June 2023 Midwest Edition

Parents Sue Kia After Teens Killed in Stolen Crashed SUV

By David A. Wood CarComplaints.com

A New York Kia Sportage crash that killed four teens and injured two others was allegedly caused by Kia even though the 2021 Kia Sportage was stolen and traveling 100 mph when it crashed into a wall.

column and using a USB cable to bypass the security system.

It’s believed the first class action lawsuit was filed in 2021 for Wisconsin customers where the problem allegedly first began.

The online videos show exactly how to steal the Hyundai or Kia vehicle, and then to make the theft a “challenge,”

Collision Engineering Program Announces 7th School

The Enterprise Holdings Foundation and Ford Motor Company Fund announced the Parkland College Automotive Collision Repair Program in Champaign, IL, has been selected as the seventh school to offer the industry-leading Collision Engineering Program (CEP). The program expansion is made possible through the cross-industry partnership between the two automotive leaders announced in January. More than 110,000 new collision technicians are needed between 2022 and 2026, according to the TechForce Foundation, a national nonprofit. The CEP is a two-year apprenticeship model, founded by the Enterprise Holdings Foundation and Ranken

REGIONAL NEWS

Technical College in St. Louis, to attract and develop entry-level talent to fill essential roles within the industry. To provide the most up-todate training available, learning is conducted both in classroom settings, as well as via apprenticeships in modern collision repair facilities, all

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The wrongful death lawsuit was filed by two mothers of two of the deceased teens who claim the crash would not have occurred if Kia would have installed engine immobilizers in the Sportage.

According to the lawsuit: “An engine immobilizer is a critical piece of electronic security technology that serves as a crucial tool in minimizing the risk of vehicle theft. Immobilizers prevent vehicles from being started unless a unique code is transmitted from the vehicle’s key.”

In 2021, criminals began posting videos online about how to steal Hyundai and Kia vehicles by breaking into the vehicle, removing the steering

criminals are encouraged to post their own videos showing how they stole the vehicles. The lawsuit said, “numerous countries have adopted legislation requiring immobilizers as standard equipment for new automobiles.”

But what the lawsuit doesn’t mention is the U.S. isn’t one of those countries, as engine immobilizers are not required by U.S. laws.

The Kia Sportage Crash

The New York Kia Sportage crash occurred Oct. 24, 2022, after a 16-yearold boy drove the stolen Kia into a wall at 100 mph, killing four teens: Marcus Webster, 19, Swazine Swindle, 17,

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GM Eyes $200M Plant For Sierra, Silverado

EV Parts Production

By Maria Merano Teslarati

General Motors is considering the former site of The Palace of Auburn Hills in Michigan for a $200 million electric vehicle parts plant. The new factory would be close to GM’s Orion assembly plant and would likely supply parts for the Chevy Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV.

“General Motors has identified the former Palace of Auburn Hills site as a potential location for a supplier park to support its

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Orion Assembly Plant, which will be expanded to produce electric pickup trucks. The company is still determining the scope of work and which supplier will have operations in support of the plant,” GM said.  GM’s proposal for a $200 million parts plant in Michigan is on the May 3 agenda of the City of Auburn Hills’ Planning Commission meeting. PAH Real Estate LLC is requesting the commission’s approval on a planned unit development option to construct a 1.1 million-square-

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Columnist Mike Anderson: Calculating the ROI in ‘Growing’ Your Own New Body Techs

Columnist Abby Andrews: WIN Hosts Annual Educational Conference

Columnist Ed Attanasio: Karleigh Johnson Has Her Eyes on SkillsUSA National Gold

Columnist John Yoswick: Shifting Customer Preferences, Tech, Staffing Issues Inspire Changes in Shops

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Estimating Systems Expected To Make Changes Based on Paint Blend Study

By John Yoswick Autobody News

During an open board meeting of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) in mid-April, the association’s leaders discussed what changes might occur within the estimating systems based on the blend study SCRS conducted last year.

“The research, the work, resulted in positive movement for the industry, and we’re excited to identify what the end result looks like,” said Aaron Schulenburg, executive director of the association.

Less than three weeks later, users of CCC Intelligent Solutions’ estimating system learned that by the end of the year, they will have the option to input their own refinish blend time or set their own default blend value. MOTOR Information Systems, developer of the underlying

Autatex, he said during April’s meeting, is “still looking at how they are going to address it,” but in the interim has showed how its system allows a user to make changes to the blend calculation.

“That’s great to have those tools, but the question still needs to be addressed because it is still our belief that the formulas aren’t representative of the tasks that are actually being performed today,” Schulenburg said.

He said the blending process also may be different than it was 30 years ago when the blend formulas were established. He said Mitchell noted two of the five paint companies in the SCRS study applied sealer on the blend edge—something called for in those companies’ training materials.

“There’s nothing in [Mitchell’s Complete Estimating Guide] that says applying sealer on the blend edge isn’t considered a blend,” Schulenburg said. “If [Mitchell] is not considering it a blend operation [when that step is done], that means they haven’t factored that operation into the times they’ve applied for blend. So it’s either not a blend, or the times need to be adjusted.”

User Agreement Opens Scan Tool Data to China

are subject to, particularly in light of privacy agreements they may have with other entities, including insurance companies.

“Think of a USAA, that insures [four]-star generals. Think of a GEICO that insures government employees,” Schulenburg said. “What are their expectations of shops within their network to maintain the privacy of those individuals? Would they want that information shared in this manner under the jurisdiction of the People’s Republic of China? I don’t know. But it seems like it’s worth talking about as an industry.”

Insurance Commissioners Address the Industry

Issues related to “prevailing rate” were among the topics two state insurance commissioners discussed in their presentation at the SCRS meeting. Michael Bradshaw, vice chairman of the SCRS board and operations manager for his family’s North Carolina body shop, told them most insurers in his state don’t conduct labor rate surveys, and when asked, insurance company representatives tend to say they are told the prevailing rate by their supervisor, or say, “We go into shops, and that’s the rate they will take.”

Bradshaw pointed to what he sees as a key difference.

“The only thing I would say about the medical industry is that they are licensed professionals,” he said. “Even bad doctors have had a lot of education, a lot of ongoing training. In our industry, in [most] states, there’s no licensure requirement. There’s no equipment or training requirements. So the difference among body shops is vast,” yet they are all told there’s one “prevailing rate.”

One reason White may not be familiar with the issue came out in his opening comments.

“A question I framed to my team was: Do we get a lot of complaints that involve collision repair shops either directly or indirectly,” White said. “The answer I got was ‘No, not really.’ Not as many as you might expect.”

database used by CCC, said it “reviewed information from multiple sources and has concluded that the current formula reflects an estimate for one particular scenario but does not necessarily reflect the many variations encountered with modern vehicle finishes and design.”

Blend times, the company’s statement about the change reads, should be based on “the judgment of an estimator or appraiser following an on-the-spot evaluation of the specific vehicle and refinish requirements in question.”

“This is a great example of an action that we had previously requested prior to the study, that is now only taking place because of the study results and the industry support that followed,” Schulenburg said in response to MOTOR’s announced change.

SCRS believes its study last year demonstrated blending takes more time than a full panel refinish, rather than the 50% less time allocated in the three estimating systems. Schulenburg said SCRS is having “similar conversations” with the other estimating system providers as well.

Also during the SCRS meeting, held in April in Richmond, VA, Schulenburg showed under the terms of the licensing agreement of at least one aftermarket scan tool, the user is agreeing to allow the data collected through the tool to be transferred to the company in China, “subject to China laws, including those governing the privacy and security of your information.”

The shop user is also agreeing to notify and acquire consent for such

“It’s not a survey. There’s no statistical data,” Bradshaw said. “That’s the biggest frustration within this industry.”

Scott White, commissioner of insurance for Virginia since 2018, acknowledged it was a topic he discussed with his staff prior to speaking at the SCRS meeting.

He said that was true both in absolute terms—the actual number received—and as a trend, with the department receiving “a lot more” complaints five or 10 years ago.

“Which kind of surprised me,” White said. “It may not be an accurate reflection of what’s going on out there. The caveat is we aren’t seeing all the problems that are probably out there.”

North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance Mike Causey, on the other hand, said his department gets “a large volume of complaints, all kinds, and I’d say auto insurance [complaints] are a majority over homeowners’.”

Causey said he, like shops, sees differences among insurance companies as well.

collection and transfer of vehicle data “from each customer or prospective customer,” and to the use of the information by the scan tool company “and third parties.”

Schulenburg said he’s turned the issue over to the Collision Industry Conference committee on data privacy and security. He said shops need to be aware of such enduser licensing agreements they

“I did ask this question because I didn’t know, and I was told the prevailing rate is the [DRP] network rate,” White said. “That seems pretty easy to find out. But maybe there’s a difference in how we’re looking at it.”

He pointed to what he sees as a similar situation in the health care industry, where providers and insurers may disagree on what is the “commercial reasonable rate.” But

“Some do a really good job of handling claims, paying claims quickly. Others are terrible,” Causey said. “The consumer certainly has to shop around. But again, anything you bring to the attention of regulators, if you give it to our office and say, ‘We’ve noticed this, this is the documentation we have,” we’ll get our folks on it and investigate it and try to get to the bottom of it.”

SCRS’ Aaron Schulenburg, right, introduces state insurance commissioners Mike Causey, left, and Scott White, center, before their presentations at the association’s open board meeting

Scott White, Virginia’s insurance commissioner, said his department gets few complaints related to collision repair claims

North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance Mike Causey said some insurers pay claims quickly while others are “terrible.”

“The research, the work, resulted in positive movement for the industry, and we’re excited to identify what the end result looks like.”

AARON SCHULENBURG AEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SCRS

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St. Louis Auto Repair, Collision Industries Raise $11K For Tech Schools

On April 25, St. Louis-based automotive and collision repair businesses participated in the firstever Clays for Careers sporting clays event. The clay shoot brought together 15+ companies from throughout the industry with one goal: to assist students pursuing trades by supporting local tech schools’ automotive and collision repair programs.

The three schools benefiting from Clays for Careers were Lewis & Clark Career Center, North Tech High School and South Tech High School. Each school will receive $3,714.90 to purchase new equipment and/or repair existing tools.

