO). RIBO is the self-regulatory body for
insurance brokers in Ontario established in 1981.
I-CAR Education Foundation Chair Thanks Industry For
Support Of Perkins Act - After passing Congress
with near unanimous support, the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical
Education Improvement Act of 2005 was signed into law by the President of the
United States on August 12. As a result, Federal funding will continue to
those states and schools that offer technical education, including collision
repair programs.
EPA Releases Final Rule for
Particulate Matter - ASA: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has
published its final rule for the national ambient air quality standards for
particulate matter (PM). The final standards cover both fine particles smaller
than 2.5 micrometers in diameter and inhalable coarse particles smaller than
10 micrometers. -- The Automotive Service Association (ASA) supports vehicle
emissions testing for vehicles nationwide and is participating in the upcoming
Clean Air Conference hosted by the EPA and Colorado State University.
Classic car graces calendar
- Jernander's four-door sedan gained some special attention at the Spring
Green Car Show in August when two men from parts manufacturer CARS Inc. out of
Detroit approached him and started to ask about his car.
Dam to block pollutants at PPG
- OH: PPG will be required to sample the water from Lower Hudson Run twice a
year for five years to prove to the EPA that the remedy worked.
Valeo to sell motors division
to fund Visteon buy - Valeo is to sell its motors and actuators division
to fund the acquisition of certain parts of troubled US peer Visteon Corp,
newssheet La Lettre de l'Expansion reported, without naming its source.
Stanley Downbeat On
Valeo-Visteon Linkup - Valeo edging higher on talk that it's backing away
from an alliance with Visteon. Valeo spokesman won't comment on speculation,
but notes that "many European suppliers are talking to the Americans these
days.
New tune for Silverado -
GM, which is launching patriotic ad campaign this weekend, expects new truck
to be key to turnaround.
GM and Ford: Cost Cuts Only
the Start - US automakers General Motors and Ford Motor have taken
increasingly aggressive steps in 2006 to slash costs and bolster performance
in their North American operations.
Honda's domestic auto output
rises 12% in August vs. year - Honda Motor Co. said Monday it increased
domestic production for the third straight month in August, lifting it by
11.8% from a year earlier to 90,278 vehicles in response to strong exports to
North America.
Stranglehold - How
General Motors and the nation are losing an epic battle to tame the health
care beast
Diplomacy, humor take new
NHTSA chief far - Bubbly personalities can be misleading. The 36-year-old
lawyer and former Republican Capitol Hill aide is an accomplished political
strategist who uses good humor and charm where others might snipe.
Best Companies for Working
Moms Listed - Working Mother magazine released its annual list of the top
100 places to work, with its chief executive touting an improvement in
mother-friendly benefits in corporate America.
ACIC Urges Veto of Punitive Damages Bill - The Association of California
Insurance Companies (ACIC) is urging the governor to veto punitive damage
recovery legislation that “makes no public policy sense from either a fiscal
or legal perspective,” according to Jeff Fuller, ACIC general counsel and
executive vice president.
Countrywide brings auto
insurance program to Arizona - Countrywide Financial Corp., known in
Arizona for its home loan programs, announced Monday that it is adding auto
insurance to its lineup of products in the state.
Advocates to push Calif. auto
insurance rules elsewhere - After a study of insurance rates in the state
led California's insurance regulator to push insurers to cut their auto and
homeowner policy prices, activists involved say they will push for similar
changes in other states, while insurers question the study's validity.
GEICO's Jon Coachman Named
IASIU Investigator of the Year - GEICO's Jon Coachman, a special
investigator in Houston, was named 2006 Investigator of the Year by IASIU
(International Association of Special Investigation Units) for his
contributions to GEICO and to the insurance industry as a whole.
September 25, 2006
The Estimator as Super
Salesperson - I recently visited a shop that had invested a significant
sum in contacting the agents of a major insurance company to promote for
referrals over a period of several years. -- It's been my experience that
effective sales people have an unusual talent and skill that not many people
possess.
Vehicle Damage Disclosure Bill
Introduced in House - ASA: U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., has introduced
legislation that would call for The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) to require the disclosure of all information pertaining
to the fair market value and safety of damaged vehicles.
GEICO Didn't Mislead, Co-Star
Says - Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who likes to take on fights
big and small, may have met his match - Stanley Smith, the customer featured
in a GEICO commercial that the state official called deceptive. -- He believes
he was truthful in the ad because the repair was done through GEICO's Auto
Repair Xpressprogram at a company-approved shop.
