April 2023 Midwest Edition

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IIHS Research Scientist: ‘It Seems Calibration is the Weakest Link’

By Abby Andrews Autobody News

A first-of-its-kind consumer survey conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) showed the majority of people who own a vehicle with increasingly popular ADAS features are reporting issues with those features after a repair for any reason—but especially when the repair was the result of crash damage, or a windshield replacement.

While the self-reported survey of a sample of about 500 owners in the U.S. cannot say exactly how widespread the problem really is in the entire registered fleet, it’s a clear sign repairers need to invest in the tools and training to perform calibrations, and automakers need to make that information more accessible, said Alexandra Mueller, senior research scientist at IIHS and the study’s designer.

“Changes need to be made, and

there are definitely solutions that can be implemented,” Mueller said.

The survey, conducted in 2021, sought out owners of vehicles model year 2011 and newer, that had certain popular ADAS features: front crash prevention, which includes automatic emergency braking and front collision warning; blind spot monitoring; and cameras, including those providing rear and 360-degree views.

Of the 3,000 owners contacted, about 500 had taken in their vehicles for repairs and participated in the survey; 40% of those said their vehicles were a model year 2019 or newer.

Post-repair problems with ADAS were substantially more common among people who had features repaired because of crash damage or in connection with a windshield replacement. About two-thirds of owners whose ADAS feature repairs involved windshield replacement and

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IA School’s Mechanics Club Gets HandsOn

With Collision Repairs

By Daniel Charland Dyersville Commercial

The Beckman Catholic High School B-TECH/Mechanics Club attended an auto repair visit/demonstration day Feb. 24 with Southwest Tech at Auto Tech.

According to Steven Lueck, assistant principal at Beckman Catholic, the Mechanics Club is a fairly new, but large, club of students who have a strong interest in auto mechanics and like to be involved in hands-on activities.

“A year or two ago, several students started asking about possibly having classes regarding anything with diesel mechanics,” Lueck said. “Instead of creating

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an entire class, we wanted to start with making an afterschool club. They meet up in different places throughout the community to look at

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MN Auto Body Shop Owner Builds New Shop Featuring Full Transparency

In an age where everyone covets transparency and information, a body shop in Brainerd, MN, is taking it to a new level.

In his latest shop, Josh Shaw, COO of Shannon’s Auto Body, is incorporating a layout that enables his customers to see the workings of a body shop in action while they wait to drop off or pick up their vehicles. It’s his second facility, and he is excited to be part of a revitalization of Brainerd, in the eastern part of this city of approximately 14,500 people.

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Moving into a former retail location to accommodate his first 17,500-square foot shop, Shaw has worked for more than a year to design and build out his new 32,000-square foot space. He worked from scratch, including multiple windows his customers can use to see what’s happening at Shannon’s Auto Body. Shannon’s Auto Body has been in operation since 1996 and has built a strong customer base that includes second- and third-generation clients.

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Columnist Mike Anderson: My ‘Wish List’ of Changes to Improve the Collision Repair Industry 12

Columnist Ed Attanasio: Tesla Owners Club of LA Gets Up-Close Look at Repair Experience at Bistagne Bros. 8

Columnist Stacey Phillips: Mitchell Report Provides Insight into EV Vehicle Claims, Market Data

Columnist John Yoswick: Attorneys Say Consumer Data Privacy Concerns for Collision Repair Shops are Real

Beckman Catholic student Noble Hoeger, left, learns about spot welding from Nick Klein, right, main collision tech at Auto Tech. Credit: Daniel Charland/Dyersville Commercial

Kia Wholesale Parts Dealers 47 LaFontaine Buick-GMC-Cadillac 40 Laurel Auto Group of Westmont ������������ 37 Luther Bloomington Acura-Subaru 39 Luther Brookdale Mazda 43 Luther Kia of Bloomington 44 Maplewood Toyota 32 Mazda Wholesale Parts Dealers 53 McGrath City Hyundai ��������������������������� 46 Mercedes-Benz Wholesale Parts Dealers 53 Midwest Collision Repair Trade Show & Conference 19 Midwest Parts Group 14-15 MINI Wholesale Parts Dealers 55 MOPAR Wholesale Parts Dealers 35 Morrie’s Brooklyn Park Subaru 22 Nissan/Infiniti Wholesale Parts Dealers 50 PPG Industries 9 Rydell Chevrolet-Buick-GMC 31 SATA Dan-Am Company 7 Sears Imported Autos, Inc 34 Shaheen Chevrolet Parts Warehouse ���� 26 Subaru Wholesale Parts Dealers 49 Sunmight USA 21 Toyota Wholesale Parts Dealers 53 Varsity Ford 44 Vin Label Shop 6 Volkswagen Wholesale Parts Dealers ��� 52 UPDATED DAILY www.autobodynews.com

COLUMNISTS Stacey Phillips Mercedes-Benz Executive Shares EV Considerations with Collision Repairers 24 Mitchell Report Provides Insight into EV Vehicle Claims, Market Data 16 Vehicle Technology Highlighted During 2023 CES Show 4 John Yoswick ‘Who Pays’ Survey Offers Insights into Billing, Payment Practices for Vehicle Scanning, Battery Support 27 Attorneys Say Consumer Data Privacy Concerns for Collision Repair Shops are Real 18 ABRA 13 asTech/driven by Repairify ���������������������� 4 Audi Wholesale Parts Dealers 52 Auto Data Labels 23 Axalta Coating Systems 5 BendPak 25 BMW of Des Moines 42 BMW Wholesale Parts Dealers 55 Borton Volvo 36 Buerkle Honda 44 Certified Automotive Parts Association 20 Classic BMW MINI 45 Classic Chevrolet 41 Classifieds 54 Columbia Hyundai 43 Eagle Abrasives 2 Equalizer Auto Glass Tools 10 Ford Wholesale Parts Dealers 53 Gandrud Parts Center 33 GM Wholesale Parts Dealers 51 Hawkinson Kia �������������������������������������� 42 Honda-Acura Wholesale Parts Dealers 28-29 Hyundai Wholesale Parts Dealers 48 Industrial Finishes and Systems 56 Jake Sweeney Chevrolet 40 Kelly BMW 38 Ken Ganley Subaru North Olmsted �������� 27 Kia America 11 Kia of Lansing 45

Vehicle Technology Highlighted During 2023 CES Show

By Stacey Phillips Autobody News

Technological innovations, new product debuts and a wide range of company announcements were all part of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), held Jan. 5-8 in Las Vegas, NV. Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)®, CES features all aspects of the tech sector, including automotive.

embracing the electric vehicle (EV) experience.

“Vehicle OEMs are investing billions in EV tech, charging stations are showing up in cities and across highways virtually worldwide, and consumers are procuring the latest line of EVs,” said Prabhat Agarwal, CTA senior director of research and trends, in his article, “EVs Drive the New Car Revolution.” “All these factors are leading indicators and encouraging signs for an industry that is early in its lifecycle. EVs are clearly on a growth trajectory, as will be on clear display at CES 2023.”

One of the keynotes was delivered by Oliver Zipse, chairman of the Board of Management for BMW. Zipse introduced the “perfect digital car of the future”—the NEAU KLASSE generation of vehicles—and unveiled the i Vision Dee, a BMW concept EV equipped with adaptive artificial intelligence (AI). The vehicles are expected to be produced in 2025.

comfortable and customizable mobile environment for passengers. This year’s show featured several LiDAR (light detection and ranging) companies showcasing their products for autonomous vehicles.

(IAC), which returned this year at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Jan. 7. The autonomous racing competition featured nine fully autonomous racecars that reached speeds of more than 190 mph. Team PoliMove from

Considered one of the most influential tech events in the world, some of the largest brands— including Google, Amazon and Microsoft—showcased their products and services at the event. This year’s theme, “Human Security for All,” highlighted sustainability and solving global challenges.

More than 115,000 industry professionals attended the January show, which was 70% larger than in 2021 and featured more than 3,200 exhibitors from more than 173 countries, territories and regions, including 1,000 startup companies.

Show organizers said the automotive section was “bigger than ever,” with nearly 300 exhibitors in the Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall. Attendees had the opportunity to see concept cars, connected vehicles, autonomous mobility and other vehicle technology firsthand from companies such as GM, Waymo and Mobileye.

“At CES 2023, new innovations promise to change our world for the better,” noted CTA President and CEO Gary Shapiro during CTA’s State of the Industry address. “Companies big and small are showcasing innovations in mobility, digital health, artificial intelligence, robotics, food tech, smart home, digital assets and more.”

Shapiro said new technologies keep drivers and passengers safer and more comfortable on the road, and carmakers are leading efforts to build a greener and more sustainable future.

According to CTA research, consumers are increasingly

“We are able to explore the full potential of digitalization to transform the car into an intelligent companion,” said Zipse.

Each year, the CES Innovation Awards competition honors outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products. This year, more than 50 products received an award in the category of Vehicle Tech and Advanced Mobility.

Another highlight during the show was the Indy Autonomous Challenge

Politecnico di Milano in Italy and the University of Alabama won the second annual event.

At the conclusion of CES, Shapiro said, “The innovation unveiled this week will drive economic growth and change in meaningful ways to improve our lives and create a better future for the next generation.”

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares also delivered a keynote address, which included the company’s vision for making mobility clean, safe and affordable for all. Tavares unveiled the Ram 1500 Revolution Battery Electric Vehicle Concept and the Peugeot Inception Concept.

“We want to improve how people move, socialize, shop and entertain themselves,” said Tavares. “We are enabling human connections, maintaining access to clean, safe and affordable mobility, and working sideby-side with our partners to provide freedom of movement.”

Some of the new products unveiled during the week included Sony Honda Mobility’s EV concept car, Afeela; Holon’s autonomous and fully electric mover vehicle that can fit 15 people; Bosch’s RideCare Companion, a smart sensor-based solution to enhance vehicle safety; and new vehicle technology from FORVIA, designed to create a more

At CES, Faraday Future showcased its FF91, which uses Innovusion’s LiDAR to power the autonomous driving system.

“Vehicle OEMs are investing billions in EV tech, charging stations are showing up in cities and across highways virtually worldwide, and consumers are procuring the latest line of EVs.”

— PRABHAT AGARWAL

CTA SENIOR DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AND TRENDS

During CES, Mobileye founder and CEO Professor Amnon Shashua discussed the company’s initiatives in regard to autonomous vehicle and advanced driver-assistance technology, which includes Mobileye SuperVision™.

LG Energy Solution, Honda Break Ground on Ohio EV Battery Plant

Honda and LG Energy Solution on Feb. 28 held the official groundbreaking ceremony for a new joint venture EV battery plant more than 2 million square feet in size, to be located in Fayette County, near Jeffersonville, OH.

The two companies have committed to invest $3.5 billion in the new joint venture (JV) facility, with their overall investment projected to reach $4.4 billion. The facility is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024, with plans to create 2,200 jobs, and the aim for approximately 40GWh of annual production capacity.

The JV company will deliver lithium-ion batteries with cuttingedge technology to support Honda’s plan to build batteryelectric vehicles in North America.

The ceremony’s attendees included Toshihiro Mibe, president and CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd.; Dong-Myung Kim, president and head of the Advanced Automotive Battery Division of LG Energy Solution; Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine; Lt. Gov. Jon Husted; other members of state government and local community officials.

At the ceremony, the leaders of the new JV company, CEO Robert H. Lee and COO Rick Riggle, revealed a rendering of the new facility, which will be located about 40 miles southwest of Columbus.

“It is an honor to represent two great corporations, Honda and LG Energy Solution, both with a

massive transformation toward sustainability.”

“We have talked a lot about the partnership between Honda and LG Energy Solution, but the communities of Southern Ohio are a part of this venture too, and we see it not so much as a joint venture, but a tri-venture between our companies and the community,” said Riggle. “We share similar values and perspectives regarding the relationship we want to have with our new workforce, and this spirit of teamwork will be key to our success.”

new JV facility.

Honda plans to begin production and sales of Honda EVs in North America in 2026, based on its new Honda e:Architecture. As part of its goal to achieve carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities by 2050, Honda has a vision to make battery-electric and fuel cell electric vehicles represent 100% of its vehicle sales by 2040.

long, proud history of success. LG Energy Solution is the leading battery manufacturer globally and is investing aggressively to meet demand for electrification. We are excited to embark on this partnership with Honda, a leader in the global auto industry with a reputation for quality and reliability,” said Lee. “If we harness these strengths, I have no doubt our joint venture will be the most successful battery plant in the world, and we look forward to being a part of this

Toyota To Produce Electric Cars in U.S. As Early As 2025: Report

By Maria Merano Teslarati

Toyota has been lagging in the transition to electric vehicles, but its incoming president, Koji Sato, hinted he would make the pivot to EVs a priority. Per recent reports, this will be evident in the U.S., which could see domestic production of Toyota electric cars as early as 2025.

Nikkei Asia reported Feb. 21 that Toyota will start producing electric vehicles in Kentucky as early as 2025. The company will reportedly use an existing factory that will allow it to produce electric cars alongside combustionpowered vehicles. By the end of 2025, the veteran carmaker is reportedly looking to produce 10,000 electric SUVs monthly.

Toyota’s EV production at its Kentucky plant is expected to work alongside the automaker’s battery plant, slated to start operations in North Carolina around 2025.

With this setup, Toyota could make its electric vehicles in the

U.S., allowing the company to capitalize on government incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act.

Toyota is reportedly looking to produce about 200,000 electric cars in the U.S. per year starting in 2026. The company is reportedly planning to supply around 1 million electric cars annually by that time as well.

While Toyota stands as the world’s largest automaker by volume today, the company is lagging significantly in EVs. Toyota sold 10.5 million vehicles worldwide in 2022, but only about 24,000 of those were electric— including vehicles sold under the company’s luxury Lexus brand.

In comparison, electric vehicle leader Tesla sold around 1.31 million all-electric cars worldwide in 2022.

The EV industry is poised to grow in the coming years, with LMC Automotive, a British market research firm, forecasting global EV sales could reach 36.71 million units in 2030.

The location of the joint venture between Honda and LGES was announced Oct. 11 and was formally established Jan. 12. The plant aims to start mass production of pouch-type lithium-ion batteries by the end of 2025, to be provided exclusively to Honda auto plants to produce EVs to be sold in North America.

Honda also has announced plans to invest $700 million to retool several of its existing auto and powertrain plants in Ohio for production of electric vehicles that will use the batteries made at the

Backed by the largest global battery manufacturing network it has established, LG Energy Solution has been carrying out its initiative to expedite the global EV transition, with its annual production capacity of 200GWh to further expand to 300GWh by the end of this year.

Capitalizing on its ample R&D experience and operational expertise, LGES is devoted to providing competitive power solutions for its customers, thereby promoting the customer values and reinforcing the collective initiatives for clean energy transformation.

For more information about the joint venture battery plant, visit www.lgeshonda.com.

Source: Honda

SATA®RPS™

SATA® RPS® Multi-purpose Cups save not only time, but paint and cleaning materials too.

The SATA RPS cups have a unique venting system that plays into the efficiency of the overall SATA system. The vents allow for an even flow rate through the cup—so, whether the cup is entirely full, half full, or just has a couple ounces in it, the flow rate will stay the same. The vented RPS cups allow for ALL of the paint and other materials to be sprayed from the cup, with a constant color match and film build. No costly ounces of left over unused material. Mix only what you need, and spray it to the last drop.

#01

BENDABLE

RPS cups have a built-in flexibility of the cup lid “neck” which allows painters to tilt the cups forward or side to side to spray at many different angles, on parts, rocker panels, and bumper covers. This flexibility assists in making the RPS a great solution for more difficult paint jobs. Excluding the 0.3 L minijet version.

#03 SAFE

Occasionally during the paint process the material cup may accidentally knock into the vehicle or panel stand. Due to the robust threaded connection between the cup and the lid, any chance of the cup becoming detached is avoided, as is the chance to spill paint.

#02 CLEAN

With SATA RPS, removing the cup from the spray gun becomes a clean and safe process. When the paint job is finished, squeeze the RPS cup and close the vent cap on the bottom of the cup to create a vacuum inside. Now turn the spray gun upside down and pull the trigger to empty the material passage ensuring easy gun cleaning and a tidy workplace.

#04 REFILLABLE

Refilling paint during the application process is sometimes necessary. The design of the cup allows the simple and clean topping off and the easy exchange of the material filter, if required.