“The collision industry has a unique opportunity to strengthen the future of the trade by actively supporting technical schools and their programs. Events like Clays for Careers raise much-needed funds for schools and foster partnerships and collaboration between industry leaders and educational institutions,” said John Helterbrand , national program director at Collision Engineering. “This ultimately enhances the quality of education

foot light industrial building on an 87.3-acre site. According to the proposal, GM plans to use 81% of the property The Palace of Auburn Hills area formerly occupied.  GM plans to start construction by July. The legacy automaker aims to complete the industrial space by November 2024, when it plans to begin production on the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV at the Orion Assembly Plant. PAH Real Estate LLC’s proposal said GM wants to develop a separate facility because there is limited space in the Orion Assembly Plant “to perform preassemblies.”

GM plans to lease the Palace of Auburn Hills site from Schostak, which is also tapped to develop the site. GM expects to generate approximately 1,000 new jobs in the area with the new facility, which will operate 24 hours a day in three shifts.

provided to students and ensures a skilled workforce for the future.”

The event at Top Gun Sportsman’s Club in Lonedell, MO, featured 14 shooting stations with each shooter receiving 100 clay “birds” or projectiles to shoot. Participants were split into teams of four in morning and afternoon flights, with the winners of each flight—or the teams who broke the most clay birds—receiving a cash prize.

Other activities included 50/50 raffles, a barbeque lunch and opportunities for event sponsors to meet industry professionals and promote their own brands. Hand and eye coordination is paramount in sporting clays, but thankfully many of the participants have been working with their hands on vehicles most of their lives.

“It’s refreshing to see the collision industry come together supporting a much-needed venture. The trade industries have long needed replenishment, and supporting the schools that are training the next generation entering the field is vital to our future success,” said Terry Kammler , regional vice

1Collision Offers SCRS Membership

1Collision has aligned with the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) to make membership available to all businesses in the network.

1Collision’s focus on corporatelevel support to affiliated collision repair centers spans all business areas—business planning, operations and office management, training, purchasing power, industry relations, human resources and recruiting support, marketing, web presence and more—making SCRS a logical partner in delivering resources to network members.

The network locations span Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin in the U.S., and in 2020, 1Collision merged with CSN Collision Centres in Canada, expanding the North American footprint.

Companies looking to support SCRS through membership can email info@scrs.com or visit www. scrs.com/join-scrs.

Source: SCRS

president of operations at Caliber Collision. “The collision industry has so much to offer, working with the latest technologies in the automotive world and providing excellent career opportunities for young men and women.”

plenty of young people properly trained to service vehicles of the future.”

For students still undecided on a career path, the automotive and collision repair trades are seeking dedicated individuals interested in a challenging, lucrative career without the burden of excessive student loan debt. Both the automotive and collision repair industries put workers in control of their future, as automotive technician jobs are in-demand across the country.

Building upon that sentiment, Jaime Matthews , vice president of Schaefer Autobody Centers, added, “Everyone in the industry recognizes the importance of training the next generation of automotive technicians. Through community events like Clays for Careers, we can ensure there are

In 2024, Clays for Careers’ event organizers plan to expand the field of participants and invite even more businesses to participate. To learn more about Clays for Careers and be the first to learn about future activities, visit www. claysforcareers.org.

Source: Schaefer Autobody Centers

Source: Schaefer Autobody Centers

Fully Restored Porsche 914/6 Stays in Family for More than 50 Years

By Ed Attanasio Autobody News

Brent Maxwell, 37, manager of the national accounts team for TRANSTAR, shared a story about a classic Porsche 914/6 in his family since 1970. His father, Jack, bought it while serving in the U.S. Army in Germany and it has been in the family ever since.

Q:Why is this vehicle considered so rare and coveted by collectors?

ordered it before he left the U.S. without seeing a picture, but knew it was a mid-engine two-seater. When he first got to Germany, he was driving a little Volkswagen Bug until it was ready. He had it delivered to Belgium because there was no sales tax, and then rode the train down and picked it up and drove it back into Germany.

A:

Basically, the difference is the six cylinders. 118,978 914s were made, and only 3,332 had six cylinders. The Porsche 914 was a joint development between Porsche and Volkswagen and was the new Porsche entrylevel model in 1970. The two-seater, also known as the “VW Porsche,” was a mid-engine sports car. Striking design features included the very long wheelbase for the vehicle length, short overhangs, the removable roof center panel made from glass fiber-reinforced plastic as well as the wide safety bar. The 914 also featured pop-up headlights.

The 914/6 obviously is the rarest of the 914s. It’s a first year but then it’s also a U.S. spec Euro delivery car. He knew he was going to bring it back to the States, so he ordered the U.S. version. But they actually delivered it in Europe, which is pretty uncommon.

I think he’s probably the longest original owner of a 914/6. He has all the original paperwork and title. We are trying to find out if he is surely the longest original owner.

apart sometime in the 1980s. It sat disassembled for a long time. I mean, it was at that time the cars weren’t as valuable as they are now. The shop that ended up doing some of the restoration work was Huber Restorations in Tulsa, OK. They are known for their work on Porsche, Mercedes, German cars, etc. and do amazing work.

Q:You were able to paint the vehicle while in tech school? A:

In 2005, I was in the Tulsa Technology Collision Repair Program with Mr. Brian Buford and we brought the car in and it was my first paint job that I’d ever done outside of what we learned in class on a few panels. So that was whenever we got it painted

and finished what had been done by the previous restoration shop. I had some friends of mine that were students who helped me paint it. In 2016, I repainted the exterior at Straightline Auto Restoration, after my dad rebuilt the motor, and it was finally roadworthy and what it looks like now, as far as having the interior done and everything else like that completed on the vehicle.

Q:Does the car get used on a regular basis?

A:Yes, it’s fun to drive. It’s been in a few different shows. My dad takes it out to the cruise nights that are here in Tulsa. I’ve already threatened my 8-year-old son Jack that he’s not allowed to sell the car and it’s going to stay in the family!

At the time of its launch, the 914 was available with two engines. 914 had a 1.7-liter flat-four engine with 80 hp from Volkswagen. The 914/6 had a 2.0-liter flat-six engine with 110 hp from the Porsche 911 T. In the six-cylinder models, the ignition lock was located to the left of the steering wheel, where it is typically found in Porsche vehicles. The wheels of the 914/6 are 14-inch Fuchs mounted with five wheel nuts, and the car was built by Porsche at the main plant in StuttgartZuffenhausen.

Q: How did your father Jack acquire the car?

Q: Did he drive the car a lot in Europe before bringing it home?

A: Yes, he was really into Formula 1. He drove the car all over Holland, England, Germany, Belgium and went to many of the different Formula 1 races back then.

So, the first original 40,000 miles of the car is all in Europe, a lot of that on the Autobahn and just going around to different races.

A:

Yes, he was an Army captain at that time and ran a motor pool over in Germany. He special

He brought it back here in 1973 and had it delivered by boat to Florida. He drove it straight from there to New Mexico where he lived at that time. And then he packed up everything in New Mexico and moved to Tulsa, OK, where we live now.

I think the car was originally taken

The 914/6 has been in the family since 1970.

“In 2005…it was my first paint job that I’d ever done outside of what we learned in class on a few panels.”

BRENT MAXWELL

This two-seater, also known as the “VW Porsche,” was a mid-engine sports car.

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Rivian Expands its Certified Collision Network as Production Increases on Adventure EVs

By Stacey Phillips Autobody News

Since the first collision repair facility joined Rivian’s Certified Collision Network (RCCN) in Oregon in July 2020, more than 30,000 Rivian electric adventure vehicles have been manufactured and 135 shops are part of the RCCN program.

Frank Phillips, senior manager, certified collision North America at Rivian, discussed the OEM’s certified collision network program during the AkzoNobel ACOAT Selected North American Performance Group (NAPG) event in Florida earlier this year.

and more.

Phillips said the OEM has created a unique culture with a personalized customer experience.

“We have loyal customers who have stood in line for four years in some cases—when the Rivian was launched in 2018—to get their vehicle,” said Phillips. “We still have several others patiently waiting to get theirs. It’s important to us to create an experience that returns that loyalty.”

Rivian has established a similar experience and culture with its certified network program.

“We believe it is really going to disrupt what many of the OEM programs around the country have done traditionally when it comes to certification,” said Phillips. “We want to make sure that shops are properly trained, educated and equipped to fix the Rivian safely and properly.”

He said Rivian’s approach is to revolutionize the industry by creating an efficient and highly trained collision repair network.

“That’s our focus every day,” he said. “When we wake up and come to work, we start thinking about how we are going to help our collision certified network become better and continue to improve.”

and then develops clear, effective and efficient repair and calibration procedures, ensuring compliance.

The procedures are then sent to the collision research and development workshop, where a hands-on validation of the repair procedures, tools and equipment is performed at the OEM’s collision center to ensure accuracy and quality.

with its certified network and facilities have with customers.

“It’s about ascertaining that are you committed to working with a customer who is in a bad situation and you’re going to deliver the same type of experience Rivian provides its customers,” explained Phillips. “I’ve got to know without a shadow of a doubt that you’re going to stand beside me shoulder to shoulder as we venture into this new car business.”

Those interested in being part of the network must go through a credit check and sign a participation agreement.

After getting set up with the required tooling and equipment, collision repairers are provided training. Once the equipment is onsite and training is complete, a facility goes through a final validation before working on Rivian EVs.

Rivian was founded in 2009 as Mainstream Motors by Robert “RJ” Scaringe and later renamed Rivian, a wordplay on the Indian River in Florida, where Scaringe grew up. The company, headquartered in Irvine, CA, began focusing on autonomous and electric vehicles (EVs) to create products and services that help the planet transition to carbon-neutral energy and transportation.

Today, Rivians are built in the U.S. at the company’s approximate 4 millionsquare-foot manufacturing facility in Normal, IL, a former Mitsubishi factory.

Currently, three products are being produced. The OEM’s flagship R1T, introduced in September 2021, was ranked “Best EV Ownership Experience among premium Battery Electric Vehicles” by J.D. Power in 2023.

The company also manufactures a seven-passenger SUV, the R1S, which received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) TOP SAFETY PICK+ for the 2023 model year. In addition, Rivian has been contracted to develop and manufacture 100,000 electric delivery vans (EDVs) for Amazon.

Currently, Rivians can be purchased online. As part of owning one, the auto manufacturer offers insurance policies to customers in 48 states through Rivian Insurance Services, LLC. The agency provides auto, homeowners, renters, umbrella

The certified network consists of four programs, one for its passenger vehicle line, another for the OEM’s commercial line, which allows facilities to repair Amazon EDVs, and a third for the business-to-business segment. In addition, a new program is being introduced this year for diagnostic certification focused on calibration.