AutoWatch service catches on
- "In general, people don't trust car places," said Lori Roberts, an estimator
at Johnson Body Shop in Durham, which has AutoWatch. "But when they get to see
the repair online, they know we're being honest and fixing it the way we said.
They are less suspicious."
Automotive customizing program
first in state - NC: Lenoir Community College is geared up to offer the
state’s first and only automotive customizing degree through the business and
industry department. -- After a year of planning and sequencing coursework —
including training in auto upholstering, welding, machining, glass and
fiberglass customization and painting and detailing — the state approved the
degree program in July. Courses will begin this spring.
Making a wish come true -
IN: Five locally-owned CARSTAR collision repair centers recently joined
together to host the CARSTAR Charity Golf Tournaments, with proceeds going to
the Northwest Indiana branch of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Held at the White
Hawk Country Club in Crown Point on July 26 and Aug. 16, the tournaments
raised $6,000 to help fulfill the wish of a local three-year-old girl.
AADCO Announces Agreement to
Purchase Dominion Auto Recycling Inc. - AADCO Automotive Inc. (the
"Company"), the parent company of AADCO Vehicle Disposal Services Inc, a
leading supplier of quality (LKQ) used auto parts, announces that it has
entered into a letter of intent providing for the purchase of Jorama Holdings
Inc. of Stoney Creek Ontario.
A different kind of pioneer
- Kelly Kulick, who worked in her father’s auto body shop in Elizabeth, N.J.,
is the first woman to qualify for a full season on the men’s Pro Bowling
Association Tour.
Auto alliance hunts for CEO
- There's another auto industry CEO job open. The Alliance of Automobile
Manufacturers, a Washington-based trade group that represents nine automakers,
has begun searching for a new leader, officials said this week.
Ford cutbacks may mean good
news to local dealerships - TN: To some local car dealers, cutbacks at
Ford Motor Co. could represent good news, eventually fueling sales at
dealerships across the country. -- But for some auto parts suppliers, the
cutbacks are ominous, representing a loss of livelihood for thousands of
workers nationwide, including some close to home.
Struggle in Detroit - Can
the nation's Big Three automakers break bad habits and reshape themselves to
innovate and succeed in an intensely competitive marketplace?
DaimlerChrysler may sell China-built car
here - DaimlerChrysler AG is close to finalizing a deal with China's Chery
Automobile Co. Ltd. to produce Dodge-branded subcompacts for sale in the
United States, in what is likely to be the first such arrangement between a
leading global automaker and an aspiring Chinese manufacturer.
French wary of GM alliance
- As General Motors Corp. and Renault-Nissan near the end of their 90-day
investigation into forming a three-way alliance, many people inside Renault
and around the French auto industry have yet to be convinced the deal makes
sense.
Nissan To End Hybrid Tie-Up
With Toyota - Nissan Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp decided to end
their hybrid car-related technology tie-up as Nissan plans to develop its
own hybrid model, Daily Yomiuri reported on Saturday.
Mitsubishi to recall 27,367
minivans - Japan's Mitsubishi Motors Corp. will recall more than 25,000
minivans over an airbag defect, the transportation ministry announced Friday.
China-Ford tie worth pondering
- What if the Ford "Way Forward" plan included an alliance with a Chinese auto
manufacturer?
Airbag scientist dies -
Carl Cyrus Clark, an internationally known expert whose research contributed
significantly to the development of car airbags has died. -- "The bottom line
in discussing Carl Clark is that people are safer because of his work. He did
more for humanity than 99.9 per cent of the world's scientists," consumer
advocate Ralph Nader said.
What are you putting in your
tires? - "People wonder why should they pay for something that's already
in the air, and we say why are you drinking that bottled water?" Tire
Warehouse manager Sean Bailey said.
Road Rules - Each day,
millions of motorists are at risk of a wreck. -- How can you avoid being one
of them?
Auto insurers' use of credit
scores criticized - The practice is drawing criticism from consumer groups
and doesn't sit well with some automobile owners. -- Insurance companies have
insisted that there is a strong correlation between the way that individuals
handle credit and the likelihood that they will file a claim.
Auto insurance companies aim
to lower rates - CA: Eight auto insurance companies filed applications to
lower rates to comply with a state reform program, a move that could save San
Diego motorists more than $28.5 million annually, it was announced Friday.
State Farm officers' testimony
- State Farm's top management petitioned the Oklahoma Supreme Court in an
effort to avoid giving testimony in a class-action lawsuit filed against the
company, but were in the end compelled to submit to questioning.