Tesla Owners Club of LA Gets Up-Close Look at Repair Experience at Bistagne Bros.

By Ed Attanasio Autobody News

On Feb. 19, Bistagne Bros. Body Shop in Glendale, CA, hosted a meeting of the Tesla Owners Club of Los Angeles, so Tesla owners could witness a certified shop in action.

is one of 80-plus chapters in the Tesla Owners Club Program. As friends and fans, the LA chapter members drive their EVs to unique Southern California locations, share Tesla tips and tricks, and support green and community outreach events. They participate in an annual statewide

membership of his chapter will expand based on Tesla’s growing popularity, especially in the Los Angeles area. “We are no longer early adopters, but we are still as

passionate about these cars as we’ve ever been. EVs are here to stay and we are getting more fans all the time. There is a real synergy here with Tesla owners and their cars.”

Members came to Glendale for two hours on a Sunday morning for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of a shop. They were able to mix and mingle with other club members, grab snacks and drinks, and find out what it takes to bring a damaged Tesla back to its pre-accident condition.

Bistagen Bros. Body Shop coowner Robert Bistagne was delighted to sponsor the event.

“This is a great group, and they were very enthusiastic, which was nice,” he said. “They were able to see a quarter panel of a Model 3 painted, and an installation of paint protection film on several panels. Tesla engineers were here to show the inner structure of a Tesla Model 3, and we also set up a table illustrating the rivet bonding process and riveting tools, where people were able to get hands-on.”

Bistagne tried to create some fun activities for the club members, and based on their reactions, he succeeded.

“We wanted to keep them engaged,” he said. “At first I thought, how are we going to occupy these Tesla owners for two hours, and the time just flew by! They know a lot about their cars and are willing to learn more about them, which is great.”

The Tesla Owners Club of Los Angeles is a community of more than 500 owners who enjoy sharing the exciting world of Tesla. The LA club

conference and are made up of volunteers who just love their vehicles and the lifestyle surrounding them.

LA Chapter President Jason Fudenberg, an IT director who lives in Sherman Oaks, CA, has two Teslas. Six years ago, the chapter became an official club after communicating with other owners via social media.

“We are a not-for profit group and we just love talking Tesla,” Fudenberg said. “We have monthly events, and anyone with a Tesla is welcome to join via teslaclubla.com. The annual membership fees are $40 and once you’re on the organization’s mailing list, you are invited to a wide range of events held throughout Southern California.”

The organization’s members are from all segments of the population, Fudenberg said. “We have drag racers, moms and techies who love these amazing vehicles. We have at least one event scheduled every month, and we often add flash events to our calendar all the time.”

Fudenberg is hopeful the

“We are no longer early adopters, but we are still as passionate about these cars as we’ve ever been.”

JASON FUDENBERG LA CHAPTER PRESIDENT

Tesla engineers were on hand to show the inner structure of a Model 3. Photo credit: Barbara Davies

Pictured, left to right, is Jason Fudenberg, president of the Tesla Owners Club of Los Angeles; Robert Bistagne, co-owner of Bistagne Bros. Body Shop; and Nancy Knupfer, Tesla Owners Club of Los Angeles event organizer. Photo credit: Barbara Davies

Bistagne Bros. enjoyed seeing LA Tesla owners in their shop and learning about the collision repair process. Photo credit: Barbara Davies

Bistagne Bros. Auto Body in Glendale, CA, hosted a meeting of the Tesla Owners Club of Los Angeles, so members could learn more about the repair process. Photo credit: Barbara Davies

Missouri Residents Plead Guilty To $1.2 Million Insurance Fraud Conspiracy

Two Columbia, MO, residents pleaded guilty in federal court Feb. 14 to their roles in a $1.2 million insurance fraud conspiracy that involved false claims of injuries suffered in car accidents.

Latoya Marie Brown , 37, who

and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud.

By pleading guilty, Brown and Goldman admitted they were part of a conspiracy that defrauded six insurance companies of a total of $1,234,581 from June 2017 to July 2020.

I-CAR Wins Top Workplace Award

also lived in the Kansas City, MO, area, and Cedrick Shawndale Goldman , 46, each pleaded guilty in separate appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epp Jr. to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud

Conspirators submitted false claims that they had suffered bodily injuries and they would be personally liable for any medical bills related to insurance claims. Conspirators, some of whom were involved in multiple incidents, received thousands of dollars, and in some cases tens of thousands of dollars, based on these false claims. However, none of the conspirators made any payments to medical providers and instead used the funds for their personal expenses.

different rooms for blueprinting, ADAS calibrations, disassembly and reassembly.

Brown admitted she was involved in three incidents and received a total of $44,269 in insurance payments. Goldman admitted he was involved in one incident and received a $14,900 insurance payment. Neither Brown nor Goldman have paid any of their hospital or medical bills with the insurance proceeds they received.

Under federal statutes, Brown and Goldman each are subject to a sentence of up to 40 years in federal prison without parole. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron M. Maness . It was investigated by the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

S ource: The U.S. Attorney’s Office Western District of Missouri

I-CAR® earned a 2023 Top Workplaces USA award in the small employer category, which recognizes and celebrates organizations across the country that have built exceptional, peoplecentric workplace cultures.

The award is issued annually by Energage, with a 15-year history of surveying more than 20 million employees and recognizing the top organizations across 60 markets for regional Top Workplaces awards.

I-CAR, recognized in the small employer category (150-499 employees), has 282 full-time associates, including instructors, primarily concentrated at its Training Support Center in Hoffman Estates, the Chicago Technical Center in Vernon Hills, IL, and the Technical Center in Appleton, WI, and also remote based geographically across the U.S.

Top Workplaces USA recognizes organizations with 150 or more employees that have built great cultures.

Source: I-CAR

But, in the 1990s, a lot of shops wanted to show their customers as little as possible, Shaw said.

“But now it’s 2023 and people want to see everything. We are a society where information is vital, and they are interested in the entire process, so we made that element part of our new facility,” Shaw said. “We are proud of what we do, so we want to show them what we do and how we fix their vehicles.”

Waiting customers will be able to see everything short of the area where larger hits are fixed.

“They can see how we do estimates, how we do the smaller repairs like fender benders, and how we paint the cars,” he said. “They will be able to see our production system and witness the craftsmanship that goes into every car we fix.”

In its new design, Shannon’s Auto Body will also feature completely

“We want to create the proper environment for all of these procedures, so we made them a priority here in our new building,” Shaw said. “Whenever we do any repair, we keep two things in mind— quality and safety and that was in the forefront of our minds when we started developing this location.”

In some cases, Shaw is going against the old ways with his new approach to production, but that’s the only way to go, he said.

“We are making our efficiencies better and breaking a few rules. It’s exciting because we now have exactly what we want and we can’t wait to see the advantages of doing things our way,” Shaw said. “We’re literally throwing the conventional methods out of the window and letting the world see what we do at Shannon’s Auto Body.”

Source: Shannon’s Auto Body

Credit: Shutterstock

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My ‘Wish List’ of Changes to Improve the Collision Repair Industry

Once a year or so, I compile my “wish list” for the industry, the changes—in some cases, long-awaited changes— I’d like to see happen to help our industry. As always, I challenge you— whether you represent a collision repair business, an insurance company, an automaker, an association or an industry vendor—to find a way to contribute to making these 10 wishes become reality.

Wish No. 1: Automakers should change the antiquated way they require dealership collision centers to report their financials.

Most independent body shops actually have a competitive advantage over dealership body shops when it

Wish No. 2: Some entity in the industry needs to take the lead in developing a clear technician career path and apprenticeship training.

The technician shortage isn’t going to get solved until there’s an easier and better way for every shop to grow its own new technicians. We need some organization—I-CAR or an automaker, for example—to put together a program that does that.

Wish No. 3: All collision repair shops should inspect the seat belts in every vehicle they repair, every single time.

OK, body shops, so far on this list, I’ve left you off in terms of

in the mirror and start holding people accountable for doing the right thing. Automakers need to make this part of their auditing of certified body shops.

Wish No. 5: Insurers and the automakers need to stop leaving shops in the middle of the friction related to vehicle safety inspections.

Most automakers have clear requirements for the safety inspections, in addition to checking seat belts, that must be performed on their vehicles after a crash. These requirements—which can include measuring the steering column, checking SRS connectors, etc.—are the single biggest friction point in the collision repair industry today.

Insurers say they don’t want to pay for this work. Uneducated dealerships and even some certified shops are saying it doesn’t need to be done. That leaves the shops trying to do the right thing stuck in the middle.

My wish is that insurers and the automakers would sit down and get this figured out, and take shops out of the middle. It’s wrong on all accounts.

Wish No. 6: All automakers need to make one-time-use parts more easily identified.

and I can tell you the No. 1 issue we see is that parts don’t get coded properly. There has to be a better way.

Wish No. 8: Dealership wholesale parts departments need to “play nice in the sandbox” with one another.

I can’t tell you the number of times I hear about a body shop needing a part being told it’s on backorder— only for the shop to find out a dealership in another market has it, but won’t sell it to a customer outside their market. I recently heard about

comes to examining and analyzing their financials to determine where there are areas for profitability improvement. That’s because independent body shops generally use QuickBooks or BusinessWorks or a shop management system from which they can get very detailed accounting with sub-accounts.

Unfortunately, a lot of dealership shops have to rely on the more limited financial data they get from the dealership’s management system, or are required by the auto manufacturer to report their financials in a certain way. That can make it harder for shop managers to compare their financial performance against collision repair industry benchmarks. I’d like to see this change.

I also believe dealership body shops also should get credit for the parts sales they contribute to the dealership’s overall business. When they don’t, it negatively skews the true financial performance of the shop.

responsibility for making this stuff happen. But this one is totally on you. I don’t see the post-crash seat belt inspections that are called for in the OEM procedures—and even in most vehicle owner’s manuals—being done consistently enough.

Don’t tell me the insurers won’t pay for it. Our “Who Pays for What?” surveys prove that’s not true. But even if you’re not paid for it, it’s your moral obligation to do the right thing and perform those seat belt inspections every time. You owe it to your customers.

Wish No. 4: Every technician should perform weld destructive testing prior to welding on any vehicle.

Again, I’ve seen first-hand the improper welds that can be made when this mandatory step is skipped. It disheartens me when I travel 300 days a year and see how many technicians and shops aren’t doing this every time. Shops needs to look

Some OEMs have symbols in their documentation—which then gets into the estimating systems—identifying which parts must be replaced as part of the collision repair process. Toyota uses a black dot, for example, and Nissan a black dot with a white X. My wish is that every automaker would use a symbol for one-time-use parts in order to be make them easily identifiable.

Wish No. 7: All shop management systems need to make it easy to ensure proper coding from an accounting perspective for parts that are price-matched.

This one has been on my list for a number of years. If a shop uses an OEM part instead of a non-OEM part, it doesn’t always get coded properly, sometimes because of an insurer requirement as part of a direct repair program. This creates an accounting nightmare, with OEM parts gross profit being understated, and aftermarket part gross profit being overstated.

Our team works with the financials for more than 400 collision repairers,

a shop’s customer actually locating a part at another dealership, and finding it unfathomable the shop, dealerships and automaker couldn’t keep this problem from happening. It makes all of us look stupid. Parts departments need to work better with one another.

Wish No. 9: The industry as a whole needs to understand inprocess scans are also needed on every vehicle.

I think the industry has pretty much caught up on the need for preand post-repair scans, but less so on the importance of in-process scans. Many diagnostic trouble codes need to be cleared after reassembly but before you test drive the vehicle or perform calibrations. More of the industry need to get better educated about this.

Wish No. 10: Insurers need to stop hiding behind remote claims handling and get back to negotiating fairly.

Shops say insurance companies are increasingly sending back supplements saying it’s all they will pay and hiding behind the computer. They never call the shop and have a discussion. It’s frustrating and not fair to the shops. Insurance companies need to get back to having dialogue with shops in regards to items they don’t want to pay for, versus just saying they’re not paying for it.

That’s my list for this year. Will any of these things happen before next year’s list?

“But even if you’re not paid for it, it’s your moral obligation to do the right thing and perform those seat belt inspections every time.”

MIKE ANDERSON COLLISION ADVICE

Mitchell Report Provides Insight into EV Vehicle Claims, Market Data

By Stacey Phillips Autobody News

As vehicle manufacturers announce plans to go all-electric by 2030, repairers and insurers are keeping a close eye on the changes taking place and adapting as necessary.

Mitchell International, Inc., an Enlyte company, recently released its inaugural quarterly trends report: “Plugged-In: EV Collision Insights,” which provides insight into the

Q:What prompted the development of the quarterly EV report?

A:Mitchell’s previous trends report transitioned into an annual report when Enlyte, our parent brand, was formed in October 2021. We looked at opportunities to share insightful data that would be helpful for the greatest number of stakeholders— information different than they could find anywhere else.

important to get prepared.

Our goal is to get information to carriers and shops, explain the market differences with EVs, and what to expect. The data shared is based on repairable estimates uploaded to Mitchell and we’ll continue to evolve the report.

Q:Who is your main target audience?

A:It’s both insurers and repairers. Repairers are more on the front lines understanding some of the differences with these vehicles because they’re living it firsthand. However, that’s only in certain markets.

I work with many insurance carriers and the goal is to get them thinking about the EV business and how they will need to adapt their claims organization. An EV is a very different vehicle. They will need to think about the safety of appraisers in the field. They must understand how shops manage high-voltage batteries to ensure the safety of their teams.

Q:What highlights can you share?

A: It’s important for insurers to look at the original estimate and forecast what the likely reserves will be for that claim and understand that it’s probably going to be greater. When it comes to estimate writing, carriers and shops must be able to produce a collision damage appraisal that accounts for the differences between EVs and ICE vehicles. Once the estimate is written, there has to be a way for repairers to prioritize these vehicles and identify the damage quickly because there will be a more significant amount associated with them. The longer the claims process gets drawn out, the worse the customer experience is, which means CSI scores go down for the shop, the insurer and other stakeholders.

If there is a way to pre-scan during the initial estimate and focus on writing the most accurate estimate possible, it is a great way to add additional value to the process and get a better understanding of the systems that have been impacted.

Q: The report states that 90.11% of U.S. and Canadian shops are using OEM parts. What do you attribute this to?

electric vehicle (EV) claims and market data and analyzes industry trends. EV sales in 2022 represented 5.6% of the market, according to Kelley Blue Book.

Ryan Mandell, director of claims performance at Mitchell, said the report will help carriers and collision repairers prepare as EV market growth continues and more EVs enter auto body shops.

“For the repair industry, additional training, tooling and equipment will be necessary considerations to meet the needs of these complex and interconnected vehicles,” the report said. “Automotive insurers, on the other hand, should be ready to examine underwriting practices so that they can meet the demands of a growing segment of the car parc with higher average repair costs and more complex repair procedures that must be performed to successfully deliver a proper and safe repair.”

As of Q4 2022, EV repairable claims frequency was 1.1% in the U.S. and 2.26% in Canada, according to the report. The top North American EV markets based on repairable claims frequency were British Columbia (4.47%), California (3.37%) and Quebec (2.75%).

Autobody News reached out to Mandell to learn about the quarterly trends report, the data it includes and what it means for the industry moving forward.

The transition to EVs is a big disruptor, probably more so than anything we’ve seen in some time. We are seeing EV adoption numbers increasing and more coming into repair facilities.

It made sense to put out focused information about electrification and what it means for the industry. Insurers are asking how this transition will likely impact severity. That was something we knew we had to include.

A:It was interesting to see how big of an impact Tesla has on the overall EV industry, with a 76.21% market share in the U.S. and 70.21% in Canada. When you look at that delta in terms of repair cost, it can be startling at first. But when you take Tesla out of that mix, it normalizes it a little more.

Teslas are complex and more expensive to repair. However, it’s not just the Tesla effect. Even without Tesla, you still have a significant delta in the repair cost for EVs because there’s more involved.

The number of mechanical labor hours on EV estimates still outpaces ICE vehicles with 1.7 additional mechanical labor hours, which was also interesting. That speaks to how you manage the high-voltage battery during the process. You have to isolate it in many instances, which often requires additional mechanical labor hours.