In addition to Phillips’ counterpart in Amsterdam, Hank Berkhof, the team is led by Kelly Logan, senior manager of collision repair, and his engineering team, which includes Dan Black, manager of service engineering; David Sosa, manager of the R&D workshop; Brandon Chittenden, manager of service vehicle data; and Taylor Jozwiak, technical collision repair operations manager.

Phillips said they are all experienced technicians who have worked in body shops in different capacities. “They’ve all been boots on the ground in that difficult situation that you guys find yourselves in every day, and that’s fixing the car that has been wrecked,” he said.

The team regularly visits its network shops to offer support and ensure their success. In addition, Rivian has a vendor program geared toward business-to-business relationships.

Rivian’s service engineering department uses CAD to determine how to repair cars safely and properly

“We do everything from paint to structural repairs,” explained Phillips. “It’s important that we make sure our paint color matches the availability of formulas.”

Collision centers that are part of Rivian’s certified repair network are then provided with the vehicles’ repair methods and procedures.

“Independent collision centers have made the commitment to partner with Rivian and we want to provide the tools and information needed to deliver an excellent customer experience,” he said.

The company’s data is housed at CCI Global Technologies, Rivian’s data aggregation partner, along with ITAS, the management tool used by network members.

“It allows shop owners to manage all of the things required for the program in a very interactive way,” Phillips explained.

Since joining the company in 2020, Phillips has visited more than 1,000 body shops, evaluating locations to qualify them for certification. Rivian is actively seeking additional facilities to take part in the program.

“To become certified, centers must meet specific requirements such as being up to date on training, having the specialty tools necessary to perform repairs and being conveniently located,” he explained.

Phillips said the OEM has high standards for those interested in joining.

“If you’re a well-equipped shop and you’re currently working on modern vehicles, you’re going to have the majority of the things required to be on the program,” noted Phillips.

A key element of the program is based on relationships. These include the relationships Rivian has

Shops can also expect postcertification actions where team members conduct a quality assessment to ensure the proper equipment is used and OEM procedures are followed.

“It’s really focused on the customer and repair quality is how we deliver the best outcomes,” said Phillips.

Rivian manufactures its batteries and drive units in-house, as well as many of the components. Currently, only certified collision centers have access to Rivian parts. In the future, the auto manufacturer expects to offer unrestricted parts to non-certified collision centers for structural components, such as fenders and bumpers.

However, with the car’s sensors and cameras, Phillips said almost every repair on a Rivian EV will require calibration. As a result, facilities must have access to a diagnostic capability. This can be an in-house operation or as of 2023, a partnership with a Rivian Certified Diagnostic Center (RCDC), a new certification added to the certified network to better support this repair requirement.

“We want to ensure the vehicles are fixed safely and properly, but also deliver that customer experience that we all expect,” he said.

Rivian’s flagship R1T was ranked “Best EV Ownership Experience among premium Battery Electric Vehicles” by J.D. Power in 2023.

Rivian has been contracted to develop and manufacture 100,000 electric delivery vans (EDVs) for Amazon

Frank Phillips, manager, certified collision North America at Rivian.

Rivian To Establish Remanufacturing Facility in Shepherdsville, KY

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear on April 27 announced leaders at EVmaker Rivian will invest $10 million to establish a remanufacturing facility in Bullitt County, creating 218 full-time, quality jobs.

Rivian currently stocks replacement parts at an existing 326,000-square-foot facility in Shepherdsville. This project will see the company improve and update the existing operation to establish a robust remanufacturing facility to support the warranty, repair and service footprint of the company’s EV trucks.

The investment will help expand the capability and capacity of this existing site to remanufacture critical components such as electrical hardware, drive units and battery systems.

“Kentucky’s manufacturing and EV industries have seen unprecedented growth recently,” said Beshear. “Continued investment in our key industries is critical for our immediate and longterm economic success. Rivian is an outstanding company that has been a major player in our state’s manufacturing and EV sectors,

and this expansion is an exciting next step for the company here in the commonwealth. I look forward to their continued success here.”

“We’re thrilled to be working with the State of Kentucky to help develop and expand Rivian’s first facility within the state,” said

in Normal, IL.

Rivian’s investment continues to solidify Kentucky’s position as a leader within the burgeoning EV sector, with significant investment throughout the past three years. Since June 2020, the commonwealth has seen more

Business Investment program. The performance-based agreement can provide tax incentives based on the company’s investment of $10 million and annual job and wage targets.

Additionally, KEDFA approved Rivian for tax incentives through the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA). KEIA allows approved companies to recoup Kentucky sales and use tax on construction costs, building fixtures, equipment used in research and development and electronic processing.

Jimmy Knauf, Rivian’s executive vice president of facilities. “Our new site in Shepherdsville will support multiple business-critical functions for Rivian and help bring good-paying jobs and training for Kentuckians in the region.”

Founded in 2009, Rivian designs, develops, manufactures and supports electric trucks, SUVs and commercial vehicles, including the Rivian R1T pickup, named 2022 MotorTrend Truck of the Year. The company employs more than 14,000 people and operates its principal manufacturing facility

than $10.6 billion in EV-related investments, with approximately 10,000 full-time jobs announced.

Rivian’s investment and planned job creation furthers recent economic momentum in the commonwealth, as the state builds back stronger from the effects of the pandemic.

To encourage investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) on April 27 preliminarily approved a 10-year incentive agreement with Rivian under the Kentucky

By meeting its annual targets over the agreement term, the company can be eligible to keep a portion of the new tax revenue it generates. The company may claim eligible incentives against its income tax liability and/or wage assessments.

In addition, Rivian can receive resources from Kentucky’s workforce service providers. Those include no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job-training incentives.

Source: Kentucky Cabinet For Economic Development

WIN Hosts Annual Educational Conference

By Abby Andrews Autobody News

The Women’s Industry Network (WIN) held its annual Educational Conference, May 1-3 in San Antonio, TX, themed “Reimagining Tomorrow,” offering a three-day chance for women in the collision repair industry to connect, learn and celebrate.

This was the second year the conference offered attendees the choice to attend in person or virtually.

Hiring and Retaining Employees Panel Discussion

On the second day, Jamie Shackleford of Caliber moderated a panel discussion on “Hiring and Retaining Good People,” joined by Jennifer Mayer of the TechForce Foundation, Keith Schaefer of Universal Technical Institute, Sullivan of GM, Mica Carawan of USAA, Olivia Peterson of Gerber Collision and Glass, and Yohanna Peet of Caliber.

top of their game when repairing these extremely sophisticated vehicles rolling out today.”

Schaefer said the industry has to “stop using economics to repair cars” and pay employees more.

“We have to compensate them if we’re going to keep young people in the industry,” he said. “They have to buy tools to build more skills, to buy more tools, etc. That is something that’s aggravated me forever. They don’t see an end.”

prototype development, augment the aftermarket repair supply chain and allow for the customization of parts, providing the “ultimate personalization opportunity.”

In her opening remarks May 1, WIN Board Chair Tanya Sweetland thanked everyone for taking the time out of their schedules to invest in themselves and their futures. She said WIN recently hit a new record number of members—800, more than half of whom represent sponsor organizations.

The three-day event featured many inspiring speakers, including Gina Schaefer, founder and CEO of a chain of Ace Hardware stores in Washington, D.C.; Patricia Walsh, an engineer, Paralympian and world record holder in the 140-mile paratriathlon distance; Shayla Rivera, a NASA aerospace engineer who is now a corporate trainer, speaker, comedian, writer and professor; Maysoon Zayid, a comedian, actress, writer and disability advocate; and Megan Sullivan, collision program manager for GM.

Also packed into the event were an NABC Recycled Rides presentation to two U.S. military veterans, a recognition of WIN scholarship winners and a gala awards ceremony, to recognize this year’s Most Influential Women winners.

Attendees also had two opportunities to give back, making no-sew blankets and writing cards for the troops via the nonprofit Soldier’s Angels, and participating in a walk to raise money for WIN’s scholarship fund.

The panelists talked about how to market the industry to Gen Z’ers aging into the workforce, cast a wider net when “fishing” for talent and retain good employees. Petersen said the industry should be looking for people with any hands-on skills, to “find ways to translate skills that may seem completely unrelated into something they can do in collision repair.”

“Anyone is a [job] candidate,” Peet said.

“The pond is pretty darn dry,” Mayer said. “We need to talk about how to stock the pond and bring people into the industry. Less than 3% of techs are women, so if you want to solve the tech shortage, welcome women.”

Mayer also said Gen Z is socially conscious and wants to have a positive impact, so it’s important the collision industry tells them why what they’d be doing matters.

Gen Z also wants to know why they should learn a skill, how they will be able to put it to use even if they change careers, what pay and career advancements they can expect and how they can achieve an acceptable work-life balance.

“People fall into the insurance and collision industries,” Carawan added. “We don’t do enough to talk about how exciting this career is.”

To retain employees, Sullivan said, help them see their path forward.

“A college grad is not just looking at the data analyst job [GM] is offering them, but looking at the lifelong career they could have with your company,” she said.

Petersen said when an employee has the drive to improve, employers should do whatever they can to help them. She suggested compensating for training, to keep employees “at the

Embracing New Technology

On the third day, Charlotte Creech, executive director for innovation for USAA, presented “The Future is Now,” in which she discussed how embracing advancing technology— rather than fearing it—can create unlimited opportunities amidst the unprecedented headwinds currently faced by the collision repair industry.

“There are real opportunities for us to serve our customers well while running our businesses more efficiently, by reducing friction and pain points during the repair cycle,” Creech said.

Creech gave examples of technology USAA is working with, “to help spark some interest to see what the future might look like.”

3D printing could speed up

Connected data—telemetry—is already transforming how USAA and its customers do business, as it can be used to write usage-based policies and get the repair process started immediately after sensing a collision. That same data could help collision repairers by enabling virtual estimations and streamline parts ordering.

USAA is using digital learning modules, which offer more flexibility and immersive, hands-on training for new claims adjusters. The same can work for collision repairers, Creech said. Porsche dealership technicians are already using smart glasses to link to the OEM’s tech support, allowing them to see in real time what the technician is seeing and help them troubleshoot issues.

“We can’t implement everything overnight; we have to plan for the long term,” Creech said.

WIN Conference Committee cochairs Yolanda Sandor and Blair Womble announced next year’s conference is set for May 6-8, 2024, in Newport Beach, CA. Registration will open in late 2023.

Jamie Shackleford, far right, of Caliber moderated a panel discussion on hiring and retaining employees, which included panelists, far left to right, Jennifer Mayer of the TechForce Foundation, Keith Schaefer of UTI, Megan Sullivan of GM, Mica Carawan of USAA, Olivia Peterson of Gerber Collision and Glass and Yohanna Peet of Caliber.