Shops Rely on Internet -
AutoInc: Ninety-nine percent of ASA collision repair facilities, and 94 percent
of mechanical shops, access the Internet to communicate and retrieve
business-related material. Fifty-six percent of collision shops and 53 percent
of mechanical respondents confirmed operating a Web site. Both collision
members (43 percent) and mechanical members (38 percent) report their
established Web site is used for attracting customers.
CIC Database Task Force meets
with Audatex - The Collision Industry Conference (CIC) Database Task Force,
comprised of representatives from the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers
(AASP), the Automotive Service Association (ASA) and the Society of Collision
Repair Specialists (SCRS) met recently with representatives from Audatex, a
Solera company, as part of a series of meetings with information providers.
ARA Urges Support for House
Bill Calling for Disclosure of Damaged Vehicles - The Automotive Recyclers
Association (ARA) commended the United States House of Representatives today
for taking a crucial step to make America's roadways safer by ensuring valuable
information is easily accessible to consumers.
Used Cars Can Have Hidden
Damage - In Connecticut and around the northeast the spring flooding has
now led to a bumper crop -- of flooded cars.
Group 1 Automotive shares
driving ahead - Buoyed by recently announced financial results and
Wednesday's strong market surge, shares of auto retailer Group 1 Automotive
Inc. gained $2.34, or 5 percent, to close at $48.96.
UnitedAuto Group to Participate
in Thomas Weisel Partners Consumer Conference 2006 - United Auto Group,
Inc., an international automotive retailer, announced today that Roger Penske,
Chairman, and Anthony Pordon, Senior Vice President, will be presenters at the
Thomas Weisel Partners Consumer Conference 2006 in New York, NY. The
presentation is scheduled to occur at 10:20 a.m. Eastern Time on September 25,
2006.
Asbury Automotive Group to
Present at Thomas Weisel Partners Conference - Asbury Automotive Group,
Inc., one of the largest automotive retail and service companies in the U.S.,
today announced that Company management will present at the Thomas Weisel
Partners Consumer Conference at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City.
Automotive Hall of Fame to
Recognize Bridgestone Founder - Bridgestone Corp. founder Shojiro Ishibashi
will be among seven individuals that will be inducted into the Automotive Hall
of Fame on Tuesday, Oct. 3 in Dearborn, Mich.
Union boss says Delphi will
close Moraine plant - Union leader Willie Thorpe expects that sometime next
year, Delphi Corp. will close its Moraine automotive compressors factory and
transfer production to Mexico.
Lear profits take backseat to
vehicle production cuts - Lear Corp., a maker of vehicle interiors and
seats, lowered its profit forecast for this year by about 15 percent because of
U.S. automakers' production cuts.
Four Arrested in Staged Auto
Collision Insurance Scam - CA: A scam involving staged auto accidents and
false claims of bodily injury led to the arrests Thursday morning of four Bay
Area residents, state Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi announced
Greg Horn Joins Mitchell
International as Vice President of Industry Relations - Mitchell
International, a leading provider of information, workflow, and performance
management solutions to the automotive insurance claims and collision repair
industries, today announced that Greg Horn had joined the company as Vice
President of Industry Relations. Prior to joining Mitchell, Horn served as Vice
President of Material Damage Claims at St. Louis-based GMAC, and before that he
served as Director of Material Damage Processes for National Grange Mutual.
Bureau of Automotive Repair
Seeks to Shut Down Southern California EZ Lube Shops -The California
Department of Consumer Affairs/Bureau of Automotive Repair (DCA/BAR) is taking
disciplinary action that may result in the suspension or revocation of the
Automotive Repair Dealer registrations of 76 Southern California EZ Lube auto
repair shops. This marks the largest Bureau investigation in recent history
against an independently owned automotive repair corporation.
CARS Management Seminars Take
Businesses, Income to 'Next Level' - The Automotive Service Association's (ASA)
Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) is offering three management
seminars for 2006 that will take businesses and income to the "next level."
The Most Technical Training
Education Offered In CARS History - From EVAP systems to hybrids to
technology trends, the Automotive Service Association's (ASA) Congress of
Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) will offer 12 technical courses for this
year's event - the most technical training in CARS history.
Dow Automotive
Asks: Are You Ready for the Auto Glass Olympics? - With the second annual
Auto Glass Technician Olympics right around the corner, Dow Automotive Technical
Manager, Aftermarket, Dale Malcolm wants to make sure every entrant is prepared
with the most up-to-date training and certification - and that everybody else is
fired up to see this exciting and educational event.
