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The Feds Will Have Rules for Self-Driving Cars in the Next 6 Months, Called “Aggressive and Ambitious” U.S. highway safety officials plan to take several steps this year to clear the way for autonomous vehicles—including those designed to operate without a driver—to hit the streets in large numbers. U.S. Transportation Secretary Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx announced the moves at the Detroit auto show, part of an effort to Anthony Foxx remove the obstacles posed by current auto safety reg-
ulations, many of which were written more than 50 years ago. Foxx also announced that President Obama has proposed spending nearly $4 billion on autonomous vehicle pilot projects as part of the president’s broader effort to upgrade the country’s transportation infrastructure. Foxx announced that he’s giving the DOT six months to draft comprehensive rules governing how autonomous cars should be tested and regulated. The feds are also planning to fund new projects: President Obama’s 2017 budget proposal includes nearly
by Gabe Nelson, Auto News
In a statement on December 16, DMV Director Jean Shiomoto said the agency’s main concern is “the
See Federal Rules, Page 17
VOL. 5 ISSUE 5 FEBRUARY 2016
Google Seeks Help From Automakers For Its Autonomous Car Project The search engine giant’s autonomous automobile, also known as the Google self-driving car project, has been getting smarter and safer as the company further develops it. However, seeing that there is no such thing as too safe when it comes to the traffic, Google is seeking some help from traditional automobile manufacturers. ‘We are going to need a lot of help, and In the next stages of our project, we’re going to be partnering more and more for sure,’ said head of Google’s self-driving car project and former Hyundai CEO John Krafcik at the Automotive News World Con-
gress. ‘We hope to work with many of you guys.’ This may also confirm previous reports that the search engine giant is partnering with reputable automaker Ford in making a self-driving car. Should the reported deal pushes through, reports claim that Ford would be developing the basic software as well as components, and Google, on the other hand, will be focusing on the car’s “smarts” while the manufacturing difficulties will be offloaded to a company that is expert on the field. According to a report submitted
Google impact The rules, if finalized, could prompt technology companies such as Google, and automakers such as Mercedes-Benz and Tesla, to look beyond California for their first deployment of self-driving cars. This summer, Google started testing its selfdriving cars in Austin, Texas, where a culture of businessfriendly regulation could make it easier to introduce the technology to the public. In the December 16 statement, Google decried the proposal, saying California’s rules would hold back a technology with the potential to prevent
car crashes and improve the mobility of people who currently cannot drive. “Safety is our highest priority and primary motivator as we do this,” spokesman Johnny Luu wrote in an email. ”We’re gravely disappointed that California is already writing a ceiling on the potential for fully self-driving cars to help all of us who live here.” The proposal stems from a law, passed in 2012 by California legislators, ordering the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles to issue rules for the testing and use of autonomous vehicles. The DMV already has completed testing rules that require experimental vehicles to be operated by trained test
See Google Seeks Help, Page 16
California DMV Proposes Ban on Cars With No Drivers, All Vehicles to be Steerable, Google Objects
safety of autonomous vehicles and the safety of the public who will share the road with these vehicles.”
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California regulators, calling for caution on self-driving cars, on December 16 proposed rules that would sharply restrict their use on the state’s roads—and place an outright ban on “driverless” cars that travel with no humans onboard. Under the proposal by the California Department of Motor Vehicles, all autonomous cars would need a steering wheel and pedals when operating on California’s public roads. Behind the controls, they would need a licensed driver with an “autonomous vehicle operator certificate” capable of taking control if something goes awry.
See California DMV Proposes, Page 36
The Guilt of the Self-Driving Car
Whew! Made it home from the body shop before my owner found out.
Presorted Standard US Postage PAID San Bernardino, CA Permit #2244
2 FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
COLUMNISTS Attanasio - Body Shop Owner in NH Shapes a New Career as a Sculptor . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Attanasio - Iowa Shop Owner is 100 Percent All-in with Community Service . . . . . . . . . 26 Attanasio - Up and Coming Painter Shines at SEMA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Phillips - American Honda Addresses the Importance of Properly Repairing a Vehicle During Industry Update. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Phillips - Sharing Information Through the Mopar Masters Guild Has Lead to Business Success and Lifelong Friendships Among Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Sisk - A Decade of WINning . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Sisk - WMABA Seeks Compromise on New VA Photo Bill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Yoswick - Automakers discuss labor times, share other insights at ‘OEM Summit’ . . . . 30 NATIONAL 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division Kicks Off Fourth Year of 3M Hire Our Heroes Program; 2016 Calendar Available with Donation to CREF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 ALI’S 2016 Vehicle Lifting Points Guide Now Available . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 American Family Insurance Donates $15,000 to CREF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Apple Registers New Domain Names Such as "apple.car" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Assured Performance: Thousands of Body Shops Achieve OEM Certification in 2015 . 25 Axalta Celebrates 150 Years in the Coatings Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Body Shop in Spokane, WA Helps Mom with Trashed Car . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Caliber Collision opening six Jacksonville locations this year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 California DMV Proposes Ban on Cars With No Drivers, All Vehicles to be Steerable, Google Objects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 CAPA: ‘Sheet Metal Parts Protected from Corrosion’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 CARSTAR Welcomes Two New Corporate Members & Area Director of Operations . . 49 CREF Celebrates 25th Anniversary and Provides Updates for 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 FinishMaster Purchases ColorMaster Automotive Paint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Free Certification Offered Via Designated Paint Suppliers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Google Seeks Help From Automakers For Its Autonomous Car Project . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 I-CAR Launches New Courses on MIG Brazing, Rivet Bonding and Honda/Acura Electrical Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 I-CAR® And National Auto Body Council Partner On NABC Membership Discount For Gold Class® Businesses . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Innovation Group Encourages Gold Class Commitment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Insurance Veteran Advises on What to Look for When Joining a DRP Program & Obtaining Garage Keepers Insurance. . . . . 61 Insurers Brace for the Self-Driving Future, Fewer Accidents, KPMG Report: Insurers May Be First Casualties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Lyft to Operate Self-Driving Cars After GM Invests $500M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 M-B Introduces ‘Magic Sky Control’ in New SLC Models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 MOPAR Masters Guild Pledges $2.5M in Parts to CREF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 New ‘Who Pays for What’ Survey Results Show Wide Range in ‘Certified’ Aluminum Labor Rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 NHTSA Fines BMW North America $40M for Failing to Meet Safety Requirements . . . . . 52 Over $200,000 in Scholarships & Grants Available Through CREF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 PBES 2016 Conference Registration Available in February . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Reflexxion Automotive Aluminum Cowl Induction Hood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 SCRS Launches Bumper Prompt Decision Aide. 60 Soundcore Acquires Three Alloy Wheel Franchises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Symach Announces New Factory & Headquarters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Tesla Model S Auto-parking Needs No Driver In The Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 The Feds Will Have Rules for Self-Driving Cars in the Next 6 Months, Called “Aggressive and Ambitious” . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Valspar’s New Legacy EC21 Low VOC Euro Clearcoat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 VW Sales Stutter Makes Toyota, at 10.125 M, #1 Again . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 PA Body Shop Owner Addresses Markup Fees with Insurance Companies . . . . . . . . 56 Weschtools Announces Large Grapple Pulling Clamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
minum repair certification requirements; mark-up rates reported by shops for sublet work such as glass, towing, etc.; and payment frequencies among the eight largest insurers for 29 different shop supply estimate line items, such as seam-sealer, panel bonding adhesive and weld-through primer. Also available on the website are survey findings and analysis of earlier “Who Pays for What?” quarterly surveys, which focused on “not-included” frame/mechanical operations, and “notincluded” refinish operations. Reports include analysis and resources to help shops better understand and use the information presented. “I’m hearing from shops every week who say participating in the surveys is helping them improve their estimating and repair planning,” Mike Anderson of Collision Advice said. “This aluminum repair labor rate information is particularly interesting to me. We will continue this series of surveys in 2016 with four more surveys to help shops understand what’s happening in the industry.” Shops can visit http:// www.collisionadvice.com/survey to sign up to take the February survey. Shops participating in a survey receive results at no charge. For information, contact John Yoswick, jyoswick@spiritone.com, (503) 335-0393.
Publisher & Editor: Jeremy Hayhurst General Manager: Barbara Davies Assistant Editor: Stacey Phillips Online Editor: Victoria Antonelli Contributing Writers: Tom Franklin, John Yoswick, Janet Chaney, Toby Chess, David Brown, Rich Evans, Ed Attanasio, Chasidy Sisk, David Luehr Advertising Sales: Joe Momber, Sean Hartman, Bill Doyle, Norman Morano (800) 699-8251 Office Manager: Louise Tedesco Sales/Research Associate: Cass Heckel Art Director: Rodolfo Garcia
Abaris Training Resources, Inc. . . . . 6 Allstate Insurance Company. . . . . . 20 Audi Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 60 Axalta Coating Systems . . . . . . . 5, 27 BASF Corporation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Blue Springs Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 BMW Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 56 Bob Hook Chevrolet . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Car-Part.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Carcoon America Airflow Systems . 44 Carstar Automotive, Inc. . . . . . . . . . 15 CCC Information Services . . . . . . . 19 Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA). . . . . . . . . . . 39 Charles Gabus Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Chief Automotive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Classic Chevrolet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Courtesy Subaru. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Eco Repair Systems of North America, LLC . . . . . . . . . . 26 Equalizer Industries, Inc. . . . . . . . . 22 Erhard BMW of Bloomfield Hills . . . 40 Erhard BMW of Farmington Hills . . 40 FBS Distribution Co., Inc. . . . . . . . . . 9 Ganley Westside Hyundai . . . . . . . 34 Ganley Westside Subaru . . . . . . . . 64 GM Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . 63 Graham Auto Mall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 H & S Autoshot Mfg. Co. . . . . . . . . 35 Hall Volkswagen-Mazda . . . . . . . . . 41 Hendrick Automotive Group . . . . . . 31 Herkules Equipment Corporation. . 14 Honda-Acura Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32, 33 Hyundai Wholesale Parts Dealers . 50
Serving Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin and adjacent metro areas. Autobody News is a monthly publication for the autobody industry. Permission to reproduce in any form the material published in Autobody News must be obtained in writing from the publisher. ©2016 Adamantine Media LLC. Autobody News Box 1516, Carlsbad, CA 92018; (800) 699-8251 (760) 603-3229 Fax www.autobodynews.com Email: news@autobodynews.com
Midwest
REGIONAL ABRA Auto Body & Glass Expands in Minnesota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Allstate Ranks Safest Driving Cities, Kansas City Rates #1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 ASA-Midwest Focused on Giving Back in December. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Auto Body Repair Comes to Oak Park Heights Strip Mall in MN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 CARSTAR Shop Owners in Kansas Named ‘Shop of the Year’ in One Location and Complete Renovation in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Don & Ron’s CARSTAR in NE Named “Business of the Year” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Eminent domain holdout in WI: ‘I’m just trying to make a living;’ county’s offer not enough, he says . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Freer Auto Body in IL Celebrates 25 years; Encourages Others to Make a Difference. . 20 Impact Institute Students’ Handiwork Has IN Cruiser Rolling Again . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Midwest Auto Body Trade Show in Iowa to Be Held February 5th & 6th. . . . . . . . . . 14 Mitchell VP Predicts Parts Utilization on Average Estimate Will Decrease After Peaking in December; Enterprise Length of Rental Update With Virginia Staying Below 10-Day Mark for 5 Years . . . . . . . . 44 Phillips - Mitchell VP Predicts Parts Utilization on Average Estimate Will Decrease After Peaking in December; Enterprise Length of Rental Update With MO Having Largest Increase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 PPG Show Truck 2016 Tour Announced . . . 45 Service King Partners With Autometric Collision in Detroit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Service King, Allstate Donate Refurbished Vehicles to Two Chicago Families in Need . . 6 Upcoming WACTAL 2016 Conference and Trade Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Waubonsee, IL, Auto Body Students Hold Annual Competition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 WI Snow Storm Provides A Change of Pace for Auto Body Shops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
It would be easy to say that the national average labor rate for aluminum repair being charged by OEM-certified shops is about $92 per hour, but that wouldn’t tell the whole story, according to newlyreleased findings from the quarterly “Who Pays for What?” survey series conducted by CRASH Network and Collision Advice. Nearly 800 shops participated in the quarterly “Who Pays for What?” survey this past October, and 130 of those shops that are certified by one or more of the automakers to repair aluminum vehicles reported their hourly rates for aluminum repair. Those labor rates spread over more than a $100 range. At the low-end of rates for structural aluminum repair, a small percentage of shops reported charging only a few dollars more per hour than their regular repair rates. Near the top, there are shops charging in excess of $145 an hour for certified structural aluminum repairs. The findings, available at http:// www.collisionadvice.com/survey, show hourly labor rates for structural and nonstructural repairs (broken down by percentiles) for shops certified by nine OEM aluminum certification programs. The 75-page survey report also includes information on: what shops estimated they spent on equipment, training and facility changes to meet OEM alu-
Indexof Advertisers
Contents
New ‘Who Pays for What’ Survey Results Show Wide Range in ‘Certified’ Aluminum Labor Rates
Jake Sweeney Chevrolet . . . . . . . . 34 Kelly BMW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Kia Motors America, Inc.. . . . . . . . . 23 Kia of Des Moines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Kia Wholesale Parts Dealers. . . . . . 59 Larson Electronics, LLC.. . . . . . . . . 30 Laurel Auto Group of Westmont . . . 55 Luther Hopkins Honda . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Maplewood Toyota-Scion . . . . . . . . 48 Mazda Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . 58 Mercedes-Benz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Midwest Parts Group . . . . . . . . . 12-13 Mitsubishi Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 MOPAR Masters Guild . . . . . . . . . . 11 MOPAR Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 37 Morrison’s Auto Parts . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Nissan of South Holland . . . . . . . . . 42 Orio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Patrick BMW-MINI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 PPG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Richfield-Bloomington Honda . . . . 18 Russ Darrow Automotive Group. . . 28 SATA Spray Equipment . . . . . . . . . . 7 Subaru Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 46 The Sharpe Collection of Automobiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Toyota of Des Moines . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Toyota of Grand Rapids . . . . . . . . . 24 Toyota Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . 54 U-POL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Urethane Supply Company . . . . . . 36 VanDevere Kia-GM . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Volkswagen Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 West Bend Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 3
WACTAL 2016 Conference and Trade Show Coming in February by Chasidy Rae Sisk
On February 26-27, the Wisconsin Automotive Collision Technicians Association Ltd (WACTAL) will hold its 2016 Conference and Trade Show at Ho-Chunk Gaming Wisconsin Dells in Baraboo, WI. The event’s agenda offers several I-CAR training courses as well as presentations by industry leaders. Registration opens on Friday morning followed by SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg presenting “Predicting Influences on Your Business,” in which he will explore trends and issues impacting the collision repair industry nationally. Schulenburg will explain how paying attention to this type of information will allow shop owners to predict influences on their businesses and connect the dots to make a big difference in their business strategies. Bill Morrison’s “Building Relationships” will be divided into two sessions with an hour focused on Customer Relationships before lunch, and focusing on “Building Vendor and Team Relationships” after lunch. Attendees will learn four simple words to build sales and run more efficiently in 2016. Next, “Dealing with
Complaints on Social Media” will be presented by Gary Arndt of Fox Valley Web Design whose topics will include how to search for comments on your business, how to get high rankings on major search engines, and how to turn online visitors into real customers. From 3-7PM, attendees can choose between two I-CAR courses: CP501 Corrosion Protection or FOM01 Automotive Foams. At 4 PM, WACTAL will hold a membership meeting, and the Trade Show will be open from 5-8 PM. From 8-11 PM, WACTAL will host a Hospitality event. On Saturday morning, I-CAR’s NEW16 Vehicle Technology and Trends 2016 and CYC01 Cycle Time Improvements are available from 8AM until 12PM. At 8:30 AM, “Is Your Shop on a Collision Course with OSHA and EPA Compliancy?” will be presented by Nick Hardesty, KPA; this session will cover the special regulations collision repair facilities must adhere to, such as Aluminum Safety, Isocyanates and Medical Evaluations, Changes to OSHA’s Penalty Policy and more. The Trade Show floor will be open 10 AM until 3 PM on Saturday, and I-
CAR will offer two more courses on Saturday afternoon from 12:30PM4:30 PM: WKR01 Hazardous Materials, Personal Safety and Refinish Safety, and APR01 Aluminum Exterior Panel Repair and Replacement. Sponsors for this year include Akzo Nobel Coatings, BASF, Body Shop Supply Co., Broadway Automotive Group, Morrison’s Auto Parts, Motors Service & Supply, New Marketing Group, PPG Industries, and West Bend Mutual Insurance. WACTAL is offering several registration options for its 2016 Conference and Trade Show. Prices exclude I-CAR courses which require separate registration through I-CAR. The price to attend Friday’s sessions is $70 for WACTAL members and $85 for non-members, while Saturday’s sessions are available at $15 for members and $20 for non-members. The Conference Package includes both days at a price of $100 for WACTAL members and $120 for nonmembers. Registration forms should be completed and faxed with payment to 262-542-0906 or mailed to WACTAL, W226 S1742 State Road 164 S, Waukesha WI 53186. For more information on WACTAL, visit www.wactal.com
Don & Ron’s CARSTAR in NE Named “Business of the Year”
CARSTAR Don & Ron’s was named “Business of the Year” by the Ralston Area Chamber of Commerce. Don & Ron’s received the award at the Chamber’s Annual Awards Banquet and Auction held in early December.
Ron Krzemien, daughters Christi Krajeski and Andrea Heig plus nephew Mark Krzemien, accept “Business of the Year” award from Tara Lea, president of the Ralston Chamber of Commerce
“We are thrilled to receive this award for the business my father and uncle started,” said Christi Krzemien Krajeski. “It is a great honor to be recognized by the Chamber.” The Ralston body shop recently expanded. This allowed the original building to expand production space to accommodate more vehicles and technicians. Christi, Andrea and Mark, the second generation of the Krzemien family, staff the front office. Owner Ron Krzemien is now retired.