A: It’s the lack of availability of alternative EV parts. With ICE vehicles, OEM utilization is roughly 68% to 70%. That’s a big difference. There is a lack of cars in the salvage pool that are making it to auto recyclers and I think many are going overseas.

I believe the percentage of OEM parts utilization will change as the salvage pool increases and aftermarket manufacturers produce parts.

We also wanted to demystify EVs and provide insights into what it means when these vehicles come into repair facilities. If you live in Southern California, you probably see EVs all the time, but if you are in another area of the country, you might not. A large section of the industry isn’t sure when they need to prepare for electrification, if they even need to, and if there is anything different with EVs. Whether or not people agree with the EV trend, people are buying them and it’s

The other piece that stood out to me in the report was looking at the 27.45% average supplement delta for EVs and how much of a role that plays in the final cost of the repair compared to the original estimate. When you look at internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, that number is around 17%, so you’re talking about 10 percentage points higher for an EV. That speaks to how critical OEM repair procedures are with these cars.

Q: What is the main takeaway for repairers and insurers?

Q: Can you share information about the percentage of parts repaired? A: We found that the average percentage of parts repaired on EVs increased from 11.05% in Q3 2022 to 12.16% in Q4 2022. This suggests that repair facilities may be improving their capabilities to repair lighter-weight substrates. However, some of this increase may also have to do with ongoing supply chain disruptions and the lack of availability of replacement parts.

Shops are investing in technology, tools and equipment to repair some of these materials more effectively. Some of this is being driven by necessity because of the supply chain issue we’re facing and the lack of availability of parts. Some shops are simply just repairing parts because they can’t get a replacement.

To read a copy of the report, visit www.mitchell.com/plugged-in.

Source: Mitchell International, Inc.

Credit: Shutterstock

different businesses and see their ins and outs… We thought it was going to be a small club but it now has 50 kids.”

Greg Wubben, an auto collision repair instructor at Southwest Tech, said the tech school trains students to get entry-level jobs in a collision body shop and partners with high schools on a regular basis.

“When the cars you see on the road every day get in a wreck, there’s a huge demand for technicians to fix them,” said Wubben. “So we come out to high schools and show them what the career is all about, a few things we do every day in the shop and talk about how the school can help them get the training they need to get out and get that job.”

Attending members of the Mechanics Club got to try their hands at virtual painting, welding, sanding, buffing headlights and plastic welding, to get a sense of what it’s like to work in the Auto Tech shop and what a collision technician does on a daily basis. Behind all the practical skills, according to Wubben, is the key element of work ethic.

“Just come in and put forth a good effort—you get great satisfaction out of creating this stuff with your hands

or, in the case of collision repair, recreating it,” Wubben said. “Students who come into my program and attempt the tasks assigned will be successful.”

the classroom.

“This is an excellent opportunity for them to not only understand this particular business but what Dyersville has to offer with jobs,” Lueck continued. “It’s a win-win because there are a lot of openings out there for diesel mechanics or anything mechanic-related and a lot of these kids are on that pathway for jobs. Even if they aren’t, a lot of them will probably use this information in other jobs they’re looking at, like farming or manufacturing.”

Hunter Engineering has always prided itself on the substantial return on investment its equipment delivers. To that end, Hunter has provided a number of equipmentspecific ROI calculators on its website, www.hunter.com.

Lueck said the goal of the trip was to give the students work-based learning and expose them to tools for getting into the field after graduation. The partnership also benefits local businesses by connecting them with potential employees in a field that needs more people.

“We’re really trying to bring work and businesses into the school experience,” Lueck said. “The challenge at high school sometimes is there’s a lot of interest in different subjects and, in order to help these kids learn more in their particular subject, it’s easier to bring them to different businesses than to have it in

Auto Tech Body Shop Manager Levi Benn said his shop has a longrunning relationship with Southwest Tech, as they have a shared goal of trying to get new people into the industry. While this was his first time partnering with the school, Benn said he welcomes the opportunity to continue school partnerships and give students even more hands-on experiences.

“This is our test run—if the students take a liking to it, I have no problem working with any high school in the area with Southwest Tech to do a Stage Two for the actual fixing of dents or suiting these kids up to actually paint some parts,” Benn said.

Any schools interested in arranging field trips to Auto Tech may contact the business at autotechinc@ windstream.net.

To make this collection of calculators even easier to use, Hunter has created the new ROI Hub, which may be found at www. hunter.com/roi.

Each calculator offers a wide degree of flexibility, tailored to the specific equipment and allowing adjustment of multiple inputs. For example, the wheel alignment calculator uses sliding scales of alignments sold, alignment charge, equipment investment and labor cost.

In addition to alignment, calculators for ADAS calibrations, tire changing, wheel balancing, employee retention, unmanned inspection and more make up the Hub. Five HD versions are also available.

For more information, visit www. hunter.com/roi.

Source: Hunter Engineering

“Just come in and put forth a good effort—you get great satisfaction out of creating this stuff with your hands or, in the case of collision repair, recreating it,”

Greg Wubben

Attorneys Say Consumer Data Privacy Concerns for Collision Repair

Shops are Real

By John Yoswick Autobody News

A pair of attorneys speaking at the most recent Collision Industry Conference (CIC) earlier this year cautioned that collision repairers need to take the issue of release or misuse of customer personal identifiable information (PII)—such as that included on estimates—seriously.

“The unauthorized disclosure of a customer’s PII, whether intentional or not—intent doesn’t factor into the analysis here—creates a significant liability risk for repair shops,” said Pennsylvania attorney Larry Pockers

Shops should consider whether those documents address how any partner with which they are sharing information may be using that information.

“What have you opened yourself up to as far as the use of that customer information down the chain,” Bloch said.

Put together a list of standard operating procedures and best practices that comply with state law, he suggested.

“Prepare standard customer disclosures and notifications, and most importantly, obtain customer consent so they understand and have given you permission to use that data at least for the purposes for which it was intended, so you can perform your repair services,” Bloch said.

Pockers agreed looking at a shop’s existing agreements is important.

foremost to think about, and should be your first line of defense in terms of protecting that information.”

An Industry Spokesperson?

Other speakers at CIC addressed a variety of subjects, including the technician shortage. Industry consultant Petra Schroeder, vice chair of the CIC Talent Pool and Education Committee, suggested that while many organizations within the industry are working on various efforts to attract, train and retain new technicians, she believes it’s time to “combine forces and collaborate.”

you may look at this and think, ‘I had no idea of those considerations.’”

Jason Scharton, senior manager of global expertise delivery for 3M, said those considerations include OEM repair procedures.

“We’ve got to be checking that OEM repair documentation and understand what product is specified,” he said. “And there’s the supply chain: Can I get that material if I don’t have it? If it’s three months out, it’s going to change some of the decisions I need to make.”

He said repair planners need to consider the labor time associated with the material: What type of preparation is needed? What type of conditions are needed for application? What are the clean-up requirements?

“And are any of these included or not included in the repair procedures when we’re calculating the time,” Scharton said.

He noted five states—California, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah and Vermont—have specific consumer data privacy laws in place, and others are expected to be added to that list this year.

Connecticut attorney Steven Bloch concurred.

“Once that information has been breached or disclosed improperly, without customer disclosure and authorization and consent, there is liability and exposure for the shops. It’s as simple as that,” Bloch said.

If that information gets used down the supply chain after being disclosed by a shop, “You’re going to be held responsible in many circumstances for that use, whether you agreed to it or not,” he said. “Simply because you did not intentionally disclose customer PII, or you don’t have a full understanding of what your license agreements provide as far as that data use is concerned, or what your partners are using that data for down the chain, and how they are transacting it, doesn’t absolve you of the liability that you can face here.”

What can shops do to limit their liability in terms of customer data privacy issues? Bloch suggested shops work with legal counsel to review current contracts and licensing agreements “to determine what it is you’ve provided in terms of permission to industry partners and vendors.”

“You could try to renegotiate these agreements, but let’s be realistic. That’s not going to happen,” he said. “So the mitigation strategy is: What about future agreements with others in the supply chain that you’re going to enter into?”

Part of the challenge, she said, is that outside the industry, the general public has little awareness of how vehicle technology and other changes over the past decade have impacted the work and career opportunities within the industry.

She offered a two-part idea. First, she suggested the industry craft and adopt a common position statement relative to working together to “draw awareness and appeal of the exciting and rewarding career opportunities within our industry.”

How much of the material is needed is particularly important, as is considering the work time.

Both attorneys said such reviews and customer notification and authorization forms are among the services their firms offer. They said there may be some technology solutions that can help shops control access to their data.

“But given the landscape in which everybody is operating, and how the sharing and flow of information is being transacted, I don’t know you can necessarily do one thing and achieve complete peace in terms of thinking you’ve protected your customers’ data in a foolproof [way] and you have nothing to worry about going forward,” Bloch said. “That’s why the customer disclosure and consent are first and

Second, she asked rhetorically whether industry organizations could work together to jointly finance a spokesperson who could help bring the industry’s message to a wide audience. She said two possible spokespersons she could think of were Mike Rowe, who currently promotes other skilled trades including diesel repair, or Jay Leno, who has some connection with the industry given his “Jay Leno’s Garage” television series.

Repair Planning Considerations Regarding Materials, EVs

Also at CIC, the Parts and Materials Committee discussed the role of materials in repair decisions.

“The materials in or on the vehicle, the materials used to construct it, the materials used to put it back together, all make a difference in how we approach it,” said Aaron Schulenburg, who chairs the committee. “For many of the repairers in the room, that may feel like common sense. For non-repairers,

“If you’ve got a big job, you may need two or three technicians to make sure you’ve applied all the adhesive in the work time,” Scharton said. “Materials may change how you staff a job.”

During another committee presentation, I-CAR’s Scott VanHulle said the training organization is working to develop a searchable database of OEM refinishing guidelines for electric vehicles. He said the maximum temperature thresholds for electric vehicles varies by automaker.

“And one of the things that a lot of these [OEM] statements don’t make clear is whether the threshold is for the actual surface temperature of the vehicle, or the ambient temperature of the booth,” VanHulle said.

The limitations, designed to avoid overheating of the battery pack which can impact its range over time, have ramifications for the repair plan, he said, because the limits may require the use of a different paint product, may require air drying the vehicle which extends the time in the booth, or may require removal of the high-voltage battery.

A CIC panel discussion on data privacy concerns for shops included, from left, Dan Risley, Larry Pockers, Steven Bloch and Trent Tinsley.

“The unauthorized disclosure of a customer’s PII, whether intentional or not—intent doesn’t factor into the analysis here—creates a significant liability risk for repair shops.”

LARRY POCKERS PENNSYLVANIA ATTORNEY

3M’s Jason Scharton said estimators need to consider OEM requirements related to materials when creating repair plans.

Scott VanHulle of I-CAR said the training organization is working to develop a searchable database of OEM refinishing guidelines for electric vehicles.

THE YEAR OF THE TECHNICIAN

Join us for the Second Annual Midwest Collision Industry Trade Show and Conference celebrating ”The Year Of The Technician”. The Trade Show offers new technology, product demonstrations, and information you will not get anywhere else in the Midwest.

World Class Education will cover all facets of our industry; owners, managers, technicians, everyone is welcome. This year’s event will take over the entire Overland Park Convention floor in Overland Park, Kansas. This will be an exciting, positive, and educational event for all!

OVER 11 MIDWEST STATES INVITED

PARTICIPATE IN THE TOP GUN TECHNICIAN COMPETITION!

Presenting Sponsor: Platinum Sponsors:

KEYNOTE

Auto Body Shop Veteran Starts Azimuth, a Specialized ADAS Calibration Center

By Ed Attanasio Autobody News

Charlie Rich has more than 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur and executive in the automotive aftermarket, in the technology, insurance, OEM and collision repair segments.

Rich began his career in the automotive aftermarket when he joined CCC Intelligent Solutions in 1989. During his eight-year tenure, he played a major role in the company’s explosive growth and the introduction of several industry innovations— including the DRP concept and PCbased estimating. His other career highlights include co-founding ProcessClaims in 2000, where he served as president and board member. In just six years, the company grew from start-up to more than $11 million in sales before it was acquired by CCC in 2006. Rich went on to serve as vice president of business development at Fix Auto USA before founding Azimuth Calibration in 2022.

Q: What inspired you to start Azimuth?

Q: What types of tricky calibrations are shops encountering problems with?

A: High-end European vehicles and exotics, including calibrations involving any cameras, radar and blind spots that require OEM tooling and service information and appropriate space, lighting, clutterfree, level floors, etc.

Q: More and more shops are outsourcing their ADAS diagnostics. Why?

A: The leading reasons are liability, expense to start and operate, finding and training qualified

if it detects an object in the blind spot while executing a lane-change.

Intelligent Systems: The most recent technological advances involve combining the signals from multiple sensors and modules to create a connected system that can control the vehicle with great precision. One

Q: What does your company name stand for?

A: Azimuth is an angular measurement in a spherical coordinate system. In a celestial context, it is the horizontal direction of a star. The reference plane for an azimuth is true north, measured at 0-degree azimuth—the horizontal angle or direction of a compass bearing. In land navigation, azimuth is denoted with the alpha symbol. It plays to the technicality of calibration with a simple one-word name.

Q: How hard is to train a tech into an ADAS expert/diagnostician? How long does it normally take?

example is the Intelligent Park Assist System, or IPAS. It combines the

A: It will typically take one to two years with continual learning and ongoing training. The market segment is in its early evolution, with systems, tools, information and software changing almost day

A:

The overall focus is on keeping people, families and communities safe. That includes repairing vehicles to OEM standard by performing quality repairs. We pride ourselves on protecting our clients’ liability by helping them identify calibrations and completing necessary calibration to OEM standards and procedures. We do that in a costeffective and efficient manner that supports our clients’ mission and goals.

Q: Who are your main clients and what markets are you targeting? A: Collision repair shops, dealerships, insurance companies and OEMs. Any company that needs to outsource their auto diagnostics for tougher recalibrations and everything else where they need help.

Q: Many shops are not embracing ADAS and see it as an impediment to their businesses. What would you tell them?

A: ADAS is not going away but growing by the day. Liability increases by the day as ADAS proliferates. The larger picture shows that complete calibrations need to be performed in order to keep your customers and communities safe. More regulations and enforcement are coming soon to make calibrations more and more vital.

“The larger picture shows that complete calibrations need to be performed in order to keep your customers and communities safe. More regulations and enforcement are coming soon to make calibrations more and more vital.”

CHARLIE RICH FOUNDER OF AZIMUTH CALIBRATION

Illinois Bill Would Ban Video Calls While Driving

By Glenn Minnis The Center Square

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi

Giannoulias is leading the charge in pushing for legislation that would ban the use of Zoom and other video chat equipment while driving.

“We need to take steps to change the culture surrounding distracted driving, which will lead to more responsible drivers and ultimately save lives,” Giannoulias said in a news release. “Zooming takes hands, eyes and minds off the focus of driving. Our goal is that a combination of increased education, stronger laws and tougher enforcement will encourage drivers to change bad behaviors for the better.”

Sponsored by state Rep. Marcus Evans and state Sen. J avier Cervantes , House Bill 2431 also would outlaw “the use of phones and other devices to watch or participate in video conferencing” and ban drivers from streaming videos or accessing social media

platforms while behind the wheel.

Honda, I-CAR Offer Online Training

“Illinois has been a leader in cracking down on distracted driving, but we need to remain vigilant and continue to refine our laws as new technologies emerge,” Evans said.

Under the newly proposed measure, first offenses to the video chatting law would mean a $75 ticket and three moving violations over a yearlong period would result in a license suspension.

Last year, 12,700 drivers were convicted of distracted driving in the state, while across the country, the National Safety Council reports distracted driving annually kills more than 3,000 people each year, or about eight each day.

I-CAR® on March 9 announced American Honda Motor Company enhanced its partnership with I-CAR.

The transition to I-CAR’s learning management system will support technicians with streamlined training easily accessible in one platform alongside all other I-CAR courses. It also enables those repair facilities that currently have a Gold Class® training subscription to complete their Honda network training requirements with no additional fees.

Across the state, texting while driving has been outlawed for more than the last decade and the use of cell phones while driving has been outlawed since 2014, requiring drivers to invest in hand-free devices.

Registration Open For 15th Annual CIECA CONNEX Conference

CIECA announced its 15th annual conference, CONNEX 2023, will be held Sept. 12-13 at the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton in Bloomington, IL.