Kryger Glass to
Host Vendor Fair and Product Expo - Kryger Glass has announced that it is
busy planning the second Vendor Fair & Product Expo. Back by customer request,
OktoberFair 2006 will be held in Kansas City on Saturday, October 14th at the
company's Kansas City Distribution Center. -- According to a Kryger press
release, the event is for the independent glass shops that would like to save
the expense of going to the larger shows in Vegas or Florida.
TYC Surprises Investors With
Minor Loss in Q2 - Taipei: TYC Brothers Industrial Co., Ltd., one of the
top-two auto-lamp manufacturers in Taiwan, suffered a loss of NT$3.05 million
(US$92,987 at US$1: NT$32.8) in the second quarter, surprising most investors.
-- The auto-lamp maker stressed that the aftermarket (AM) auto-parts business
peaks in the third quarter; plus its operation is expected to see clear growth
due to the increasing number of Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA)-certified
lamps being produced; and European buyers are returning with orders.
Missouri court hears appeal in
$80 million verdict against GM - Six years after an unusual driveway
accident, the Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday on whether an
$80 million judgment against General Motors Corp. was improperly influenced by
the evidence a judge allowed jurors to hear.
Attorney General Lockyer Files
Lawsuit Against “Big Six” Automakers for Global Warming Damages in California -
Attorney General Bill Lockyer today filed a lawsuit against leading U.S. and
Japanese auto manufacturers, alleging their vehicles’ emissions have contributed
significantly to global warming, harmed the resources, infrastructure and
environmental health of California, and cost the state millions of dollars to
address current and future effects.
Deer Can Be Deadly (and
Expensive) to Drivers - According to claims information collected and
analyzed by Erie Insurance, one in every 100 drivers nationally is likely to
have a collision with a deer. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
estimates that deer/vehicle crashes rack up $1.1 billion in property damages,
tens of thousands of injuries, and more than 200 deaths every year.
Safeco to achieve savings of
$75 mln by end-2006 - Safeco Corp. said on Wednesday it expects to achieve
savings of $75 million in expenses by the end of 2006, including terminating
some employees and taking pretax charges of $10 million to $15 million. -- The
expense reductions are part of an ongoing business process improvement program,
the Seattle, Washington-based auto and home insurer said.
Insurers pass profits to
drivers in Virginia - Safer cars and better enforcement of drunken-driving
laws have been a boon to auto insurers' profitability in recent years. Now some
vehicle owners are starting to benefit with lower insurance rates.
September 20, 2006
Shifting Gears, Changing Lanes -
AutoInc: Everyone deals with change differently. Knowing how you deal with it
can shed light on your work style.
Prairie Profiles, Jim O’Byrne:
Just doing it - We’ve come a long way in two years,” is how Jim O’Byrne
explains the extent of the business he now operates with his wife, Dede. In
fact, the first letters of their names are used to identify this distinctive
business as JD-Autobody.
"Golden Gun" for the world
champion automotive refinish trainer - Throughout the world, BASF Coatings'
trainers provide the company’s automotive refinish expertise to painters at
local companies and bodyshops. In October, the world’s eight best trainers will
be competing against each other face to face at Glasurit®’s headquarters in
Münster, where the Global Trainer Grand Prix finals are taking place.
Recognition for innovation and
entrepreneurship: Four projects win BASF Awards - BASF honors exceptional
team projects that go beyond innovation and make a major contribution to the
company’s success, present and future. Such projects are best-practice examples
of teams that act as entrepreneurs within the company and accomplish
outstanding results for BASF with a perfect mix of pioneership, passion and
proficiency.
Earl Scheib Announces Financial
Results for the First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2007 - Net sales for the first
quarter of fiscal 2007 were $12,652,000, a decrease of 2.8% from the first
quarter of fiscal 2006. This resulted primarily from a decrease in car volume
in the retail paint and body shops and operation of five fewer retail shops,
partially offset by an increase in the average transaction value and one
additional selling day in the first quarter of fiscal 2007. On a same-day
basis, same-shop retail sales in the first quarter of fiscal 2007 decreased by
0.2%.
Maaco opens training centre and
new head office - Maaco welcomed industry guests to its dazzling, pristine
training centre and new head office during the official opening celebration in
mid-September. The new facility in Milton, ON, will have several functions, says
Gary Dohring, president of Maaco Systems Canada Inc., the franchising
organization for Maaco collision repair and autobody painting shops in Canada.