Waubonsee, IL, Auto Body Students Hold Annual Competition by Kendall County NOW Staff
Koehring, administrative specialist, social sciences, education and world languages; Kerri Wilson, adminis-
Waubonsee Community College students recently competed against each other in the college’s annual Auto Body Refinishing Competition. The event was started eight years ago by Andrew MacDonald, assistant professor of auto body repair, as a fun way to gauge the full refinishing potential of the students. This year, finishing in first, second and third place were Javier Resendiz, Maria Newkirk and The winners of Waubonsee Community John Cisneros, respectively. College’s Auto Body Refinishing Competition “They refinish these front were Javier Resendiz in first place, Maria ends 12 to 15 times,” MacDonald Newkirk in second place and John Cisneros said, explaining that the competi- in third place. Credit: Kendall County NOW tion is a lot of work. “This is a way to get them to do their very best. The trative specialist, mathematics and competition is based on their skills of sciences; and Sarah Dwinnells, adapplying the color evenly and to work ministrative specialist to the assistant to remove any imperfections in the vice president of career and technipainted surface after it has been refin- cal education. ished.” We would like to thank Kendall Judges for the competition were County NOW for reprint permission. Patrick Phillipi, vice president of Body Builders Auto; Dr. Deborah Lovingood, Waubonsee executive vice president of educational affairs/chief learning officer; Janet
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Auto Body Repair Comes to Oak Park Heights Strip Mall in MN by Stillwater Gazette Staff
St. Croix Valley drivers in need of auto body work will soon be able to drop off and pick up their vehicles at the Stillwater Crossing strip mall in Oak Park Heights. Richard Reeves of Maaco Auto Body plans to open a sales office at 5956 Osgood Ave., in the same building as businesses such as Carbone’s Pizza and Liquor Time. The office will be for sales only, with repair taking place at the Maaco shop in Little Canada. “This concept is brand new within Maaco,” Reeves said. “There are 500 (Maaco) body shops but only about eight or nine retail offices like this one.” He said it’s the first Maaco sales office in Minnesota. A Maaco representative will be able to provide a quote at the Oak Park Heights site, and vehicles will be towed to the main shop the same day for repairs. Cars might be parked at the Oak Park Heights location overnight in some situations, such as when the customer drops off a vehicle after hours or can’t pick up a car the same day repairs are complete. In any case, the vehicles could be parked in one of three stalls designated for Maaco, according to information submitted to the city council. Reeves believes the sales office
is a good fit for the location and his business. Sales offices require less space, equipment and maintenance than a full auto body shop, but still provide customers a convenient location for drop off and pickup. Reeves said it’s also easier to find locations for sales offices than for body shops. “To do major repair these days, it’s becoming very hard to get permission for a decent location,” he said. “It’s about the location. Now we make it easy and comfortable for customers to come in. They don’t have to feel like they’re coming into a heavy industrial park, a dirty environment, anything like that. They come into a strip mall.” Reeves said most of his customers are paying out of pocket, rather than through insurance, and he said Maaco has a variety of choices and price points for its work. “We offer options, and that’s why we have such a variation in prices and qualities,” Reeves said, adding that this allows customers to pick what fits their needs and budgets. The Oak Park Heights unanimously approved a conditional use permit for the Maaco facility Dec. 8. Reeves expected to open the sales office Jan. 24. Thank you to the Stillwater Gazette for permission to reprint this article.
Service King & Allstate Donate Refurbished Vehicles to Two Chicago Families in Need
Service King Collision Repair Centers, through the volunteer efforts of its Chicago technicians and teammates, helped brighten the holiday season for two North Chicago families on December 18.
cians as part of the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides program. “Service King is a family built upon the core value of serving our communities,” said Randy Jenkins, Service King VP of Illinois operations. “Our team is acutely aware of the life-changing impact a vehicle can make for a family, especially in times of need.” The Recycled Rides programs provides an avenue for collision repair centers, insurance providers and local parts vendors to collaborate in donating and renovating vehicles for deserving families and non-profit organizations throughout the year. “Allstate’s purpose is to be a force for good in local communities and protect people from life’s uncertainties,” said Jim Glenn, Midwest claim field director with Allstate. “Recycled Rides allows us to bring good to a family in need, and we’re delighted to be a part of this effort around the country.” Family Promise of North Chicago, which nominated both families involved in the giveaway, is dedicated to helping homeless families or families at risk of being homeless return to sustainable housing and employment through providing a stable lifestyle for them and their children.
Betty and Victoria during National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides event held at Service King’s Rolling Meadows repair center. Credit: Richard Mack | Richard Mack Photography, Ltd.
Partnering with Allstate Insurance, Service King presented keys to two fully-refurbished vehicles to a pair of Family Promise of North Chicago guest families. The event took place inside Service King’s Rolling Meadows repair center as the families, who asked to remain anonymous, were able to drive home in a fully refurbished 2012 Ford Fusion and a 2009 Honda CRV. Vehicles included in the holiday giveaway were each donated by Allstate and fully restored by Service King certified techni-
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Impact Institute Students’ Handiwork Has IN Cruiser Rolling Again by Octavia Yoder, kpcnews.com
A former Noble County Sheriff’s Department deputy’s car has found new life with West Noble School Corp. Students from Impact Institute’s auto body and collision and repair program recently completed a yearlong project, transforming a Ford Crown Victoria into a school resource vehicle for “Buck” Leamon at West Noble. Leamon, a former police officer, is one of three school resource officers at West Noble. “We are very pleased with their work. (The car) is great,” said West Noble Superintendent Dennis VanDuyne while admiring the vehicle at the Impact Institute auto-body and collision shop in Kendallville. West Noble purchased the vehicle from the Noble County Sheriff’s Department last year. VanDuyne said the department had planned to trade in several cars, and the school district inquired about buying one. “This is the best of the lot,” VanDuyne said. When old police cars are sold, they have be to stripped of their original paint and refinished, he added. VanDuyne said his first instinct was to hire Impact Institute to do the bodywork. “I thought of our own students,” he said.
West Noble is one of 13 members schools that support Impact Institute’s mission to advance students’ career and technical education. The auto-body and collision program is among the classes offered through
The program is a two-year course that students begin in their junior year. Once they graduate from the program, they will have received 14 I-CAR certifications — the industry standard for auto-body collision.
Students from Impact Institute’s auto body collison and repair afternoon class pose for a photo Friday with their completed project for West Noble school resource officer “Buck” Leamon, back left. The afternoon and morning classes at the vocational school refinished the former Noble County Sheriff’s Department car into West Noble blue and red. Credit: Octavia Yoder, kpcnews.com
Impact Institute, providing students with hands-on experiences, said director Jim Walmsley. Impact Institute has classes in interactive media, automotive technology, culinary arts, computer-aided drafting, cosmetology, construction, health care, welding and criminal justice. The auto-body and collision program, led by Jose Gallo, presently has 52 students from several school districts that take part in morning and afternoon classes.
8 FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
“They can walk into a body shop and qualify for an apprenticeship,” Gallo said. Within three months of starting their first year in the program, the students are out on the shop floor, applying the skills they are learning in the classroom. Gallo said his students do work for the community on a regular basis. Ninety-percent of those customers are off the street, he added. Impact Institute does not charge customers for labor, only for the materials used on the vehicle.
“This gives them a good opportunity to use their skills,” Gallo said. The West Noble project required the help of every student in the program. Students had to sand the vehicle before it could be painted, and several dents had to be repaired. “It’s a lot of physical labor removing old paint,” Gallo said. While every student can pitch in and help sand cars, the job of painting belongs to the advanced students. Once students reach their second year in the program, they are allowed to paint. Brody Hankey of East Noble High School and Joey Waltenberger of Eastside Jr./Sr. High School, both seniors, completed the paint work on the West Noble car. Painting is not for everyone, Gallo said. He tries to show students who might find painting more challenging that they can still use their skills for other jobs in the auto-body industry. “They don’t have to be the best painter,” he said. “They can also go into management.” Gallo’s students have also done work for the Garrett Police Department and the Indiana State Police. “It’s good for them to work on real projects,” VanDuyne said. “It’s hands-on teaching along with the curriculum.” We thank kpcnews.com for reprint permission.
WI Storm Provides A Change of Pace for Body Shops by Michelle Clemens, WBAY-TV
Auto repair shops have their hands full fixing cars that were dinged up during Dec. 30 snowstorms. It’s a big change of pace from early December, when shops were more quiet than normal. “There wasn’t a lot of need for people to come through because there weren’t the winter conditions out there,” said Joe Tellijohn, manager of Auto Aces. Now they’re busy making repairs and upgrading tires. Tellijohn: “Probably upwards of 50, 60 cars just related to the snowfall.” Michelle Clemens: “And what’s normal?” Tellijohn: “Normal, we’d like to
see 15 to 20 cars.” Small repairs are keeping his staff busy. “Everybod is here as soon as we open and then until we close,” Tellijohn said. “There’s no shifts right now. It’s just everybody here and we work until we’re done.” “Simple things like wheels are getting packed with snow and kind of giving issues with vibration and stuff like that.” And it might be a good time to get service before the next storm hits. “If you haven’t kept your vehicle up, that’s the time that things are going to break,” said Mike Borlee, owner of Mike’s Service Center. Thank you to wbay.com for permission to reprint this article.
Over $200,000 in Scholarships & Grants Available Through CREF
High school and post-secondary collision students attending career and technical schools and colleges have the opportunity to apply for the over $200,000 in available scholarships and tool grants available through the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) and the organization’s industry supporters. The scholarship and tool grant application is available through the CREF’s web site:
www.CollisionEducationFoundation.org, with a deadline of February 16, 2016 to apply. Winners will be selected by members of the CREF’s Board of Trustees Selection Committee and notified by mail and phone. For more information, contact Director of Grant Programs Melissa Marscin at scholarships@ed-foundation.org or 888722-3787, Ext. 282.
Caliber Collision Opening Six Jacksonville Locations in 2016 by Karen Brune Mathis, Financial News & Daily Record
Lewisville, Texas-based Caliber Collision, which calls itself the largest collision-repair company in the country, intends to open six Jacksonville locations by the end of the year. Caliber Collision Centers filed for business licenses for two locations and a third is under concurrency review. The first two are at 13051 Beach Blvd. and 8320 Dames Point Crossing Blvd N., Building 100. The third is planned along Golden Wings Road in the Timuquana Commerce Center, across Roosevelt Boulevard from Naval Air Station Jacksonville. Caliber Collision Vice President of Operations Carl Deaton said the Beach Boulevard location would open in January. The location formerly was an American Carstar Auto Body Repair Experts. The Dames Point Crossing center in Arlington should open about Jan. 25, he said. “It was a vacant building. We are helping develop the area,” Deaton said. He said the locations average 17,000 to 20,000 square feet and employ 17 to 20 people. A concurrency application filed with the city shows an almost 17,000square-foot Caliber Collision on 2.36 acres at 7208-7216 Golden Wings
Road. Deaton said that location would open late this year, probably in the fourth quarter, pending permitting. Caliber Collision is building that location. The company operates 353 repair centers in 13 states. The closest of its 20 Florida locations is in Palm Coast. Deaton said the company is entering the Jacksonville market because there is a demand for high-performing collision repair centers. Deaton said Caliber Collision started in the Florida market in September 2014. “I can say it’s a big investment,” he said of the company’s expansion plans. Deaton said Caliber Collision operates 20 centers in Florida and plans to increase that by at least 75 percent in 2016, which means another 15 locations. “We’re going to have a very big focus on Jacksonville,” he said, declining to say how many new centers will open in Northeast Florida in addition to the first six, citing competitive reasons. In addition to the first three, “there are plenty more in the pipeline,” he said. Caliber Collision is a privately held company and owns its centers. Thank you to Financial News & Daily Record for permission to reprint this article.
www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 9
Sharing Information Through the Mopar Masters Guild Has Lead to Business Success and Lifelong Friendships Among Members As told to Assistant Editor Stacey Phillips by Mopar Masters Guild members
In 1989, Chuck Hartle met Bart Cooper at a 20 group meeting in Dallas, Texas. Over the next four years the two developed a great friendship that changed their lives as parts managers forever. During this time, the pair developed the idea of forming a National Mopar Parts Managers Guild. In 1992, the tandem became a trio with the introduction of Cy Yates. The three parts managers continued to conceptualize the idea of developing a National Parts Managers Guild. This was the beginning of the Mopar Masters Guild (MMG), as we know it today. All three later served as president of the MMG. In February of 1993, the first annual Mopar Masters Guild meeting was held in New Orleans, Louisiana. The small group met in conjunction with the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) annual convention. This tradition still continues today and gives managers a platform to tackle business challenges together as well as interact with Mopar. Realizing how important guild, vendor and brand interaction is, the Mopar Masters Guild has expanded its communication throughout the years. The Mopar Masters Guild Magazine, website, vendor meetings and Mopar events all contribute to the sharing of knowledge — knowledge that is beneficial to all Chrysler brand dealers. Since the first meeting in 1993, the guild has been active in the development of many factory programs. Members say that not a day goes by that a Chrysler brand dealership does not use a program that the guild has played a role in. Over the past 24 years, some members have moved on to new adventures. Likewise, many Mopar employees have also come and gone. Members say the most important thing however, remains the concept started with the three guild founders – the concept of sharing information with others has made many members, better managers and people. Today with the addition of a forum available to all Chrysler brand dealership employees, the Mopar Masters Guild’s future continues to looks bright.
The guild is governed by its own bylaws established that same year and are led by elected officers serving twoyear terms. The guild was founded on the principles of sharing ideas and best practices with like-size dealers in a non-competitive environment. The initial membership was invited from Chrysler’s Mopar Masters Club, which was a dealer group representing the top 100 distributors of Mopar parts in the country. The group has evolved into an established collective voice with
part of a local guild for many years he said, “I wanted to be exposed to these other larger dealers from across the country to learn how they conducted business.”
Rick Cutaia, president of the MMG and parts manager for Rick Hendrick Dodge Jeep Chrysler Ram, in South Carolina. Cutaia said he joined the MMG in 2005 by mistake. “I had signed up for a Performance group and as it turns out it was the MMG meeting that year in Orlando – best mistake I have ever made!”
Susan McDaniel, secretarytreasurer for the MMG and parts director at Bill Luke Dealerships, in Phoenix, Arizona. McDaniel has been involved with the MMG since 2002. She said Gerry Oakes and Marvin Windham walked up to her and introduced themselves right away. “They alLaura Windham (Marvin Windham’s wife); Dan Hutton (Indianapolis, IN long-time member); Rick Monteiro ready knew all about my (Escondido, CA long-time member); Alan Yancey dealership [Bill Luke] and (Lawrenceville, GA long-time member); JD Ipsen (Salt made me feel very welcome Lake City, Utah newer member), Paul Allred (Charlotte, as did all of the other memNorth Carolina long-time member ); Susan McDaniel bers,” said McDaniel. “We (Phoenix, AZ current Secretar/Treasurer); Rick Cutaia (Charleston, South Carolina current President); Marvin always try to pay close attenWindham (Birmingham, AL long-time member); and tion to the new members and Blaine Turner at an NADA reception in San Francisco, make it a point to go up and CA in 2015 talk with them so that they Chrysler as well as a proven sounding feel part of the group instantly. That is board, helping vendors better their very important to us.” product offering to the automotive inShe said a lot of members have dustry. known each other for many years and From its inception, MMG has speak to each other on a daily basis funded its meetings, interactions with but they are always anxious to welvendors, the website and newsletter come new members. “Right before through supporting vendor’s membermy predecessor retired he said to me, ship dues. ‘make sure you get as involved with Today, Mopar Masters Guild’s Mopar Masters as you can; you will mission statement is: The exchange of learn so much and it will be well information by like-size dealers in a worth it. If you don’t do anything else, non-competitive environment. do this.’ He was right.” Autobody News asked the following six MMG members about their ex- Gerry Oakes, parts director for Baxter perience with the guild over the years. Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, in Nebraska. Oakes is a charter member of the Paul Allred, parts director for Stateline Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, in South Mopar Masters Guild. When he reCarolina. ceived a call in 1992 from Chuck HarAllred has been part of the guild tle, who described his vision of the since 1992 after hearing about a couple MMG, Oakes said he decided that it of parts managers forming the guild at was a must to be involved. “Since NADA in New Orleans. After being 1993, I’ve been fortunate enough to be
10 FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
involved with this great group of parts managers,” he said.
Andy Reed, vice president of MMG and parts director for Allen Samuels DCJ/Hyundai, in Waco, Texas. Reed has been a member of the MMG for seven years as a parts director. His store has been a member since day one. “The reason that we continue to be a part of the MMG is because the wealth of knowledge from the meetings is endless,” he said.
Marvin Windham, parts director for Benchmark Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, in Birmingham, Alabama. Windham’s first MMG meeting was in 1998 after being invited by another parts manager. “I had no idea of what to expect but was blown away at that first meeting,” he said. “I’ve been fortunate to have not missed a meeting since.”
Autobody News asked these MMG members about the organization that has become so important to them over the years.
What are some of the long-term Q: benefits that you have found from being part of the MMG? Allred: It has played a huge role in my success. I would say 80 percent of the way we conduct business goes back to some conversation with our group. Probably the greatest reward has been the development of lifetime friends.
Cutaia: Over the last 10 years, I have been able to learn so much from the experience of so many very talented people. I have been able to take my parts department to not just the next level but to the next stratosphere. Anytime I had any question there was always someone willing to answer.
McDaniel: Learning new ideas. We all pretty much have the same goals (to grow our business and prosper!) and the same problems even though each store is different. You can take away a little something different from each individual. These conversations really get the ‘wheels’ spinning. I can guarantee you, you will go back to your store with a different mind-set, more See Sharing Information, Page 18
www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 11
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www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 13
American Family Insurance Donates $15,000 to CREF
American Family Insurance donated $15,000 to the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) and that donation helped provide six collision school grants. The schools applied for the Education Foundation’s 2015 Ultimate Collision Education Makeover school grant and these funds will help fulfill the schools collision program’s wish list of needed tools, equipment, and supplies. The grant recipients include: ● Chippewa Valley Technical College (Eau Claire, WI) ● Freedom High School (WI) ● Kishwaukee College (IL) ● Lex La-Ray Technical Center (MO) ● Marengo High School (IL) ● Renton Technical College (WA) American Family Insurance Policy & Procedure Manager Mark Follmann said, “American Family Insurance is proud to partner with the CREF in their goal of helping schools provide an outstanding technical education.” CREF Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode noted, “It is through companies like American Family Insurance and their continued support that we are able to help collision school instructors with needed tools, equipment, and supplies for their programs.”
ABRA Auto Body & Glass Expands in Minnesota
ABRA Auto Body & Glass announced the opening of its newest franchise repair center in Worthington, MN located in the southwest corner of the state. The new franchise location is owned and operated by Aaron Marthaler, owner of Marthaler Chevrolet and Marthaler Ford of Worthington. Marthaler previously operated the repair center as Quality Auto Body after purchasing it earlier this year. “For some time now we have looked for the opportunity to provide industry-leading collision services to our customers and I am confident that ABRA’s operational system is the best fit for us and our community,” said Marthaler. ABRA’s VP of Franchise Development/Relations, Mark Wahlin said, “We are thrilled to welcome Aaron Marthaler and his team to the ABRA family.” ABRA is seeking new opportunities to acquire repair centers. Interested parties in major markets should contact Scott Gerling at sgerling @abraauto.com or 763-585-6210. For opportunities in small and midsize markets, contact Mark Wahlin at mwahlin @abraauto.com or 763-585-6315.
