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Michigan Bill Redefines Motor Vehicle Parts by OEM An overhaul of Michigan’s 1974 auto repair licensing rules was signed into law Dec. 31, 2016. A similar bill was vetoed in the 2015 legislative session. House Bill 5857 redefines a structural motor vehicle part, “by the vehicle manufacturer now, instead,” according to Ray Fisher, executive director of ASA-Michigan. “That’s a very important piece,” he said. The new language revises the definition of “major component parts” to include 14 components: Engine, Transmission, Front Fenders, Hood, Doors, Bumper bars, Rear Quarterpanels, Deck lid, Trunk Floor Pan, Cargo Box of pickup, etc.
Included also is “The frame, or if the vehicle has a unitized body, the parts identified by the motor vehicle manufacturer as structural components.” The “cab of a truck” and “body of a passenger vehicle” remain included as “major component parts” also. Other changes include adding airbags and seatbelts as “major component parts.”
Autonomous Vehicle Law Senate Bill 998, a law that exempts auto repairers from certain lawsuits related to autonomous cars took effect March 9. SB 998 states that a repairer can’t be sued in a product liability See MI Bills, Page 28
State Shuts Down Unlicensed Body Shop in MI After FOX 2 Story
The state is now getting involved after FOX 2 exposed an auto body shop in Redford Township, MI, that has been taking advantage of its customers. Customers say their cars have been at the shop for months without being fixed, and their cars won’t be getting fixed at Krucial Kustoms Body
See Unlicensed MI Shop, Page 15
P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018
Autobody News frequently reprints consumer-oriented articles to educate body shop owners about the shop coverage in the local media. We republish all stories without comment. This is one such story courtesy of Fox 2 News.
Shop for sure now. Because of FOX 2’s story, the state made a very interesting discovery and has issued a cease and desist order. On April 5, FOX 2 found a customer on the phone with Deon Thomas, the owner of Krucial Kustoms, trying to get his car out of the building. His car was one of dozens that are stuck inside the shop still waiting to be fixed or painted, in some cases, for months. FOX 2 first introduced you to Diane Ramsey on April 3. When her car was wrecked last fall, she took it to Krucial Kustoms to be fixed. Now,
Change Service Requested
by Taryn Asher, FOX 2
VOL. 6 ISSUE 8 MAY 2017
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Collision Shop Owners Share the (Mostly) Pros and (Few) Cons of Getting OEM Certified
Are automaker shop certifications a of pretty much everyone else because of us getting certified, but it’s really potential substitute for collision repair only been to my benefit. An insurer can shops seeking less dependence on intake any [agreement] I have [with surer direct repair programs? them] away, but they can’t take my cerThat was among the questions addressed by a panel of shop owners at tification. The DRPs helped us get to the recent NORTHEAST Automotive the point where we had the money to spend on OEM certification. Services Show held in SecauBut you get to the point where cus, N.J. James Carvino of you say, ‘Listen, I don’t need RoJo Collision in Brooklyn, you. So if you don’t want to NY, whose shop holds certifipay my rate or do this, you cations from about 10 aucan take the program and go tomakers, said he’s eliminated because now I’m certified. I most of the shop’s DRP reladon’t really need you. You tionships other than two with James Carvino can’t cripple my business.’” insurance companies “that are very understanding.” Tom Elder of Kompact Cars, “I basically have no issue [with Inc. in Clarksburg, NJ agreed, saying them], and I think they are happy to the 11 DRPs he previously had have someone who, even though my “helped us become better financed estimates may be 400 lines, they can and better equipped,” but that Mersee the car and know I’m doing the cedes-Benz and other OEM certificawork,” Carvino said. “I had to get rid See OEM Certification, Page 22
Owner of Swope Family of Dealerships Receives Prestigious Honor & Attributes Success to Highly-Engaged Employees by Stacey Phillips
Autobody News spoke to Carl about the award and what makes his dealerships and independent collision center so successful.
Earlier this year, Carl Swope learned he received the 2017 Time Dealer of the Year Award during the National AuWhat is the TIME Dealer of the tomobile Dealers Association (NADA) Year Award? Convention in New Orleans. The owner of the Swope Family of DealSome say it is the most erships in Elizabethtown, Kenprestigious award a tucky, said it was an honor and new-car dealer can receive. he attributes his success to the The program honors new-car great people who work for dealers in the United States him. who exhibit exceptional perThe 65-year-old company was started in 1952 by Carl Swope, owner formance in their dealerships Carl’s father, Bill, and his of the Swope Fam- and perform distinguished uncle Sam. They opened a ily of Dealerships, community service. Every in Elizabethtown, year, 49 out of 50 states nomChrysler, Dodge, DeSoto dealKentucky inate a dealer. They are choership in Elizabethtown and established a collision center in the late sen by members of the Automotive Trade Association Executives (ATAE) 1950s. The family has a long history of and the winner is announced during operating dealerships across Kentucky and Florida. See Swope Family, Page 18
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