Custom 1956 Ford F-100 Pickup -
Timeless - Four Years of Time and Pressure Has Turned This F-100 Into a
Diamond That Will Not Be Forgotten. -- Few people have the opportunity to
perform this extensive a number of modifications to a production ’50s Ford
pickup and to assemble one in such a precise way.
When it comes to color, no one
can touch ''Junior" - The famous auto painter (full name Hershel Conway),
who is being honored at the California Hot Rod Reunion, Oct. 6-8, Bakersfield,
has been called the "Picasso of the Parking Lot" and the "Raphael of the Road"
by none other than Sports Illustrated.
New Research Reveals Strong
Growth in Chinese Auto Aftermarket Business - Parts and service in China's
light passenger car market reached an estimated US$18.3 billion in 2005, driven
by strong expansion of the vehicle parc, according to new research conducted by
Technomic Asia, an international market consultancy specializing in China
strategies for U.S. companies.
Auto parts company gets tax
break - To help stay competitive with its foreign counterparts, Behr
Industries Corp. is investing $4.5 million in equipment.
Tower Automotive to close
Sandusky plant - Tower Automotive Inc., a bankrupt supplier of automobile
frames primarily to Ford Motor Co., will close its Sandusky, Ohio, plant,
eliminating 135 jobs, the company said yesterday in a filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
Ford to close or sell
2,200-worker Indianapolis plant - Dennis Virag, president of Automotive
Consulting Group Inc. in Ann Arbor, Mich., said the plant, which employs about
2,200 workers and is Ford's primary supplier of steering components, could
prove problematic to sell.
Is Chrysler next? - First
GM restructures, then Ford, now everyone wonders
GM Showing Anti-Rollover
Technology in Indianapolis - Making families safer on the road is the focus
of a special safety tour that is in Indianapolis. Tuesday morning GM showed off
its electronic stability control technology.
Science center awarded grant
- Carnegie Science Center has been awarded a grant of more than $400,000 by PPG
Industries to develop three science education programs to be offered in a
five-state region.
U.S. companies with Thailand
operations aren't panicking over coup - Ford Motor Co. (F) has a large stake
in Thailand and uses its plant in Pleukdang as a major export base for smaller
pickup trucks. -- DuPont Co. has offices in Bangkok and manufacturing
facilities at Bangpoo Industrial Estate in Samutprakarn province. -- Rohm & Haas
Co. (ROH) produces coatings, adhesives and sealants and performance chemicals at
facilities in Maptaphut, Thailand.
Thai coup disrupts Japanese
auto makers' production - Production at Japanese auto makers' factories in
Thailand was disrupted on Wednesday after the country's armed forces seized
power in Bangkok, with Nissan Motor Co., Mazda Motor Corp. and others calling
off work for the day.
Finding a Needle in a Digital
Haystack of Information - AutoInc: From ordering parts online to accessing
information, the Internet has changed the way automotive service and repair
shops do business. Find out how to effectively manage the changing ways of
doing business.
Make New Neighbors Your
Customers - AutoInc: While you've been busy running your auto repair
business, working hard to provide good service and struggling to keep your car
counts growing, something has happened out there in the non-automotive world:
the "accepted" rules of marketing have died. Gone. Kaput. And in their wake, a
brand new promotional ballgame has risen.
I-CAR Education Foundation Chair Thanks Industry For Support Of Perkins Act
- After passing Congress with near unanimous support, the Carl D. Perkins
Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2005 was signed into law by
the President of the United States on August 12. As a result, Federal funding
will continue to those states and schools that offer technical education,
including collision repair programs.
Abra executives buy out
investors with help of Prudential - Abra Inc. has pulled a rabbit out of
its hat. -- The Brooklyn Center-based company that runs Abra Auto Body & Glass
collision repair shops faced an October deadline to refinance or repay a $25
million round of venture-capital investment made in 2001.
COO of eAutoclaims, Inc. Resigns -
Mr. S. Reed Mattingly resigned his position as Chief Operating Officer of
eAutoclaims, Inc. effective September 15, 2006 in order to pursue other
business interests returning to his home in South Carolina. Mr. Mattingly will
be entering into a consulting agreement for his services to eAutoclaims, Inc.
subsequent to his departure in order to ensure a smooth transition of his
duties.
Ohio EPA Launches Mercury
Switch Removal Program for Auto Recyclers - The Ohio Environmental
Protection Agency is launching an automobile mercury switch removal program.