Midwest Auto Body Trade Show in Iowa February 5th–6th
The 6th Annual Midwest Auto Body Trade Show will be held Feb. 5-6 at Prairie Meadows Conference Center in Altoona, Iowa. The show will feature the newest equipment, technology and industry trends. Over 70 vendor booths will display new products, offer product demonstrations, door prizes, show specials and more. Industry speaker Mike Anderson of Collision Advice is scheduled to be the keynote speaker for this year’s event. Friday night the inaugural welcome reception attendees will network with peers, vendors, educators and students while enjoying the silent benefit auction Iowa I-CAR is hosting for student education. The expanded educational venue for the 2016 Midwest show is responding to the critical need for constant and up-to-date training. “There is no room for error in the collision business; technology is driving change faster than any one person or shop can manage,” said ICRA Vice President Steve Waln. “We are bringing this important information to our shops in the region.” This is the first year the Midwest Auto Body Trade Show is being held on a Friday and Saturday. “This event is also for the technicians,” said Show Chairman Dick Mer-
ron. “Saturday will make it easier for them to attend.”
Friday, February 5th 1-5:30 p.m. – Mike Anderson Best Estimating Practices 6-9 p.m. – Welcome Reception will be hors-d’oeuvres with a no-host bar 6-9 p.m. – I-CAR Silent Auction – A Benefit For Students
Saturday, February 6th 8-11:30 a.m. – I-CAR New 2016 – Instructor Scott Schuerman 8-9:30 a.m. – Jake Rodenroth – Collision Diagnostic Services 10-11:30 a.m. – Tom McGee – Spanesi 12-1:30 p.m. – “There Is No Free Lunch” 1:45-7 p.m. – MIDWEST AUTO BODY TRADE SHOW
“There Is No Free Lunch” is $50 per person. The rest of the industry event is provided at no charge thanks to the sponsors and vendors that support the Midwest collision industry. To sign up online, visit www.iowacra.com. For additional information, contact Janet Chaney at (480) 720-2565.
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Soundcore Acquires Three Alloy Wheel Franchises
Soundcore Capital Partners, LLC, a New York-based private equity firm, announced in January that it has completed three add-on acquisitions to its portfolio company Alloy Wheel Repair Specialists (AWRS), less than two months after purchasing the company. The acquisitions of the Atlanta, Baltimore, and Indianapolis AWRS franchises represent an additional $9 million in annual sales, serving nearly 800 dealers and auto repair shops. Norcross, GA-based Alloy provides on-site repair of cosmetic damage to alloy wheel cores, off-site remanufacturing of structurally damaged wheels, and OEM replacement parts through a retail network. Wheel repair accounts for more than $750 million in annual revenues in the U.S. “I’m very pleased to kick off this new era for the Company with the acquisition of three of the bestperforming businesses in the AWRS network,” said Rob Wheeley, newly appointed CEO of AWRS. “As we bring more operations under the AWRS corporate banner, we’re confident that we will be able to enhance both the service we deliver to customers and the financial performance of the business.”
Service King Partners With Autometric Collision in Detroit
Service King Collision Repair Centers announced on January 11 significant expansion in the Detroit market through a partnership with longtime industry veteran repair group Autometric Collision and its nine area locations. Service King and Autometric jointly agreed upon and officially finalized terms of the acquisition January 9 with operations transferring immediately. Following the merger, Service King and its teammates now provide Detroit motorists and business partners with 11 collision repair centers. “Through four decades of serving our Detroit customers and business partners this is perhaps the most exciting step in Autometric’s proud history,” said Larry Smith, who founded Autometric Collision in 1975. Autometric Collision provides the capacity to repair 1,500 vehicles per month. “This is a long-awaited and extremely exciting addition to our team,” said Jerod Guerin, Service King VP for the Northeast Region and the Detroit market. “Partnering with Autometric Collision and its team is yet another step forward in Service King’s mission to provide our customers and business partners the very best in collision repair services.”
16 FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
Continued from Cover
Google Seeks Help
to California’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Google’s self-driving car had been in dangerous situations in a number of times, and there have also been instances wherein manual overrides were required. However, it’s important to note that such incidents have been slowly decreasing. There have been 13 incidents where one of Google’s self-driving cars would have made contact with another object if not without the control of a test driver. Director of the Google self-driving car project Chris Urmson wrote on Medium that he expects such instances to decline over time. Google’s engineers can replay such incidents to predict how the car would have been behaving through a simulator. All of the incidents, according to Google, are “driver-initiated disengagements,” wherein a manual passenger had to take control of the car. Google Says Self-Drivers Crash Less Frequently Eager to demonstrate its self-driving
vehicles are safe, Google says that its high-tech cars are involved in fewer crashes on average than vehicles with a driver behind the wheel. A study commissioned by Google and released by the Virginia Tech Transportation InstGoogitute shows, looked only at Google’s fleet of more than 50 self-driving cars, which has logged 1.3 million miles in Texas and California in self-driving mode. The test fleet has reported 17 crashes over the last six years, although none were the fault of the self-driving cars, Google said. After adjusting for severity and accounting for crashes not reported to police, the study estimated cars with drivers behind the wheel are involved in 4.2 crashes per million miles, versus 3.2 crashes per million miles for selfdriving cars in autonomous mode. Crash rates for conventional vehicles at all severity levels were higher than self-driving crash rates, the study found. Another study released in October by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute compared crash rates among Google, Delphi and Audi self-driving cars in See Google Seeks Help, Page 22
“This is an aggressive and ambitious embrace of automated driving,” says Bryant Walker Smith, an assistant professor at the University of $4 billion over 10 years for pilot proSouth Carolina School of Law and afgrams testing connected vehicle sys- www.autobodynews.com filiate scholar at the Center for Internet tems. and CHECK Society, who studies self-driving IT OUT! The news from Foxx’s DOT difvehicles. fers from the typical federal approach The DOT is looking at safety bento regulating cars. Historically, NHSTA efits self-driving cars could bring—the has been a reactive regulator: It lets the current human system comes with industry develop technology, then, more than 30,000 traffic deaths a once it knows what’s going on, creates year—but it’s been slow to take action. new rules addressing it (for example, The last official word from the Dethat everyone now needs airbags). partment of Transportation came in To advertise “You’re gonna see us shifting a little May 2013, in the form of a tentative call Advertising Sales at: bit,” Foxx says. In December, NHSTA policy encouraging states to allow testannounced plans to change crash safety ing800-699-8251 of the technology, but no more. standards, requiring the use of active There are two key points to Foxx’s e-mail: safety features to earn a perfect five- advertising@autobodynews.com announcement. First, the DOT plans to star rating. It’s a new way of encouragcreate model legislation, to encourage www.autobodynews.com ing technology that’s leading us toward nationally consistent rules. Second, it’s fully autonomous cars, like forward pledging to be open to what the compacollision warnings and lane keeping nies actually making this technology features. think. It’s a step automakers and others States’ attempts to govern auworking on self-driving tech are likely tonomous technology has created a to welcome, because they’ve long worpatchwork of rules. Nevada, Califorby Our Readers! ried that states would do what the feds Be nia,Seen Michigan, Florida, and WashingAdvertising Sales have not, and create a patchwork of CALL ton, D.C. have adopted laws at: regulating rules and regulations that could hamhow self-driving car are tested and per development of the technology. sold. Not surprisingly, these rules are Continued from Cover
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inconsistent. Nevada, for example, resays Audi spokesperson Brad Stertz. quires a special license and registraSean Walters, director of compliance tion, but that only applies to vehicles andPromote regulatory affairs at Daimler, your business with sold in the state. Florida’s law is which introduced article an autonomous 18an exclusive featuring mostly useless, saying the state “does wheeler last May, agrees: “National your products or services. not prohibit or specifically regulate the standards are critical to the trucking inThe source for timely testing or operation of autonomous dustry, especially with respect to new information that every technology.” and innovative technologies.” body shop needs! That’s not a major problem right NHTSA recognizes that its toolnow. With so few vehicles going box is much larger than regulations Call for details! through testing in just a few places, and recalls. The DOT, though, can’t CALL 800-699-8251 automakers and others can take the just apply its rules to all 50 states au800-699-8251 time to figure out what rules they need tomatically. The feds control how cars toMail follow Subscription and where. But when the are made—they can require airbags technology is ready for customers, and seat belts, for example—but it’s that changes. No automaker wants to the states that regulate how vehicles build a car that has to meet 50 differbehave, through the power of traffic ent sets of rules or more. It’s a logistilaws. Self-driving cars blur that discal nightmare, and automakers are tinction—how they drive is a direct Register Your Email for Ourmade. “Most of public about how much they want to result of how they’re avoid it. the laws that will permit automated “The technology benefits for univehicles are going to be state laws,” formity fromwww.autobodynews.com state to state and between Foxx told WIRED Magazine in Nostates and the federal regulations,” vember.
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Sharing Information
positive than before, excited to take on new challenges and make the necessary changes to do so. Not to mention the relationships you will build along with the support you will receive from your new friends.
Oakes: The benefits are endless. A new member could attend our meeting and not say one word and he/she would be able to walk away with ideas that would pay for the trip expenses tenfold. Of course, we want all members to participate and share their thoughts and ideas. Sharing our ideas is the cornerstone of the MMG. The MMG has really become a resource of knowledge for me over the past 23 years. Whenever I have a concern or an idea about my DMS, a business strategy, or my department employees, I always search out members of the guild for guidance. In every case, I receive their thoughts and ideas the same day.
Reed: You have a large group of friends that don’t feel threatened to share ideas and suggestions. All of the members are very knowledgeable and helpful!
Windham: I credit most of my personal success to ideas, processes and attitudes that I picked up in my association with the MMG. It is one of the two most important decisions I’ve ever made in business.
dent of the guild, I have accomplished most of my goals. Keeping the guild going for the next generation of parts managers is something I hope we can keep moving forward and to keep making us all better managers.
McDaniel: To create an even larger membership spectrum so that we can continue to grow stronger as a team and help each other to grow our businesses based on the knowledge we all share through our conversations as a group. Also, to continue to maintain our strong relationship with Mopar so that together we can ALL make this happen.
Oakes: Recently, I retired as parts director for my dealer group. However, I intend to do whatever possible to help the MMG continue to grow. I want all qualifying parts managers to experience what has been available to me through the MMG since 1993.
Reed: I hope to continue to gain knowledge and grow our business. With the MMG, I am able to learn different processes that work at different dealerships and I am able to implement them in my store. Being active in the MMG helps to keep us active and not allow our business to grow stagnant.
What goals do you hope to accomplish in the future as part Q: of the MMG?
Windham: The business is changing rapidly and I believe only those that keep up and adapt will succeed. Our challenges are many but so are our opportunities. I hope to conquer the challenges and take full benefit of the opportunities with the help of my MMG association.
Cutaia: Having now served as presi-
Allred: It is the best thing I could have ever done for my career and personal
Allred: To continue to discuss and overcome the challenges of our changing business!
Is there anything else you would to share about the MMG? Q: like
Valspar’s New Legacy EC21 Low VOC Euro Clearcoat
The Legacy line, by Valspar Refinish, unites performance with profits, according to a company press release. The company announced its launch of Legacy EC21 Clearcoat, a new, low 2.1 VOC, European style, polyurethane clearcoat with a 2:1 mix ratio. Valspar Refinish said that EC21 is formulated for ease of application with outstanding durability, flow and leveling.
Designed to deliver great quality with exceptional value, EC21 Clearcoat provides fast dry and polish times with exceptional gloss. “Whatever options your shop requires, Val- spar Refinish has a performance combination that’s right for you,” a company spokesman said. For more information, visit: valsparrefinish.com.
18 FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
life. Our group has become a fraternal organization that has much to offer anyone that will pursue and become active in it.
Cataia: I can truly say that being a part of such a group of talented people who are willing to share has made me such a better manager. I honestly believe I would not have been as successful of a manager had I not accidently joined this marvelous group that challenged me to become better and think outside the box. I have also made some friendships that have become an important part of my life and I feel blessed to have met some not only very intelligent but also genuine people that I am proud to call my friends.
McDaniel: Please join today, if you have not already. We welcome new members and new ideas. Each and every one of us who have continued our membership throughout the years can honestly say that we would not be as successful and open-minded as we are today without our involvement in the Mopar Masters Guild.
Oakes: Without a doubt the friendships that have been made through the
MMG are priceless. My wife and I consider many among our closest friends.
Reed: From the very beginning of my membership of the MMG all of the members welcomed me and embraced me. I have always felt comfortable talking and sharing ideas at the meetings and training classes. It really is a great group of people that are open to sharing and listening to new people and ideas.
Windham: My wife and I have developed many lifelong friends with whom we will remain close, even when we get to that distant future with golf courses providing us with all our challenges. These people are an important part of our lives now and into the future. For more information about the Mopar Masters Guild and to join, contact Susan McDaniel (602) 336-1557; Rick Cutaia (843) 402-6782; Andy Reed (888) 250-1852; Paul Allred (803) 5788099; Marvin Windham (205) 4584598; or Gerry Oakes (800) 642-1524. Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Mopar and SRT are registered trademarks of FCA US LLC.
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www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 19
ASA-Midwest Focused on Giving Back in December by Chasidy Rae Sisk
During the month of December, ASA-Midwest changed its focus from training to charitable initiatives in honor of the holidays. ASA-Midwest initiated its ASA Gives Back campaign in 2014 with chapters from all six Midwest states selecting a local charity to support during the holiday season. Sheri Hamilton, executive director of ASA-Midwest, said, “Our ASA-Midwest Gives Back campaign is a way to help our members give back to their local communities. This is a great way to support those in need and show that the automotive industry can come together for a great cause.” Six chapters from ASA-Midwest participated in the 2015 ASA Gives Back campaign, including the Des Moines chapter, Springfield chapter and Lawrence/Topeka chapter. The Springfield chapter of ASAMidwest selected Rare Breed as their local charity to support, and chapter president Dustin Atwood explained, “Rare Breed was selected based on their objective of helping provide clean, safe and sober places for homeless, runaway and at-risk youth in Springfield. We were excited and honored to make a
difference in the youths’ lives this holiday season.” www.autobodynews.com Both the Lawrence/Topeka and CHECK ITchose OUT!Toys for Des Moines chapters Tots as their local charities, distributing donation boxes to member shops to gather toys from employees and customers. Danny Fox, president of the Lawrence/Topeka chapter, shared, “Toys for Tots was selected based on their objective of helping less fortunate children experience the of Christmas.” Tojoy advertise DesAdvertising Moines chapter president call Sales at: Ron Haugen added, “We were ex800-699-8251 cited and honored to make a difference in children’s lives this holiday e-mail: season.” advertising@autobodynews.com For more information, about www.autobodynews.com ASA-Midwest, call (816) 781-5801 or email www.asa-midwest.org.
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20 FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
Promote your business with Freer Auto Body in IL Celebrates 25 years; Encourages an exclusive article featuring Others to Make a Difference your products or services. Freer Autosource Body in Illinois will be obThe for timely serving its 25th year in business this information that every year. Freer Auto Body opened in body shop needs!and a 1991with meager beginnings 1,500 square foot building. Today, it is a CALL 17,000 square foot technologically800-699-8251
Each month they will do something special. The January sharing and caring event will be 25 car seats donated to Alton Memorial Hospital’s Women’s Health and Childbirth CenCall leave for details! ter. Babies cannot the hospital without being in a car seat. 800-699-8251 The staff often is required to assist with this task. Mail Subscription Freer Auto Body said, “Our local nurses give of themselves every day and we do not want them to be burdened with finding car seats. We think this act of kindness will bring smiles to many faces.” Register Your Email for Our Freer Auto Body encourFreer Auto Body is donating 25 car seats to Alta ages others to make a differMemorial Hospital ence. To date, Zeke Jabusch advanced facility with 20 employees with the North Alton Godfrey Busiwww.autobodynews.com with the highest certifications for col- ness Council, Keith Neuber with Creative Kids Learning Center and lision repair. Freer Auto Body will be celebrat- Heritage Gardens have committed to ing its silver anniversary all year. Freer this project and are purchasing car seatsEmail for Alton has always credited the communityYour Register forMemorial Our Hospital with its success because of the com- Birthing Center. If you would like to with this project, purchase an inmunity support it received day help 4 from Times Monthly E-Newsletter one. In continuing its, community fant car seat and deliver to Alton Mecommitment the business will be spon- morial Hospital or Freer Auto Body. www.autobodynews.com For more information, call Freer soring 12 months of sharing and carAuto Body at (618) 466-615. ing.
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www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 21
CARSTAR Shop Owners in Kansas Named ‘Shop of the Year’ in One Location and Complete Renovation in Another CARSTAR Brunswick owners Jeremy and Theresa Orsky are growing their collision repair business in the Cleveland, OH area. Their first shop, CARSTAR Coach & Collision, opened in Cleveland, in 2012. They expanded to a second location, CARSTAR Tim’s
The Orskys have spent the past few months renovating their new shop in Ohio, CARSTAR Brunswick
Collision, in Twinsburg, OH, in late 2014. That location was named “Shop of the Year” for the Midwest by Nationwide Insurance. The “On Your Side Auto Repair Network Shop of the Year Awards” includes shops that are pre-screened and pre-qualified for a high level of service. The award program is based on two key categories – Customer Focus, and Engagement. CARSTAR Tim’s Collision had some of the highest scores in the Cus-
tomer Focus category, earning a 9.93 in both Overall Experience and Refer Shop. They also earned a 9.86 for Quality of Repairs and utilize Autowatch for 100 percent of their repairs. “Theresa and Jeremy Orsky have a passion to provide superior customer service,” commented Nationwide Insurance Midwest Zone AD, Richard Babin. “That passion is proven with exceptional CSI scores that lead the market. They have instilled this culture in their office and shop staff who execute this passion each day by providing world class quality repairs and customer service.” CARSTAR Tim’s is the Orsky’s flagship location where specialty work, like aluminum repair will be sent. It is a 25,000-square-foot I-CAR Gold certified shop that also carries all of the OEM certifications. Now their third shop, CARSTAR Brunswick is completely remodeled and open for business. The Orskys spent the past few months renovating their new shop with a complete makeover of the customer and front office area. Everything from the floor to ceiling has been upgraded. When Jeremy found his latest
22 FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
shop, he actually wasn’t looking to expand. When he was shopping ads on Craigslist for equipment or potential business opportunities, he ran across an ad that grabbed his attention.
CARSTAR Tim’s in Twinsburg, Ohio, was named ‘Shop of the Year’ by Nationwide Insurance
“The ad said ‘Turnkey Body Shop’ and it had a little star on the map with the street name,” said Orsky. “I was able to determine which one it was based on the map. I knew that the shop had been marketed for sale prior to that, and that the owner had even negotiated to sell it to a consolidator. When we came along, he liked us and accepted our offer.” CARSTAR Brunswick is in an 11,000 square foot shop, that sits on a two-acre fenced-in lot. The Orskys are now better-equipped to load level their work depending on the type of repair.