Shifting Customer Preferences, Technology, Staffing Issues Inspire Changes in Collision Repair Shops

By John Yoswick Autobody News

A Greek philosopher once said the only constant in life is change, and that certainly applies to the life of a collision repair business owner. Six shop owners shared what changes they’ve recently made within their business.

Tom Ricci, owner of Body & Paint Center in Hudson, MA, pointed to two such changes at his 21-employee business.

“I have had multiple problems with our last four or five bookkeepers. They just never seem to work out,” he said. “So I outsourced bookkeeping. It’s been almost a year now and it’s worked out, between cleaning up the last two or three years that other people made a mess of, and really making it simple moving forward. I don’t need an in-house bookkeeper anymore. It’s been a breath of fresh hair having this outsourced help.”

Ricci said he also began doing more ADAS work in-house as of last December.

“I got quite comfortable with the training and utilizing it the way we should have been utilizing it earlier,” he said. “We’re doing it now for any cars that need it, in-house. I was surprised by how much space it really does take, but we do have the space for it. We have 15,000 square feet, and not all of it was being 100% used all of the time. We started out with two managers learning how to do it. Now the production manager is training a lower-level tech that has been with us for about three years. We had moved him a couple different places in the shop, but this really struck a chord with him. He got real excited about learning how to do it.”

Changing Customer Communication

Rosann Kramer of Runway Auto in South Burlington, VT, spent 16 years working for one of the automotive paint companies before buying the shop in 2014. She said a three-month backlog of work and continued challenges with getting parts has led to some changes in customer communications.

“We are spending way more time talking to customers, explaining how long they are waiting to get their car fixed, the parts issues that everybody has, explaining rental car coverage,” Kramer said. “Previously we always told customers, ‘If possible, go through your own insurance because they’re advocating for you.’ Now it’s

the opposite. If they’re a claimant, we tell them, ‘File with the other [party’s] insurer because you could be in a rental car for three to six months.’

“Another change: I used to call customers and leave them a voicemail. But a lot of people never answer their phone, don’t have voicemail set up or it’s full,” Kramer continued. “So now we do email. I let them know when they drop off their vehicle that unless something

and more. I probably use the word ‘empathy’ about 10 times a day right now. Just listen to them, understand, tell them you’re on their side and that we’re doing everything we can.”

Technology-Focused Changes

Frank Rinaudo of Frank’s Accurate Body Shop in Slidell, LA, said his shop repairs 20 to 25 EVs a month, about a third of the company’s overall monthly car count.

doesn’t feel like we have enough to accomplish all the tasks we need to do daily.” Silva said she’s trying to bring in new technology to help.

“We’re using RepairLogic now to source [repair] procedures a little more efficiently,” she said. “All our technicians have a Gmail account, and we can send the link [from RepairLogic] to them and they can click on that and all the procedures are right there on their laptop. And we can attach that link into CCC. We’re no longer printing out 100 pages and rescanning those into CCC.”

Another change: “We’re also doing a lot of paint invoicing now because those paint material rates just do not cover what we’re spending,” Silva said.

Recruiting Changes

Mark Probst, owner of two Probst Auto Body shops in rural towns in Illinois, said he’s changed how he hires new technicians.

“We haven’t hired an experienced technician in, gosh, seven or eight years,” Probst said. “We decided we were going to grow them ourselves, in-house. We’ve been fairly successful at it. Right now between the two locations I think I have four full-time techs in their 20s. I’ve got two kids still in school working here part-time.”

changes, I will email them once a week with an update. That does seem to be working. But it’s just a lot more time spent on the education process.”

On the opposite side of the country, Melanie Allan of Craftsman Collision in Long Beach, CA, also pointed to changes in customer communication.

“I told a customer yesterday that we left them a detailed voicemail, and got back, ‘Oh, I don’t listen to those,’” Allan said. “So we are texting everybody everything. It seems to work.”

Allan learned the business working at her father’s collision repair shop in Vancouver, Canada, first as a bookkeeper, then moving into operations, marketing and management. She now oversees a shop that employs 22 people.

She said she also is working to address other changes she’s seeing in customers.

“As much as you try to educate them, tell them that parts are often a question mark, some customers are unreasonable, even when we try to set their expectations,” she said. “We tell them there are variables. They just hit the roof. We’re seeing that more

“Our processes on intaking those vehicles has changed, and is still changing,” he said. “We got some photos and information from other shops about electric cars that arrived and looked fine one day but by the next day they were a burnt mess because of thermal runaway. Even cars that didn’t look damaged that

Probst has also been able to regularly hire students from a community college about 40 miles from his shops.

badly. So it’s really important that we protect ourselves. We bought a thermal imaging camera so we can detect heat in the battery and monitor that in a quarantine to validate if we’re seeing an increase.”

Second-generation shop owner Tiffany Silva of Accurate Auto Body in Richmond, CA, said they have increased staffing the past three years to keep up with demand, but even with 25 employees, “it still

“I’ve been real happy, and at this point, there would be a lot of considerations before I would hire an experienced tech anymore,” he said. “We’ve had really good luck growing our own.”

He said he believes in getting the idea of working in the collision repair industry into students’ minds early on.

“We have kindergarteners come to our shop for field trips every year,” he said. “Last year, I talked to a class of fourth-graders. Last week, one of my managers went to talk to junior high students. I don’t think we can plant those seeds early enough. I have three teenagers at home, and so I know that many kids don’t know what they want to do. I don’t think there’s any time too early to plant those seeds.”

Melanie Allan of Craftsman Collision in Long Beach, CA, said her shop no longer leaves voicemails because customers don’t listen to them. They send texts instead

“We’re also doing a lot of paint invoicing now because those paint material rates just do not cover what we’re spending.”

TIFFANY SILVA OWNER, ACCURATE AUTO BODY, RICHMOND, CA

Karleigh Johnson Has Her Eyes on SkillsUSA National Gold

By Ed Attanasio Autobody News

High school senior Karleigh Johnson at Ratteree Career Development Center (RCDC) in Irving, TX, is a SkillsUSA star. She took the gold medal at the SkillsUSA district competition in February, held in Waco, TX, and then captured first place at the state finals in Corpus Christi, TX.

entered SkillsUSA and performed admirably, though he wasn’t able to get past the state level. He told himself one day he would get a student to take the whole thing. One of his students, Hector Martinez, won the state competition his first year, but a technicality kept him from going to nationals. The next year, Martinez finished second in the state, just like Cano.

And then in 2000, Cano finally found his collision star, a student named Geronimo Medrano, who won nationals under Cano’s tutelage. “He was a special kid and now he is doing well out in the industry, which is so satisfying,” Cano said.

For the past 23 years, Cano has been looking for his second champion, and Johnson may be the answer.

SkillsUSA is a national membership association serving high school, college and middle school students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including collision repair. It’s is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA helps each student excel.

week of the class,” Cano said. “She asked ‘Could I be in your class?’ and I asked why. She said, ‘I know how to do mechanical already, and I want to learn collision repair now.’ She was direct and very respectful and I had a sense that she would be a good student. She is smart and wants to

SkillsUSA competition, because she is a competitor and comes prepared.”

Cano always trains his students to compete, on top of the knowledge and skills he shares with every student about fixing and painting cars.

“Karleigh is already doing the same things professionally at Toyota of Irving, so it’s not going to be that much different,” he said. “I always tell all of my SkillsUSA students to focus carefully on every detail; get everything done right the first time and take what I have taught you into practice.”

There will be a bigger crowd at nationals, but Johnson does not seem to be nervous when she thinks about her upcoming trip to Atlanta.

Johnson was the sole female participant in the collision repair technician competition at state and now is headed for SkillsUSA Nationals, June 19-23 in Atlanta, GA.

Johnson’s instructor at RCDC, Felix Cano, is proud of his prize pupil. She is his only student to reach the national competition this year, of five who competed at the district level. Cano has 52 students in his collision repair program at RCDC, five of whom are young women.

The SkillsUSA Nationals are like the Super Bowl of high school collision repair, and Cano is a wellknown top teacher and coach. He is competitive himself, so whenever Cano has a contender like Johnson, he’s thrilled. He is delighted with Johnson’s presentation to date, and anticipates a strong performance in the nationals.

When she isn’t in class, Johnson works at Toyota of Irving as a technician, where they are also enamored with her work.

When he was a tech student, Cano

More than 340,000 students and advisors join SkillsUSA each year, organized into more than 19,000 local chapters and 52 state and territorial associations. In 201718, 19,500 teachers served as professional members and SkillsUSA advisors. Combining alumni membership, the total number reached annually is more than 421,000. SkillsUSA has served more than 13.5 million members since its founding in 1965.

More than 600 business, industry and labor organizations actively support SkillsUSA at the national level through financial aid, in-kind contributions and involvement of their people in SkillsUSA activities. Many more work directly with state associations and local chapters. Commitment by industry to the annual national SkillsUSA Championships is valued at more than $36 million.

The initial meeting between Cano and Johnson was random and wonderful.

“She was watching us weld and doing body work during the third

learn—everything you could want in a student.”

Cano sensed something with Johnson that intrigued him immediately, he said.

“Some students don’t want to compete, but Karleigh has those killer eyes,” Cano said. “When she decides to solve a problem or take on a challenge, she will succeed. That’s why I thought she would do well in the

“When I get up there, I have the ability to stay calm,” she said. “I don’t get hyped up and I go with the flow. Mr. Cano tells me to stay cool and do my best.”

Hopefully her best will bring her the gold, she said.

“I have been training for this for so long and learned so much along the way,” Johnson said. “Winning the SkillsUSA Nationals would help me in college and lead to other opportunities—so I am definitely excited!”

Karleigh Johnson, left, a student at Rateree Career Development Center, with her teacher, Felix Cano, at SkillsUSA Regionals

“I have been training for this for so long and learned so much along the way. Winning the SkillsUSA Nationals would help me in college and lead to other opportunities—so I am definitely excited!”

— KARLEIGH JOHNSON COLLISION REPAIR TECH STUDENT

Parents Sue Kia

Kevin Payne Jr., 16, and Ahjanae Harper, 14.

The teens who died were ejected from the Sportage.

The 16-year-old driver suffered minor injuries and was released from the hospital. At the time he was charged with criminal possession of stolen property and unauthorized use of a vehicle, then released to later appear in court.

Currently he is facing much more serious charges, including four counts of second-degree manslaughter.