The Agency, partnering with End-of-Life Vehicle Solutions Corp., will provide
licensed auto salvage yards $3 for each mercury switch they remove prior to
dismantling or crushing vehicles.
Dura Automotive Systems to
Expand Operations at Three Tennessee Facilities - The cities of Lawrenceburg
and Milan will provide tax abatement assistance on new equipment purchases,
while TVA has committed to working with the DURA Automotive on energy savings
opportunities through its loan and growth credit programs.
ThyssenKrupp Looking for U.S.
Deal Soon - German industrial conglomerate ThyssenKrupp AG expects to reach
an agreement over the sale of the body and chassis operations of its U.S.
automotive unit in coming weeks, perhaps by the end of October.
Steel Parts Corporation
Announces Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filing - Steel Parts Corporation announced
today that due to worsening conditions in the automotive supplier marketplace
and unsustainable debt, Steel Parts filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection
in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in
Detroit on Friday, September 15, 2006.
Ford plan includes sale or
closure of former Visteon plants - Ford's accelerated restructuring plan
includes a deadline of 2008 to sell off or close 14 plants that the automaker
took over last year as part of a bailout of parts supplier Visteon.
Ford restructuring seen dogged
by uncertainty - As Ford Motor Co. moves to implement its biggest job-cut
and plant-closure program in its 103-year history, uncertainties about the
turnaround plan risk complicating its execution, analysts said on Monday.
Ford to buy Rover name from BMW
- Ford Motor Co. said Monday it will buy the Rover name from BMW AG, which sold
the Land Rover sport utility vehicle business to Ford in 2000.
Toyota unveils new pickup -
Toyota Motor Corp. unveiled today at its Technical Center in Ann Arbor long-bed
versions of the 2007 Tundra full-size pickup aimed at winning hardcore truck
buyers. -- The Tundra Long Bed will be available in both Regular- and
Double-Cab.
GEICO names Greg Kalinsky to
head California and West Coast operations - GEICO's board of directors this
week announced that Greg Kalinsky will head GEICO's California and West Coast
operations as regional vice president. Kalinsky previously served as vice
president for the company's national underwriting practices in GEICO's
Washington, D.C., headquarters.
Allstate CEO to Step Down at
End of 2006 - Allstate Corp. said Monday CEO Edward Liddy, who has led the
insurer for nearly eight years after orchestrating its 1994 spinoff off from
Sears, Roebuck and Co., is stepping down at the end of 2006 and will be
succeeded by No. 2 executive Thomas Wilson.
September 18, 2006
I-CAR Annual Meeting Report
- Rod Enlow joked that in mid-2005, as he became chairman of I-CAR’s board of
directors, it looked like it was going to be a fairly smooth and calm year for
the training organization. The destructive forces of hurricanes Katrina and
Rita turned out to be just one of the issues that ended up buffeting I-CAR
during what Enlow now calls a challenging but successful year.
Flawless Auto Body starts new
Dent Doctor franchise - Flawless Auto Body at 1111 38th St. N. in Great
Falls is the first collision repair shop in the country to land a Dent Doctor
Express franchise, company officials say.
Answering Critics, GEICO Pulls
Ad - Auto insurer GEICO said Friday it won't run a commercial again in
Connecticut that Attorney General Richard Blumenthal charged is misleading
until his concerns are resolved. -- Blumenthal, fearing some viewers could take
that literally, noted that insurers aren't licensed to repair vehicles and
don't.
Through hail and back - NM:
Hundreds of auto damage claims have been filed in the wake of Wednesday's
powerful storms that dumped large hail, heavy rain and generated strong winds
that included a small tornado in Doña Ana County.
China criticizes WTO auto parts
case - China has expressed regret over a decision by the European Union,
the United States and Canada to request a World Trade Organization (WTO) panel
to hear their complaint about China's tariff treatment of auto parts.
Plastic company buys Michigan
manufacturer - Plastic Trim LLC has acquired a Michigan plastic company and
will be moving all of its operations to the Dayton area. -- The local plastic
company bought Chesterfield, Mich.-based Unibond Inc., a manufacturer of
plastic exterior trim for the automotive industry. It's clients include General
Motors, PPG, Magna and Lexus.
Ford and GM have discussed
merger, alliance: report - Senior executives at General Motors Corp. and
Ford Motor Co. have discussed a merger or alliance, industry newspaper
Automotive News reported on Monday.