The event will include a full lineup of business and technical speakers, networking opportunities and a vehicle gifting as part of the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides® program. One of the highlights of the event will be an exclusive factory tour of Rivian.

The theme of the conference this year is “Connected Car, Connected Industry.” It was chosen to reflect the increasing levels of connectedness and integration between all aspects of vehicle design, manufacturing and repair. All industry stakeholders, including CIECA members and non-members, are invited to attend.

During the two-day conference, leaders from across the collision industry will discuss where technology and business are headed and what the industry is doing to prepare.

“With ADAS and autonomous features growing with every model year and new electric vehicle (EV) models expected from nearly every major manufacturer, technology is at the forefront of automobile design and the driving experience,” said Paul Barry, CIECA’s executive director. “All of this technology translates into data and new repair methods, supply chains and repair procedures.”

“Come join us at the CIECA CONNEX conference to network with industry leaders, engage in presentations and discussions regarding emerging technologies, and see how CIECA is working with our member companies,” said CIECA Chairman Greg Best, senior business analyst for California Casualty. “Our focus this year is on the connected car and how our industries connect. I encourage all industry segments to get involved and see how you can make a difference.”

The conference agenda will be announced this spring.

Source: CIECA

“We need to create the same kind of stigma for distracted driving that now exists for drunk driving,” Cervantes added. “Raising awareness and passing common-sense legislation like this can help achieve that same success when it comes to texting while driving and other forms of distracted driving like video conferencing.”

The online courses will be available at I-CAR.com soon for both the Honda/Acura Certified Collision Network, including 1,800 repair centers, and all collision repair professionals.

“The team at I-CAR is excited to support Honda/Acura with future delivery of 10 required online courses for collision repair facilities in their network,” said Greg Ross , I-CAR vice president of sales and marketing.

Source: I-CAR

“We need to create the same kind of stigma for distracted driving that now exists for drunk driving. Raising awareness and passing commonsense legislation like this can help achieve that same success when it comes to texting while driving and other forms of distracted driving like video conferencing.”

Javier Cervantes STATE SENATE

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Mercedes-Benz Executive Shares EV Considerations with Collision Repairers

By Stacey Phillips Autobody News

With the transition to electric vehicles (EVs), collision repair facilities need to prepare for the changes now and in the future, according to Benito Cid, collision business development manager for Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA).

“In different parts of the world, different markets are going to react differently,” said Cid. “You have some countries where they’ve adopted EVs and they have a very high percentage of vehicles sold already, and then you have others that EVs still have some ramping up to do. EVs are coming and we have to be ready.”

During a recent Guild 21 webinar, sponsored by OEC and hosted by George Avery, Holly SwitzerPitts and Micki Woods, Cid shared information about EVs and some of the differences in handling and repairing them. With more than 30 years of experience in the collision industry, Cid has worked for MBUSA for more than a decade, and previously focused on the insurance claims side of the business for 17 years.

Mercedes-Benz Path to Electric Cid said Mercedes-Benz has aggressive EV development goals in the U.S. and plans to go fully electric by 2030 where market conditions allow. In preparation, all vehicle lines moving forward will have an electric option.

“Historically, our EVs have been based off internal combustion engines (ICE) and both vehicle types use similar platforms,” he explained. “Going forward, new vehicles will be designed as EVs with the ability to add an internal combustion engine if needed, depending on the market.”

The EQ brand was the auto manufacturer’s entry into the EV market, launched in Europe in 2018. The EQS sedan was first offered in the U.S. in 2021. Since then, MBUSA has introduced the EQB and EQS SUVs and the EQE sedan. By yearend, the company plans to have six EVs on the market.

Unlike other OEMs, MBUSA offers shops different levels of its Certified Collision Program. With base certification, Cid said repairers can perform collision repair work on all passenger cars except those requiring aluminum welding. With Elite, repairers can also work on aluminum structural repairs. Mercedes EQ authorizes work on EVs, and Mercedes Vans authorizes

facilities to perform structural and cosmetic repairs on Sprinter and Metris vehicles.

“Once you’re Elite, there is no additional fee to become EQ certified,” explained Cid. “The goal was to make sure that facilities across the country have the right training.”

This includes hands-on education at one of the MBUSA centers across the country, as well as online and virtual training options. For information, visit www. mbcollisioncenters.com/becomecollision-center

appraisers writing estimates and body shops doing the repairs.

“These are all touchpoints and potential hazards when dealing with an EV, not because they are more dangerous but because they are different than ICE vehicles,” Cid noted.

Typically, EVs require less maintenance than ICE vehicles due to fewer moving parts, but Cid said there are potential issues that need to be addressed due to the batteries and motors. He used the example of dragging a vehicle onto a wrecker rather than finding the best way to move it safely.

An EV tends to be heavy due to the weight of its battery, which can play into concerns about lifting, moving and working on it. As a result, Cid recommends shops learn how to handle EVs safely.

Cid stressed the importance of always checking the OEM repair procedures on the auto manufacturer’s website. OEM procedures can also be accessed on OEM1Stop.com.

“I don’t think I can stress that enough on every single vehicle you’re touching,” said Cid. “The excuse of ‘I didn’t know’ isn’t going to save you from what happens when the car goes out on the road with the customer if it has been improperly repaired.”

He said the safety aspect is not just about the liability after the repair; it’s also the liability of everyone involved.

To power its vehicles, MercedesBenz is opening battery production locations worldwide. This includes the Mercedes-Benz eCampus in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim and facilities in Hungary, Poland, Thailand and Alabama in the U.S.

Mercedes-Benz is also establishing an open charger network with ChargePoint Holdings, an EV charging provider, and MN8 Energy, a solar, stationary power and renewable energy provider. More than 400 hubs across North America are expected to be set up with more than 2,500 ChargePoint DC fast charging ports.

Another development announced in March is a new battery recycling factory in Kuppenheim, Germany, to recycle battery raw materials.

EV Repair Considerations

Although the repair process is similar with ICE vehicles and EVs—minus the drivetrain and battery—Cid said there are unique considerations to keep in mind with EVs.

He said repairers are already familiar with the potential dangers with ICE vehicles; however, there will be a learning curve when hearing some of the precautions that need to be taken with EVs.

One of the biggest concerns is the safety aspect of the battery and ensuring repairers and others know what to do and what not to do. This includes tow truck companies transporting vehicles, insurance

Mercedes-Benz is addressing safety considerations through its free Rescue Assist app, accessed using a QR code inside the vehicle. It contains details with safety-relevant components such as airbags, batteries, power and high-current fuel lines, plus the tanks for fuel, oil and gas. It also includes information about the high-voltage components in electric and hybrid vehicles and where to locate the emergency power down.

Another change Cid pointed out with EVs is the amount of charge the battery has when it leaves the shop. Previously, there wasn’t a major concern with ICE vehicles having a low fuel tank; however, this isn’t the case if an EV has a low battery and might not make it to the next charging station.

One of the standard requirements for Mercedes-Benz EV certification is having at least an 80% charge when delivered to the customer.

The EV Customer

During the company’s EV journey, Cid said the car manufacturer is finding customers have very different expectations with EVs and the reason for buying them.

“Customers tend to be more techsavvy,” he said. “A lot of them weren’t really interested in cars beforehand but now they’re buying EVs for all of the technology available in these cars.”

Cid said this is helpful for first responders who need this information quickly following an accident and for insurance appraisers and body shops who may have never seen these vehicles before.

Many of Mercedes-Benz’s patents regarding occupant safety are open and available for other auto manufacturers.

“It has always been impressive to me to have a company to be able to provide that, especially when it comes to the safety of the occupants in the vehicle,” said Cid.

In addition to the safety aspects of an EV, another consideration is the process of painting an EV after a repair. “Sometimes, there are limitations on how hot the vehicle can get,” he said.

Talking to collision centers nationwide, Cid said many people who have adopted EVs early on tend to be very in tune with their cars. This may result in them calling the shop after noticing the battery is below a certain percentage or asking why their car was moved during the repair. In response, he recommends shops always put EVs in service mode.

“This is something that collision centers probably aren’t used to,” said Cid.

Looking ahead, Cid recommends shop owners and managers begin thinking about the types of vehicles they want to specialize in and invest in the tooling, equipment and training required to be successful.

To access Mercedes-Benz service and technical repair subscription information, visit www.startekinfo. com/home

Learn more about Guild 21 at go.oeconnection.com/guild21

By year-end, Mercedes-Benz plans to have six EVs on the market

“One of the biggest concerns is the safety aspect of the battery and ensuring repairers and others know what to do and what not to do.”

BENITO CID COLLISION BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER FOR MERCEDES-BENZ USA

Midwest U.S. Senators Renew Push For Year-Round E15 Fuel Use

By Kim Jarrett The Center Square

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators from several Midwestern states is asking the Biden administration again to allow the sale of E15 fuel throughout the year.

The Environmental Protection Agency bans the sale of gasoline mixed with 15% ethanol during the summer months. Sen. Kevin Cramer , R-ND, and 16 other senators said in a letter to the administration the prohibition should be removed as soon as possible.

“Taking early action on E15 will send timely and necessary signals across the energy supply chain so that fuel producers and retailers will have the certainty they need to ensure affordable, reliable and cleaner fuel options for American consumers throughout the year,” the senators said. “Further, U.S. use of E15 will continue to displace Russian oil and finished gasoline products, ease domestic and global supply constraints, and lower net domestic fuel prices.”

Cramer joined Sens. Deb

Fischer , R-NE, and Amy Klobuchar D-MN, in sponsoring the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act last year. The bill did not make it out of Congress.

The E15 fuel blend is sold at more than 2,900 retailers at prices up to 96 cents less per gallon than regular gasoline, according to the letter. Approval to sell the blend year-round could save consumers more than $20 billion a year and reduce carbon emissions by 17.62 million tons, the senators said.

The Biden administration allowed gasoline retailers to sell the E15 blend last summer in response to rising gas prices blamed on the war in Ukraine. That action saved consumers $57 million, the senators said.

Taxpayers for Common Sense questioned expanding the use of ethanol. Since 2011, the Department of Agriculture has offered three subsidy programs for blender pumps that dispense ethanol blended gas. Congress did not approve the subsidies, according to the organization.

“More than four decades of government-set mandates and subsidies for the corn ethanol industry have distorted markets, picked winners and losers, and worked at cross purposes with other federal

“Biden’s decision is over 200 days past EPA’s lawful deadline, and not in time for the 2023 driving season. POTUS must grant an emergency waiver for this year.”

Joni Ernst SENATOR

programs aimed at protecting consumers, the climate and environment,” the organization said in its report issued last year. “Expanding the use of E15 in the short-term would likely have limited effects. Expanding E15 use long-term through legislative action—or worse yet, subsidizing it—would only

worsen the negative impacts of ethanol use, without benefiting the climate. Instead of continuing to expand corn ethanol’s market share, policymakers should invest in real climate solutions such as agricultural conservation practices that sequester carbon long-term.”

The EPA introduced a proposed rule March 1 allowing E15 to be sold in eight states year-round. The waiver for Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin will not take effect until April 2024, according to the EPA.

Sen. Joni Ernst , R-IA, said in a social media post the EPA needs to expedite the waiver.

“ Biden’s decision is over 200 days past EPA’s lawful deadline, and not in time for the 2023 driving season,” Ernst said in a Twitter post. “POTUS must grant an emergency waiver for this year.”

The EPA is planning a virtual public hearing for late March or early April, the agency said in its proposal.

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‘Who Pays’ Survey Offers Insights into Billing, Payment Practices for Vehicle

Scanning, Battery Support

By John Yoswick Autobody News

Although a higher percentage of shops are now seeking to be paid for the labor involved in applying battery support during a vehicle scan, fewer of those shops say they are regularly being paid for the procedure.

“That is unfortunate,” said shop trainer and consultant Mike Anderson of Collision Advice of the finding from a recent “Who Pays for What?” survey. “When we first asked about this procedure back in 2018, nearly 70% of shops said they never negotiated to be paid for this. Today that is down to 54%, which is great. But only 40% of those shops said they are regularly reimbursed for the time involved by the eight largest insurers. That’s the lowest percentage we have seen in five years. I honestly don’t have an explanation for that.”

Anderson said hooking up battery support is important because it ensures proper system voltage throughout the diagnostic scanning process. When vehicle voltage falls below normal levels, scan results can be unreliable, or re-programming of the vehicle can fail entirely.

This “not-included” operation can sometimes require a significant amount of labor time, Anderson said.

“It can require removing components to access the battery, and requires the use of a special battery maintainer—a jump box, a trickle charger or a battery charger is not considered proper battery support,” he said. “And one of the things that I have learned is that battery support should be connected for at least 10 minutes before a scan operation is performed. There is no reason this procedure should not be paid for when it is necessary.”

features may be turned off or placed in fail-safe mode after the removal and reinstallation of a related component, or due to “lost communication” trouble codes that are set.

“most” of the time by the eight largest national insurers, with about another one-third saying they are paid at least “some of the time.”

The survey also asked for the first time about in-process vehicle scanning.

“I’ve learned that this is often an absolutely necessary procedure, so we added it to the survey,” Anderson said.

He explained some vehicle

“If you don’t scan the vehicle and address that prior to a test drive, it could generate another trouble code, or you may not be able to do a proper calibration,” Anderson said.

The survey found about 21% of shops reported conducting inprocess scans on all or most vehicles--in comparison, more than 90% of shops now say they conduct preand post-repair scans on all or most vehicles.

“I expect that 21% to grow in the future,” Anderson said.

More than one-third of shops (36%) billing for in-process scans said they are paid for them “all” or

The surveys over time have found some differences in the payment practices of the eight insurers. In 2017, State Farm and USAA were more likely than the other six large national insurers to pay the charges for a pre-repair scan. For example, 57% of shops reported State Farm regularly paid for pre-repair scans, while only 46% of shops said that about Allstate and Progressive. But over the next couple of years, most of the insurers began to pay for the procedure more regularly than State Farm. By 2019, as many as 79% of shops reported State Farm was regularly paying for pre-repairs scans, but on average 86% of shops said that about the other six insurers. State Farm remains at the bottom of the pack in the latest survey.

The latest “Who Pays for What?” survey, focused on not-include body labor procedures, is open throughout April. Shops can visit www. crashnetwork.com/collisionadvice to participate.

“There is no reason this procedure should not be paid for when it is necessary.”

MIKE ANDERSON COLLISION ADVICE

ILLINOIS

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Opus IVS Gives Auto Body Shops Confidence To Diagnose the Most Complex Vehicles

By Ed Attanasio Autobody News

When diagnostics became a daily part of every collision repairer’s life less than a decade ago, many owners were hoping calibrations would be an option. Those days are long gone, and with cars getting more complex every day, auto body shops are turning techs into diagnosticians and creating full-fledged departments to do calibrations, with training, accuracy and knowledge at the forefront.

Opus IVS (Intelligent Vehicle Services) has established itself as a leader in its solution offerings, and has grown considerably, signing up MSOs and small independent shops at a consistent and rapid rate. It is also experiencing overwhelming interest and inquiries for new business with fleets, car rental and vehicle auction companies.

CEO Brian Herron and Global Sales Leader Bill O’Brien sat down recently with Autobody News to talk about the company’s capabilities and why it is expanding its footprint in the collision repair industry.

Autologic, Farsight, BlueLink and AutoEnginuity. It focuses on addressing the evolving needs of auto body repair shops, giving them the confidence to get the most complex vehicles back on the road safely and quickly without having to sublet work out to the local dealership—an overwhelming occurrence still adversely impacting the repair industry.

The journey began in 2005, focusing solely on mechanical repair. In 2020, Opus IVS entered the collision repair industry, and today it performs approximately 9,000 services every day, including scans and calibrations. With locations throughout the U.S., UK and Australia, Opus IVS is growing quickly and becoming the go-to diagnostics company for many of the country’s largest MSOs. Its DriveSafe with IVSTrio is backed by IVS 360™ Live Expert Support and fully integrated with CCC ONE® software.

Herron and his company started out serving the mechanical side of the industry by helping to create legislation that set the table for where we are today with ADAS and diagnostics.

“Back in 2013, the company played an integral role in the Right to Repair movement,” Herron said.