Another occupant of the stolen Sportage was a 14-year-old girl who was hospitalized and later released.

The Kia theft lawsuit was filed by the mothers of Kevin Payne Jr. and Swazine Swindle, and both mothers claim the only reason their children are dead is because the Kia Sportage was not equipped with an immobilizer.

The lawsuit alleges the teens lost their lives “because of the reckless and negligent behavior of Kia” which “caused their beloved sons’ premature deaths.”

Hyundai and Kia Theft Lawsuits

Since the Hyundai and Kia theft videos began appearing online in 2021,

more than 200 lawsuits, mostly class actions, have been filed against the automakers blaming them for the thefts and resulting damage, injuries and deaths. Those lawsuits allege all 2011-2021 Hyundai and Kia models are defective, and at least 17 state attorneys general have joined the bruhaha and told Hyundai and Kia to recall all the vehicles. In addition, multiple insurance companies have also sued the automakers.

However, federal safety defect recalls are issued for safety defects, not because criminals break into vehicles and steal them.

Furthermore, numerous cities have filed lawsuits against the automakers by alleging it isn’t the fault of teenage criminals in their cities that have caused the thefts. Those cities claim Hyundai and Kia caused the problem because non-mandated engine immobilizers were not included on the stolen vehicles. One of those cities that sued is Buffalo, where the four New York teens died in the stolen Kia Sportage. Although multiple cities and states blame Hyundai and Kia for the thefts, some of the teens involved in the thefts have been arrested, but they were immediately released from custody.

In one incident which occurred in New York, two boys, ages 15 and 16, stole a Kia, crashed the vehicle then fled the scene. Police later found the

two teens and took them into custody. However, they were only issued appearance tickets and released.

This was after the 16-year-old had already been issued an earlier appearance ticket and released after stealing a Hyundai vehicle two weeks before. And days ago, Chicago teens stole a Hyundai which crashed into a vehicle carrying a family in a Ford truck. Chicago police said two boys, ages 17 and 14, face one misdemeanor count of criminal trespassing. The crash killed a 6-month old child.

Most Stolen Vehicles in 2021

More than 200 lawsuits and other actions claim the thefts and crashes were caused by a lack of engine immobilizers in all 2011-2021 Hyundai and Kia models. If the problem is due to a lack of engine immobilizers, then it follows model year 2011-2021 Hyundai and Kia vehicles would be on the top of the list for most stolen models.

However, in 2021 before teenage criminals were being influenced by online videos, no Hyundai or Kia model made the top 10 most-stolen vehicle list in 2021 based on data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).

Top 10 Stolen Vehicles For 2021

1. Chevrolet Pick-Up (Full Size)

2. Ford Pick-Up (Full Size)

3. Honda Civic

4. Honda Accord

5. Toyota Camry

6. GMC Pick-Up (Full Size)

7. Nissan Altima

8. Honda CR-V

9. Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee

10. Toyota Corolla

The research doesn’t track how many of those stolen vehicles were equipped with engine immobilizers. Additionally, lawyers haven’t announced if the above automakers will be sued because criminals broke into and stole the vehicles.

Hyundai and Kia have always insisted teenagers are causing the problems, not a lack of immobilizers. The automakers say all the vehicles meet federal safety standards, but because of all the heat poured on them, Hyundai and Kia are taking action to make it more difficult to steal the vehicles.

The Kia theft lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York: Sherisse Payne, Individually, and as the Proposed Administrator of the Estate of Kevin Payne, Jr., and Tysheen Daniels, Individually, and as the Proposed Administrator of the Estate of Swazine Swindle, vs. Kia Corporation, et al.

The plaintiffs are represented by MLG Attorneys At Law, APLC, and Richmond Vona, LLC.

Cole Strandberg

EVs: Opportunities Outweigh Challenges for Collision Repair Shops

As the automotive industry continues to shift towards electric vehicles (EVs), collision repair businesses have a significant opportunity to stand out by investing in the training and equipment necessary to repair EVs properly.

While EVs offer many benefits, including reduced emissions and lower operating costs, they do

EVs also have unique structural components that require specialized knowledge and training to repair. For example, many EVs have aluminum or carbon fiber bodies that require specialized welding techniques. Repair businesses must have the necessary training and certification to perform these repairs properly. Failure to do so can result in additional damage to the vehicle or even compromise its safety.

This, among other reasons, will likely force collision repairers to specialize. While this evolution toward specialization among collision repairers is already underway, this process will likely only continue to speed up as cars continue to become more advanced and parts become even more difficult to obtain.

of the benefits of EVs, many will be looking for repair businesses that have the skills and expertise to repair their vehicles properly. By investing in training and equipment, repair businesses can position themselves as leaders in a rapidly evolving

to stand out by investing in the training and equipment necessary to repair EVs properly. While this investment can be challenging, it can also pay off in the long run by positioning businesses as experts in the field, attracting new customers and benefiting from the growing demand for skilled technicians to repair EVs.

With the right investment in training and equipment, collision repair businesses can remain competitive and grow their business in an increasingly electrified transportation sector.

present unique challenges when it comes to collision repair.

One of the main differences between repairing an EV and an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle is the safety considerations. In an ICE vehicle, the primary safety concern is fuel, while in an EV, it’s the high-voltage battery system. Highvoltage batteries require specialized knowledge and equipment to disconnect and remove them safely from the vehicle during repair. Collision repair businesses must invest in safety equipment and ensure their technicians are properly trained in handling and disposing damaged batteries.

Another challenge for collision repair businesses is the need for specialized diagnostic equipment to identify and repair faults in the electrical system. EVs have complex electrical systems that require specialized diagnostic equipment to interface with the car’s computer systems and determine the extent of the damage. This diagnostic equipment can be expensive, and not all repair businesses may have the resources to invest in it.

However, this investment can pay off in the long run, as it allows technicians to accurately identify the damage and ensure the vehicle is fully repaired to its original standards. Additionally, this investment serves as a moat, of sorts, against the competition. For shops willing to invest, the growth opportunities provided by EVs are immense.

Investing in the training and equipment required to repair EVs properly can also represent a significant opportunity for collision repair businesses. As more consumers choose EVs over ICE vehicles, the demand for skilled technicians to repair these vehicles is only going to increase. By positioning themselves as experts in the field, collision repair businesses can set themselves apart from their competitors and capitalize on this growing demand.

Moreover, manufacturers are now providing more support to collision repair businesses that wish to invest in training and equipment to repair EVs properly. For example, Tesla has developed a collision repair program that provides collision repair businesses with access to specialized training and equipment to repair its vehicles. Rivian offers a helpline for shops within their collision program, providing real-time assistance from a real person for any technical questions or issues shops might have.

In addition, some manufacturers are also providing repair businesses with access to online resources and support to help them repair EVs properly. These resources can include technical manuals, repair procedures and diagnostic tools, all of which can help repair businesses accurately diagnose and repair damage to EVs.

Finally, investing in the training and equipment necessary to repair EVs properly can also help repair businesses attract new customers. As more consumers become aware

industry and attract new customers who are looking for quality repair services.

In conclusion, as the automotive industry shifts towards electric vehicles, collision repair businesses have a significant opportunity

If you’re interested in the world of EVs and their impact on the collision repair industry, be sure to check out The Collision Vision, Autobody News’ collision business-focused podcast. In Episode 6, we feature Kelly Logan, senior manager for Rivian’s collision repair program. We’ll have more EV-focused content coming soon. You can find information about The Collision Vision at www. autobodynews.com/podcasts.

“As the automotive industry shifts towards EVs, collision repair businesses have an opportunity to stand out by investing in the training and equipment necessary to repair them properly.”

COLE STRANDBERG

Roadway Fatalities Appear To Remain Flat in 2022 After 2 Years of Dramatic Increases

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has released its latest projections for traffic fatalities in 2022, estimating 42,795 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes. This represents a small decrease of about 0.3% as compared to 42,939 fatalities reported for 2021.

The estimated fatality rate decreased to 1.35 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2022, down from 1.37 fatalities per 100 million VMT in 2021. Americans are driving more than they did during the height of the pandemic, almost a 1% increase over 2021.

NHTSA also projects fatalities declined in the fourth quarter of 2022. This is the third straight quarterly decline in fatalities after seven consecutive quarters of increases that started in the third quarter of 2020.

“We continue to face a national crisis of traffic deaths on our roadways, and everyone has a role to play in reversing the rise that we experienced in recent years,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Through our National Roadway Safety Strategy, we’re strengthening traffic safety across

the country, and working toward a day when these preventable tragedies are a thing of the past.”

NHTSA estimates 27 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are projected to have had decreases in fatalities in 2022 as compared to 2021, while 23 states are projected to have experienced increases.

people, safer vehicles, safer speeds and better post-crash care.

The NRSS is complemented by unprecedented safety funding included in President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and in February, the department announced more than $800 million in grants to help communities carry out projects that can address high-crash areas. DOT also launched the next phase of the NRSS, its Call to Action campaign, and released a one-year progress report and accompanying data visualizations that highlight the extent and magnitude of the U.S. roadway safety problem.

• Issued the Complete Streets Report to Congress: Moving to a Complete Streets Design Model.

• Issued a final rule on rear impact guards.

• Advanced the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices rulemaking effort, analyzing and resolving the more than 25,000 public comments.

• Published a Supplemental Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking concerning speed limiters with a motor carrierbased approach.

• Released proposals for upgrades and a “road map” for the New Car Assessment Program—including developing a proposal to add a pedestrian protection program to NCAP.

In January 2022, DOT released the comprehensive National Roadway Safety Strategy, a roadmap to address the national crisis in traffic fatalities and serious injuries. It adopts the Safe System Approach and builds multiple layers of protection with safer roads, safer

The department’s other roadway safety actions include:

• Produced the Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment to guide states on required 2023 assessments.

• Made significant progress to advance pedestrian automatic emergency braking rulemaking.

• Issued a Standing General Order to collect more data about crashes that occur when automated driving systems and advanced driver assistance systems are engaged.

Source: NHTSA

ASE Now Has 2,200+ World Class Technicians

With the addition of 44 individuals, there are now 2,224 automotive service professionals who are recognized as World Class Technicians by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).

A joint program of ASE and the Auto Care Association, the ASE World Class Technicians’ program recognizes an exclusive group of highly skilled professional technicians. ASE has added a special section to its website at www.ase. com/worldclass with a roster dating back to the start of the program in 1986. To receive world-class recognition, an automotive service professional must attain 22 specific ASE certifications.