Toyota moves to unseat GM,
outpace Ford - Toyota Motor Corp. is quickening its quest to unseat ailing
rival General Motors Corp. as the world‘s biggest automaker and widen its lead
over Ford Motor Co. with reported plans to boost overseas production by 40
percent to 5 million vehicles by 2008 and blueprints for higher output in North
America.
Advanced Road Traffic System,
Nissan - Nissan Motors Co., Ltd., will begin testing a newly developed
intelligent transportation system which allows vehicle-to-infrastructure
communication to help reduce traffic accidents and ease congestion.
Arrogance and Complacency
Damaged Ford - It wasn't just inconsistent cars and labor costs that
crushed the automaker—for years, its leadership has had a pattern of doing dumb
things.
For enthusiasts, dream of
steam-powered cars lives on - When it comes to alternative sources of fuel
for automobiles, corn-based ethanol attracts most of the attention these days.
-- But some car lovers still dream of a future with steam-powered cars.
Peugeot-Citroen and Proton
Consider Link - French automaker PSA Peugeot Citroen SA said Monday it has
agreed to study possible cooperation with Malaysian state-controlled auto group
Proton that would give the French group a strong foothold in Asia.
Vehicle Stability Begins With
the Driver - That sums up the reaction here to news that the U.S. Congress,
acting through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is
recommending that all new cars and trucks sold in America be fitted with
electronic stability-control systems.
Uninsured drivers jack up costs
for all - WA: Last year, 2,995 motorists were cited for driving without
insurance in the county, according Cowlitz County District Court records. This
year, 2,400 infractions have already been filed. The court handles citations
for all law enforcement agencies in the county.
High Performance Scratch
Remover Coming to U.S. - QUIXX Scratch Remover, a new two-step repair
system from Germany, is certified and proven to remove scratches from all paint
finishes, providing professional results. -- QUIXX will be at booth 13280
during Sema Show, October 31 - November 3, 2006, at the Las Vegas Convention
Center, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Glass Sales Scam Hits
Canada - A reader in Alberta, Canada, has notified GlassBYTEs.com staff that
the scam first reported on the newsletter in late August has reached the
Canadian provinces.
He's a real car cutup -
Leading remaker of celebrities' cars to be at Glenmoor for auto gathering.
Nationwide Accident Repair
reports rise in interim profits - UK: The collision repair group Nationwide
Accident Repair Services, floated on the AIM last July, has reported that its
underlying first-half year pre-tax profits rose to £4.2m from £3.4m for the six
months to 30 June.
U.S. parts supplier
consolidation inevitable - Consolidation is inevitable among U.S. auto
parts suppliers after two years of bankruptcies and declining Big Three vehicle
production, but mega-mergers may not be in the cards, industry executives and
investors said this week at Reuters Autos Summit in Detroit.
MotivNation Presents Show
Vehicles at Annual SEMA Event - MotivNation, an Orange County,
California-based provider and manufacturer of "tools and toys for the
automotive enthusiast," today announced they will showcase some of their
customized vehicles at the 2006 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA)
show being held October 31 - November 3, 2006 in Las Vegas.
New side crash tests:
performance of two Fords improves with side airbags -The Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety recently tested four 2007 model vehicles with side
airbags: Toyota FJ Cruiser and Ford Freestyle (midsize SUVs); Ford Fusion
(midsize moderately priced car) and Ford Crown Victoria (large family car). The
FJ Cruiser and Freestyle earn good ratings for protection in side crashes.
Ford to offer 75,000 buyouts
- Ford will offer buyout and early retirement plans to all of its hourly U.S.
employees — more than 75,000 of them — as part of a broad restructuring plan
aimed at cutting its costs in light of slumping sales. -- Ford confirmed the
plans Thursday after union officials disclosed the company would make the buyout
offers of up to $140,000 each to workers.
Driver of Ford restructuring
quits - A senior Ford executive seen as a key architect of the company's
latest restructuring effort left the struggling carmaker on Thursday just one
day before the company was scheduled to reveal its latest strategy.
Wrangler breeds new species
- Jeep's marketing campaign aims to generate buzz for brand, which has suffered
a 16.9 percent sales slump in the past year.
DaimlerChrysler Opens Chinese
Factory - DaimlerChrysler AG on Friday formally opened its first factory in
China to make Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler sedans, joining a rush of foreign
automakers scrambling for a share of the booming Chinese car market.