Apple Registers New Domain Names Such as “apple.car”
Apple has registered domain names related to automobiles including “apple.car,” under new domain extensions. Apple registered the domain names, which include apple.car, apple.cars and apple.auto in December. Apple has not yet disclosed plans to develop a car. The company is trying to bring its CarPlay platforms to automobiles, allowing control of operations to be communicated via voice and text commands. Apple has been recruiting auto experts from companies such as Ford and Mercedes-Benz. Continued from Page 16
Google Seeks Help
2013 and found they had a higher rate than for conventional cars. But that study noted the low volume of driverless miles – 1.2 million compared with 3 trillion miles driven annually on U.S. roads. In December, California proposed state regulations that would require all autonomous cars to have a steering wheel, throttle and brake pedals when operating on California’s public roads.
www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 23
Eminent Domain Holdout in WI: ‘I’m Just Trying to Make A Living; County’s Offer Not Enough’ by Lyn Jerde, Protage Daily Register
John Gruber’s immediate problem is making sure that his customers can get to his garage via streets that will soon be crowded with flatbeds and backhoes. His long-term problem: Finding a place to relocate Gruber’s Automotive, and getting enough money from Columbia County to start all over again someplace else — preferably within the county’s borders. Pausing during a busy workday — he said he’d had about 20 customers before 10 a.m. on January 13 — Gruber reflected on the uncertain future for the business that he’s owned and operated at 208 E. Edgewater St. in Portage, Wisconsin since 1984. “If I have no place to go,” he said, “then I have to go outside the city, and I lose my customer base.” Columbia County wants to buy the Gruber’s Automotive property to make way for a three-story administration building and a two-story Health and Human Services building, to be constructed on opposite sides of the Portage Canal. Demolition of the canal-side buildings that the county has acquired started in January, with Robinson Brothers of Waunakee handling the razing. On late morning January 13, a backhoe was taking huge bites out of a long-vacant lumber yard on the canal’s north side. And Steve’s Auto Body on DeWitt Street — the building where Gruber said he worked before moving to his current location in 1984 — is now a pile of concrete blocks and rebar. Gruber said he’s OK with selling his property to the county. He’s even OK with having his service bays converted for use as a shop for the county’s Building and Grounds Department, once the new administration building is completed in the spring of 2017. But what the county offered him, he said, isn’t nearly enough to pay for setting up a comparable business somewhere else. According to Gruber, the county’s most recent offer is $237,000. “That wouldn’t get me out of here,” he said. The offer is almost $90,000 more than the $147,100 fair market value listed for the property on county land records, and it’s well above the assessed valuation of $143,300 — $17,200 for the land and $126,100 for the improvements.
However, Gruber said, it would cost him $500,000 or more to move the business elsewhere, for land and for a facility of comparable quality to the existing garage and retail store.
His original plans to move the area goes up all around him. business to 1000 Jefferson St. were Gruber said he’s concerned about thwarted in October 2015, when the city the safety of customers who would of Portage’s Plan Commission voted have to share the roads, in the coming against giving him a conditional use perdays, with heavy equipment. mit. Commission Member And all the time, he said, they’re Carolyn Hamre said, at the asking him what’s going to happen to time, that the site would not be his business, and he tells them he doessuitable for Gruber’s business n’t know. — a contention he disputes, Joe Bonin, on the other hand, said citing a decades-old state cerhe might be close to a deal with the tificate in which the property county to sell the Big Chicken property. was described as “industrial.” On January 13 — while a tall At age 56, Gruber said, he’s crane was taking down the metal tower not ready to give up his busifrom the 154-year-old feed mill that is These days, Gruber Automotive at 208 E. Edgwater St. ness. He’s willing to sell his being dismantled, piece by piece, on in Portage, is on the edge of a construction site, but it’s current location, provided that the property — Bonin said he has verexcluded from the current deolition to make way for new he can get enough compensabally accepted an offer from the county, Columbia County buildings, because the county and tion for it to start over somebut has yet to see paperwork formalizowner John Gruber haven’t come to an agreement on price. Meanwhile, Gruber says, his shop remains open where else. ing the offer and its conditions. and busy. Credit: Lyn Jerde, Daily Register. He said he’s looked at other When that happens, Bonin said, he “I’m just trying to make a living,” properties in Columbia County that can close the deal for a new Big Chicken he said. “That’s all I’m trying to do.” might be suitable, but their asking prices location outside of Portage, for which he Gruber said he wasn’t represented exceed what the county is offering him, made an offer conditioned on a successby a lawyer during his first negotiation and none of them are in move-in condiful transaction with Columbia County. sessions with Portage Attorney John tion. “All I’m waiting for,” Bonin said, Miller, whom the county had retained to Meanwhile, Gruber said, he and “is for the county to come here with a oversee the purchase of property for the his two employees are trying to do check.” county’s $45.41 million building project, business as usual, even as the chainThank you to Portage Daily Regiswhich also includes renovating the link fence marking the construction ter for permission to reprint this article. courthouse for court-related use only. He also was not represented, he said, during initial talks with Mark Hazelbaker, whom the county hired after the County Board voted in June 2015 to begin eminent domain proceedings to acquire Gruber’s property and that of his neighbors, Big Chicken antique store owners Joe and Nancy Bonin. • Dedicated Wholesale Staff Since then, however, the Min• Competitive Wholesale Prices neapolis-based firm of Biersdorf and Associates, which touts a specialty in • Exceptional Customer Service eminent domain cases, solicited and got Gruber’s business. Biersdorf and Associates attorney Ryan Simatic could not be reached for comment on January 13. Miller said, however, that the offer made to Gruber exceeds the value determined by an appraiser that the county hired. Also, he said, the county would reimburse Gruber for moving expenses, Parts Dept. Dept Hours: Hours in addition to the price that would be Mon., Wed.: 7:30 am - 8 pm paid for the property. However, he Tue.,Thurs., Fri.: 7:30 am - 6pm, Sat.: 8am - Noon noted, allowable “moving” expenses do not encompass the cost of erecting a new building. Phone: Gruber said he has hired an indewww.toyotaofgrandrapids.com pendent appraiser, as is the right of property owners who are targeted for 2555 28th Street SE • Grand Rapids MI 49512 eminent domain.
24 FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
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Assured Performance: Thousands of Body Shops Achieve OEM Certification in 2015
Assured Performance Network, the country’s largest OEM Certified-Recognized Collision Repair Network, announced the achievement of major milestones for full national coverage. Over 2,000 shops have now reached “Certified” status which reflects that just 2/3 that have applied have been able to achieve the requirements. Regardless of this impressive achievement, still less than 10% of industry shops have been able to make the grade and become OEM Certified so far. The mission of Assured Performance Certification is to raise the industry’s technical repair capability and ensure each repair business has what is necessary to properly and safely repair new generation of vehicles. The collective goal of the OEM joint-effort body shop Certification program is to provide complete demographic and geographic coverage of the county providing a Certified Repair Provider in nearly every community. To become officially Certified and Recognized by multiple OEM is far beyond just checking a box. Achieving Assured Performance OEM Certification- Recognition is based upon meet-
ing the industry’s most stringent and comprehensive business requirements including the tools, equipment, and training as required by the participating Automakers. Shops must illustrate proof of compliance for all program specifics, as well as pass an annual onsite audit conducted by an independent auditor. The independent onsite audit provides proof and visual electronic documentation that shops possess and have use of the required tools and equipment, as well as the necessary training, and business and facility requirements. The electronic images and records are retained online, accessible to be viewed at all times, and reviewed and officially approved by the participating OEMs. The proof of compliance is updated annually through on-site re-audits. This is the most comprehensive and transparent process in the industry, and it is embraced by multiple OEMs because of its effectiveness in identifying the bestin-class, qualifying shops. The Assured Performance Certification Program statistics achieved through 2015 are: ● Nearly 3,500 shops have applied to
become Certified-Recognized with just over 2,000 successfully making the grade so far. ● FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) has over 1,700 shops currently enrolled ● Ford currently has over 1,200 shops enrolled that meet the requirements to repair their new aluminum alloy F150 ● Nissan has over 1,200 body shops enrolled, but limits shop participation. ● Hyundai has over 1,000 total shops enrolled in just 3 months ● While less than 2/3 of shops applying have been able to achieve the elite “Certified” status, all shops are given the opportunity to participate in an optional Assured Performance “Business Improvement Program” to assist the shops in attaining certification, compliance and higher levels of performance. ● Even though the Certification criteria includes extensive quality assurance requirements, the Assured Performance Certification is not a quality control program to avoid any implied or explicit warrants of the workmanship of the body shop that may lead to liability exposure to the OEMs and Certifying body. ● Further, the joint-effort OEM Certi-
fication program avoids parts purchases and product brand name mandates. To achieve the impressive results, the Assured Performance Certification program employs several unique strategies including enabling shops to participate in several OEM programs while only paying once for the certification, annually. The online application and annual onsite inspection processes are also used consistently by all of the participating Automakers. These aspects eliminate redundant effort by thousands of shops and hundreds of field inspectors to provide documented proof of compliance. Assured Performance also uses state-of-the-art technology to provide online processing, web applications, and mobile apps for the shop’s documentation and for inspectors while onsite. Assured Performance also provides data management for ongoing self- monitoring and performance tracking with KPI feedback. Additionally, Certified shops receive public awareness, press releases, marketing and promotional tools, micro-sites, rebates, and more as part of the overall benefits.
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4144 Bardstown Rd. / Louisville, KY 40218 www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 25
Iowa Shop Owner is 100 Percent All-in with Community Service by Ed Attanasio
Many body shop owners all over the country don’t hesitate to play important roles in their respective communities. Some are content to sponsor Little League teams and the local high schools, while others are willing to get even more involved. Steve Copeland, the owner of Copeland Auto Body in Hedrick, IA is one of the latter.
Steve Copeland (with wife Holly) isn’t afraid to play an integral role as a public servant and fill several capacities in his hometown of Hedrick, IA
They say that in any volunteerbased organization, 10 percent of the members do 80 percent of the work, whether it’s the Kiwanis or any form of local government. Many years ago,
Steve Copeland decided to be that 10 percent. Today, he is Hedrick’s Fire Chief, the President of the District’s school board and also the former President of Hedrick’s flourishing Little League baseball program. Copeland had absolutely no training or experience when he started on this journey into public service, but he now realizes that it is in his DNA and something he was driven to do. “My wife Holly says I’m a good decision maker and that’s why people pick me to play these roles, Copeland said. “I never started doing this in order to help or promote my business, but in some ways it has helped. By being involved in the community, I am visible and accessible, which I believe the people of Hedrick appreciate.” 1.53 square miles in size, Hedrick has a population of approximately 800, so if you don’t know Steve Cope-land, you probably just moved there. Copeland owns and operates two businesses— Copeland Auto Body and Copeland Towing & Recovery in nearby Sigourney, IA that also performs mechanical work, but it all started in a roundabout way.
26 FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
“I learned how to fix things on my grandfather’s farm,” he said. “We grew corn and soybeans and had some cattle. When it comes to farm equipment, you can’t replace stuff, so you have to fix it. Later, I got into race cars and when I was 15, I restored an old Impala. So, cars were always a big interest of mine, but I
As the town’s Fire Chief, Copeland is on 24/7 call, even in the snow as he directs Hedrick’s volunteer crew
never figured that I would own a shop.” Auto body repair wasn’t initially on Copeland’s radar. “I had a full-time job as a shift manager at at a large Iowabased grocery store,” he explained.
“My need to become an independent business owner finally got the best of me along with my love to fix things. I had been working on peoples’ cars on my days off, along with rebuilding some wrecked vehicles to sell. In 1994, I hired a painter and began my education at the school of Hard Knocks. We have now grown from a two-man body shop to a full service eight employee collision repair shop.” Being a community leader can be either a plus or a minus when it comes to also being a business owner. “It can be good, but it can also cause conflicts with other people who may not agree with one of my decisions. There are folks in every community where they get into office because they have an agenda or an axe to grind over some issue. I don’t do it for those reasons; I truly want to help the community and make it a better place to live and work.” By serving his town in several capacities, Copeland has learned some invaluable lessons. “I tell people that we’re not going to agree on everything, because I will never be a yes man. Can’t we agree to disagree and then make decisions that will help us
www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 27
all? If you want to make a difference, you need to jump in and get things done, because otherwise they won’t.” Copeland’s competition in Hedrick isn’t exactly fierce, to say the least. “We’re the only body shop in town, but we get cars here from as far as 40 miles away, because we’re in a rural
Chase (left) and Tyler Copeland are football and track stars in Hedrick and outstanding students as well
part of the state. With 800 people living here, we often see the same vehicles coming through the door twice, even three times.” Being Hedrick’s fire chief can occasionally impact Copeland’s cycle times, but most of his DRPs and customers don’t seem to mind. “We have 17 people on our 100 percent volunteer fire crew and when our pagers go off, we all need to respond. One of my
employees is also a member, so sometimes we will end up being shorthanded at the shop. One day, a fire kept us out of the shop all day long, starting at around 10 am and we were busy at the time. I won’t lie to you— fighting some of these fires can take a toll on your body, but our attitude is whatever it takes, we’ll do it.” Copeland’s involvement in Hedrick’s school board has paid off in an indirect way, because both of his sons, Chase and Tyler have turned out pretty well, according to their proud father. “They both play football for the Pekin High School Panthers and they run track as well,” Copeland said. “They were part of a 4x2 relay team and they won the state title. They’re good students and they are getting great educations, so that is very satisfying.” Will Steve’s sons enter the collision repair world when the time comes? “I don’t know, because it’s not an easy business to be in,” he explained. “My father tried to talk me out of getting into this industry, so I don’t want them to feel like they have to do this. One of them is into fixing the cars and the other one is good at the computer-side of things, so I think they will do a great job if they decide to take over.”
28 FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
Lyft to Operate Self-Driving Cars After GM Invests $500M
Lyft, a ride-sharing service, announced on January 4 that GM invested $500 million in the company to assist with developing an on-demand network of self-driving cars and a series of short-term car rental hubs across the United States. In California, a law was recently passed that requires manufacturers to receive certification and pass certain cybersecurity thresholds before releasing a self-driving car. In addition, a licensed driver must also be behind the wheel of the car at all times, reported blackenterprise.com According to PitchBook, GM’s financial backing is the largest direct investment by an auto manufacturer into a ride-hailing company in the United States. With the rise of car services such as Uber and Lyft, auto manufacturing companies are working to adapt to the future of the car market industry. The services are expected to lead to a decrease in car ownership, reported Black Enterprise. Several car manufactures have also entered partnership deals with auto-related startup companies. GM’s president, Mary Barra, will also sit on the board of Lyft.
FinishMaster Purchases ColorMaster Automotive Paint
FinishMaster, Inc., a distributor of paint and related products in the United States and subsidiary of Uni-Select Inc., a distributor of automotive products in Canada, announced on January 4 that it has completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of ColorMaster Automotive Paint, Inc. This transaction was initially announced on December 28, 2015 and its consummation was subject to certain customary closing conditions, all of which have been satisfied. “We are happy to welcome more than 76 new team members to the FinishMaster family. Our combined efforts will accelerate growth in new geographic areas and maximize our service, product, and technical support to new and existing customers,” stated Steve Arndt, president and COO, FinishMaster. “This acquisition of a leading regional player in the automotive refinish sector is a key strategic addition to our portfolio,” said Henry Buckley, president and CEO of Uni-Select.
www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 29
Industry Insight
—John Yoswick is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon, who has a body shop in the family and has been writing about the automotive industry since 1988. He is the editor of the weekly CRASH Network (for a free 4-week trial subscription, visit www.CrashNetwork.com). Contact him by email at jyoswick@SpiritOne.com.