Among the estimated 887,000 technicians in the U.S., only 2,224 have earned world class recognition in more than 30 years.

Recognition includes a certificate signed by the presidents of ASE and the Auto Care Association, an embroidered shoulder insignia, a personalized plaque and a medallion kit.

Source: ASE

l CONTINUED FROM COVER

7th School

while students earn their associate degree. This unique model provides students the opportunity to earn an income while completing their training. For employers to participate in the program, sponsorship is required. In Champaign, seven local employers, including leading national MSOs, have already signed up to partner with CEP and provide apprenticeships to Parkland CEP students.

“Parkland College is re-engaging the collision repair community through a newly designed apprenticeship technician training program,” said Jon Ross, Parkland College department chair for applied sciences and technologies. “Technician training today requires a different approach utilizing extensive resources from the industry. Our partnership with the Collision Engineering Program has been invaluable in connecting Parkland and our students to these industry resources. “Barriers to student enrollment can be significantly reduced when industry and education work together,” Ross continued. “Parkland is committed to serving our employer partners by adapting to changing industry training needs and joining CEP’s network of training centers gives

us the opportunity to collaborate with its network and grow the collision repair industry together.”   Parkland College currently has a Ford ASSET Program, a two-year program supporting the demand for entry-level service technicians with certifications from Ford. Additionally, its proximity to several collision repair facilities, MSOs and Ford’s manufacturing plant in Chicago makes Parkland College a great school for the program. Expanding the CEP model to Parkland students offers a significant opportunity to revitalize collision repair across the region. Support from the Ford Fund will offer Parkland CEP students access to scholarships and will cover program startup costs, instructor training, school equipment such as lab materials, and student-centered resources such as toolkits, uniforms, PPE, certifications, tuition assistance and assessments. Enrollment for the Parkland College Automotive Collision Repair Program is now open with classes beginning in fall 2023. “The skills needed to obtain and retain jobs are evolving rapidly, and high-quality collision repair careers are in demand. Ford Fund is proud to partner with organizations committed to removing roadblocks and prioritizing student resource needs to become tomorrow’s collision repair professionals,” said Ford Motor Company Fund Economic

Mobility Director Mike Schmidt. “The CEP program at Parkland College takes an exciting earn-as-you-learn approach to prepare students for career readiness. Together we’re building a support system around student needs, from access to scholarship opportunities to modern collision engineering facilities and tools.” In addition to Parkland College, the CEP model is offered at Ranken Technical College in St. Louis, MO; College of Lake County in Grayslake, IL; Contra Costa College in San Pablo, CA; Collin College in Allen, TX; Texas State Technical College in Waco, TX; and Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, NE.

“The addition of Parkland College is another important step in increasing access to quality collision engineering education for more students across the country,” said Enterprise Holdings Vice President Mary Mahoney. “We’re extremely grateful to be partnering with the Ford Motor Company through its philanthropic arm, the Ford Fund, to show how working together across our industry can make a meaningful difference in tackling the worker shortage and skills gap.”

Source: Enterprise Holdings Foundation and Ford Motor Company Fund

ILLINOIS

Please contact these dealers for your Honda or Acura Genuine parts needs.

Honda of Lisle

Lisle

866-874-6632

630-437-5299

Dept Hours: M-F 7-5 WholesaleParts@HondaofLisle com

INDIANA

Bob Rohrman Honda

Lafayette

765-588-9984

765-448-1000

Dept Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 8-3 Brho partsmgr@rohrman com

Suburban Honda

Farmington Hills

248-427-7996

Dept Hours: M, Thu 7-8; Tue, W, F 7-6; Sat 8-3 nowiesny@suburbancollection�com

Victory Honda

Plymouth

800-824-4646

734-453-3600

Dept Hours: M-F 7:30-7; Sat 8-4 Robert rosenau@victorytoyota com

Ziegler Honda

Kalamazoo

855-513-4477

269-585-5812

Dept Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-2 glenloubsky@ziegler com

Brookdale Honda

Brooklyn Center

800-899-8900

763-331-6880

Dept Hours: M-Thu 7-9; F 7-6; Sat 8-6 parts@lutherbrookdalehonda com

Luther Hopkins Honda Hopkins

800-328-6016

952-908-8585

Dept Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 8-4 parts@hopkinshonda�com

Richfield-Bloomington Honda

Richfield

800-328-2703

612-866-8197

Dept Hours: M-Thu 6:30-9; F 6:30-6; Sat 6:30-5 parts@rbhonda com

Bommarito Honda

Hazelwood 800-731-8270

314-731-8270

Dept Hours: M-Sat 7-6 cmelvin@bommarito net

Ed Napleton Honda

St Peters 800-875-4190

636-928-4400

Dept� Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 7-5 gethondaparts@napleton com

Columbia Honda Columbia 573-818-3650

Dept Hours: M-F 8-5:30; Sat 8-4 gropp@columbiahonda com

Honda of Tiffany Springs Kansas City 816-452-3221

Dept� Hours: M-Fri 7-6; Sat 7-2 parts@hondats com

Superior Honda Omaha Omaha 402-408-1100

Dept Hours: M-F 7-5:30; Sat 7-5

ILLINOIS OHIO

McGrath Acura of Morton Grove

Morton Grove

847-470-2308

Dept Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7-4 acparts@mcgrathag com

Jay Wolfe Acura of Overland Park

Overland Park

913-648-2287

Dept Hours: M-F 7-5; Sat 8-4 wozburn@jaywolfe�com

Acura of Troy Troy

800-935-0923

248-643-0900

Dept Hours: M-F 8-6 parts286@acuraoftroy com parts287@acuraoftroy com

Luther Bloomington Acura

Bloomington

800-451-5078

952-887-0600

Dept� Hours: M 6:30-6; Tue-F 6:30-9; Sat 8-4 parts@bloomingtonacura com

Columbia Acura Cincinnati 844-677-4902

513-530-0698

Dept Hours: M-F 8-5:30; Sat 8-12 columbiaparts@email com

Apostolakis Honda

Cortland

800-900-4600

330-638-3060

Dept Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 8-4 parts@apostolakisauto com

Jay Honda Bedford

800-509-9057

440-786-3363

Dept� Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-4 jayhondaparts@gmail com

Mike Anderson — From the Desk of Mike Anderson

Calculating the ROI in ‘Growing’ Your Own New Body Techs

More collision repair shops are recognizing they’ll never be able to find all the experienced body technicians they will need, and they instead will need to develop one—or more—themselves. So they are hiring an apprentice, and either training them in-house or sending them to training while they work part-time in the shop.

period at the school. The student also finishes the program with a starter tool box and I-CAR credits.

How long will it take the shop to recoup its investment in that student and start generating a return? Let’s work through the math.

It’s that model of schooling coupled with work experience that makes me a huge supporter of the Collision Engineering Program (www. beacollisionengineer.com). Now in place at seven post-secondary schools—and growing—around the country, the Collision Engineering Program puts students through a two-year training regimen in which they rotate eight weeks at school, then eight weeks working within a shop.

I see many of my client shops doing the math and realizing they can receive a good return on their investment in helping a student complete a training program at a school that’s part of the Collision Engineering Program, or at one of the other quality collision repair training programs around the country.

In some cases, these shops are telling these prospective apprentices: If you successfully complete the program, in addition to your other pay and benefits, we’ll pay your monthly student loan payments as long as you’re working within our business.

So how does that pencil out? Obviously, the cost of a student’s training can vary based on the school’s tuition, and on whether the student is attending a local school or needing room and board to attend a program elsewhere. But just for the purpose of this article, let’s say the cost the shop is committing to is $40,000. In this example, that covers two years of tuition and room and board while the student is spending each eight-week

Prior to the pandemic, we were seeing the average body technician generating about $53,000 to $63,000 a month in gross sales. That number has risen in the last few years as the average number of parts per job— as well as ADAS-related steps—have increased overall repair costs. And I’ve seen technicians at shops with great estimators, particularly if they are working on higherend vehicles in markets with higher labor rates, producing as much as $75,000 or $80,000 per month in sales.

But again, for purposes of this exercise, let’s say the body technician you’re investing in is able to produce $60,000 a month in gross sales.

Now, say your shop is making a 43% gross profit. That’s unloaded without taking employee benefits into account. I know some shops making less than that, and some making more. But let’s stick with 43%.

If you calculate 43% of $60,000, that technician is generating $25,800 in gross profit per month for that shop. For technicians reading this article, understand that is gross profit. That’s not net profit for the shop owner. Out of that gross profit, the shop has to pay its rent and utilities, pay its taxes and pay for its administrative staff, pay for training and the estimating system costs, etc.

So now let’s divide that $25,800 by the 180 clock hours the technician in this example works in a month (four weeks of 45 hours each). That technician is producing $143.33 in gross profit per hour. Again, this is just for the purposes of this article; some technicians produce more, others less.

Let’s just say your apprentice is able to produce $100 an hour in gross profit. It will take 10 weeks, at 40 hours per week, for that technician to generate gross profit equal to the $40,000 you invested in their education.

Again, that doesn’t take into account a lot of things, like the cost

of health insurance you provide, uniforms, vacation pay, workers’ compensation insurance premiums, etc. But even if you calculate it will take twice that long, 20 weeks, that’s still not a particularly long period for your investment to start providing a return.

technicians to OEM or other ongoing training. But if that training improves their productivity or efficiency, the exercise we just walked through can show you the potential return on that investment.

Aside from that, think of the loyalty you’re building in that technician who knows his or her student debt is being paid by the business as long as they work there.

I know with most shops being extremely busy these days, owners often hate the idea of sending

It’s also a good calculation to perform when you think of anything that pulls that technician away from working steadily on vehicles. Every time that technician has to go look for a part or a tool, every time that technician is writing their own supplement notes or having to walk to the office for something, that’s costing your shop the equivalent of $100+ per hour in gross profit. That’s one of the reasons I’m a huge proponent of having an estimator/ repair planner working out in the shop, to help ensure the technicians are able to stay on task.

In any case, I think we all have to start thinking a little out of the box in terms of recruiting and retaining technicians, and making an investment into “growing your own” can have a significant return.

“How long will it take the shop to recoup its investment in that student and start generating a return? Let’s work through the math.”