First Chinese MG Rover due in
2007 - Nanjing Automobile Corp aims to celebrate its 60th birthday next year
by having the first Chinese-built MG car roll off its brand-new assembly line,
Deputy Chairman Lu Zhenxin told Reuters.
Chinese automakers Cherry, JAC
plan merger - Cherry, China's sixth largest carmaker and JAC, the country's
largest producer of chassis and second largest producer of light trucks, will
merge if the plan is approved by central authorities, the 21st Century Business
Herald reported Thursday.
J.D. Power buys Chinese
automotive strategy firm - Consumer information giant J.D. Power and
Associates announced the purchase of a Chinese automotive strategy firm
Tuesday, highlighting the growing importance of the Asian nation's exploding
economy.
Progressive August Profit Soars
- Auto insurer Progressive Corp. said Thursday profit more than doubled during
August because of comparisons to the year-ago period which featured an active
hurricane season.
State Farm(R) Celebrates
Inspirational Women and Helps Families Plan Today to Fulfill Dreams Tomorrow
- State Farm Life Insurance Companies today will honor five women who
persevered and inspired others after the deaths of their spouses at the third
Embrace Life(R) Awards gala luncheon in New York. The Awards program helps
families understand that proper financial planning is crucial to protect their
hopes and dreams for today and tomorrow.
Two State Auto Insurers Lower
Their Rates - CA: The state's fifth-largest auto insurer will lower its
rates to comply with new regulations requiring rates to be based on driving
record instead of ZIP code, Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi said
Thursday.
GEICO Celebrates 70th
Anniversary - GEICO marks its 70th anniversary today and associates in its
regional office locations across the U.S. and in Washington are celebrating all
that the company has accomplished. Associates are also paying tribute to
GEICO's founder and inspiration, Leo Goodwin.
State Targets Geico TV Ad - Body Shops Raise Issue Of `Steering' -- The
state attorney general and the Auto Body Association of Connecticut attacked a
GEICO commercial as misleading Wednesday, reopening fiery debate about whether
auto insurers improperly steer customers to use "preferred" repairers.
LORD Corporation Debuts New Rigid Acoustical Foam - LORD Corporation, maker of Fusor Automotive Repair Adhesives -- the leading metal and composite bonding
solution for automotive body repair – will debut its new LORD Fusor 130 Rigid
Acoustical Foam at the National Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE), to be
held Nov. 2-4 in Las Vegas.
Legislation Could Help Independent Repair Shops -
Claiming car dealers do not provide information to independent
repair shops, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association is pushing
Congress to pass the Right to Repair Act — legislation which would
force car companies to make details on vehicles available.
Consumers, insurance and VOC
regulations on tap for collision repair seminar - Speakers from a number of
sectors that directly influence the collision repair industry will be gathered
for a two-hour seminar organized by The Collision Industry Information and
Assistance on Sept. 30. The collision repair seminar/conference takes place
during CarFixWORLD, at the Direct Energy Centre (formerly National Trades
Centre), Exhibition Place, Toronto.
W.Md. Collision Center marks
fifth anniversary - The Western Maryland Collision center at Naves
Crossroad in Cumberland is celebrating its fifth-year anniversary. -- Owners
and operators Greg Wilson and Larry Higson offer 60 years of experience
specializing in collision repair.
Bed liner shows off true colors
- Henry Ford would have loved pickup truck bed liners. After all, just like
Ford's original Model T, you can get a bed liner in any color you want -- as
long as it's black. -- But not anymore. DynaLiner is a clear, spray-on bed liner
material that allows the color of your truck's paint to show through.
TIA Has Full Slate of Special
Events Planned For SEMA Show - The Tire Industry Association (TIA) continues
as the presenting sponsor of the Performance Tires & Wheels section of the 2006
SEMA Show – Oct. 31 to Nov. 3 – and is developing a wide range of seminars and
special events for attendees.
Council denies auto salvage
permit - ME: The Rockland City Council on Monday night declined to renew an
automobile recycling permit for Mid-Coast Auto Sales at 164 New Country Road.
Automotive Training Institute
teams with AAA - The Automotive Training Institute (ATI) was recently named
an "Automotive Preferred Supplier" for the American Automobile Association
(AAA).
Michigan Ops reborn Saturday
- Dow Chairman and CEO Andrew Liveris has talked about comebacks before. After
what he deemed the company's "near death experience," he announced last year its
amazing recovery. -- Project Daytona, the Dow Automotive star on the scene and
the contributor of a major chunk of the investment, was among the first to put
new steel in the ground and has already been hiring.