“Some of the language in there came from our direct work with the OEMs and Right to Repair Coalition to find a solution. We helped support both sides during the Massachusetts Right to Repair battles, both the 2013 battle and most recently in 2020.

factors,” Herron said. “So that’s where the remote service business picked up the slack.

path instead of searching via Google or other third party providers. This knowledge is more important than ever, especially with the shortage of technicians that we are experiencing right now,” Herron concluded. “A shop may be adept at working on Fords or Chevys, but what do they know when they have a complex issue with a Tesla, Mercedes or BMW?”

Opus IVS is filling the gaps and stepping up with the especially tricky and complex issues associated with many of the luxury brands, O’Brien said.

Opus IVS helps shops repair complex vehicles quickly with its diagnostics, programming and live repair guidance. The company is committed to helping mechanical and collision shops to complete repairs with intelligent vehicle support, and an emphasis on accountability and safety. Opus IVS uses its extensive expertise in vehicle communications combined with a world-class cloudbased architecture and hundreds of ASE-certified technicians and OEM Dealer Master Technicians to deliver solutions for its customers.

The company is the Intelligent Vehicle Support division of Opus Group, formed through the industryleading acquisitions of DrewTech,

“This legislation really was a bridge between the OEM diagnostics and the ability for third parties to be able to use it for items like OEM scanning and calibration,” Herron said. “So that was one of the building blocks that we helped to pull together. We supported the OEs, but then Right to Repair was the bridge to get that technology into the aftermarket delivering OE software and tools.”

The Right to Repair laws helped shops to access valuable OE information, but it wasn’t the complete recipe for success, Herron said.

“Eventually what we all found is that just providing the repair industry the aftermarket OEM tools wasn’t enough because of the need for training, lack of experience in shops, other priorities and many other

“It’s all about accessibility, because let’s say that you are a tech at your local repair shop and regularly repair General Motors, Ford and Toyota vehicles, and you’re confident with understanding the technology on those repairs, but now, BMW or Mercedes rolls into your shop,” Herron continued. “You want to help that customer, repair the vehicle according to procedures, but you don’t have the experience with that brand. That’s why we currently have experienced certified

“Our ability to go from the UK, Canada, Australia and perform a review of the mechanical and collision repair-related programming in Dexter, MI, is a huge plus for the industry,” O’Brien said. “Our strong support network coupled with our industry awarded solutions can guide our customers through every aspect of that repair and ensure the programming and calibration is done right the first time.”

Part of the company’s success is from providing options.

“Our shop clients can use our tools all day long without contacting us, because we allow them to do their own scanning in-house,” Herron said. “They can perform a quick scan for a pre- and post-scan, but if they want to do an OEM scan, they can reach out to us for assistance with that or reach out for help with a complex problem. We try to give them the ability to do things without needing to reach out to us but at the same time, we’re there to be able to support them with maybe additional functionality or extra brand support.

“We have support groups at five locations worldwide, partially based on time zones,” Herron said. “Plus, every region has a predominance of particular brands. You see different cars in Detroit than you do in California, for example. So, it’s important for us to pull technicians from different markets to accommodate our shops in those areas. You can take care of it locally and do an OEM diagnostic without help if you choose.”

technicians at our call centers, that are accessible and ready to assist you and your shop with explanations of the codes presented and the requirements needed to address the repair and what’s going to need to be calibrated.

“We help guide them down a

ADAS isn’t slowing down any time soon and OPUS IVS plans to be there every step of the way. MSOs and independents all over the world are embracing this company’s way of diagnosing today’s vehicles and as a result, Opus IVS will undoubtedly continue to grow.

CEO Brian Herron, left, and Global Sales Leader Bill O’Brien, right, at Opus IVS help shops repair complex vehicles fast with their diagnostics, programming and live repair guidance from OEM brand-specific master technicians

Opus IVS is performing 9,000 scans every day

“Our ability to go from the UK, Canada, Australia and perform a review of the mechanical and collision repair-related programming in Dexter, MI, is a huge plus for the industry. Our strong support network coupled with our industry awarded solutions can guide our customers through every aspect of that repair and ensure the programming and calibration is done right the first time.”

BILL O’BRIEN OPUS IVS GLOBAL SALES LEADER

Weakest Link

nearly three-quarters of those whose repairs were required due to crash damage said they had issues with the technology after repair.

In contrast, fewer than half of owners who had repairs done for other reasons—like a recall or service bulletin from the automaker—faced problems afterward.

Mueller said since the survey is self-reported, the results only point to where issues might be.

“We don’t really know how big this problem is in the registered fleet as a whole,” she said.

Dealership vs. Independent Repairer

People who had taken their vehicle to an independent repairer reported more problems than those who had gone to a dealership service center. For example, among people whose vehicles had front crash prevention features repaired, 46% who went to a dealership reported issues, compared to 70% of people who had gone to an independent repairer.

Those whose vehicles had blind spot monitoring and cameras reported similar rates of problems

after going to a dealership or an independent repairer.

Mueller said this result was not surprising.

“A dealership service center specializes in their automaker; they have specific training and tools and the space required to do calibrations properly,” Mueller said. “A lot of independent repair shops are just not that large.”

Even people who went to dealerships for repairs still had issues, Mueller said.

“It’s a concern that many said recalibration was performed, if they had the repair done for damage,” she said. “It seems calibration is the weakest link here. We are seeing repairers having difficulty implementing the instructions and specifications set by automaker to calibrate these systems.”

Some people reported the original ADAS issue was resolved, but a new one started. However, the survey didn’t go into detail about what those issues are, Mueller said. The survey also did not ask what issues exactly people were experiencing postrepair—they may be safety related, or they may just be an annoyance, like false alarms.

“We just know people are reporting the systems are not working the way they should be,” Mueller said. “This

AASP-MN To Hold Annual Meeting & Leadership Conference

The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Minnesota (AASP-MN) is pleased to announce its 2023 Annual Meeting & Leadership Conference, “New Perspectives,” is scheduled for April 4-5 at Minneapolis Marriott Northwest, Brooklyn Park, MN.

The 1.5-day event will feature seminars, workshops and networking opportunities to provide attendees new perspectives on the way they do business.

Here’s what’s planned:

Tuesday, April 4

Noon–5 p.m. Registration open

1 p.m.–4 p.m. Off-site ADAS calibration center tour with Q&A, LaMettry’s Calibration Center, Bloomington, guided by Darrell Amberson and LaMettry’s team experts

1–4 p.m. “Writing and Negotiating Estimates from a Minnesota Expert,” presented by Josh Shaw, Shannon’s Auto Body

1–4 p.m. “Six Steps to Skyrocketing Your Bottom Line,” presented by Rick White, 180BIZ

6–8 p.m. Off-site Topgolf event, Brooklyn Center

Wednesday, April 5

7–11 a.m. Registration open

7:30–8 a.m. Coffee with vendors

8–9 a.m. Opening keynote: “The Champion’s Code, Part 1,” presented by Ross Bernstein

9–9:30 a.m. “State of the Industry Report,” presented by AASP-MN Executive Director Linden Wicklund

9:45–11:30 a.m. Round table discussions (Attendees will participate in three topics for 30 minutes each)

11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

Lunch, annual meeting, special presentation: “The Why Behind Safe & Proper Repairs” by Marcia Seebachan, and vendor showcase

1:45–2:45 p.m. Breakout sessions

2:45–3:45 p.m. Breakout sessions

3:50 – 5:30 pm Closing keynote: “The Champion’s Code, Part 2,” presented by Ross Bernstein, vendor showcase and reception and grand prize giveaway

For AASP-MN Annual Meeting & Leadership Conference registration information, visit https://aaspmn. org/annual-meeting/ or contact the AASP-MN office at 612-623-1110.

Source: AASP-MN

study was to highlight if there are areas of concern that we need to start paying attention to, and the study results show that yes, there are.”

One reassuring finding, Mueller said, was that survey respondents said despite the post-repair issues, the overwhelming majority said they would still buy another car with the same ADAS features.

“These features have safety benefits,” Mueller said. “The data are unequivocal, and show these systems help prevent crashes and reduce the severity if they do get in one. Even though many were complaining about issues after repairs, they still want the technology, they still see the value of the technology.

“This is so important—we need to see this technology rolled out to reduce a very serious public health issue with respect to traffic safety,” she said.

Takeaways

Mueller said the survey’s main conclusion is the general repair process is becoming more complicated, and it is affecting consumers and their vehicles once they return to the road.

If repair issues become more common and the industry cannot resolve them, it will create

inconvenience that could undermine consumer confidence in the technology.

“We have to get the repair process more refined to start resolving these issues, again because of the safety potential of these technologies,” Mueller said.

The IIHS is planning future studies to fully understand the scale and severity of the issues reported in this first study.

Meanwhile, Mueller said, automakers can help by making vehicles easier to repair, and by simplifying and establishing centralized databases that contain repair and calibration information so technicians can access it, whether they are in a dealership service center or an independent shop.

Self-diagnostic communication strategies—like those used by the tire pressure monitoring systems common in vehicles— could be used for ADAS features, to tell a repairer or driver something is not right.

“We need to help facilitate the repair process and support consumer confidence in these technologies, because most people get a vehicle repaired at some point in their life, and we want to make sure consumer confidence remains high in these very important technologies,” Mueller said.

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Stellantis Announces $155 Million Investment in 3 Indiana Plants

Stellantis announced Feb. 28 it will invest a total of $155 million in three Kokomo, IN, plants to produce new electric drive modules (EDM) that will help power future electric vehicles assembled in North America and to support the goal of 50% battery-electric sales in the U.S. by 2030.

With more than 25 batteryelectric vehicle (BEV) launches planned in the U.S. between now and 2030, the Kokomo-built EDM will be integrated into vehicles designed on the STLA Large and STLA Frame platforms.

Offering an all-in-one solution for electric-vehicle powertrains, the EDM consists of three main components—the electric motor, power electronics and transmission—that are combined into a single module to deliver improved performance and range at a competitive cost. The optimized efficiency of the new EDM will help each platform achieve driving range up to 500 miles.

“While we continue our successful transition to a decarbonized future in our

European operations, we are now setting those same foundational elements for the North American market,” said Carlos Tavares, Stellantis CEO. “By combining the benefits of the EDM with our new BEV-centric platforms and innovative battery technologies, we will offer our customers a variety of electric vehicles with unparalleled performance and range at more affordable prices. And with our inhouse manufacturing capabilities and expertise, we will do it with greater flexibility and efficiency.”

Investments will be made at the Indiana Transmission, Kokomo Transmission and Kokomo Casting plants. The gearbox cover will be cast at Kokomo Casting and machined at Kokomo Transmission. Gear machining and final assembly will be at the Indiana Transmission Plant. Production is expected to start in the third quarter of 2024, following retooling.

With the investment, more than 265 jobs will be retained across all three plants.

“With more than 7,000 employees in Indiana, these investments will leverage the core

manufacturing competencies of the local workforce in the areas of casting, machining and assembly, all of which will be needed even as the market transitions to an electrified future,” said Mark Stewart, Stellantis North America COO. “The city of Kokomo and the state of Indiana have been great partners for many years. This community will continue to play a central role in our efforts to provide safe, clean and affordable mobility solutions for our customers long into the future.”

Since 2020, Stellantis has invested nearly $3.3 billion in Indiana to support its transition to electrification. This includes recent announcements of $643 million to produce a new engine for conventional and PHEV applications, a next-generation eight-speed transmission and a gigafactory joint venture with Samsung SDI.

In total, these investments support Stellantis’ ambition to achieve net-zero carbon by 2038, as set out in its Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan.

Source: Stellantis

Anderson To Keynote PBES Conference

The Auto Care Association on March 15 announced Mike Anderson of Collision Advice as the keynote for the PBES Conference to be held May 23-24 during the 2023 Auto Care Connect event at the Hyatt Regency Orlando in Orlando, FL.

At the 2023 PBES Conference, Anderson will share updates on the current paint, body and equipment (PBE) industry landscape and also reveal and analyze fresh survey results from the award winning survey “Who Pays for What?,” distributed quarterly to an audience of more than 25,000 collision professionals. In recent surveys, Anderson and his team asked collision shops their views on the current distribution market and what their motivators are for selecting their manufacturers, suppliers and paint lines.

Auto Care Connect is the premier event for leaders of the auto care industry to engage and collaborate for an elevated industry experience. To learn more about 2023 Auto Care Connect, its sessions and to register, visit autocare.org/connect.

Source: Auto Care Association

U.S.

Starts $2.5B Funding Program To Develop EV Charging Infrastructure

By Dan Mihalascu InsideEVs

The White House opened applications March 14 for a $2.5 billion funding program to expand EV charging and alternative fueling infrastructure in America’s urban and rural communities.

Created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed in 2021, the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) program provides $2.5 billion over five years to eligible applicants, which include states, cities, local agencies and tribes. The first round makes available up to $700 million from fiscal years 2022 and 2023 funding to strategically deploy publicly accessible EV chargers and hydrogen, propane or natural gas fueling infrastructure in urban and rural communities, as well as along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs).

The EV chargers and alternative fueling infrastructure will be placed along designated highways, interstates and major roadways, as well as in downtown areas and

neighborhoods, particularly in underserved and disadvantaged communities. The grant funding is divided into two categories: a $1.25 billion community program for EV charging and alternative fueling infrastructure built on any public road or other publicly accessible locations such as schools or parks, and a $1.25 billion corridor program for projects along designated alternative fuel corridors. Applications are due May 30 for both categories. The CFI Discretionary Grant Program builds on an additional $5 billion provided to states over the next five years through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program and is designed to fill in EV charging gaps to achieve President Joe Biden’s vision of a cross-country road trip compatible with EVs.

The Biden administration said the funding opportunity is a “key step” toward achieving the goal of building a national network of 500,000 public EV charging stations. At least 40% of the grant program’s benefits will go to disadvantaged communities, particularly rural and tribal.

Average MI-Based BlueOval Factory Wage Anticipated At $45,136

By Scott McClallen The Center Square

Should Michigan taxpayers foot $700,000 per job created for 2,500 jobs at the new Ford factory that will pay an average wage of $45,136?

That’s the question Michigan lawmakers will soon decide for the BlueOval Battery Park in Marshall.

The $3.5 billion factory aims to drop the cost of electric vehicles via lithium iron phosphate batteries and pump out 2 million vehicles globally by 2026. The factory will be funded by at least $1 billion in taxpayer funds. The state asked for another $750 million to prep the site, bringing the total taxpayer cost to $1.75 billion.

Only 90 new jobs would be created in 2023—60 technical jobs and 30 managerial jobs. The plant expects to create 2,500 jobs in year three when the average wage would be $45,136 across managers, craftsmen, technical and professional workers.

In a news release celebrating the deal, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said the investment would create “2,500 good-paying jobs” that will build Michigan’s economic momentum.

Michael LaFaive, a policy director

of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, cited an Upjohn Institute for Employment Research study that concluded between 75% and 98% of all subsidized investments would have happened without the subsidy.

“That means in a best case scenario the majority of corporations receive a form of windfall profits courtesy of taxpayers,” LaFaive wrote in an email.

“Rather than directing precious resources toward large firms the state should just let all businesses and people keep more of what they earned,” LaFaive wrote. “We’d all be better off with an across-the-board income tax cut or better transportation system than with another publicly subsidized, for-profit corporation.”

Only 25,181 electric vehicles are registered in Michigan. This Ford plant aims to drop the average cost of EVs from $65,291, according to Kelley Blue Book as of September 2022.

Meanwhile, the average price for a gas-powered vehicle was $48,100. Moreover, many used gas-powered cars cost between $5,000 and $15,000.

The $750 million in additional funding would include $330 million to the Michigan Department

GM To Halt Truck Production

By Steven Symes Motorious

It’s not uncommon for automakers to engage in practices to control dealer inventories, but General Motors’ recent decision to stop production at its Indiana truck plant is dramatic.

Quite a few people were caught off guard by the move to idle Fort Wayne Assembly for two weeks, starting March 27. Some have erroneously concluded this is GM trying to keep inventories low so it and dealers can keep raking in big profits, but the truth is far different.

The reality is truck inventories at Chevrolet and GMC dealers are starting to pile up as demand softens. That turn of the market has shocked many, since just a year ago trucks were king, with bloated sales prices which more often than not punched well above MSRP.