MIKE ANDERSON

7911 W. Roosevelt Road Forest Park, IL 60130

(708) 366-8820

INDIANA EXPRESSWAY DODGE 5401 E. Virginia Street Evansville, IN 47715

(800) 800-1259

Fax: (812) 437-9590

IOWA

Urbandale, IA 50323

(515) 331-2901

KANSAS

PARKS MOTORS 11987 SW US Highway 54 Augusta, KS 67010

(316) 775-4390

MICHIGAN

3800 S. Lapeer Road

Lake Orion, MI 48359

(800) 331-9416 | (248) 276-2593

MINNESOTA

MILLS PARTS CENTER

2508 Airport Drive SW

Willmar, MN 56201 (800) 247-1158

OHIO

6300 North Ridge Road Madison, OH 44057 (440) 417-1063 | (877) 940-8670

Ohio Handheld Ban Has Reduced Distracted Driving More Than 8%

Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT), the world’s largest telematics service provider, on April 25 announced a new analysis on the distracted driving levels in Ohio, just three weeks after the state enacted a handheld phone ban.

The analysis shows Ohio drivers spent an average of 1 minute and 39 seconds per hour on the road handling their phones in March. Since the handheld ban began April 4, phone motion distraction has fallen to an average of 1 minute and 31 seconds per hour, a drop of more than 8%.

CMT’s data shows every 10% decrease in distracted driving reduces the crash rate by 1.4%. CMT estimates the 8% reduction in distraction in Ohio since April 4 has helped prevent more than 300 crashes, one fatality and $8 million in economic damages.

“In CMT’s research across states analyzing the impact of handheld bans since 2018, we know that they work in the short term and they are critically important. The challenge is maintaining the gains states make

after the bans go into effect,” said Ryan McMahon, SVP of strategy for CMT. “We’re excited to be able to share these results just three weeks after Ohio’s ban went into effect and provide feedback to the road safety community. Telematics is the only way to measure these changes in driving behavior at scale in real time.”

CMT has measured the impact of hands-free legislation across eight other states since 2018. On average, states have seen a 16% reduction in phone motion distraction in the week following the law’s implementation compared to the month before. This impact fades to 13% after three months. However, by the end of 2022, the phone motion rate across the eight states was 3% higher compared to the month before the law.

CMT defines phone motion distraction as when the phone is rotating with the screen on while the vehicle is moving. Auto insurers use phone motion in usage-based insurance pricing to assess risk, and can impact a driver’s premium.

Phone motion distraction has increased consistently in Ohio since 2020. In 2020, drivers spent an average of 1 minute and 30 seconds per hour handling their phones while driving. In 2021, that number increased to 1 minute and 34 seconds. By 2022, phone motion distraction reached 1 minute and 40 seconds, an 11% increase compared to 2020. From January through March 2023, the average was 1 minute and 41 seconds.

There has been no consistent pattern in seasonal phone motion levels in Ohio since 2020. In 2020, phone motion surged by 14% in the spring, when the WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. In 2021, the spring and summer seasons saw the highest levels of phone motion distraction, with an average of 1 minute and 35 seconds per hour. In 2022, winter was the highest season, with 1 minute and 41 seconds per hour.

The current 8% drop in phone motion distraction in Ohio is the biggest the state has seen since 2020.

Source: Cambridge Mobile Telematics

ASE Announces New EV Standards, Certification

The National Institute for Automotive Service (ASE) announced the creation of EV technician/shop personnel electrical safety standards.

The purpose of the standards is to provide guidance, document and establish electrical safety requirements, standards, procedures and safe work practices relating to the development of an electrically safe working area for service professionals in North America working on or around electrified vehicles (xEVs). The intent is to minimize exposure to these hazards and their associated impacts.

In addition to the EV Standards, ASE has developed a new testing and certification program for all xEV vehicles including light duty and medium/heavy duty hybrid/ electric vehicles (EV) based on the standards.

To learn more about the new standards and program, visit www.ase.com/ev.

Source: ASE

Auto Insurance Shopping, Switch Rates Reach New Highs As Premiums Surge

The nation’s auto insurers are locked in a vicious cycle of inflation, rising premiums and steadily increasing customer defection rates. The result, according to the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study, released April 27, is a sharper focus on saving money as large numbers of auto insurance customers shop for new policies and switch to new carriers, largely based on price.

“Auto insurance customers are starting to shop for insurance like they shop for gas,” said  Stephen Crewdson, senior director, insurance business intelligence at J.D. Power. “They are taking a much more active stance in seeking out plans that fit their needs and their budgets, which could have a serious longterm effect on carriers that have been working for years to build lifetime value through bundling and other initiatives. In the near term, this shopping trend manifests itself in increased customer interest in usage-based insurance (UBI) plans and some reshuffling of market share among the top carriers.”

Following are some key findings of the 2023 study:

Auto insurance shopping increases while customer satisfaction stagnates: Average overall satisfaction among auto insurance shoppers is 861 (on a 1,000-point scale), which is flat from a year ago, even though shopping and switching rates have increased in the same period. The 30-day average shopping rate reached 13.1% in March 2023, the highest rate since June 2021 and well above the 2021 average of 11.4%. The 30-day average switch rate hit 4.1% in March 2023, which compares to an average of 3.4% for all of 2021.

Price hikes spur new-policy shopping rates: Auto insurance costs rose 14.5% in February 2023, more than twice the rate of inflation (6%), making auto insurance account for a steadily increasing share of consumer discretionary spending. Accordingly, among those shopping for reasons of price, 44% say they are price checking and 42% say they are being spurred by a rate increase. Similarly, 41% of those shopping because of a rate increase say that their rate increased 20% or more.

UBI starts to go mainstream: UBI programs, which use telematics

software to monitor a customer’s driving style and assign rates based on safety and mileage metrics, are now offered to 22% of insurance shoppers and are purchased 18% of the time. Those numbers are up from a 16% offer rate and a 12% purchase rate in 2020. When carriers offer a UBI option, customer satisfaction increases 6 points.

Progressive gains market share as GEICO slows: GEICO raised its rates significantly above industry average throughout much of the second half of 2022 while Progressive raised rates in the first quarter of 2022 and then registered lower-than-average increases during the second half of the year. During the same period, Progressive posted a notable gain in market share, becoming the secondlargest auto insurer in the United States, ahead of GEICO and behind State Farm.

Study Rankings

State Farm ranks highest among large auto insurers in providing a satisfying purchase experience for a third consecutive year, with a score of 877. Liberty Mutual (865) ranks second and Nationwide (861) ranks

third. The segment average is 861.

The Hartford ranks highest among midsize auto insurers for a second consecutive year, with a score of 887. Erie Insurance (878) ranks second and Automobile Club of Southern California (AAA) (870) ranks third. The segment average is 863.

Large insurers have direct premiums written of $4.5 billion or more in personal lines auto, while midsize insurers have direct premiums written of $1 billion-$4.499 billion in personal lines auto.

Now in its 17th year, the U.S. Insurance Shopping Study captures advanced insight into each stage of the shopping funnel and is based on responses from 10,845 insurance customers who requested an auto insurance price quote from at least one competitive insurer in the previous nine months. The study was fielded from March 2022 through January 2023.

For more information about the U.S. Insurance Shopping Study, visit https://www.jdpower. com/business/resource/jd-powerus-insurance-shopping-study

Source: J.D. Power

Freer Auto Body in Godfrey, IL, Earns Small Business Honor

The RiverBend Growth Association has chosen its May Small Business of the Month award honoree to be Freer Auto Body & Accessories, Inc. of Godfrey, IL.

Located at 4512 N. Alby Road, Freer Auto Body has been a business mainstay now for 31 years with 16 employees who all have a part in supporting “the dream.” This dream was launched into reality by a young 19-year-old entrepreneur in 1991, with help from his grandfather, his brother and his whole family. David Freer was that young man with a vision. His grandfather was Arnold Freer, an auto body man with a genuine talent.

Freer Auto Body remains a true family-owned business today.

“We lost David in 2008,” noted Margaret Freer, David’s mother, who helps in keeping his vision going as a part of the family business. “But we have continued his legacy of quality repairs and excellent customer service. We have never forgotten our meager beginnings, and we truly feel the community has made us what we are today.”

Tim Freer, David’s brother and founding co-owner, now leads the business and its team forward.

Freer Auto Body is rated in the top 1% of auto repair facilities throughout the U.S. for quality and service. It is an I-CAR Gold Class facility and continues to keep on top of the constant changes in the industry. Today, its facility occupies three buildings, roughly 13,000 square feet of space.

“We are constantly investing in our business and upgrading facilities and equipment,” said Margaret Freer. “We have the most modern equipment and products in the industry. Not only do we invest in our business, but also our surroundings. We have purchased eight homes on Alby and renovated them, improving our immediate area and the community.”

Further investments in the community from Freer Auto Body can be witnessed through their ongoing community service. The Salvation Army, Crisis Food Center, and the North Alton Godfrey Business Council are just a few of the local nonprofits supported by the Freer family business.

“We founded Christmas in July and Cookies and Cocoa for Community Christmas, which raise thousands of dollars each year for our area needy. Without these events, many in our area would not experience the magic of Christmas,” Margaret Freer said.

“We have painted golf cars, rescue boats, ambulances, fire trucks and watering buggies free of charge for local charities and organizations,” she added. “We sponsor soccer, basketball, baseball and just about

every nonprofit in our area with a mission to help our area and its people. We genuinely believe we have made a difference in our community, helping to make it a better place to live, work and play.”

$70,” she said. “All big challenges, and unfortunately some small businesses will not survive.

“I was always told your name means everything, and in business this is very true,” she added. “If you have a bad reputation, people will not want to use your business.

I am proud of the reputation we have achieved. We have been voted the best in auto body repair every year. We always go the extra mile for our customers and operate our business on the Golden Rule.

She also recognizes the role small businesses have as the backbone of America.

“This has always been my favorite saying: ‘When you own your own business, you just work half days; 6 in the morning until 6 at night.’ But we consider our greatest opportunity to be the pleasure of meeting our customers and making their experiences less stressful,” she said. “We have met and befriended many fellow business owners and customers over the past 31 years, and we would not trade this experience for anything.”

To learn more about Freer Auto Body & Accessories, Inc., visit freerautobody. com or call 618-466-6151.

She noted they would like to hire more technicians for their shop but said they are hard to find these days. The shop has instituted a four-day work week for the techs they do have, working four 10-hour days to help with a lesser commute and reduced fuel consumption for the employees.

“We spend between $20 and $25,000 on certifications and training for our staff a year,” Freer said. “I-CAR Gold Class is the highest level of training you can accomplish in our industry, and we have had those credentials since 2004. We pay all fees for training and certifications; employees are required to complete so many classes in their areas of expertise.

“Any time you own a business you face challenges. Our worst was probably the loss of David and how we had to pick up the pieces and carry on, all while grieving his loss,” she said.