Automakers Discuss Labor Times, Share Other Insights at ‘OEM Summit’ with John Yoswick
During a recent industry event at balancing it against the P-pages and inwhich automakers discussed some of cluded operations…you have the opthe complexities of making collision portunity to…say, ‘Hey, this is not an repairs to their new vehicles, a shop included operation. This is a separate with Ed Attanasio owner asked the OEMs a decidedly operation. We need to add this as a line more business than technical question: item.” Are you working to come up with reA number of automakers stressed alistic labor times for the repair operthe importance of looking up collision ations on these vehicles? repair procedures before every repair The answers across the board because they can sometimes change were a qualified with “no.” Ed Attanasioeven within a model year or between “I don’t necessarily come up with design changes. Chris Tobie, an inlabor times. That’s not my sphere of structional designer with American influence,” Mark Allen, a collision reHonda cited several examples. “The pair programs specialist with Audi of 2014 Odyssey has 1500 megapascal America said. steel in it, whereas previously the car Allen said his “sphere of influonly had 780 megapascal in it,” Tobie ence” includes working with insurers said. “Same thing with the CR-V: The EdtoAttanasio and information with providers educate 2014 CR-V the body stops at 780 them “on what is necessary and proper” megapascal; 2015, all of a sudden, the in terms of collision repair of Audi vesills and the front pillars are 1,500 hicles. Allen said at least six major auto megapascal. That totally changes the insurers have sent personnel to Audi way you approach the repair. So if you training facilities, but he acknowledged just say, ‘This looks like the repair I with Ed10Attanasio that not even all of the Top insurers did last week,’ it could be a very dando that. gerous assumption and a very unsafe Brandin Benson, a service engirepair.” neer with Mercedes-Benz USA’s prodHere are some of the other highuct technical support team said his lights from automaker presentations response was much like Allen’s, with during the day-long “OEM Collision the company offering workshops for Repair Technology Summit” organwith Stacey Phillips ASSISTANT EDITOR of Collision Reinsurers. ized- by the Society “We tell them here’s why we do pair Specialists: this and why it may take longer,” Ben■ Audi’s Allen said the mix of son said, noting that labor times are materials and diversity of “joining” established by the estimating database methodologies are more reasons that providers. researching the OEM repair procedures “We’re very sympathetic to the has become crucial. “We’re about to need, but we are bound to stay in our launch our Q7, and from its previous swim lanes, and labor times are quite a generation it lost 800 pounds,” Allen few swim lanes over,” General Motor’s said. “So there is 41 percent aluminum Mark Szlachta, concurred. “The pricontent to the vehicle, and the rest is a ority when repairing these vehicles mixture of high-strength and ultrashouldn’t be getting it done as quickly high-strength steel throughout the enas possible. The priority should be gettire body. You really have to know ting them done properly and as safely what you’re dealing with. [In terms of as possible to return them back to facjoining methods], adhesives are not tory specifications. The labor times, we just glue. They’re also corrosion prowould hope, would reflect that. But we tection. You can’t just go to Sears and don't have any control over those.” get the pop-rivets you used to fix But Allen said the labor times Grandpa’s lawn chair. You have to use issue is yet another reason that downthe right rivets and right rivet gun and loading the OEM repair procedures is right technique. It’s a challenge for us such an important first step in every reto make sure the industry is ready for pair. it.” “Here’s where the shop has an op■ Several of the automakers cauportunity,” Allen said. “If you’re using tioned against TIG welding aluminum, the OEM repair procedures, and you’re noting that the heat vaporizes the mag-
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nesium or other elements used for hardening the aluminum. “TIG welding is a wonderful way to weld, no question, but it’s not very friendly in the automotive market,” GM’s Szlachta said. Audi’s Allen concurred, saying TIG welding can reduce the tensile strength of the metal by 50 percent. “The frequency and energy being put into the material, and the electronics in the vehicle, never play well together as well,” Allen said. ■ Several of the automakers said the weakening of the metal from heating is why the OEM procedures often call for use of a backing plate when joining to restore the full strength of that area of the vehicle. Audi, for example, uses the same “T4” temper aluminum that some other automakers use, because it can be formed into complex shapes in the manufacturing process. But unlike Ford (among others) that use thicker grades of the material to improve its strength, Audi and some other automakers put their vehi-
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cles through an age (or bake) cycle during production to raise the aluminum to a “T6” temper which can be at least 50 percent stronger than T4. This allows them to maximize weight reductions by using even thinner grades of aluminum. That’s why they require the use of specialized welders and a backer to build the strength back into a repaired area. ■ Given the increasing complexity of collision repairs on some vehicles, how are the automakers ensuring their vehicles go to a shop equipped and trained to do the work? “It’s a challenge getting a customer to understand that they have a special vehicle, and it’s also a very awkward conversation [at the time of purchase],” Allen said. “It’s kind of saying, ‘Welcome your new child into the world, and by the way, meet its mortician.’ That doesn’t fly well in a sales scenario. So it’s a balancing act See Automakers discuss, Page 42
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National Associations
A Decade of WINning
with Chasidy Rae Sisk
events, scholarship recipients will reAs the Women’s Industry Network ceive a one-year membership to WIN (WIN) approaches its 10th anniversary toSisk further support their journey and in 2016, the association celebrates Rae a with Chasidy provide community guidance as they decade of WINning with big plans for pursue their career goals. the new year after enjoying a successFor high school stuful 2015. Denise Caspersen, Chair of dents enrolled in a secWIN, shared, “With the wrap-up of ondary collision 2015, our WIN membership drive has surpassed our goal of 450 members repair technology program who inwith a year-end close closer to 500 with Ed Attanasiotend to continue members.” their education at WIN’s sponsorship drive is una technical school derway, and the association is already or college, WIN nearing its goal of $135,000 for 2016. WIN has released a call for nominaawards five $1,000 scholarships based tions to choose this year’s WIN Scholarship recipients,with and the Edassociation Attanasioon application competitiveness and the is now accepting nominees for this completion of scholarship year’s Most Influential Women (MIW) criteria. WIN’s College Student TuAwards. ition and Conference Scholarship is WIN offers scholarships as a way awarded to five qualifying students enof supporting females with a desire to rolled in a post-secondary collision reexcel in the collision repair industry. Ed Attanasio pair technology program, and in In addition to with receiving financial addition to receiving $1,000 towards awards to assist with tuition, educatuition and educational expenses, retional opportunities and enrichment
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Chasidy Rae Sisk is a freelance technical writer from Wilmington, Delaware, who writes on a variety of fields and subjects, and grew up in a family of NASCAR fans. She can be contacted at crsisk@chasidyraesisk.com. cipients will be invited to attend WIN’s 2016 Educational Conference with the registration fee and travel expenses covered. Scholarship recipients will also have the opportunity of being mentored by one of this year’s MIW honorees. Applications for both scholarships are available on WIN’s website and should be sent to WIN Scholarship Committee, c/o Beverly RookTwibell, Safelite Solutions, 1820 N. Corrington Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64120. WIN is also accepting nominations for its 2016 MIW Awards, which are designed to recognize women who have enriched the collision repair industry through their leadership, vision and commitment to excellence. Nom-
inations must be submitted on the official nomination form and will be evaluated by an impartial third-party, Sandra Herron, founding principal and owner of MiddleEdge, Inc. MIW Honorees will be recognized during the MIW Gala at WIN’s 2016 Educational Conference and will receive a Tiffany’s crystal award and commemorative pin. MIW Honorees will also participate in a mentoring program with scholarship recipients and other young women transitioning from their education to their career. The organization is gearing up for their 2016 Educational Conference, and in light of the association’s 10th anniversary, this year’s theme is “Power of the Past, Force of the Future.” The 2016 Educational Conference will feature the Gala Dinner during which the MIW awards will be distributed, as well as the Annual Scholarship Walk fundraiser. Program specifics have not yet been released, but WIN promises a “comprehensive
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lineup of professional development programming.” Wendy Rogers, one of WIN’s 2016 Conference co-chairs, anticipates that this year’s event “will provide a look back and forward at the continuing opportunities for success of the Women’s Industry Network and its members.” The 2016 WIN Educational Conference will be held at the Tampa Hilton in Tampa, FL on May 2-4, 2016. Caspersen noted, “The 2016 WIN Educational Conference marks the 10th year of successful collaborations among WIN volunteers, members and sponsors. One of the early Educational Conferences was held in Orlando, so this 10th Anniversary is the perfect time to return to Florida and reflect on how the WIN network has grown and been enriched during this decade.” Stay tuned to Autobody News for news and updates on this event as it approaches! WIN has also recently released their annual call for applications from members interested in joining the organization’s diverse board of directors which is comprised of members from all segments of the collision repair industry, including repairers, shop owners, jobbers, suppliers, consultants,
paint manufacturers, recyclers and insurers. Members from all segments of the industry are encouraged to apply as long as they are a current WIN member in good standing. WIN’s board of directors collaborate to promote the education, recruitment, retention and networking of women in the collision repair industry. During their monthly conference calls and two annual in-person strategic planning sessions, these ladies decide upon the direction of the organization’s many initiatives, such as the annual Educational Conference, other industry events, scholarship awards and MIW awards. According to Petra Schroeder, WIN Vice Chair and co-chair of the Board Development/Nominating Committee, “Being a part of the WIN board is an outstanding way to shape the future of the collision repair industry. Participation allows members to not only contribute to the growth of the WIN organization, but also to contribute to their personal growth through leadership skills and industry relationships.” Application requirements and details are available at http://thewomens See A Decade of WINning, Page 42
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Innovation Group Encourages Gold Class Commitment
The automotive industry is undergoing a transformative shift—also known as the “Technical Tsunami™”—with an estimated 142 new or redesigned vehicle models hitting the road in 2015 alone. Innovation Group, a global provider of insurance software solutions and business process services, is encouraging all of its network repair shops to achieve the Gold Class® designation. The Gold Class designation lets consumers know a collision repair shop has technicians who have received industry-recognized training that contributes to proper repairs and consumer safety. The company said shops that commit to training are building the knowledge required to properly deal with the increasing levels of vehicle technology complexity each new model year brings. Studies show Gold Class shops successfully translate training into KPI improvements; such as 14.35 percent improved cycle time, 33.75 percent improved touch time, an 11 percent drop in supplements for necessary repairs overlooked in the estimate and a five percent increase in customer satisfaction, and up to 43% shorter length of rental. To learn more, visit www.GoldClass.com.
Reflexxion Automotive Aluminum Cowl Induction Hood
Reflexxion Automotive, a Diamond Standard Group company that specializes in aluminum technology for Cowl Induction Hoods, announced that the Aluminum Cowl Induction Hood for the 2015-16 Aluminum F-150 is now available.
2015-16 Ford F-150 Aluminum Cowl Induction Hood
“The great looks and contours accent and enhance the beauty of the ground-breaking technology for light weight yet strong body panel advances,” stated a company press release. For more information, contact angiik@reflexxion.com or visit www .reflexxion.com.
Continued from Cover
California DMV Proposes
drivers and to have a steering wheel when operated on public roads. The newest rules would effectively block the commercial deployment of “driverless” cars, which could function as robotic taxis that pick up passengers and drop them off at the destination of their choosing. Established car companies also are dreaming of such a capability, which could enable personal cars that drive themselves to faraway parking spaces as if guided by robotic valets. “Given the potential risks associated with deployment of such a new technology, [the] DMV believes that manufacturers need to obtain more experience in testing driverless vehicles on public roads prior to making this technology available to the general public,” the agency said. Under the proposal, autonomous cars would also need to meet new safety and performance requirements, with testing and certification by a thirdparty auditor. To get a three-year operating permit, manufacturers would need to submit regular reports on the safety
and usage of their self-driving cars. As of Dec. 3, the companies certified to test autonomous cars on California roads were automakers BMW, Ford, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Tesla and Volkswagen Group; suppliers Bosch and Delphi; and Silicon Valley technology companies Google and Cruise Automation.
Safety debate Developers of self-driving cars have generally warned the DMV that strict rules could slow the rollout of a nascent technology, while some consumer groups have called for regulation to ensure that self-driving cars are safe. The agency has “admirably served as traffic cop,” John Simpson, director of the privacy project at Consumer Watchdog, said in a statement, calling the December 16 proposal a set of “reasonable limits to protect public safety.” The DMV scheduled meetings to solicit public comments on Jan. 28 in Sacramento and Feb. 2 in Los Angeles. Thank you to Auto News for permission to reprint this article.
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Day Job/Night Job Body Shop Owner in NH Shapes a New Career as a Sculptor with Ed Attanasio
People change their careers every day, and, in some cases, it happens randomly and without warning. This was the case for John Lacz, 67, a former
John Lacz owned a body shop for 38 years, but his budding career as a sculptor allowed him to close his shop in 2010 and pursue a passion in art. This piece is called Cotton Candy
body shop owner who is now a nationally acclaimed sculptor with pieces in galleries that sell for as much as $9,000. Lacz’s career as a body shop owner wasn’t anything unusual— father moonlights fixing cars while his 10-year-old son learns the business. “I knew pretty quickly that working on cars was my passion,” Lacz said. “I wanted to learn as much about the trade as I could, so I worked for three different shops and built a few cars over a five-year period.” Then, in 1972 Lacz opened his own shop in Manchester, NH. The 22year-old put his name on the door (Lacz Body Shop) and assembled a crew of one. “It was just me at the beginning,” he said. “I focused on doing frame-off restorations, but we also did collision repair as well. At times, I would be working on four or five cars simultaneously, and pretty soon my customer list started to grow.” One day, John’s wife Terry asked him to go out and find a piece of art to put in their flower garden at home. After searching high and low for a good piece of sculpture that would work in the cou-
ple’s back yard, Lacz made a snap decision that would change his life. “I couldn’t find anything out there that she liked” he said. “So I made something myself. I had never done anything like this before, but I knew how to paint the piece once I was done with it, so I gave it a shot.” After the sculpture was complete, Lacz painted it at his shop and pretty soon this one-time need became a parttime hobby and eventually a full-time job. His eye-catching wood sculptures and unique steel figures started gaining attention almost immediately. Lacz’s wood carvings vary from three feet to nine feet high and are finished with Sherwin-Williams chameleon-like multi-tone paints. “The pigments contain crystals grown to act like prisms and they actually change color based on light refraction, giving it that unique look,” Lacz said. “I really enjoy creating my own colors to make my sculptures one-of-a-kind.” Lacz’s metal sculptures are made of solid steel and are painted with automotive paint, so that they can survive the relentless winters in the East. However, not every art buyer uses the original Lacz the same way. “Clients are fascinated with the form, imagery and coloration John
Ed Attanasio is an automotive journalist based in San Francisco, California. He can be reached at era39@aol.com.
Tear Drops by John Lacz
is creating,” Lee Forgosh of Art 3 Gallery in Manchester NH said, one of several art studios where Lacz’s creations are displayed. “He has sold major sculptural pieces to people with indoor gardens, but the form
doesn’t have to be in a garden setting. The pieces stand on their own as true art.” As Lacz’s art career began to flourish, he started to move toward the exit signs of his body shop. “I began to think about getting out of this business and the art helped me to do it” Lacz said. “Several things all happened together that made the decision easier. My #1 employee had a heart attack right here at the shop, so I began to ask, why am I pushing myself so hard? I was 63 at the time and I could see that I was losing the passion for this industry. So, after 38 years in this industry, I stepped away in 2010. I realized that pursuing my passion for art was more important than money.” Today, Lacz is a full-time professional artist, living half the time in New Hampshire and the other half in Florida. Currently, he has pieces in five galleries between the four states. See New Career as a Sculptor, Page 48
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American Honda Addresses the Importance of Properly Repairing a Vehicle During Industry Update by Stacey Phillips, Assistant Editor
During a recent Guild 21 presentation, Chris Tobie and Gary Ledoux gave a Honda & Acura Collision Repair Industry support update. They both stressed the importance of learning the correct requirements and procedures to properly repair a vehicle. Chris Tobie, an Tobie, an InstrucInstructional tional Designer for Designer for the Collision Re-Think the Collision ReProject at Think Project at American Honda American Honda, focused on new body structure issues that have occurred since the last Guild 21 presentation in August, 2014, when he gave comprehensive overview about high strength steel repair. Due to changes in collision test requirements, American Honda has made significant body structural modifications to some of its vehicles. He used the example of a 2012-14 Honda CRV body that does not contain ultra high strength steel in comparison to a
2015 Honda CR-V body that incorporates 980 and 1,500 MPA steel. “This completely changes how you approach repairing the vehicle,” said Tobie. “It may look like the 2012, but you can’t repair it the same way.” He said it becomes very critical to use the company’s Body Repair News and body repair manual in order to properly repair these vehicles. “You have to make that part of the culture in your shop,” said Tobie. “Anybody that is unable or unwilling to do that, is going to create a potential liability for you.” Tobie noted that the new 2016 Honda Pilot uses a door stiffener ring, which employs similar technology to the 2014 Acura MDX and 2015 Acura TLX. As a result, the repair method is the same. “The reason this is important is we sell roughly 125,000 Pilots per year, versus about 50,000 MDXs,” he said. “There’s a much better chance that you are going to see a 2016 Pilot collision repair just because there are more of them out there.” Constructed of 1,500 MPA steel, the door stiffener ring must be repaired
as a single assembly if it is damaged. Multiple stampings are spot welded together at the factory. When installed, Tobie explained that there is no access to the factory joints so they cannot be repaired. He stressed the importance of not using MAG welding or MIG brazing as a substitute where the factory stampings are joined with spot welds. In November, the 2016 four-door Honda Civic sedan was introduced with significant body technology upgrades. Fifty-eight percent of the vehicle is constructed of high-strength steel. “It’s absolutely critical that when a car using this type of steel is hit, that the entire vehicle is measured using a 3D measuring system to find out what moved so you can correct all the damage,” he said.
Equipment Tobie then discussed the critical equipment necessary to repair Honda and Acura vehicles constructed of high strength steel and ultra high strength steel. These include a squeeze-type resistance spot welder, a pulse-controlled MIG welder, silicon bronze wire and
Bosch DS980J MAG wire or an equivalent. “The requirement is that the filler wire must have a tensile strength equal to or greater to the lowest tensile of the parts being welded,” explained Tobie. The supply of DS980J is no longer available in the United States and Canada. In some cases, when welding 590 and/or 780 MPa steel parts, such as some frame rails, Tobie said 120 ksi MAG welding wire may be used. “The only time you absolutely need the DS980J is if you have to do a plug weld on 980 to 980 MPa steel,” he said. “That almost never happens in our cars.” An announcement about a replacement for DS980J wire is coming soon. Collision Parts Tobie said collision parts availability can be a challenge for body shops. In response, Honda developed a parts review process, in cooperation with the Parts Division in Ohio and Japan, to analyze and resolve collision service parts availability issues. “We absolutely believe that in order to have complete and proper
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body repair, everybody should own that in the industry – from the dealer who sells the part to the shop that installs it to the manufacturer – we all have a piece in that.” He said information about these parts is widely available. Honda’s field staff of 10 Collision Select Marketing Managers are spread out across the country in support of this effort. Since December 2014, Honda has included a parts information bulletin in its parts catalog, which is linked to every part number that contains significant amounts of 980 or higher MPa steel. Each part is also tagged with an instruction sheet in up to 16 languages, so personnel will know that it has specific installation features and requires special handling. “Our mission is to educate the industry about the need for complete and proper body repairs,” said Tobie. The company embarked on an experiment to demonstrate how doing an improper repair on a vehicle will affect its future crash worthiness. Tobie explained that they used an Acura MDX and sectioned the one-piece door ring and incorrectly welded it back with MAG welding. Then a small overlap See American Honda, Page 42
ProFirst Certified Collision Repair Facilities
Gary Ledoux, administrator of the ProFirst certified program for American Honda, gave an overview of the ProFirst program during the Guild 21 presentation. The ProFirst program, which costs $2,700 per year per shop, now includes over 400 shops across the United States. Ledoux said there are a limited number of spots still available. Gary Ledoux, administrator of the “We want to have ProFirst certified enough shops so program for American Honda our Honda and Acura customers are served but not so many that they will be on top of one another.” Ledoux said that similar to other car manufacturers, Honda and Acura products are becoming increasingly more sophisticated. New
technology, such as collision avoidance and mitigation technologies, is evolving at an increasing pace. He stressed the importance of training technicians to use the correct tools and procedures and ensure they have access to current repair procedures. “It is extremely important to American Honda that Honda and Acura products are repaired correctly and completely at whatever body shop performs the work,” said Ledoux. Since there are only a small percentage of Honda and Acura dealers with body shops, he said Honda depends on the independent shops to do the majority of the collision work. “It is extremely important that ProFirst certified body shops reflect the Honda brand and the quality that Honda and Acura owners have come to expect,” he said.
Ledoux said that some of the benefits of the ProFirst program include: 1) increased recognition for body shops’ professionalism 2) helping promote customer confidence and loyalty. He said that he often hears from ProFirst shops that when customers see the ProFirst name outside their body shop chances are they are going to get the work. 3) Increased opportunity to reach more people 4) shops receive cost and time-saving tools to help make a better, faster repair. Qualifications for being a ProFirst shop include: 1) Has to have basic knowledge and skills with I-CAR gold class or VeriFacts VQ or Medallion shop. See ProFirst Certified, Page 42
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American Honda
test was conducted according to IIHS specifications. Afterwards, the results were analyzed. That car became part of the Acura MDX collision display at the NACE and SEMA shows in 2015. It will also be part of the display used at the AASP NJ Northeast show in March. Tobie said if a repair is completed utilizing the body repair manual procedures, the car will be extremely close to its original design strength. “If you repair it improperly, the car may not perform the way it was designed to during the next crash.”
Service Publications & Training Body Repair News publications are posted on Honda’s independent repair website (www.techinfo.honda.com) at no charge. They are available for six Acura models, nine Honda models, and two non-model-specific issues. The information covers body structure issues, welding/brazing procedures, airbag system and general electrical repair requirements/guideContinued from Page 30
Automakers discuss
for us.” Allen said Audi is using a website and working with insurers to help consumers find qualified shops. Szlachta said for the new Cadillac CT6, GM is following the lead of some other automakers and limiting the sale of certain structural parts – and access to vehicle measuring data – to only certified shops. ■ “The technician of yesterday doesn’t recognize that he shouldn’t go to work on just any car, based only on his experience,” Allen said in summarizing the need for shops to do more to prepare themselves for repairing complex vehicles. “The technician of tomorrow, based on his experience, recognizes not to work on a car until he has the proper training.”