After shopper demand surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, the party has come

Deadline March 31

of Transportation for road improvements; $224 million for pad-ready site improvements; $100 million for water and wastewater improvements; and $75 million for land acquisition. Other projected spending includes $15 million for Norfolk Southern rail improvements; $5 million for building inspections; and $300,000 to fund fiber optics.

Rep. Donni Steele, R-Orion Township, said $1.75 billion of taxpayer money could be spent better to benefit all taxpayers.

“It’s time to utilize state resources in a capacity that benefits all Michigan residents---such as fixing crumbling roads and bridges in communities throughout our state,” Steele said in a statement. “These hundreds of millions of dollars should be used to proactively bolster Michigan’s future, instead of continuing to fund reactionary pet projects.”

Ford Motor Company hasn’t yet responded to a request for comment.

Michigan economic development representatives and Marshall City Manager Derek Perry say the factory will be key in creating jobs in an area that’s lost 2,000 jobs over the last 20 years.

The winter registration deadline for the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) testing and recertification is March 31.

Those service professionals registering by the deadline will have 90 days to schedule an appointment to take their selected ASE tests.

ASE now offers three options for taking certification or recertification tests.

In-person testing is available throughout the year and is conducted days, nights and weekends at more than 450 secured, proctored Prometric test centers. Those with unexpired automobile certifications (A1-A9) can use the ASE renewal app for recertification. ASE also offers ProProctor remote testing as an online recertification solution for all ASE recertifications tests, excluding L1 and L2 tests.

To register and select an available option to take selected ASE certification tests, visit ASE. com by March 31.

Source: ASE

to an abrupt halt. Interest rates continue to climb, inflation has pinched everyone and people no longer are eager to shell out big money for a new truck or much of anything that isn’t absolutely necessary.

In other words, all the talk about 2023 not being a rocky year for the auto market is ringing increasingly hollow. As shoppers’ ability to borrow money is diminished and everyone has less expendable income than they did even a year ago, automakers are looking at some lean times ahead.

Before you think this is just a GM problem, Cox Automotive provided inventory data to Reuters that confirms Ford and Ram are struggling as well.

While the Detroit Three try keeping dealer inventories lower than they were in 2019, this market downturn is throwing a monkey wrench in that scheme. For anyone who can afford to buy a new truck in the coming months, they will have far more negotiating power than during the height of pandemic.

Chicago Fastest Growing City in U.S. For Auto Thefts

By Glenn Minnis The Center Square

The city of Chicago easily outpaced the rest of the country as the fastest growing city for auto thefts in 2022, with larcenies rising by 55%.

With such acts of vandalism on the rise across the country as part of an ongoing pandemic-fueled outbreak, a new National Insurance Crime Bureau (NCIB) annual study found Illinois had the largest percentage increase among larger states at 35%.

“Over 1 million vehicles were stolen nationwide in 2022,” NCIB President and CEO David Glawe told The Center Square. “States that saw the largest increase in vehicle thefts were Illinois, Washington and New York. There is little deterrence with vehicle thefts treated as property crimes. Organized gangs and juveniles steal vehicles and use them to facilitate other crimes. To stop this lawless behavior, we must re-invest in our law enforcement partners, support community engagement and policing programs and implement successful early intervention programs for at-risk

youth.”

Across the country, thefts were up 7%, pushing the number of stolen vehicles over 1 million for the first time in more than 15 years. Overall, including carjackings, Chicago had 21,516 reported auto thefts over the year, up by nearly 8,000 from 13,856 the previous year.

ASE Instructor Conference Set For July

same period in 2022.

At the same time, overall motor vehicle thefts are sharply up over the first two-plus months of this year, with 5,375 reports of stolen vehicles through March 5, a 138% increase, according to Chicago Police Department crime statistics.

“Vehicle crime is certainly still a major issue across the nation and while there are many reasons for this, NICB data does not point to one specific reason,” staffers at the Des Plaines-based organization added. “We know that criminals steal vehicles to commit other crimes, sometimes vehicles end up in chop shops, get shipped overseas, or cross the border into Mexico.”

The 2023 ASE Instructor Training Conference is scheduled for July 17-20 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Concord, NC, just outside of Charlotte.

Hosted by the ASE Education Foundation, the conference will host hundreds of high school and college instructors from auto, truck and collision repair programs nationwide at the premier national training event of the year.

As part of its campaign to stem the tide, the Chicago Police Department over the past several months has instituted an expanded vehicular hijacking task force. Through February, there were 232 reported carjackings across the city this year, a 23% decline over the

Tesla Confirms Switch To 48 Volt System

By Mark Kane InsideEVs

Tesla is moving forward with applying improvements to the low-voltage system of its electric vehicles, which was operating at roughly 12 volts, the same as in the vast majority of other cars

During the recent 2023 Investor Day, Tesla representatives confirmed the intention to introduce a 48V system, still a rare solution in the automotive industry.

The first step for Tesla was the switch from 12V lead-acid auxiliary batteries to 12V lithiumion auxiliary batteries, announced in February 2021, and initially launched in the refreshed Tesla Model S/Model X and later in the Model 3/Model Y.

According to Tesla, the old leadacid batteries were a major source of failures in Tesla cars, and they needed a replacement about every four years. The new lithium-ion batteries are expected to withstand the lifetime of the car—just like the main traction battery—so there should be no replacement needed.

That’s the obvious

improvement, on top of which comes a smaller size and 87% reduction in weight.

Tesla said starting with the Cybertruck—starting production this year—the Optimus robot and all future EVs, the 48V low-voltage system will be used.

For reference, the automotive industry moved from 6V to 12V in the 1960s; currently smaller vehicles might still use 6V, while larger vehicles use 24V.

Tesla will use a 48V system because it will reduce the current by a factor of four, compared to 12V systems. This voltage level is still considered safe.

The increase in voltage is a necessity as power demand for onboard electrical devices steadily increases and at 12V, the wires are becoming thick, heavy and costly.

With a 48V system, there will be noticeable weight and cost savings, while at the same time, efficiency might increase.

That’s an interesting change, which will also require a new 48V lithium-ion auxiliary battery, which, in the case of Tesla, might be produced in-house.

Glawe added at least part of the epidemic can be traced to supply chain issues that have made used cars more valuable and the job of upkeep for them more costly. Over the last 36 months alone, catalytic converter thefts have jumped by 1,200% and a recent study by online auto search site iSeeCars details that in Illinois, the average price of a used car now tops $35,000.

Offering more than 20 hours of technical update training, the in-person conference will provide separate tracks for auto, medium/heavy truck and collision repair instructors. The cost for instructors from ASEaccredited programs is $600 per person while the cost for instructors from non-accredited programs is $700 each.

For more information or to register, visit aseeducationfoundation.org/ events/ase-instructor-trainingconference.

Source: ASE

Kelly BMW

Phone: 614.47 1. 2277

Parts Direct: 614.337.3090

©2023 BMW of North America, LLC. The BMW name, model names and logo are registered trademarks.

By Scott McClallen The Center Square

A report from Public Sector Consultants concluded Michigan has a $3.9 billion annual funding shortfall to fix roads and bridges.

At a press conference March 7, leaders from Michigan’s roadbuilding industry and business community gathered to share their reactions to the new report.

“This report makes it crystal clear that it’s time to take our infrastructure funding crisis seriously,” said Rob Coppersmith, executive vice president of the Michigan Infrastructure & Transportation Association. “The data speaks for itself. Michigan faces an annual funding shortfall of $3.9 billion, and that is even with the funding from the governor’s bonding program and the federal infrastructure plan dollars included. There will be a day coming in the not-too-distant future when those funds will dry up, but our need will only continue to grow.”

The PSC report examined the overall cost of maintaining Michigan’s road network, the current road funding estimates, the

revenue sources for funding roads, and the potential options for raising additional revenue to close the funding gap.

“Michigan’s prosperity, competitiveness and quality of life depend on modern, reliable infrastructure,” said President & CEO of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce Jim Holcomb. “This infrastructure is what connects us, allows our businesses and our economy to grow and thrive, and creates countless opportunities for our communities and families. The time is now for a bipartisan, longterm strategy with solutions and investments that improve our roads and bridges. We can’t afford to wait.”

In 2016, a state commission estimated Michigan needed to invest an additional $2.2 billion in roads and bridges annually. This report found Michigan’s transportation system needs are higher than previous estimates and that spending to maintain and rehabilitate roads is more costeffective than waiting until a lane mile has reached the end of its design life when reconstruction becomes the only option.

Additionally, MDOT assessments of Michigan road conditions show 33% of all federal-aid roads and 45% of non-federal-aid roads are in poor condition and should be reconstructed in the next two years. The report found reconstruction is five to eight times more expensive per lane mile than preventative maintenance.

“The motoring public has suffered enough,” said Association of Michigan Deputy and Legislative Director Ed Noyola. “With the infusion of electric vehicles, now more than ever, it’s time for our legislative leaders to focus on long-term transportation funding, including a pilot mileage-based tax that will move Michigan toward a new and fair system of revenue collection for EVs.”

The report suggested four revenue options to fix the roads.

* Increase the motor fuel tax

* Increase the motor fuel tax and assess the motor fuel tax on a per-dollar basis so that taxes and tax revenue increase (or decrease) when the price increases (or decreases)

* Increase and change the

apportionment of the sales tax for transportation

* Allow local governments to charge their own sales taxes to meet specific needs like transportation

In 2017, Michigan’s gas tax increased slightly to $.263 per gallon for both gas and diesel, increasing the total motor fuel tax revenue by 34.3%, or $347.2 million. Additionally, Michigan will receive a one-time funding allocation of $7.3 billion from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the 2019 Rebuilding Michigan Program provided $3.5 billion in one-time bond funding for state and federal roads.

However, these are one-time funds and are restricted to fixing certain roads. These leaders say the state needs continual investments. Even if Michigan spends its $9 billion surplus to fix the roads, it would only fund about two years of road funding, according to this report.

In 2019, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pitched a 45-cent gas tax hike to fix the roads, which lawmakers rejected.

Director of Digital Products

The Auto Care Association on Feb. 22 announced the addition of David Logan as its new director of digital products.

Logan will lead Auto Care’s ongoing development and maintenance of the product suite. In addition, he will collaborate with stakeholders to develop product roadmaps and determine which technology is needed to achieve the vision.

Logan is a seasoned professional with more than two decades of experience in the automotive aftermarket industry. Throughout his career, he has held a variety of leadership positions in product management and catalog direction. He has a proven track record of success working with top brands in the industry, including FEL-PRO, Sealed Power, Raybestos, TRICO, Carter, FRAM and Victor-Reinz.

Logan has worked for renowned organizations such as DANA Corp., Federal-Mogul and First Brands Group, serving automotive retailers, wholesalers and independent customers throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Source: Auto Care Association

21st Annual AASP-MN Race For Automotive Education Raises $14,000+ For Student Scholarships

The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Minnesota (AASP-MN) held its 21st annual Race for Automotive Education, Jan. 23-26 at ProKart Indoor Racing in Burnsville, MN.

The event raised more than $14,000 to support the alliance’s Automotive Education Fund and will fund scholarships for automotive students enrolled in ASE-accredited auto service and collision repair programs in Minnesota’s technical colleges.

During the four nights of racing, 40 teams comprised of 195 racers from auto service and collision repair shops and industry suppliers took to the track in go-karts reaching speeds of up to 40 mph. Many spectators were also on hand to cheer on their team.

Trophies were awarded to the first place and runner-up teams each night. They were:

Monday, Jan. 23

• First: Fairway Collision &

Mechanical, Vadnais Heights

• Runner-up: Collision Specialists Inc., Red Team (CSI Green came in third), Austin

Tuesday, Jan. 24 (student night)

• First: DCTC Team No. 1, Rosemount

• Runner-up: DCTC Team No. 2, Rosemount

Wednesday, Jan. 25

• First: Wenzel Auto Electric, Mankato

• Runner-up: LaMettry’s Collision, Minnetonka

Thursday, Jan. 26

• First: Suburban Chevrolet, Eden Prairie

• Runner-up: Heppner’s Team No. 3, St. Paul

In addition to the 40 race teams, this event was supported by 1Collision Network, 3M, Auto Value/Benco Equipment, CBIZ, Dentsmart PDR, FinishMaster, Justice Brothers Car Care

Products, LKQ-Minnesota, LubeTech & Partners and United Fire Group.

New this year, AASP-MN will be awarding prizes at the Annual Meeting & Leadership Conference on April 5 to the top team of the week and other notable race accomplishments.

The Automotive Education Fund was established in 2002 to provide financial resources to support automotive students, enhance automotive programs and raise awareness of career opportunities in the automotive service industry. Since its inception, nearly $310,000 has been invested in student scholarships, SkillsUSA and automotive education programs throughout the state.

For more information, visit www.aaspmn.org or call the alliance office at 612-623-1110.

Source: AASP-MN

Up To 153,000 Catalytic Converters Stolen in 2022

Recent media reports vastly undercounted catalytic converter thefts in the U.S., new CARFAX data shows. Thieves removed the devices from as many as 153,000 vehicles in the U.S. in 2022, far more than earlier estimates.

CARFAX data scientists reviewed catalytic converter replacements from millions of service and maintenance records to arrive at this number.

Thieves are committing “opportunistic crimes,” said Sgt. Matt Casavant with the Maine State Police. “Parking lots—even ones that were well lit—were getting hit. Car dealerships are getting hit on a regular basis, too. The thieves were so brazen that it didn’t matter. My kid drives a Subaru and I won’t let her leave her car overnight at the school or other places because it’s a highvalue target.”

Criminals steal catalytic converters because of the precious metals—platinum, palladium and rhodium—contained inside each device. Thieves can cut them from beneath vehicles in a matter of seconds, leading to a rude

awakening for vehicle owners. Once the converter is removed, not only will the car make a loud noise when started, but it can cost owners thousands of dollars to replace that missing catalytic converter—especially if consumers don’t have the right type of car insurance.

9. Toyota Tacoma

10. Chevrolet Cruze

Depending on where you’re located in the country, certain vehicles are targeted more heavily. Car owners looking to prevent catalytic converter theft should:

• Park in a well-lit area.

• Park in your garage if possible, instead of in the driveway or on the street.

• If you must park in a driveway, consider installing motion sensor security lights.

• Install a catalytic converter antitheft device.

Opus IVS (Intelligent Vehicle Support) has joined CIECA as a corporate member. Established in 2020, the company focuses on helping the vehicle maintenance and collision industry safely repair and maintain complex vehicles through OEM-approved diagnostic tools, remote services and live repair assistance.

CARFAX has compiled a nationwide list of the top 2022 targets for these precious-metal thieves:

1. Ford F-Series pickup trucks

2. Honda Accord

3. Toyota Prius

4. Honda CR-V

5. Ford Explorer

6. Ford Econoline vans

7. Chevrolet Equinox

8. Chevrolet Silverado

• Have a muffler shop etch your vehicle’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the converter and spray it with a highly visible, high-heat paint. Doing so enables law enforcement to track converters, which in turn could lead police to the thieves.

Gone in 66 seconds: See video of a catalytic converter being removed from a vehicle: https:// www.carfax.com/press/videogallery

Source: CARFAX

Opus IVS was formed from a consortium of companies, including Drew Technologies, Autologic, AutoEnginuity, Farsight, Bluelink and Auto Techcelerators. The earliest, Drew Technologies, was established in 1996.

Approximately 400 employees work for Opus IVS in seven offices spread over three continents. The company is a part of Opus Group, a global inspection company with more than 2,700 employees worldwide. Opus Group’s largest owner is Searchlight Capital.

Opus IVS learned about CIECA through the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) and other organizations and personnel.

Source: CIECA

Michigan Says It Needs $750M More For Ford Battery Site

By Scott McClallen The Center Square

Michigan says it needs $750 million more from taxpayers to prep the site for Ford Motor Company’s $3.5 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Marshall. Taxpayers are already footing $1 billion for the factory, dubbed “Project Hickory,” that Ford says will create 2,500 jobs. Economic development officials said “not a cent” of the $750 million would go to Ford, but would instead fund site readiness.

The $750 million includes $330 million to the Michigan Department of Transportation for road improvements, $224 million for pad-ready site improvements, $100 million for water and wastewater improvements and $75 million for land acquisition. Other projected spending includes $15 million for Norfolk Southern rail improvements, $5 million for building inspections and $300,000 to fund fiber optics.