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lines and driver support systems. Shops that are part of the ProFirst program also receive the body repair manual and parts catalog for free. Changes have been made to the body repair manuals starting with the 2016 Honda Pilot. A Body Repair Basic manual contains all of the basic procedures that apply to multiple models in one location. Previously, this wasn’t offered in the United States. In addition, the Body Repair Manual contains all of the model-specific issues and instructions for the vehicle. Honda is developing a training program for I-CAR to deliver. Three courses were launched in early 2015 and deal with service information, high strength steel and restraints repair. More than 6,500 classes have already been attended online. The newest addition is HON14, a course on Honda and Acura electrical collision repair. ProFirst shops are required to complete the courses within 90 days of their release.
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A Decade of WINning
industrynetwork.ning.com/page/join -the-board, and the deadline for applications is February 29. New board members will at this year’s EdTo begin advertise ucational Conference in May at: during call Advertising Sales which they will attend a new board 800-699-8251 member orientation. During the first quarter of 2016, e-mail: advertising@autobodynews.com WIN’s Industry Outreach Team will be mobile with appearances at CIC and www.autobodynews.com CREF, plus the team will make their first appearance at the NORTHEAST Trade Show in March. Caspersen also reported, “As WIN grows, 2016 will be the year for technology as we have a goal of implementing a new association management software to better connect our Be members provide great effiSeen and by Our Readers! ciencies to our all-hands-on-deck volCALL Advertising Sales at: unteers. WIN’s board of directors has also implemented a continuous strategic planning process, allowing our voladvertising@autobodynews.com unteers to keep track of WINning goals and be the Force of the Future for www.autobodynews.com WIN.” For more information about WIN, visit http: //thewomensindustrynetwork .ning.com.
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ProFirst Certified
2) Honda and Acura Specific Training 3) Tools & Equipment requirements available on website: www.profirstinfo .honda.com 4) American Honda requests that shops have a CSI system and may use any existing commercial system. 5) They require the facility to be clean, professional and customerfocused As part of the company’s ProFirst program and in response to industry requests, Honda established a technical help line, which utilizes the VeriFacts Paint & Body Techline and the Ask I-CAR Repairability technical support tech line. “If repair questions cannot be answered at that level, VeriFacts and I-CAR personnel have direct access to re-
pair and technical professionals at American Honda,” said Ledoux. “One way or the other, a shop’s questions will be answered.” Ledoux cited some of the additional benefits of the ProFirst program, which include a plaque and exterior aluminum signage suitable for public display; free access to Honda and Acura parts catalogs; free access to Honda’s Service Express for repair information, as well as access to communications information. All ProFirst shops are listed on the Honda corporate shop locator at collision.honda.com, which has approximately 15,00018,000 hits on average per month. VeriFacts is Honda’s technology partner and provides collision repair network certification, verification and auditing services. For more information about Promote your business with the ProFirst program, visit an exclusive article featuring http://profirstinfo.honda.com/. your products or services.
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Mitchell VP Predicts Parts Utilization on Average Estimate Will Decrease After Peaking in December; Enterprise Length of Rental Update With MO Having Largest Increase Highlights from Mitchell’s Industry Update by Stacey Phillips, Assistant Editor
Every winter, Greg Horn, Mitchell’s vice president of industry relations, said that he begins monitoring the number of parts used during the average repair estimate. “Notably, the number of parts on the average estimate increases, usually by over 1.5 parts per estimate and total parts spending typically increases by more than $100,” he said during the company’s latest industry update presentation for the fourth quarter of 2015. Horn noted that parts utilization usually peaks in December and falls off in January onwards due to the increased number of accidents that time. He said it is due to poor road conditions and what he referred to as “drivers’ amnesia” when winter begins. In addition, Horn said that it is typical for total loss percentages to increase during the early winter and then fall off during more severe weather. Looking at parts usage during the third quarter of 2015, Horn said there is an overall decrease in the number of new parts used for a repairable car. New OEM parts were down from more than eight parts per estimate in the first quarter of 2012 to 7.33 parts in the third quarter of 2015.
Horn said that none of the alternate parts measured — aftermarket, remanufactured or recycled — increased during the same period. “What we’re seeing is more repair going on from that first quarter to the third quarter,” he said. He attributed it to parts prices increasing and labor rates staying flat. “You
compared to a year earlier, while fewer remanufactured parts are being used. “We’ve seen a lot of the remanufacturing facilities across the United States close down because it’s not as profitable as it used to be,” said Horn.
Length of Rental Continues to Increase Part of Mitchell’s industry report included statistics on Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s average Length of Rental (LOR) for repairable vehicles. Frank LaViola, assistant vice president of insurance replacement for Enterprise Rent-A-Car, said the U.S. average LOR increased in the third quarter of 2015 to 11.4 days overall. This is an increase of .4 days over the same time period the year before. “We continue to see a rise in such factors as claims frequency, Average Cost per estimate when Parts are Present miles driven and registered vehican devote more repair hours per part if the cles per licensed drivers,” said LaViola. cost is going up and the labor rate is stayHorn added that the overall severity ing flat,” he explained. and number of parts per estimate were staLooking ahead to changes in 2016, ble in Q3 2015 compared to 2014. “This Horn said that he forecasts the trend will suggests that the increase in total loss fremost likely continue. quency for the quarter is driving length of Overall, there is an increase in the rental,” said Horn. number of aftermarket parts being utilized In the midwest area of the United
States, LOR stayed the same (10.3 days) compared to the third quarter of 2014. LaViola said the majority of states had a mild summer, which helped keep LOR down. The largest increase in LOR was in Missouri, up .6 days to 10.4. He said this was due to hail in the area, which increased the number of claims. Kentucky had the highest LOR in the area with 12 days and Ohio came in at 10.8 days. Nebraska at 9.4 days and Michigan with 10.7 days both declined by .8 days. Other declining states were South Dakota, down .7 days to 9.9, Iowa at 9 days, Illinois at 10.2 days and Indiana at 10.4. Kansas came in at 10.3 days and Wisconsin was 8.6. The two states with the lowest LOR in the country were Minnesota and North Dakota, both at 8.6 days. In terms of DRP repairs, La Viola noted that the difference between DRP and non-DRP repairs is continuing to grow with DRP repairs dropping by 2.65 days. “This is due to processes in the DRP model that allow collision repair shops to begin repairs quicker than non-DRP shops,” he said. The full quarterly industry report can be accessed online: http://www.mitchell .com/thought-leadership.
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PPG Show Truck 2016 Tour Announced
PPG Automotive Refinish revealed the 2016 appearance schedule of its 75-foot 2016 Freightliner Cascadia tractor-trailer rig show truck. The
truck, with its spectacular red, white and blue finish, will begin its national tour March 4 at the Goodguys 7th Spring Nationals in Scottsdale, Arizon, continue on to 16 stops across 12 states, and conclude October 6 with the “Cruisin’ the Coast” event in Biloxi, Mississippi. The appearances include car, truck and hot rod shows sponsored by the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association and other prominent automotive enthusiast groups. The paint scheme, created by Steve Breakfield and his team at Motorhead Racing and Design Co., Charlotte, N.C., presents a unique design suggesting the stars and stripes of the American flag. Gerber Collision & Glass in Grand Rapids, Michigan painted the truck using premium PPG DELFLEET® Evolution products in-
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cluding F3995 Epoxy Primer, the FBC Basecoat System and F3921 2.1 VOC Clearcoat. Veteran PPG driver Chad Hook will guide the truck across the country in what will be his final tour. Truck and car fans are invited to visit the show truck wherever it stops. Events and appearances are subject to change.
The Automotive Lift Institute, Inc. (ALI) announced the availability of the 2016 edition of ALI’s “Vehicle Lifting Points for Frame Engaging Lifts.” This updated guide is a single-source manual for lifting point information as recommended by the vehicle manufacturers. The 70-page Lifting Point Guide (LPG) for domestic and imported cars and light trucks uses over 200 undercarriage images to cover the most recent 25 model years. For this new edition, the 2016 model year vehicles were added, older images were revised, and additional cautionary notes were provided in an effort to clarify pick-up point locations for shop owners, technicians and other LP-Guide users. ALI sponsors this guide annually as an industry service, utilizing data furnished exclusively for ALI by Chek-Chart Products, MOTOR Information Systems. Many proactive companies and franchises now incorporate ALI’s LP-Guide and other safety materials as a component of their overall employee safety and training program. Visit ALI’s website www.autolift .org to order this guide, to locate automotive lift inspectors certified by ALI, or for information on other safety materials and standards sponsored by lift manufacturers.
The PPG show truck with begin its tour March 4 in Arizona and conclude October 6 in Mississippi
Goodguys 11th Nashville Nationals May 13–15 / Nashville, Tenn.
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Symach Announces New Factory & Headquarters
Symach announced in December that it has moved its operation into a new 160,000-square-foot location in Calderara di Reno (Bologna) Italy. Symach, an Italian-based company known for its fast-drying paint methods, is offering its products in North America as well as setting up body shops with its patented technology. Starting in March, the company will also open a new showroom and training center consisting of 20,000 square feet. This is where it will install all of its products in operation, including the FixLine SprayTron (10 paint jobs per day) and FixLine KombiTron (20 paint jobs per day,) in addition to FixStation for one panel repairs and the entire line of ShopLine furniture for bodyshops. Symach focuses on the construction of new body shops by designing the repair process, layout, and taking care of the installation and training for technical staff and managers. For more information, contact info@symach.com or visit www .symach.com. Videos are also available online at: https://youtu.be/3TzNsok7w88
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www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 45
SEMA Show Goes On
Ed Attanasio is an automotive journalist based in San Francisco, California. He can be reached at era39@aol.com.
Up and Coming Painter Shines at SEMA with Ed Attanasio
Adam Stone is one of the hottest the viable alternative, but jobs were quickly became less appealing, Stone emerging automotive painters in the hard to find even in the closest big said. “At first, I was making decent country today, especially he got town—Bakersfield. “I could only get money. I charged $50 per vehicle for with Edafter Attanasio three incredible creations in the 2015 work as a substitute teacher,” Stone pinstriping and the dealerships started SEMA show. With a car, a truck and a lining up. A lot of the jobs motorcycle on display in Las Vegas, started out at $50, but ended Stone’s work garnered accolades and up costing $250, because they positive reviews from major names would ask me to also paint like Gene Winfield, Rick Dore and the hood and the tailgate, etc. the cast of Overhaulin’ just to name a Pretty soon, I was making with Stacey Phillips - ASSISTANT EDITOR few. It was an exhilarating show for some serious money every Stone, 38, because his journey to sucday, so I knew then that my cess hasn’t exactly been a smooth teaching days were basically ride. over.” In fact, for several years it looked But, when the economy imlike Stone wouldn’t be able to get out ploded in 2008 and several of his hometown of Lindsay, CA, an local dealerships folded, Stone Adam Stone, 38, has been painting professionally for agricultural area with a population of had to re-invent himself or risk roughly a decade. For many years, he dreamt of getting a car in the SEMA show, but instead two cars and one around 12,000. While most of the peobeing painted into a corner. motorcycle were featured last November ple in Lindsay work in agriculture in “The pinstriping business fell one capacity or another, Adam wanted said. “The schools were passing out apart, so I decided maybe I should think to do something else, after seeing his pink slips and it just did not look like about painting complete cars,” Stone father toiling hard as a produce broker it was going to provide me with a explained. “The people at Lalanne’s for decades. good career. So, I started looking for Paint Supply helped me out, by setting “My Dad ran a local fruit & prosomething I could do that I like and me up with my first spray gun (an duce stand for 25 years on Cairns Cormaybe tap into my creative side.” ner in Lindsay,” Stone explained. “He So, Stone began teaching himself made a great living and was wellhow to do pin striping on cars—any known for having the best produce in car. Within six months, he was adept the area. He then began taking his at this detailed work and ready to start
Media and Publicity for Shops Shop Strategies
Iwata) and pointing me in the right direction.” Gary Lalanne, the owner of Lalanne’s Paint Supply in Porterville, CA is a third-generation owner for this jobber that has been in business since 1921. He has seen Stone’s path to success from the very first days and is happy to see the painter’s recent acclaim. “Adam came in here the first time and I think he was a teenager then,” Lalanne said. “He was asking questions and we’re very technical here, so we helped him, just like we do with every customer. We’re not surprised to find out that he is doing well. Axalta is working with Adam now and he is gaining a lot of exposure through things like SEMA. He still comes in here and buys stuff now and again, so he has been a customer here for more than a decade.” Two major highlights in his artistic journey happened in 2009, when the
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knowledge of produce and became a broker selling to supermarkets and cold storages throughout North America. It was a good job and he supported his family, but I knew that I wanted to do something that would be more fulfilling and help to make a difference in some way.” A career as a teaching looked like
a little business on the side. “I started doing pinstripes on new vehicles for local new car dealerships,” he said. “During that time, they were taking the newer trucks and turning them into low riders. They liked my work, so the business started to grow.” As more and more dealerships requested his work, substitute teaching
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very first car that Stone painted completely, a 1974 Chevy Caprice, ended up in Lowrider magazine, followed by an introduction to Danny Galvez (aka “Danny D”), the well-known custom automotive painter and pinstriper who is a legend in the lowriding world.
you can rest assured that you won’t see any factory colors in the finished product. “I make all my colors, including the pearls, candies and toners,” he said. “When I talk to the paint supplier, I tell them don’t give me codes, because I don’t want a standard
His 1983 Lincoln Mark VI was a huge attraction at the Indasa booth at SEMA
“Meeting Danny was a big deal, because he started introducing me to some of the right people and gave me a lot of encouragement,” Stone said. “He is a very generous person and he’s a true artist in every way, because he is always about the work.” If you get a car painted by Stone,
color. That way, when you get a car, truck or SUV painted by me, you’re getting a custom, one-of-a-kind paint job, because I create them all myself.” Several positive things that come with success include the media exposure you get and the fact that companies are willing to sponsor you, according to
Stone. “I am now working with Axalta for my paint and INDASA is providing me with all of my tape, sand paper, abrasives and tools. It helps a lot, because when I am pinstriping, I use a ton of tape. When we’re done with a job, we often have a huge ball of used tape on the floor—the size of a big beach ball! On one truck I painted recently, we used more than 10 cases of tape.” Today, Stone Color Studio operates out of a 6,000 square foot facility with two employees. By attracting clients where money is not an issue, the business has been thriving. “We’re doing approximately 10 complete jobs and probably 20 smaller projects, adding graphics to other companies that are restoring vehicles. We also have some Arab customers and they’re willing to pay for premium work. We’re currently working on a 2003 Ferrari Spyder with a complete tribal paint job in black and charcoal custom colors and red trims.” How can Stone follow his success at SEMA? “I want to get more into painting hot rods, but I don’t want to forget my roots in pinstriping and lowriders either. SEMA opened some doors, no doubt, but now I just have to walk through them.”
Continued from Page 38
New Career as a Sculptor
“I make a point of visiting all of the galleries at least twice during the year,” he said. “To see my work in these fancy galleries is a rush every time.” Now instead of juggling DRPs and worried about his cycle times, Lacz is able to retreat to his studio and simply create, without the multiple headaches associated with owning any business, let alone a body shop. What does Lacz miss about owning a body shop? “I used to love the satisfaction I got after restoring a car and then seeing the owner when he saw the finished product,” Lacz said. “I get that same feeling when someone buys one of my pieces and puts it in their garden, living room or office. What I don’t miss are the insurance companies. Now as a sculpture, I don’t have to play their little games anymore. I can dictate my own rates with my sculptures and I don’t have to listen to some college kid about how I should do it!”
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M-B Introduces ‘Magic Sky Control’ in New SLC Models
Mercedes-Benz has premiered the new Mercedes-Benz SLC, which will be available in the spring of 2016. A press release from Mercedes-Benz stated, “A feature that continues to be unique to the SLC is the panoramic vario-roof with Magic Sky Control—this glass roof is lightened or darkened at the touch of a button. This means that it provides an openair feeling at any time, but when required gives welcome shade under a hot sun.” The feature uses Research Frontiers SPD-SmartGlass technology, is a carry over from the SLC’s predecessor model, the SLK roadster. The SLK was originally introduced with Magic Sky Control in 2011. Joseph M. Harary, President and CEO of Research Frontiers, the company which invented the SPD-SmartGlass technology used in Daimler’s Magic Sky Control panoramic roofs, noted: “It is great to see Research Frontiers’ patented SPD-SmartGlass technology featured so prominently here at the Detroit Auto Show in a growing number of Mercedes-Benz vehicles,” including the Mercedes-Maybach S600, is available for viewing at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit from January 11-24.
Tesla Model S Auto-parking Needs No Driver In The Seat
Tesla Motors on Jan. 10 rolled out new software that will let some of its electric cars park in a garage or in perpendicular spaces without a driver behind the wheel. Owners of Model S and Model X sedans will be able to park them while standing outside the vehicle if it’s within 10 meters of a garage or narrow space, Tesla said. The cars can also be summoned from a parking spot, according to the company, which said the tools remain in a beta version. In cruise control mode, the car will now anticipate highway exits by slowing down if you have activated your turn signal, Tesla said. But the updated Autopilot driving system (7.1 software update)also put new limits on its hands-free operation. The function will now be restricted on residential roads or roads without a center divider, Tesla said, meaning that the car cannot drive faster than a maximum of the speed limit plus five miles per hour. Tesla’s Autopilot features lets cars change lanes with turn signals and parallel park. Tesla was one of the first companies to offer a hands-free steering system. Industry experts believe full autonomous operation may be available by 2020.
CARSTAR Adds Two New Corporate Members and Area Director of Operations
Driven Brands and CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts announced in January the promotion of two Driven Brands’ team members into prominent roles for CARSTAR. CARSTAR continues to expand its insurance relations team to support its national insurance programs. While Dan Young, now president of CARSTAR U.S., will continue in a leadership role with the insurance carriers, CARSTAR has named Arlo Johnson as VP of insurance. Johnson is experienced in all phases of franchise development and growth and joined Driven Brands to lead the development team in 2014. For more than 12 years, Johnson has worked in various areas of franchising: financing, sales, operations and market development. His specialties include: strategic planning, business development, net unit growth and relationship management. Johnson will focus on identifying and expanding growth strategies as well as developing plans to assist with operational improvement. Hannah Ross was appointed director of marketing to guide national and franchise marketing activities. Ross is an experienced marketing manager with nearly two years working in
Meineke’s marketing department. Ross and her team will be committed to working with franchisees to monitor national promotions performance, develop possible center level or DMA local marketing initiatives, partner on creative support and provide the tools and training stores need to grow their businesses. “We are fortunate to add two great professionals to the CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts team,” said Young. “Both bring excellent experience and skills to their positions, along with a deep understanding of the resources of Driven Brands and how they can benefit our store owners.” CARSTAR also hired Darryl Rochefort as its newest area director of operations. In his new role, Rochefort will provide operational direction to coach, counsel, and consult CARSTAR franchisees in the Midwest Region. Rochefort will report to Melissa Miller, and is a resident of Oconomowoc, WI. He has worked in the collision repair industry since 1992. His experience includes all aspects of body shop management along with a background in the insurance industry. He has a track record of maintaining CSI scores in the 97 percent and above range.
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Chasidy Rae Sisk is a freelance technical writer from Wilmington, Delaware, who writes on a variety of fields and subjects, and grew up in a family of NASCAR fans. She can be contacted at crsisk@chasidyraesisk.com.
WMABA Seeks Compromise on New VA Photo Bill with Chasidy Rae Sisk
On January 4, VA State Senator Richard transmitted digital imagery of the auStuart pre-filed legislation for VA Sentomobile; however, no insurer may reate Bill 193,whichwith wouldChasidy allow photos Raequire Siskan owner of an automobile to of damage incurred in a collision to be submit photographs, videos or elecused during the appraisal process. Altronically transmitted digital imagery though this bill does not seek to allow as a condition of an appraisal.” photo-only appraisals, unlike PA House While this language implies that a Bill 1638 that passed last month, indusphysical inspection would still be retry advocates fear that its passage poses quired, it also allows for the photo desk with Chasidy Raereview Sisk to be used as the final repair appotential risks to consumers and collision repair professionals in VA. praisal. Hendler said this verbiage could Jordan Hendler, executive direcallow insurers to “circumvent the law, tor of the Washington Metropolitan and it could cause potential safety conAuto Body Association (WMABA), cerns for consumers. If a consumer subcautioned, “If VA Senate Bill 193 passes mits photos for their claim and takes the with itChasidy Raecash Siskout claim without an actual inas it is currently written, could potentially pose a lot of problems for conspection, they likely won’t receive the sumers and shop owners; however, I can correct amount that fully represents the also see potential benefits for both parcar’s damage. Over 90 percent of estities, so WMABA is willing to work with mates written in VA require a supplestakeholders for the bill to craft lanment, so estimates are often wrong at with Chasidy Rae Sisk guage and work on the issues that pose covering the actual damage, and with a concern for the collision repair indusSenate Bill 193, the dollar amount diftry and consumers. Rather than stand in ference will only increase.” the way of progress, we’d like to negoIf this exception is passed into tiate a compromise that will appease all law, Hendler said that consumers may of the parties involved.” lose more money if they choose the In PA, House Bill 1638 is seek- cash out claim option than if someone with Ed Attanasio ing to remove language written in the physically inspected the vehicle. “The Appraisal Act and replace it with an appraisal based on a photo may show exception to allow photo-only ap- only $500 in damage, but the inpraisals, but this is not the case in VA. surer’s physical inspection may apVA Code 38.2-510, included in the praise the damage at $700, and then state’s Unfair Claims Practices law, the collision repair facility could diswould still require the appraisal of a cover that it will actually cost $2,500 with Ed Attanasio damaged vehicle to be based on a perto restore the vehicle to its pre-loss sonal inspection by a repairer or in- condition. This poses a potential for Promote your business with surance representative. consumers to lose more featuring money on an exclusive article VA Senate Bill 193 would then theiryour investment than or everservices. before. Adproducts add the following exception to the ditionally, the disparity between the The source timely current verbiage:for “Notwithstanding desk review and the collision repair information that Ed Attanasio the requirement with that anevery appraisal be facility’s final estimate could unfairly body needs! based upon shop a personal inspection, the make it appear that the shop is being repair facility or the insurer making dishonest; we foresee a plethora of Call for details! CALL 800-699-8251 the appraisal may prepare an initial, problems. No camera can take a 3D which may be the final, repair ap- picture, 800-699-8251 and until that happens, it is praisal on an automobile that has been impossible to believe that a photo can Mail Subscription damaged as a result of a covered loss accurately depict the damage incurred ThomasperFranklin either from thewith representative’s in a collision.” sonal inspection of the vehicle or from Although industry advocates fear photographs, videos or electronically that PA’s House Bill 1638 could in-
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crease the amount of steering in their state, Hendler said that VA’s proposed bill could go either way. “Insurers could try to coerce consumers into taking their car to a certain shop, or consumers could insist on getting their vehicle repaired at their preferred facility after uploading photos of the damage. There are a lot of unknown factors when trying to make exceptions to a law that is already unclear.” Since insurers don’t treat supplement frequency as a major KPI when evaluating body shops in VA, Hendler has fewer concerns with this issue; however, she foresees more inaccuracies and possible arguments between shops and insurers regarding the need for supplements if the insurer does not perform a physical inspection. This also poses safety concerns for consumers if a shop feels its best interest is to repair only what’s shown in photos to avoid a conflict with the insurer.
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While Hendler would prefer to stop the bill which could “open potential loopholes that would allow consumers and repairers to get hurt,” she also sees how Senate Bill 193 could offer benefits for both parties. The language requiring a physical inspection would not be removed from VA law, so WMABA’s concern is ensuring that the physical inspection takes precedence over the photos provided when writing an appraisal. Hendler has not yet had the opportunity to discuss this bill with Senator Stuart since it was introduced so recently, but she plans to collaborate with the group lobbying for State Bill 193 to ensure its wording poses minimal risks for consumers and repairers in VA. As the bill progresses, Hendler hopes to facilitate a compromise that will benefit all parties that could potentially be impacted. For more information, contact WMABA at (804) 789-9649 or visit: www.wmaba.com.
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NHTSA Fines BMW North America $40M for Failing to Meet Safety Requirements
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) imposed a $40 million civil penalty and a series of performance requirements to automaker BMW North America for a series of violations of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act and NHTSA regulations. Under terms of a Consent Order issued to BMW, the company acknowledged that it violated requirements to issue a timely recall of vehicles that did not comply with minimum crash protection standards, to notify owners of recalls in a timely fashion, and to provide accurate information about its recalls to NHTSA. NHTSA imposed a $3 million civil penalty to BMW in 2012 for similar violations. “NHTSA has discovered multiple instances in which BMW failed its obligations to its customers, to the public and to safety,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “The Consent Order NHTSA has issued not only penalizes this misconduct, it requires BMW to take a series of steps to remedy the practices and procedures that led to these violations.” The Consent Order resolves a NHTSA investigation into whether the
company failed to issue a recall within five days of learning that 2014 and 2015 Mini Cooper models failed to meet regulatory minimums for side-impact crash protection. In October 2014, a mini two-door hardtop Cooper failed a crash test designed to determine whether the vehicle met crash-protection minimums. The
duct. Under the Consent Order, BMW acknowledges that it failed to recall the noncompliant vehicles in a timely fashion. It also acknowledges additional violations discovered in NHTSA’s investigation, including failing in multiple recalls since its 2012 consent order to notify owners and dealers of recalls in a timely fashion and to provide required
“The company [BMW] must take this opportunity to reform its procedures and its culture to put safety where it belongs: at the top of its priority list.”
—NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind
company responded that the vehicle was listed with an incorrect weight and would pass the test if conducted at the proper weight rating, but agreed to conduct a recall to correct the incorrect weight rating on the vehicle’s Tire Information Placard and to conduct a voluntary service campaign, short of a recall, to add additional side-impact protection. In July 2015, NHTSA conducted a second crash test at the corrected weight rating on a vehicle with the additional side-impact protection, and the vehicle again failed. At that time, NHTSA learned that BMW had not launched the service campaign it had agreed to con-
quarterly recall completion reports on time. “The requirement to launch recalls and inform consumers in a timely fashion when a safety defect or noncompliance is discovered is fundamental to our system for protecting the traveling public. This is a must-do,” said NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind. “For the second time in three years, BMW has been penalized for failing to meet that obligation. The company must take this opportunity to reform its procedures and its culture to put safety where it belongs: at the top of its priority list.” The order’s $40 million civil penalty
includes $10 million due in cash, a requirement that the company spend at least $10 million meeting the order’s performance obligations, and $20 million in deferred penalties that will come due if the company fails to comply with the Order or commits other safety violations. In addition to paying the civil penalties, BMW must: ● Retain a NHTSA-approved independent safety consultant to help the company develop best practices for complying with the Motor Vehicle Safety Act and NHTSA regulations and submit those best practices to NHTSA. ● Evaluate, under the independent consultant’s guidance, all safety or compliance-related issues under the company’s review and provide a monthly written report to NHTSA on those issues. ● Launch a pilot program to determine whether the company can use data analytics capabilities to detect emerging safety-related defect trends. ● Establish a plan to deter BMW dealers from selling new vehicles with unremedied safety defects, a requirement stemming from the fact that during NHTSA’s investigation, a NHTSA representative purchased a new vehicle with an open safety recall from a BMW dealer.
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Axalta Celebrates 150 Years in the Coatings Industry
In 2016, Axalta Coating Systems celebrates 150 years of creating industrial coatings. Axalta’s heritage dates back to 1866 when its first products were developed in Germany and since then the company has grown into one of the world’s leading manufacturers of liquid and powder coatings. “All of us at Axalta are excited to reach this important milestone in the history of our company,” explained Axalta Chairman and CEO Charlie Shaver. “Over the next 12 months we will celebrate our past and build on our extensive knowledge and experience for the next 150 years. With nearly 13,000 employees and 120,000 customers in 130 countries, we will continue to use advanced technologies to develop next generation coatings while providing outstanding quality and service in the years ahead.” From the earliest products that supplied European carriage manufacturers with colorful coatings in the 19th century, Axalta evolved to meet the needs of an automotive industry that flourished in the 20th century. In the 1920s, Axalta introduced the first quick-drying multi-color lacquer line for automobile production in the U.S. Company scientists developed the L,a,b color equations that became a key analytic tool in the catalogue of color sci-
ence. In the subsequent decades, technology at Axalta evolved to produce coatings that were increasingly durable and productive. In the 1980s, the company ushered in the first more environmentally responsible liquid coating systems with the introduction of waterborne products. Building on experience acquired with its original Spies Hecker® and Standox® products, Axalta branched out to provide refinish technicians with improved coating products and systems. In the 1990s, the Cromax® family of waterborne products was introduced to automotive body shops. Handheld spectrophotometers and VINdicator™ color tools were developed to help provide excellent color matching, which the company said saves repair time and reduces waste. As the needs across many industries evolved, so did Axalta’s portfolio of products. To serve a growing number of industrial customers, Axalta introduced Nap-Gard® powder coatings for oil and gas pipeline manufacturers. Today, both functional coatings and a wide array of decorative Alesta® powder coatings are used in thousands of applications. Voltatex® electrical insulation coatings enhance the productivity of motors and a host of electrical omponents.
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In recognition of the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s (CREF) 25th anniversary in 2016, the MOPAR Masters Guild (MMG) group has pledged to provide $2.5 million in donated scrap parts from its dealership members to local high school and college collision school programs across the country. The MMG and the Education Foundation will work towards having at least 50 dealerships each donating at least $50,000 in scrap parts such as bumper covers, fenders, doors, and other items which are in high demand from school instructors for their students to practice on and prepare for entry-level employment. CREF Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode noted, “Scrap parts are regularly the number one needed and requested item by high school and college collision school programs across the country and the Education Foundation welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with the MOPAR Masters Guild group and their members for this incredible donation pledge.” For information about MMG, visit http://moparmastersguild.com. For information about supporting CREF, contact Brandon .Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org or 847-463-5244.
Weschtools Announces Large Grapple Pulling Clamp
Weschtools announced that its unique, patented Large Grapple will be available for delivery February 1. The company plans to showcase this product at the \SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NV. According to Weschtools spokesman Brad Weschler, “The auto body repair business has become increasingly competitive and this requires cost efficient, easy-to-use clamps and tools.” Weschler said the clamp was designed and produced by Weschtools to pull depressed body panel surfaces to their original contour with minimal surface disruption." Techicians drill a ¾ inch diameter hole at the desired location, insert and expand the three prongs of the clamp and pull until the panel is in its original shape. As with all Weschtool items, the clamp is constructed of high-tensile strength cast steel to provide years of service even when stressed with pulling forces exceeding 5,000 pounds. With a weight of only 8.5 pounds, he said the clamp is easy to use, handle, and store. In addition, it has a durable powder coat finish and all of the hardware is grade 8 or stronger. The companion clamps include an offset wheelhouse clamp, a curved clamp, a small grapple, and a double bar clamp. For information, visit www.weschtools.com.
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3M Automotive Aftermarket Division Kicks Off Fourth Year of 3M Hire Our Heroes Program; 2016 Calendar Available with Donation to CREF 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division has had a long standing commitment to helping our nation’s veterans. In partnership with the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), 3M has donated more than $500,000 since 2013 to be used toward scholarships and tool grants for over 150 military veterans and their families through the 3M Hire Our Heroes program. In 2016, 3M AAD will mark the fourth year of the program, and is introducing a new way for shops to get involved—the 2016 3M Hire Our Heroes Calendar. With a $200 donation to the CREF they will receive the commemorative calendar that contains a total of approximately $1,800 worth of monthly deals on 3M products, along with a window decal to showcase their support. “The calendar is a tremendous salute to both the military members serving our country and the veterans who have served,” said Dale Ross, U.S. marketing operations manager at 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division. “I think shops will be proud to have this on display, knowing that they have contributed to helping our veterans’ transition to careers in the automotive industry. The added bonus will
come in the form of coupons for free 3M goods, which they can redeem throughout the year.” Those who make a $200 donation will be able to take advantage of exclusive free product offers on a wide array of 3M products, such as the 3M™ Accuspray™ System, 3M™ DA Sander, 3M™ Flexible Abrasive Discs, 3M™ Sound Deadening Pads, 3M™ Pneumatic Sealer Gun, 3M™ PPS™ Color Match Film Starter Kit, 3M Spreaders, 3M™ Trim Masking Tape Kit, 3M™ Cubitron II™ File Belts and 3M Hire Our Heroes merchandise such as patriotic hats and a decorative hood designed by Chip Foose. Each month, shops will receive an email with the information they need to redeem the coupon for the free products, based on their qualifying purchases, made on one invoice, and entered online at www.3MCollision.com/promo. To make a donation and get a 2016 3M Hire Our Heroes calendar, shops can visit www.CollisionRepair EducationFoundation.org/Hire-OurHeroes. About Hire Our Heroes The 3M Hire Our Heroes grants are
available for qualifying returning veterans and family members. Grants may be used for tuition, school fees, tools, textbooks and equipment at qualifying technical schools. For additional information and to apply, visit www.CollisionEducationFoundation .org. The ultimate goal of the 3M Hire Our Heroes campaign is to support the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in raising awareness for hiring America’s heroes and help drive employment in the collision repair industry for these veterans and their families. In addition, 3M is a national board member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Hiring Our Heroes program. For more information on the 3M Hire Our Heroes campaign, contact Dale Ross, 3M Automotive Aftermarket, at daross1@mmm.com or visit www.3mcollision.com/hire. For more information about 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division, contact 1-877-MMM-CARS, your local 3M distributor or 3M sales representative, or visit the website at www.3Mcollision .com. Follow 3M AAD on Facebook at www.facebook.com/3MCollision and on twitter @3M_Collision and Instagram @3MCollision.
PBES 2016 Conference Registration Available in February
The Paint, Body and Equipment Specialists (PBES) segment of the Auto Care Association announced on January 6 that it will hold its 2016 annual conference in Denver, Colorado on May 10-12. The 2016 conference theme is “Differentiate to Win.” The annual conference is a an opportunity for individuals and companies in all facets of the PBE industry to network and access educational resources. “Each year, we present our attendees with a new set of speakers, designed to challenge their business process and create opportunity for improvement,” said Keith Bell, committee chair, PBES. “This year, we are focused on building more networking in the conference and gearing our speakers to talk about Differentiating to Win.” The conference will be held at the Embassy Suites at the Denver Convention Center. Registration will open in late February.
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I-CAR And National Auto Body Council Partner On NABC Membership Discount For Gold Class® Businesses
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by Robbie Hargett, legalnewsline.com
An Alabama man is suing Hyundai over claims the company’s panoramic sunroofs spontaneously shatter. Billy Glenn, individually and for all others similarly situated, filed a class-action lawsuit Dec. 10 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against Hyundai Motor America and Hyundai Motor Co., alleging unjust enrichment, breach of express and implied warranties, and violations of California’s consumer protection laws. In the mid-2000s, according to the suit, car manufacturers introduced a substantially larger style of “pano-ramic” sunroof that spans almost the entire roof of the vehicle. Though aesthetically pleasing, the suit claims, these sunroofs, which require the replacement of metal roofs with large plates of glass, pose significant engineering challenges. The suit states Hyundai has not met these demands, with more than 100 drivers having reported to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) that their panoramic roofs spontaneously shattered. The suit claims Hyundai has known about the problem since at least October 2012, when the NHTSA investigated the 2012 Hyundai Veloster, prompting a par-
tial and limited recall. In December 2012, the Korean Automobile Testing & Research Institute also investigated the shattering of panoramic sunroofs of several manufacturers, including Hyundai, ultimately concluding these sunroofs were prone to spontaneous shattering at least in part due to ceramic tint used on the glass. Despite the company’s awareness, Hyundai has still not warned drivers, including Glenn and others in the class, about the risk of sunroof shattering, still sells the defective vehicles, and denies that the defect exists. Glenn and others in the class seek damages, restitution, interests, attorney fees, and other costs of the suit, together to exceed $5 million. They are represented by attorneys Eric H. Gibbs, Dylan Hughes and Steve Lopez of Gibbs Law Group in Oakland, California; by attorney Jason T. Dennett of Tousley Brain Stephens in Seattle; by attorneys Gregory F. Coleman, Lisa A. White, and Mark E. Silvey of Greg Coleman Law in Knoxville, Tennessee; by attorneys Shanon J. Carson and Eric Lechtzin of Berger & Montague in Philadelphia; and by attorney Paul C. Peel of Farris Bobango Branan in Memphis, Tennessee. Thanks to legalnewsline.com for permission to reprint this article.