The cost breakdown was included in documents distributed at the Feb. 22 House Appropriations Committee hearing.  Ford said the factory is key to delivering an annual run rate of

ARA Updates Strategic Plan

The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) on March 13 announced an update to its strategic plan, representing a direction that will guide current and future work. The plan was adopted by the ARA Board of Directors on March 8.

ARA’s strategic plan is grounded in the association’s mission to advance the automotive recycling industry and promote its beneficial effects on society. The plan identifies four strategic initiatives that are the means through which ARA plans to translate its vision into practice. The initiatives focus on partnerships and branding, data, advocacy and education/ certification/compliance. Each of the four initiatives outlines a series of objectives which describe how ARA plans to commit its resources and how future success will be measured.

“This plan is a representation of ARA as the eyes, ears and voice of the professional automotive recycling industry,” said ARA Executive Director Sandy Blalock Source: ARA

600,000 electric vehicles globally by the end of this year and 2 million globally by the end of 2026.

Currently, Michigan has 25,181 EVs registered statewide. Cost is one major barrier to adoption. According to Kelley Blue Book, the average price of an electric car in September 2022 was $65,291. Meanwhile, the average price for a gas-powered vehicle was $48,100. Moreover, many used gas-powered cars cost between $5,000 and $15,000.

Ford’s BlueOval factory aims to make lithium iron phosphate batteries in the U.S.  Chris Smith, Ford’s chief government affairs officer, said CATL, a Chinese company, was only a technical service provider for the plant and rejected claims that CATL would receive taxpayer money.

“The government of China has no role in the project and no tax dollars will go to the company licensing that technology,” Smith said.

However, Smith couldn’t provide the contract between Ford and CATL, saying it was still under negotiations.

Rep. Andrew Fink, R-Hillsdale, said Chinese law requires “all Chinese companies to cooperate with the intelligence gathering operations

of the Chinese government, which is wholly controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.”

“I think we can’t talk about this seriously by saying, well, they’re not going to be a direct recipient,” Fink said. “What is the real substantive reason that we shouldn’t be concerned about the presence of an entity that is legally subject to the control of the CCP, according to the laws of their own country?”

Rep. Rachel Hood, D-Grand Rapids, said the proposed jobs would only pay between $20-$40 an hour, which is “barely a living wage job” to support a family.

Marshall City Manager Derek Perry supports the plant. He said the project could bring 2,500 jobs to a region that’s lost 2,000 jobs in 20 years. Perry said the Ford investment is “critical” in reversing that trend.

Michigan Economic Development Corporation CEO Quentin Messer Jr. said the project’s goal is to grow Michigan’s population and the tax base. Smith said Ford plans to recycle EV batteries to extract minerals from used batteries.

“A battery that is at end-of-life still has a lot of value,” Smith said.

2023 World Class Technicians Announced

The Auto Care Association announced the latest recipients of the World Class Technician Award in partnership with the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).

The two organizations provide this annual recognition to professional technicians who have attained ASE certification in 22 specific areas during the previous calendar year.

There are an estimated 887,000 technicians in the U.S., with approximately 250,000 holding ASE certification. As of now, there are 2,224 technicians who have earned the respected status of “World Class Technician” since its inception more than 30 years ago.

For more information about the Auto Care Association’s World Class Technician certification qualifications, timing and recognition, visit www. autocare.org/networkingand-development/awardsand-scholarships/world-classtechnician

Source: Auto Care Association

Dealers Below Are Mercedes-Benz Genuine Par ts Specialists:

WIN Announces 2023 Most Influential Women Award Recipients

In celebration of 2023 International Women’s Day on March 8, The Women’s Industry Network (WIN) announced the recipients of its 2023 Most Influential Women (MIW) awards, honoring women whose career achievements have enhanced the collision repair industry. Six remarkable women will be recognized as new MIWs this year at a gala held during WIN’s 2023 Annual Conference May 1-3 in San Antonio, TX. The Most Influential Women award was established in 1999 to recognize women whose leadership, vision and commitment to excellence have enriched the collision repair industry. With the addition of this year’s MIWs, more than 100 women have been recognized by WIN for their contributions to the collision repair industry. Winners are chosen by an independent selection committee comprised of industry professionals, which reviews nominees and selects award recipients based on established criteria, such as industry influence, professional accomplishments, mentorship and community service.

The winners of the 2023 MIW awards are:

• Traci Calkins, regional sales manager, PPG

• April Lausch, collision center manager, Faulkner Collision Center of Lancaster

• Lakeitria Luter, director, Service King/Crash Champions

• Yohanna Peet, training program manager, Caliber

• Jaime Shewbridge, welding instructor, I-CAR

• Sabrina Thring, chief operation officer, Driven Brands

“Through their dedication to excellence, commitment to community and investment in the future through their willingness to mentor other women, these six extraordinary ladies have made a huge impact on the collision repair industry,” said Jenny Anderson, WIN immediate past chairperson and 2023 committee chair of MIW. “Their exemplary journeys show all women that anything is possible when you put in the work.”

“These industry professionals serve as shining examples of the array of opportunities that are available in collision repair, as well as testaments to the positive impact that women can have in this and all

other fields,” added Rachel Hinson, MIW committee co-chair. “WIN is excited to recognize six amazing women with MIW awards this year. We can’t wait to celebrate you at this year’s conference!”

Registration is now open for the Women’s Industry Network (WIN) 2023 Educational Conference. This year’s conference, under the theme of “Reimagining Tomorrow,” will be held May 1-3 at the WESTIN San Antonio Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX.

Conference attendees will experience three days of industry learning, mentorship, celebration and community giveback. They will celebrate women in collision repair by acknowledging new scholarships, take part in scholarship fundraising, and honoring this year’s Most Influential Women recipients. For those not able to attend in person, there is also a hybrid online version available. To register for the conference and view the agenda, visit thewomensindustrynetwork. site-ym.com/page/Conference

For more information on WIN, visit thewomensindustrynetwork.site-ym. com/

Source: WIN

Crash Champions Appoints Board Member

Crash Champions, LLC, announced Feb. 27 the appointment of Tom Feeney to its Board of Directors.

Feeney has more than 45 years of leadership experience primarily in the automotive services industry, having most recently served as the president and CEO of Safelite Group®, a multi-faceted vehicle glass and claims management service. During his 14-year tenure as president and CEO, he was responsible for significant growth of the business and a threefold increase in the number of associates.

In recognition of his 35 years of service and contributions to establishing the company’s vision and brand, Feeney was named chairman emeritus.

Today, Crash Champions operates a leading network of high-quality collision repair centers serving customers and business partners in 36 states and the District of Columbia.

Source: Crash Champions

Clays For Careers To Fundraise For Local Collision Repair Education Programs

Get ready to aim, shoot, and make a difference at the upcoming Clays for Careers presented by Schaefer Autobody Centers.

This exciting sporting clays shooting tournament is set for April 25 in Lonedell, MO, at Top Gun Sportsman’s Club. All tournament proceeds will go to local technical schools’ automotive and collision repair programs.

Whether you’re an experienced shooter or a first-timer, this inaugural event promises to be a fun and rewarding way to further careers in the automotive and collision repair trades.

The Clays for Careers tournament features two 60-person flights competing at 14 shooting stations. Start times are set at 8:30 and 10 a.m., with a mandatory safety briefing. Prizes will be awarded to the top fourperson team in each flight.

The entry fee is $150 per shooter and includes the shoot entry, safety glasses, ear protection, 100 clay birds, a two-person golf cart and a catered lunch. Shooters may sign

up on the event website, www. claysforcareers.org, while spots remain. You must bring a shotgun and ammunition; 125-150 shells are recommended.

With more Americans on the road than ever before, careers in the automotive and collision trades are in demand nationwide. Thankfully, there are excellent vocational-technical schools in the St. Louis Metro Area ready to prepare young people for these rewarding careers. All Clays for Careers proceeds will be donated to the automotive and collision repair programs at Lewis & Clark Career Center, North County Tech, Ranken Technical College and South County Tech.

Clays for Careers is also a great opportunity for local businesses, auto related or otherwise, to get brand exposure, boost community involvement and network with insurance and auto- and collision-related professionals. Sponsorships include perks such as premium promotion and free entries, with investments ranging

Ford Confirms F-150 Lightning Production Resumes Following Battery Fire

By Joey Klender Teslarati

Ford confirmed March 13 that production of the F-150 Lightning all-electric pickup restarted that morning at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center (REVC) following a shutdown due to a battery fire.

inspection. Ford said the root cause of the fire was identified soon after.

Ford worked with battery supplier SK On to refine the engineering of battery cells, where the fire’s cause was pinpointed. SK On recommended a series of changes to its battery cells, and Ford agreed, which then allowed the supplier to restart production at its plant in Commerce, GA.

Ford F-150 Lightning units already at dealerships were unaffected and were allowed to be sold to consumers, the company confirmed.

from Event Sponsor for $4,000, Lunch Sponsor for $3,000, Golf Cart Sponsor for $2,500, Scorecard Sponsor for $1,500, Station Sponsor for $500 and Friends of Clays for Careers for $250.

Visit www.claysforcareers.org to support a worthy cause while also providing a variety of benefits for your business or organization.

Source: Schaefer Autobody Centers

Classic Collision has joined CIECA as a corporate member. Based in Atlanta, GA, the company was established in 1983 with a single goal: to offer quality service to its customers with integrity and honesty.

Kayla Clark , Classic Collision’s vice president of business development, said the company is one of the largest privately held national providers of auto body repair services, with 213 repair facilities in 15 states across the U.S. Classic Collision holds numerous manufacturer certifications and factorydirect training.

“For almost 40 years, the company has put customer satisfaction first in all we do,” said Clark. “We are proud to provide high-quality auto body repairs with properly trained technicians and the appropriate equipment.”

Source: CIECA

Collision Parts

Ford CEO Jim Farley shared images of F-150 Lightning production lines, stating, “This is the engineering standard we aim to deliver consistently.”

In February, Ford shut down production and shipment of the F-150 Lightning after a battery fire occurred in one unit during a quality

In early March, the company recalled 18 units of the pickup, which stemmed from the battery cell issue. Ford said it recalled the units due to “a battery cell manufacturing defect” that occurred over a four-week period at the end of 2022.

No injuries or accidents occurred that Ford was aware of, and the automaker said it had “a clean stock of battery packs” for the March 13 restart of production.

Ford CEO Jim Farley shared on Twitter images of Ford F-150 Lightning production lines up and running again March 13.

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Tesla Accused of Monopolizing Repairs, Parts in Consumer Lawsuit

By Simon Alvarez Teslarati

Tesla is facing a lawsuit from customers who allege the company’s monopoly in maintenance, repair services and replacement parts has led to high prices and long waiting times.

On March 14, a class action antitrust lawsuit was filed in San Francisco federal court on behalf of Virginia M. Lambrix, the owner of a Tesla Model S. In the lawsuit, Lambrix said owners of conventional cars have several options for maintenance and repairs. They can even perform repairs and maintenance themselves. The complaint said traditional car repairs can also use OEM parts or those made by other companies. The complaint argued Tesla owners do not have these options. When it comes to service and repair, Tesla owners can only use the company’s parts. The vehicles must also be serviced only through the company or its lineup of Tesla-approved service centers. The suit alleged this

limitation is due to Tesla using its market power to restrict services for maintenance and repair, as reported by Bloomberg News. As noted in the complaint, Tesla’s practices when it comes to repairs and maintenance have resulted in Tesla owners suffering from “lengthy delays in repairing or maintaining their electric vehicles.” The complaint also said owners “pay supracompetitive prices for those parts and repairs once they are finally provided.” Tesla has not issued a comment as of writing.  Tesla’s areas for improvement when it comes to its vehicles’ repairs have been known for some time. And while the company has initiated a number of strategies that could help address repair needs quicker, the growth of Tesla’s fleet means there is also an ever-growing number of vehicles to repair. This has paved the way for opportunities for other automakers. General Motors, for example, said late last year it has a growing Tesla repair business, thanks in part to its vast dealer network.

Toyota Announces New Certified Collision Center in Cincinnati, OH

Toyota Motor North America, Inc., is proud to announce Joseph Toyota of Cincinnati, OH, as its newest Toyota Certified Collision Center (TCCC).

Collision centers can earn certification from Toyota based on meeting extensive criteria including advanced collision training and an evaluation of its operations, including facility, business practices, employee certifications and equipment benchmark achievements.

“It’s a privilege to have Joseph Toyota of Cincinnati earn the prestigious Toyota Collision Certification for their professionalism and ultimate dedication to the safety of our customers,” said Scott Henderson, senior manager of collision operations, TMNA. “This designation represents their ongoing commitment to customer satisfaction, vehicle safety and quality, and factory recommended repairs to surpass customers’ expectations.”

Today’s increasingly sophisticated

vehicles feature an ever-growing number of components, parts and advanced materials, resulting in rapidly changing collision repair techniques and processes that require extensive training of collision technicians to be able to perform complete repairs for maximum vehicle safety.

TCCC dealers are dedicated to improving collision repairs by repairing Toyota vehicles to exact repair procedures for the benefit of customers. Only a small percent of all collision centers nationwide meet Toyota’s rigorous training requirements for collision center managers, estimators and repair and refinish technicians needed to achieve designation as a Toyota Certified Collision Center.

Contact Joseph Toyota for more information about booking collision services at (513) 385-4700 or https:// www.josephtoyota.com/toyotacertified-collision-center/

Source: Toyota

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AAA: Fear of Self-Driving Cars on the Rise

By Brittany Moye AAA

The results of AAA’s annual automated vehicle survey show that while there is still a high level of interest in partially-automated vehicle technology, attitudes toward fully self-driving vehicles have become increasingly apprehensive.

This year there was a major increase in drivers who are afraid, rising to 68%, compared to 55% in 2022. This is a 13% jump from last year’s survey and the biggest increase since 2020*.

AAA believes automakers must be diligent in creating an environment that promotes the use of more advanced vehicle technologies in a secure, reliable and educational manner. This includes the consistent naming of vehicle systems available to consumers today.

“We were not expecting such a dramatic decline in trust from previous years,” said Greg Brannon, director of automotive research for AAA. “Although with the number of high-profile crashes that have occurred from over-reliance on

isn’t entirely surprising.”

Even with advancements made in recent years, these findings suggest improvements are still needed to build public trust and knowledge surrounding emerging vehicle technology. There is also a need to dispel confusion around automated vehicles.

AAA’s survey found nearly one in 10 drivers believe they can buy a vehicle that drives itself while they sleep. Currently, there is no such vehicle available for purchase by the public that would allow someone to fully disengage from the task of driving.

This perception could stem from misleading or confusing names of vehicle systems that are on the market. AAA found 22% of Americans expect driver support systems, with names like Autopilot, ProPILOT or Pilot Assist, to have the ability to drive the car by itself without any supervision, indicating a gap in consumer understanding.

What are Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)? Consumers aren’t entirely opposed to advanced vehicle

U.S. drivers would “definitely” or “probably” want these systems in their next car purchase.

Examples of ADAS include blind spot warning, adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking.

is also the only ADAS classified as Level 2 automation as defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers.

A fully self-driving vehicle is one capable of operating without human involvement. A human driver is not required to control the vehicle at any time, nor required to be present in the vehicle while moving. These vehicles are not available for purchase by consumers and are classified as Level 5 automation as defined by the SAE.

Active driving assistance (ADA) is also considered ADAS; however, it differs in functionality from other systems. ADA combines braking, accelerating and steering through a combined use of adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assistance. This technology actively assists the driver versus other ADAS that only turns on when needed. ADA

Maple Hill Subaru

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Luther Bloomington Subaru

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“AAA seeks to partner with automakers to create greater consistency across the industry. Together, we can help consumers understand the type of technology their vehicle has along with how, when and where to use these systems, which will ultimately build trust in the vehicles of the future,” said Brannon.

*AAA has conducted its annual Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Survey since 2016; data not comparable to years prior to 2021 due to change in methodology.

Source: AAA

Dean Team Subaru Ballwin

(636) 227-6527

(636) 591-0071 Fax

Mon-Fri 7-5

Byers Airport Subaru Columbus

(614) 552-5490

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Ken Ganley Subaru North Olmsted North Olmsted

Toll Free (888) 850-0633

Direct (440) 788-7060

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Increase in EVs Being Serviced Leads To First Customer Satisfaction Decline in Nearly 30 Years

The increasing volume of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) being serviced at dealerships is contributing to a negative effect on overall customer service satisfaction, resulting in a year-over-year decline in score for the first time in 28 years.