54 FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
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Allstate Ranks Safest Driving Cities, Kansas City Rates #1 Climate scientists are warning that one of the strongest El Niños on record could bring unusually wet conditions to roads in much of the country. And while this added precipitation might result in mayhem in some places, the 2015 Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report reveals certain cities are safer than others when factoring rainy or snowy conditions into collision frequency. “Whether it’s packing up the family to drive to a friend’s house in another state, or traveling a few miles to open gifts at the in-laws, it’s important to stay extra vigilant on the roads this holiday season,” said Jim Ledder, vice president of auto claims, Allstate. “Auto collisions are already on the rise across the country, and combining that with an especially powerful El Niño makes Allstate’s ongoing efforts to keep drivers, their families and communities safe more important than ever.” Recently, the National Safety Council estimated the U.S. is on track for its deadliest driving year since 2007. In the first six months of 2015, NSC reported traffic deaths were up 14 percent from a year ago, and serious injuries were 30 percent higher
over the same period. While there are many factors that impact highway safety, an improving economy and lower gas prices have led to an increase in the number of miles being driven. The Federal Highway Administration’s latest Traffic Volume Trend Report says cumulative travel for 2015 is up by 3.5 percent. The September report is based on hourly traffic count data reported by the states, using data collected at approximately 4,000 continuous traffic counting locations nationwide. Kansas City, KS, earned this year’s top spot, after also taking home the distinction for overall Safest Driving City when the report was released in September. Factoring in precipitation, Cape Coral, FL, and Brownsville, TX, came in second and third, respectively. The top 10 safest cities, when factoring in collision frequency and precipitation are summarized in the following table.
City Rank with Precipitation Factor—City—NOAA Average Precipitation (inches/year) Second Row: Average Years Between Collisions—Accident Likelihood (Compared to national average of every 10
years) 1—Kansas City, KS— 39.1—13.3—24.8 percent less likely 2—Cape Coral, FL— 55.9—12.7—21 percent less likely 3—Brownsville, TX 27.4—13.3—24.6 percent less likely 4—Boise, ID— 11.73—13.1—23.5 percent less likely 5—Madison, WI— 37.3—12.2—18.2 percent less likely 6—Huntsville, AL— 54.3—11.7—14.7 percent less likely 7—Fort Collins, CO— 15—12.7—21.1 percent less likely 8—Port Saint Lucie, FL— 63.7—11.3—11.8 percent less likely 9—Cary, NC— 47.4 —11.6—13.8 percent less likely 10—Montgomery, AL— 52.8—11.4—12.4 percent less likely
The report is based on Allstate claims data and ranks America’s 200 largest cities in terms of car collision frequency to identify which have the safest drivers. The data uncovers how these cities rank when precipitation is a factor. These rankings are based on the expected driver performance given each city’s average annual precipitation as measured by NOAA.
VW Sales Stutter Makes Toyota, at 10.125 M, #1 Again
VW has said that it has delivered 9,930,600 units worldwide for the full year of 2015, down from a record 10.1 million in 2014. Volkswagen’s global deliveries were down 2 percent year-on-year, mainly due to a 5% decline of its Volkswagen passenger vehicle brand, and furthermore due to Volkswagen’s huge exposure to the flagging Chinese market. The dieselgate scandal did not help to improve this picture. As dieselgate developed only in the fourth quarter of 2015, the full impact of any lasting damages to the brand will be felt this year. With these numbers, Volkswagen conceded that again it fell short of regaining the title of World’s Largest Automaker, a crown the company has publicly coveted for many years. Reigning number one Toyota Motor Co. will publish its yearend data by the end of January, however, the company said last month that it expects the number to be 10.125 million units. General Motors will likely remain in third place.
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56 FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
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I-CAR Launches New Courses on MIG Brazing, Rivet Bonding and Honda/ Acura Electrical Repair I-CAR will launch three new courses in the first quarter of 2016: MIG brazing, rivet bonding, and Honda & Acura electrical system repair. The new MIG brazing and rivet bonding courses are part of I-CAR’s new Hands-On Skills Development program, a new line of courses that are hands-on and conducted in-shop, while the electrical repair course is the fourth installment in an online series focused on Honda and Acura vehicles. All three courses have been designed to provide collision repair technicians with cutting-edge techniques that target today’s innovative vehicles. MIG Brazing Hands-On Skills Development (BRZ02) offers collision repair technicians an opportunity to develop their MIG brazing skills in their own shop environment. This technique is becoming a requirement for many high-strength steel (HSS) vehicles entering the market, making it a skill that technicians need to know. As a result of taking this course, technicians will have the knowledge and hands-on practice to consistently produce quality MIG brazing repairs.
“The need for technicians trained in MIG brazing is only going to keep growing. While MIG brazing is a new technique to some, Honda and Acura have been requiring it for over five years on certain repairs to some of our most popular current models, such as the Accord and MDX. We are pleased to see I-CAR deliver MIG brazing training in a way that technicians can practice and learn right at their own shop and on their own equipment,” said Chris Tobie, instructional designer for American Honda. Rivet Bonding Hands-On Skills Development (RVT01) introduces technicians to an attachment method that is quickly becoming more common as more vehicles are built using aluminum, steel and mixed materials, such as North America’s best-selling vehicle the 2015 Ford F-150. Rivet bonding requires careful timing and an organized approach making oneon-one coaching with the instructor an important component of the course. According to I-CAR, technicians who complete the course gain knowledge and skills they can immediately put to use in their shops. Honda & Acura Electrical Colli-
sion Repair (HON14e), the fourth in a series of American Honda-developed, I-CAR delivered online courses, gives technicians the information to perform proper and complete post-collision electrical system repairs on Honda and Acura vehicles. The course also empowers facilities to ensure that sublet repairs are done properly. The course is divided into three sections that highlight basic electrical system requirements, potential wiring harness issues, and Honda and Acura wiring repair policies, tools and resources. “Today’s vehicle manufacturers are introducing new technologies that are rapidly transforming the collision repair industry,” says Josh McFarlin, I-CAR director of curriculum & product development. “I-CAR is committed to helping repair facilities and technicians stay ahead of this ‘Technical Tsunami™’ by providing the most comprehensive instruction and critical skill development opportunities.”All new courses are available today. To learn more about the courses, visit icar.com/newcourses. For more information on I-CAR and the full training portfolio, visit the I-CAR website at:\ i-car.ca.
Free Certification Offered Via Designated Paint Suppliers
GRC-Pirk Management announced that it will provide complimentary certification for FinishMaster, AkzoNobel, Sherwin Williams, BASF Jobbers and shop owners to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP, SUBPART HHHHHH) and Greenhouse Gas disclosure (CO2 & NOx emissions) under the Clean Air Act. Bill Kernahan, president of Bonding Solutions, said, “We are honored to provide this service via our authorized agents, compliments of the Property Assessed Clean Energy program, to e-commerce connected Jobbers and their customers, so they can attain the necessary NESHAP 6H compliance and Carbon Footprint disclosure requirements prior to the March 1st deadline.” March 1 will mark the first five-year recertification deadline for automotive paint stripping and surface coating shop owners since the initial compliance date of January 10, 2011. To assist the more than 30,000 collision repair facilities subject to U.S. EPA paint stripping and spray coating laws, the government has posted an online form where shop owners can download a sample from the EPA Technology Transfer Network website.
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www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 57
Insurers Brace for the Self-Driving Future, Fewer Accidents, KPMG Report: Insurers May Be First Casualties As autonomous driving technology advances, perhaps the most notable benefit is the promise of a striking reduction in accidents, say reports in the New York Times. But fewer accidents could, according to a recent report, turn the entire auto insurance industry on its head. “We think that over the next 20 to 25 years, the number of accidents will fall by 80 percent,” said Jerry Albright, principal of actuarial and insurance risk practice at KPMG, the consulting firm that released the report. “From a consumer perspective, this is a very good thing. You’ll see improved safety, fewer deaths.” At Progressive’s investor relations meeting in 2013, John Curtiss, the company’s auto products development chief, said the industry had grown 90 percent over the previous 30 years, mostly because more vehicles were on the road. More recently, Mr. Albright said that most insurance companies had problems turning a profit over the last six years and that the changes autonomous vehicles would bring were sure to make profitability more elusive. At risk is the lifeblood of the industry—$200 billion in premiums that the insurers collect every year from policyholders, KPMG says. According to KPMG’s report, the insurance industry could contract by as much as 60 percent by 2040 as accident damage payouts and premiums fall.
Even Warren E. Buffett, whose Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate owns GEICO, has said that widespread adoption of autonomous technology poses “a real threat” to the industry. “This technology will be disruptive to the insurance industry,” Mr. Albright said. “There will be winners, and there will be losers. There will be fewer companies than there are today. But the question is, Who will survive?” It could even result in fewer cars for companies to insure. A recent report from Barclays Capital said that autonomous technology would lead to a 40 percent decline in sales and a 60 percent drop in the number of cars on the road. Already, the changes are happening. Devices like automatic braking, adaptive cruise control (it adjusts the car’s speed to match that of the traffic ahead) and sensors that automatically keep the car from drifting outside a lane are available. And this does not include the fully autonomous cars that companies like Google and automakers have been testing for years. Insurance companies have, accordingly, been examining potential changes to the current business model. KPMG’s report envisions a future in which insurers will depend more on commercial accounts for revenue as companies offering ride-sharing and mobility on demand become more prevalent. Individual policyholders will decline as house-
CREF Celebrates 25th Anniversary and Provides Updates for 2016 by Chasidy Rae Sisk
The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and as such, the organization has made a few changes as they move into 2016 in hopes of en-
couraging the support of more companies and individuals. First, CREF has revamped their Makeover Grant Program. “Instead of just asking schools to provide us with their $50,000 wish list of needed tools, equipment and supplies, the new Makeover Program will ask for a profile on the school in their ability to graduate qualified and productive collision students for the industry’s employment,” Brandon Eckenrode, director of development for CREF, explained. “Through the school’s application, they will be assigned to tiers that will designate them based on how equipped they are to gradu-
ate a quality student, and this list will be promoted to the industry to showcase which schools are doing well at this and who needs some help to bring them to another level.” CREF will also continue to promote job placement opportunities for recent graduates entering the collision repair industry, and Eckenrode reminded industry professionals, “Spring will be here sooner than we know it, and that is when many students will be traditionally graduating and looking for employment. We are in the process of gathering students’ resumes and contact information into a database that will be made available to our industry supporters this spring so they can view these students’ information for employment consideration.” Finally, registration has opened for CREF’s annual golf fundraiser which will take place this summer during NACE. Eckenrode encourages industry professionals to register only to show their support for CREF and the future of the collision repair industry.
58 FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
holds get by with one car, or no car at all. And as the cost of covering losses declines, so will the premiums insurers collect. “Currently, the personal auto sector accounts for almost $125 billion in loss costs,” the report said. “By 2040, we believe this sector could cover less than $50 billion in loss costs.” State Farm has been working with Ford, the University of Michigan Mobility Transformation Center and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, among others, to figure out how best to adapt to what’s coming. “Automated technology has been a major industry issue,” Chris Mullen, director of State Farm’s technology research program, said in a telephone interview. “It’s been what everyone is talking about, so as you can imagine, we have put quite a bit of focus on understanding it.” Part of that understanding, she said, had been accepting that the changes had already begun—and are happening faster than many experts had predicted several years ago. “A lot of what is disturbing the industry is the pace at which this technology is expected to come,” she said. “State Farm has responded to changes in our industry throughout our existence. Changes are coming again, and we’re investing the resources to understand how these changes will affect the industry.” Ms. Mullen said that the changes to
which insurance companies had to respond in the past included the advent of seatbelts, collapsible steering columns and airbags. Those devices changed automotive safety, but not until car insurance had been around for a few decades. “This is not just about technology,” she said. “There are issues of behavior that need to be understood—how will people react to these new systems? Cybersecurity is another issue that’s been at the forefront of this.” Mr. Albright said that devising a strategy to face the new world of auto insurance would be as expensive for insurers as it was tricky. “It will take time and cost billions of dollars,” he said. “There’s enormous skepticism in the insurance industry about the pace that changes will come, but they’re going to come sooner than people think.” Part of the problem, Joe Schneider of KPMG pointed out, was that insurance companies rely on past behavior to predict the future. What happens when there is little experience to base decisions on? “The insurance industry is historically data-driven,” he said. “There’s been an actual person behind the wheel of every car for 100 years, and all of a sudden saying the rules are going to be different going forward, that’s a very difficult situation to wrap your head around.”
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www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 59
SCRS Launches Bumper Prompt Decision Aide On December 18, 2015, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) released an instructional aide to help with “Answering the CCC One Bumper Refinish Prompt.” Developed due to frequent, widespread reports of the refinish process being misrepresented when responding to system-generated questions, the Bumper Prompt Decision Aide was designed in hopes that a clearly defined decision making process will minimize confusion and alleviate the misuse of a greatly debated mechanism in the estimating system. Aaron Schulenburg, executive director of SCRS, called the prompt a “pretty exciting resource.” A prompt in the CCC One Estimating system asks, “Will the bumper be refinished in a separate procedure from the other panels?” If the response is “no,” the system will apply overlap deduction on the next refinished panel and will include the bumper cover in the 2.5 clear coat cap. If the answer is “yes,” the next refinished panel will be identified as the first major panel without overlap deduction and labor for the bumper cover refinish will not be included in the 2.5 clear coat cap. The appropriate response should be “yes” when a flex additive is utilized on plastic components and a separate
clear coat mix is produced, as is predominantly recommended by automotive refinish manufacturers. Unfortunately, because a selection of “no” results in a lower estimated value, the prompt is frequently answered inaccurately on insurance appraisals. Certain conditions, such as the bumper’s color and whether it’s in the paint booth at the same time as the rest of the vehicle, do no impact the appropriate response to the prompt. CCC provides several options for the estimating system’s configuration: no prompt, default to “yes,” or default to “no.” The system identifies a response of “no” with the symbol <> which indicates that the refinish operation will not be performed as a separate procedure from the other panels on the estimate. All estimating databases are intended for use only as a guide, so SCRS reminds collision repair professionals, “It is important to remember that the auto body professional performing the repairs is in the best position to thoroughly inspect, diagnose and identify the methodology and their unique cost of the vehicle damage repair.” For more information about SCRS, visit www.scrs.com.
Parts You Need. People You Trust.
Body Shop in Spokane, WA, Helps Mom with Trashed Car by Lindsay Nadrich, KREM.com
A local auto body shop stepped up to help a mom in need this holiday season. On December 22, KREM 2 told Stephanie Roderick’s story about a grinch who tried to steal her Christmas. Her car was stolen and gutted before it was finally returned to her.
Credit: KREM.com
“It’s horrible, it’s hard being a single mom and I’ve tried everything to make it by myself,” said Roderick. “This $500 is 90% of my rent money, so to face having to buy a new car or replace what I have it’s hard.” Thanks to City South Auto Body Center, she does not have to make that choice. Within ten minutes of airing the story, KREM 2 got a call from City South Auto Body. They offered to repair the car for free, and not for the publicity. We posted the act of kindness on our Facebook page, and it was many of our viewers who asked for the name of the shop responsible.
“The family that owns the car is kind of strapped this year like a lot of families are, we decided to take it in and give this family a good Christmas present,” said Elmer Smith of City South. Smith said they will replace the glass in two broken windows, replace her tires, and even re-key the locks. “Tires will be a big issue. We kind of looked at them and we just kind of made the determination that we should step up and go ahead and get new tires on it because it’s a family running in this thing and we want them to be as safe as possible,” said Smith. City South Auto Body Center will also replace the car seat stolen from inside the car. “There’s times that you know businesses have to step up and take the hit and take care of the community and this is one thing we’re doing, take care of the community and make sure the young lady that owns this car and her kids are safe on the road when it leaves here.” Roderick called KREM 2 on Wednesday in tears. She said she was overwhelmed by how generous the company is and said it is all more than she could have ever expected. Roderick received her car back in time for Christmas. We would like to thank KREM .com for reprint permission.
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60 FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
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CAPA: ‘Sheet Metal Parts Protected from Corrosion’
The Certified Automotive Parts Association says it requires all of its sheet metal parts such as hoods and fenders to be galvanized, even if the corresponding car company brand is not. Galvanization is the process of applying a layer of zinc over the sheet steel. The zinc coating protects the metal beneath it from corrosion and rust. Even if the zinc coating is scratched, the steel will continue to be protected by the remaining zinc. For replacement parts, the presence (or absence) of galvanization is significant because galvanization dramatically improves corrosion resistance, and subsequently, the life expectancy of parts. “Using a CAPA Certified sheet metal part is the only easy way to tell if a sheet metal part is made of galvanized material,” said Debbie Klouser, CAPA’s Director of Operations. “The yellow CAPA seal is your assurance that the part has been tested for galvanization as a part of the CAPA certification process.”
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Insurance Veteran Advises on What to Look for When Joining a DRP Program & Obtaining Garage Keepers Insurance by Stacey Phillips interviews and conducted presentations foot. A significant dependency on one as well as been a subject-matter expert customer or source of customers can Autobody News asked Gerald Cecil, for automotive businesses. become a problem, if not properly nevice president of sales and marketing Cecil recommended reviewing the gotiated,” he said. at Arrowhead Automotive Aftermar- DRP agreement with legal counsel as When asked about garage keepers ket, what to look for when joining a well as a business insurance provider. insurance, he said that most of those in Direct Repair Program (DRP). The He said the main advantage is that you auto service say they have garage keepKansas-based company provides busi- will be an informed negotiator before- ers insurance even though their deness insurance programs for automohand and if you scription or term for business insurance tive businesses. elect to accept the only describes only a portion of the “Our recommendation is to go terms, you have coverage typically purchased. Howinto any deal and especially a DRP done so in an in- ever, shopowners use their shorthand, with your eyes open and being aware formed way. “If calling their coverage “Garagekeepers” of the benefits as well as possible negchanges are com- as it is an important part of the insurative outcomes of partnering with a municated subse- ance package as it provides coverage carrier,” said Cecil, a 30-year insurance quently in a casual for the shop owners’ exposure for the veteran. “Too often the situation inmanner, be sure customer’s vehicle in their care, custody Gerald Cecil,vice volves all of the work business that you discuss and or control. president sales will be obtained or provided without understand the re“The bottom line for garage keepand marketing regard to the contractual obligations or quest and what it ers is that the shop owner work with at Arrowhead requirements such as: hold harmless, means to you and specialists,” said Cecil. By dealing with Automotive primary non contributory and waiver of the carrier with someone who is familiar with this area, Aftermarket subrogation as well as a request that the the DRP,” advised they can help manage the exposure and in Kansas shop owner provide primary coverage Cecil. “A casual re- explain the options in coverage availwhen providing a temporary replace- quest may not be the correct way to make able. “It is also important to work with ment vehicle or rental.” a change that could have a negative im- carriers and programs that have experiCecil has spent the last 25 years pact on your experience if you are as- enced claims folks who are accustomed focused on automotive businesses, in suming more risk or exposure than you to seeing the type of claims shop ownparticular those in auto service repair realized.” ers have,” said Cecil. and parts businesses. He developed the He stressed the importance of His firm provides guidance on strategic plan for the ASM Automotive DRP negotiations. “If the volume of how to purchase this type of insurance. Promote your business with Specialty Markets division of what was business is what you expect and the re- For more information, contact Gerald an exclusive article featuringCecil at 913-312-2808 or email Gcecil then Universal Underwriters. In addi- lationship is expected to be long-term, your products tion, he has written articles, provided you may as well get off or on services. the right @arrowheadgrp.com.
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