According to the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Customer Service Index (CSI) Study, released March 9, satisfaction with the service experience declines 2 points to 846 (on a 1,000-point scale) in this year’s study.

Customer service satisfaction among owners of BEVs is 42 points lower than among owners of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. A leading factor is that recall rates are more than double for BEVs than their gas/diesel counterparts. Additionally, service advisor knowledge continues to be a major satisfaction issue among BEV owners who provide a rating of 8.01 (on a 10-point scale) compared with 8.59 among owners of ICE vehicles.

“As the electric vehicle segment grows, service is going to be a ‘make or break’ part of the ownership experience,” said  Chris Sutton, vice president of automotive retail at J.D. Power. “The industry has been hyper-focused on launches and now these customers are bringing their electric vehicles in for maintenance and repairs. As training programs for service advisors and technicians evolve, EV service quality and customer experience must address both the vehicle and the unique customer needs. The EV segment has the potential to spur massive convenience improvements in how customers service their vehicles—but we’re not seeing the benefits yet.”

The study, now in its 43rd year, includes emerging features such as valet service, mobile vehicle servicing and online/smartphone app payment options to gauge the effect these processes have on the service experience.

The study measures satisfaction with service at franchised dealer or aftermarket service facilities for maintenance or repair work among owners and lessees of one- to threeyear-old vehicles. It also provides a numerical index ranking of the highest-performing automotive brands sold in the U.S., based on the combined scores of five measures that comprise the vehicle owner service experience.

These measures are (in order of importance): service quality (32%); service advisor (19%); vehicle pickup (19%); service facility (15%); and service initiation (15%).

Key Findings of the 2023 Study Vehicle recalls drive satisfaction declines: Satisfaction declines 23 points when an owner must bring their vehicle in for a recall repair rather than for traditional maintenance or repair. Recall repair visits also have a negative effect on Net Promoter Score® (NPS) ratings, a vital metric for owners who share positive recommendations about a business. This is most evident with premium brands as the servicing dealership NPS declines 13 points when customers experience a recall.

Service departments getting the (text) message: In the 2019 CSI Study, 34% of owners expressed the desire to receive updates through simple text messages rather than phone calls, but only 9% actually did receive texts from dealerships. Now, dealerships have gotten the figurative message, and, as measured in the 2023 study, are now sending simple text messages 21% of the time to update customers vs. making a phone call (17%). The go-to communication method for service departments is now text messaging, as more than half (54%) of Generation X, Y and Z customers say they prefer it.

Owners wait even longer for an appointment: Since the 2021 study, the number of days owners wait for an appointment has increased 1.9 days for premium vehicles and 1.3 days for mass market vehicles. Appointment wait times are now 5.6 days for premium vehicles and 4.8 days for mass market vehicles. Labor, loaner vehicle availability and parts shortages continue to be the catalyst for the increasing amount of time it takes to get a vehicle serviced.

Owners’ service preferences differ: Owners provide higher trust ratings for franchise dealerships than for aftermarket service facilities for complex repairs (6.14 on a 7-point scale) vs. 5.75 for aftermarket fullservice maintenance and repair facilities. When ease of doing business is the primary driver, trust preference swings to aftermarket facilities for maintenance (6.18 vs. 6.11 for dealerships). These findings are based on a battery of similar

questions asked both in the CSI Study and in the J.D. Power Aftermarket Service Index (ASI) Study.

Climbing the chart: The top three brands with the greatest improvement in year-over-year satisfaction rankings are Alfa Romeo (+59 points), Mitsubishi (+30) and Infiniti (+16).

Highest-Ranking Brands and Segments

Lexus ranks highest in satisfaction with dealer service among all brands for a second consecutive year, with a score of 900. Porsche (880) ranks second in the premium segment, followed by Cadillac (879) and Infiniti (878).

Mitsubishi ranks highest in satisfaction with dealer service among mass market brands for the first time, with a score of 884. Mazda (870) ranks second and Buick (867) ranks third.

For the first time in the study’s history, model segment rankings are now available to provide even more granularity. “A truck is not a car, and the vehicle needs are going to be different,” Sutton said. “Each vehicle segment has a unique service experience based on customer preferences, demographics and vehicle use, wear and tear, so

it’s appropriate to recognize the different journeys that car, SUV and truck customers have in the service experience.”

Among premium cars, Lexus ranks highest (902), followed by Porsche (880) and Infiniti (878).

Among premium SUVs, Lexus (900) ranks highest. Cadillac and Porsche rank second in a tie, each with a score of 880.

Nissan (886) ranks highest in satisfaction among truck brands with a score of 886. Chevrolet (851) ranks second and GMC (843) ranks third.

In the mass market car segment, Subaru ranks highest (866). Mazda (863) ranks second and Honda (855) ranks third.

Mitsubishi ranks highest among mass market SUVs/minivans with a score of 884. Mazda (872) ranks second and Buick (867) ranks third.

The 2023 U.S. Customer Service Index (CSI) Study is based on responses from 64,248 verified registered owners and lessees of 2020 to 2022 model-year vehicles. J.D. Power goes to great lengths to ensure that survey respondents are true owners of the brand they are representing. The study was fielded from August through December 2022.

Source: J.D. Power

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Driven Brands Holdings Inc. Reports Record Year of Revenue and Profitability in 2022

Driven Brands Holdings Inc. on Feb. 22 reported financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2022. For the fiscal year, Driven Brands delivered revenue of $2.0 billion, up 39% versus the prior year. System-wide sales were $5.6 billion, up 24% versus the prior year with 14% same-store sales growth and 9% net store growth.

Net income increased $33.6 million versus the prior year to $43.2 million or $0.25 per diluted share inclusive of a $125.5 million one-time non-cash impairment charge related to intangible assets in the second quarter as a result of the company’s decision to rebrand its U.S. car wash business. Adjusted net income increased 41% to $207.9 million or $1.22 per diluted share, while adjusted EBITDA increased 42% from the prior year to $513.8 million. “2022 was a year of record performance and significant strategic progress for Driven Brands.  We deepened our competitive moat as our differentiated offering resonated with our customers,” said Jonathan

Fitzpatrick, president and CEO. “We gained significant market share in this large and growing $350 billion needs-based automotive services category, and we are leveraging our proven playbook to drive long-term, sustainable growth.

“Building on our strong performance last year, we entered the first quarter of 2023 with momentum, excellent visibility into our expensea base and a robust development pipeline that provides us with strong line of sight to multiyear growth. Our guidance reflects that momentum, our continued confidence in our business model, the resilience of the category and a track record of execution.”

For the fourth quarter, Driven Brands delivered revenue of $539.7 million, up 38% versus the prior year. System-wide sales were $1.5 billion, up 24% versus the prior year with 11% same-store sales growth and 9% net store growth.

Net income increased $66.2 million versus the prior year to $27.4 million or $0.16 per diluted share. Adjusted net income increased

35% to $42.2 million or $0.25 per diluted share, while adjusted EBITDA increased 54% from the prior year to $130.5 million.

Fiscal Year 2022 Highlights

Comparisons are fiscal year 2022 ended Dec. 31, 2022, versus fiscal year 2021 ended Dec. 25, 2021, unless otherwise noted.

• Revenue increased 39% to $2.0 billion, driven by same-store sales and net store growth.

• Consolidated same-store sales increased 14%.

• The company added 393 net new stores during the year.

• Net income increased $33.6 million to $43.2 million or $0.25 per diluted share.

• Adjusted net income increased 41% to $207.9 million or $1.22 per diluted share.

• Adjusted EBITDA increased 42% to $513.8 million.

Fourth Quarter 2022 Highlights

Comparisons are fourth quarter 2022 ended Dec. 31, 2022, versus fourth quarter 2021 ended Dec. 25, 2021,

unless otherwise noted.

• Revenue increased 38% to $539.7 million, driven by same-store sales and net store growth.

• Consolidated same-store sales increased 11%.

• The company added 98 net new stores during the quarter.

• Net income increased $66.2 million to $27.4 million or $0.16 per diluted share.

• Adjusted net income increased 35% to $42.2 million or $0.25 per diluted share.

• Adjusted EBITDA increased 54% to $130.5 million.

Fiscal Year 2023 Guidance

The following guidance reflects the company’s expectations for fiscal year 2023 ending Dec. 30, 2023:

• Revenue of approximately $2.35 billion.

• Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $590 million.

• Adjusted earnings per share of approximately $1.21.

The company also expects: Same-store sales growth of 5%

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to7%.

• Net store growth of approximately 365:

• Maintenance: approximately 170 stores of which 70% will be franchised and 30% will be company-operated

• Car Wash: approximately 65 stores which will be company-operated

• Paint, Collision & Glass: approximately 130 stores of which 25% will be franchised and 75% will be company-operated.

The company has not included future M&A in its guidance for fiscal year 2023.

Source: Driven Brands Holdings Inc.

CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc. on Feb. 21 announced an update to its insurer AI adoption report, which for the third straight year shows significant growth in the adoption of AI in auto claims. The company reported the application of advanced computer vision AI for claims processing increased 60% year-over-year. The company also reported more than 14 million unique claims have now been processed using a CCC AI solution, tripling since before the pandemic in 2019.

In addition to more claims using AI, the data show a deepening penetration of multiple different AI solutions being applied per claim. In fact, CCC reports the number of claims using four or more of its advanced AI applications also doubled year-over-year.

The tech leader also reported the adoption of its industry-first AI-powered touchless estimating solution, CCC® Estimate–STP, has grown to 15 insurers, including seven of the top 10 carriers based on direct written premium, representing 50% of U.S. auto claims volume. Today, more than

100 insurers are actively using CCC’s AI-powered applications.

“The industry has achieved more with advanced AI than many thought was possible a few short years ago,” said Jason Verlen, vice president, product marketing,

27% of claims processed through CCC’s system were initiated by digital photos.

Added Verlen, “This progress is compelling, but it’s not mission accomplished. Market dynamics are necessitating more. While some macro trends, including supply chain issues are likely to subside with time, other factors, including labor shortages and increasing vehicle complexity, will require more AI and deeper connections across the ecosystem to meet the demands of today’s consumer and enable insurers and repairers to realize better business outcomes.”

CCC. “AI is now applied at key stages across the claims process and is capable of auto-generating a complete repair estimate with line level detail in seconds without human intervention.” The growth in AI-powered claims is driven by a number of factors, including an increase in the number of insurers using AI solutions, the expansion of applications of AI across their business, and an increase in AI-eligible claims, driven by an increase in the use of photos to initiate a claim. In 2022, more than

A leader in AI-powered solutions for the auto insurance industry, CCC’s broad solution offering applies a variety of AI models, including computer vision, language recognition and deep learning to improve customer interactions, streamline operations and digitize assessments across estimating, casualty and fraud detection. CCC is leveraging AI to bring intelligent experiences to every aspect of claims and mobility.

Source: CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc.

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Honda May Continue Producing Gas Engines Through 2040

By Sebastien Bell CarScoops

As Europe, a number of U.S. states and others plan to ban the sale of new vehicles powered by internal combustion engines by 2035, Honda said its own studies show the technology could stick around until 2040.

Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe said the company is currently in the midst of running feasibility studies on future technologies, in a recent interview with Reuters. This research is looking at, among other things, low-carbon synthetic fuels that could help keep combustion engines around for longer, especially in highperformance car, trucks and airplanes. Despite keeping its options open, the executive said  Honda is focused on electrification and fuel cell technology. “I’ve been in the engine development business for more than 30 years, so personally it’s a little threatening,” admitted Mibe. “But I have to separate my own feelings from what is best for

the business.” The chief executive further confirmed EVs based on its own dedicated platform would start arriving in the U.S. in 2026, after a pair of electric crossovers based on GM’s Ultium platform debut in 2024. Honda is committing $40 billion to developing hybrid and fullyelectric technologies so they make up 40% of its sales by 2030. That includes a $3.5 billion joint venture in Jeffersonville, OH, where it will build batteries with LG Energy Solution starting in 2025.

In addition, it plans to establish a standalone business next month, tasked with the task of developing Honda’s battery business. That could eventually include an investment in developing EV infrastructure, like Tesla’s Supercharger network.

“The charging in`1frastructure is not at a place that it needs to be for our customers,” said Mibe. He added, however, “as we move toward carbon neutrality, we are focused on electrification and fuel cells—those are the two core components of future mobility.”

Dannmar Updates SwingArm Tire Changers

Updated Dannmar® DT-50 and DT50A tire changers are engineered to maximize efficiency to help keep work—and profits—flowing.

Both tire changers feature a swing-arm design that facilitates quick loading, with steel clamps to efficiently handle 12- to 26-inch wheels, including challenging lowprofile and run-flat beads. For the stiffest sidewalls, the DT-50A adds a power-assist tower.

They are built to last in even the busiest shops, with sturdy bodies, rigid hexagonal vertical shafts and hardened-steel horizontal outrigger support arms that eliminate flex during tire service and reduce the risk of damage to alloy wheels. Their compact, non-tilt-back design adds to their versatility since they can be installed flush against walls.

Dannmar is offering special reduced pricing on all its wheel service equipment through its Big Deals promotion until March 31. Learn more at dannmar.com. For customer support or to order by phone, call (800) 253-2363.

Source: Dannmar

SCRS RDE Sessions Digitally Available

All Repairer Driven Education (RDE) sessions, recorded by SCRS during the 2022 SEMA Show, are now available for digital access at rde.scrs.com. Current SCRS members are entitled to a 20% discount off purchases in the SCRS Online Education Platform. If you are not currently a member of SCRS, join online at www.scrs.com/join-scrs or contact our office at info@scrs.com to confirm your membership status.

The 2022 Repairer Driven Education (RDE) FULL SERIES Online pass ($249) provides at-home access to more than 20 educational sessions originally delivered throughout the week during the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NV. Unlike the in-person event—where attendees had to pick and choose between sessions within a time slot—the RDE FULL SERIES Online access allows attendees to watch every session, without having to pick and choose. This means more opportunities for education, and greater ability to share the information amongst everyone within the repair facility.

For a full list of RDE sessions and speakers, visit rde.scrs.com/p/2022

Source: SCRS

Tesla Cybertruck’s Ultra-Hard Cold-Rolled Steel Confirmed

By Steven Loveday InsideEVs

The Tesla Cybertruck will be unlike any other vehicle on the road today, not only thanks to its crazy design, but also the material it’s made of and how its structure works.

The Cybertruck will wear a body that’s actually an exoskeleton made of ultra-hard cold-rolled stainless steel. Tesla just applied for a patent for the material, and CEO Elon Musk confirmed it.

It has been known from the beginning the Cybertruck was to be made of cold-rolled stainless steel, one of the reasons it’s to be so unique. It also won’t be painted. The Tesla electric pickup truck will come from the factory in just a single color, and we can only imagine people are going to have a field day wrapping it. Tesla noted early on it planned to develop its own alloy for the Cybertruck’s exterior, which comes as no surprise since it seems the EV maker tries to do as much as

possible in-house. Now, the news is spreading Tesla applied for an official patent for the special material. A portion of the patent, titled “Ultra-Hard Cold-Worked

as an ‘exoskeleton.’” The patent mentions other prospective embodiments, though it seems clear it’s all in reference to the upcoming Cybertruck.

If there were any doubt about the materials and their use, Musk may have cast them away. Tesmanian tweeted a link to an article about the patent, and the CEO responded on Twitter with just two words: “New metal.”

Steel Alloy,” reads as follows: “In some embodiments, at least one exterior panel and/or body of the vehicle comprises the steel alloy. In some embodiments, the vehicle architecture is designed such that the exterior panels of the vehicle also contribute to the vehicle’s structural performance, wherein such exterior paneling of a vehicle may be referred to

The Cybertruck is due to come to market later this year, with large-scale production coming in 2024, as Musk also confirmed again. However, there hasn’t been any official information about the company or companies that will manufacture the new metal for Tesla, but there’s been some talk on social media about a company called Steel Dynamics.

Steel Dynamics has a huge factory in Texas not too far from Tesla’s Gigafactory. Hopefully, since early production is expected to start soon, we’ll get more information in the near future.

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