She also shared some other challenges met with opportunity for the company.

“We survived COVID and all the challenges it brought. Our employees are like family, and many have been with us for a very long time, but just managing people and their different personalities can be challenging,” she said. “Our newest challenge is inflation and trying to pay the $6,300 a month electric bill, increasing health insurance fees and skyrocketing material costs, all while being regulated by insurance companies that are facing some of their own challenges.

“Mechanical repair rates are $130 an hour, and insurance companies do not have a problem paying this, but auto body facilities have the same expenses for training, etc., and our rate is only

“We have worked long and hard to get where we are today. Nothing was given. We opened with faith and have grown with support. We are proud of our success and our accomplishments, which our customers and the community have made possible. We truly give back daily, and we are grateful for our ability to give and to help make our community shine,” she said.

The RiverBend Growth Association is the Chamber of Commerce and economic development organization for the 11 communities known as the Riverbend. For more information, visit www.growthassociation.com or call 618-467-2280.

RBGA’s Small Business of the Month Committee recognizes a different member business each month for its outstanding efforts and leadership in the community. Committee members include Brenda Eardley, Adrianna Lock, Sam Quigley, Amy Roady, Kristen Ryrie, Martha Schultz and Amy Smith

The RiverBend Growth Association has chosen its May 2023 Small Business of the Month award honoree to be Freer Auto Body & Accessories, Inc. of Godfrey, IL. Pictured are Margaret, Mike, Tim and Carrie. Credit: RiverBend Growth Association

Tesla Sudden Unintended Acceleration Causes Federal Petition

By David A. Wood CarComplaints.com

Tesla sudden unintended acceleration events have caused a Greek resident to file a petition with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). According to the petition, the automaker should recall more than 1.6 million vehicles built since 2013.

The Tesla petition was submitted by Greek resident Costas Lakafossis, who describes himself as a mechanical and aeronautical engineer as well as an accident investigator.

The petitioner alleged all Tesla vehicles should be equipped with an “interlock that requires a brake application by the driver in order to shift from DRIVE to REVERSE to reduce the number of sudden unintended acceleration events.”

Tesla Sudden Unintended Acceleration

The typical description of “sudden unintended acceleration” is a problem caused not by the driver but by electrical or mechanical

malfunctions of the Tesla vehicle.

In cases of investigations and lawsuits regarding alleged Tesla sudden unintended acceleration incidents, acceleration problems may be caused by defects in the vehicles or by software errors that take control away from drivers.

A recent Tesla lawsuit dismissal is a good example of what is usually meant by “sudden unintended acceleration.”

However, the Tesla petition seems to use the phrase to mean sudden acceleration caused by mistakes made by a driver when the accelerator pedal is applied instead of the brake pedal.

Known as “pedal misapplication,” a driver believes they are pressing the brake pedal when they are in fact pressing the accelerator pedal.

According to the Tesla petition, pedal misapplication is due to a missing interlock feature and by specific “Autopilot features that contribute to increased likelihood of driver errors.”

“Even when driven manually (not in Full Self-Driving mode), all Tesla cars using the Autopilot

software implement various strategies of automatic braking, not only as a safety feature (i.e. to avoid an accident) but also as a feature that takes over some of the workload of the driver e.g. in stop-and-go traffic or when about to park,” the petition said.

The petition said one feature provides the ability of the Tesla to stop and shift into reverse gear when the driver is ready to park, all without touching the brake pedal.

The petitioner alleged this is a “potentially dangerous ‘party trick’ used for testing related to moving toward full self-driving vehicles.”

In other words, the petition alleged, Tesla drivers press the accelerator pedals instead of the brake pedals because the vehicle and automatic braking “encourages drivers to remove their feet from the pedals and enjoy a technologically advanced self-braking car.”

In addition, the petitioner said automatic braking (not to be confused with automatic emergency braking) should only be used as a safety feature, not

as a courtesy to drivers as Tesla allegedly does.

NHTSA has investigated more than 200 Tesla sudden unintended acceleration events in the past and found the incidents were caused by drivers pressing the wrong pedals (pedal misapplications).

But NHTSA safety regulators also said this about pedal misapplication: “There is also no evidence of a design factor contributing to increased likelihood of pedal misapplication.”

The petitioner clearly disagreed and argued Tesla vehicles could be made safer in a way that will prevent or mitigate pedal misapplications.

Although the petitioner seeks a Tesla recall, that’s not how NHTSA works. The petition is a “safety defect” petition to determine if the government should open a formal safety defect investigation into the alleged problem.

NHTSA will investigate the claims made by the petitioner and either grant or deny the petition to investigate.

Topics Announced For ASE Training Conference

The upcoming ASE Instructor Training Conference will feature speakers from leading transportation industry organizations. Hosted by the ASE Education Foundation, the premier training event will be held July 17-20 in Concord, NC, and will be attended by high school and college instructors from auto, truck and collision repair programs nationwide.

The 2023 ASE Instructor Training Conference will include presentations on changes in brake service; heavy duty lubricants, fuels and coolants; digital multi meter features and training; combining testing techniques, diagnostic tooling and service information to solve dilemmas; unlocking the power of discussion; TPMS system types and how they operate; and parts needed to do an engine swap.

For more information and to register, visit www.eventsquid. com/event.cfm?id=19408

Source: ASE Education Foundation

Group Urges Road Enhancements in IL To Prevent Traffic Deaths

By Zeta Cross The Center Square

When it comes to car crashes and traffic deaths, some say smart road design can save lives.

Dave Simmons, executive director of bike rider advocacy group Ride Illinois, said 1,280 people died in traffic crashes in Illinois in 2022. Across the U.S. in 2022, 42,795 people died in motor vehicle crashes.

“A stunning number of deaths,” Simmons said. “Our friends at Families for Safe Streets say that that is equivalent to the crash of a mediumsized passenger jet every single day.” The good news is that 54 fewer people died in Illinois traffic crashes in 2022 than were killed in 2021. The news that fatalities declined last year is welcome, Simmons said, but with so many fatalities overall, there is no cause for celebration.

“If we pause and look at the big picture, it is still way too many people,” he said. For many years now, roads in the U.S. have been designed based on traffic flow and the efficiency of motor vehicles, Simmons said.

“That’s led to where we are at,” he said. Other countries that have

taken a slightly different approach to infrastructure don’t have the sky-high traffic fatality numbers that we have, he said. “It is a uniquely American thing. We have a lot of people dying and being injured on our roads,” he said. Ride Illinois believes better road design prevents traffic deaths by encouraging drivers to pay more attention. If a speed limit sign says 35 mph but the road is designed as a straightaway where vehicles can go 45 or 50 mph, most people will wind up going faster, even if they don’t realize it, Simmons said.

“People are going to go too fast. People are going to text. Pedestrians are going to cross the streets outside of crosswalks. We are all human beings,” he said. Simmons asked “how do we prevent crashes even though people are people?”

One answer is designing roads that make it easier for American drivers to pay better attention, he said. Bump-outs at intersections slightly extend the curb into the road, making pedestrians waiting to cross the street easier for drivers to notice.

Side paths are bidirectional shareduse paths that give pedestrians and bike riders a safe pathway next to

busy traffic lanes.

A road verge is a strip of grass or plants, and sometimes also trees, located between a roadway and a sidewalk. A road verge can define a bike path and give pedestrians on the sidewalk a barrier between them and traffic. “Adding greenscapes, whether it is trees or a bump-out or narrower lanes, can serve to calm traffic,” Simmons said. “Maybe the road does not have to be straight as an arrow? Design it with a few little winding turns.” Better designed roads make downtowns more attractive and pedestrian friendly, he said. Give people a high-quality walking experience with sidewalks and side paths and greenscapes and they are much more likely to walk rather than take the car. Simmons said walking on the edge of traffic is less enjoyable.

More than $800 million in federal taxpayer funds is available to help communities with projects in highcrash areas. Ride Illinois encourages communities to apply for funding and follow the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Complete Streets guidelines to make roads safer for all users.

North Dakota Body Shop Brothers Embrace Family-First Mindset

As the saying goes, the families that repair together, stay together. At least that’s how the saying goes for Jeremy and Matt Buller, brothers and owners of three North Dakota Abra Auto Body locations: Abra Auto Body Bismarck, Abra Auto Body Mandan and Abra Minot.

Family Values

Family isn’t just about the two of them. It’s also about Abra’s overarching approach to growing the business with top talent in place.

Matt and Jeremy’s interest in the industry began when they would fix cars on their family farm during their childhood. What began as an enjoyable pastime to make a few bucks turned into a full-fledged career. In their adolescence, Matt honed his management skills and Jeremy studied auto collision, mechanics and business in college. The brothers’ knack for collaboration ultimately led to them becoming coowners of their first location in 2015.

“We really like the support [of Abra] and feeling of togetherness,” said Jeremy Buller. “Abra’s leadership is always going the extra mile, making sure we get the best discounts with vendors, relationships with insurance companies, industry best practices, and more. This makes it possible to focus on leading our shops locally, ensuring that they are the best in the area and wowing customers.”

Growing the Business

Owning and operating one store is no easy feat, let alone three. In just eight years, the Buller brothers were able to grow to owning three stores in North Dakota, and each came with its own unique lesson.

From immediately expanding their first location, to taking over an existing shop with their second, and to travelling 90 miles to open their third shop in 2022, each location taught the brothers different things that have ultimately built a robust portfolio for growth.

“We are incredibly grateful for the

local insurance agents and operations coaches who welcomed us with open arms!” said Jeremy Buller. “Our talented coaches were able to ease our onboarding process to make the complicated task of insurance DRP set-up and I-CAR gold certification as easy as it can be.”

repair technicians.”

Advancements to computers and specifically their capabilities within a vehicle have also led to marked changes within the industry.

problems with a vehicle and to ensure any repair work has been completed efficiently and effectively.

The Buller brothers are always looking for ways to improve operations and most recently have decided to pursue a Tesla certification. This decision was in part caused by the industry’s increased emphasis on OEM protocols.

“In the past, it felt like OEM certifications were simply a marketing strategy,” said Jeremy Buller. “Over time, OEMs have come to realize that there are independent body shops and MSOs out there that are actually more intentional about repairing cars correctly than some of their own dealership body shops.”

Evolving with Technology

No industry stays the same for too long and the automotive industry is no exception. Throughout their years in the industry, the Buller brothers have become no stranger to changes in cars themselves and the tools used to repair them.

“When I went to college, repairs were still more about straightening, repairing and just replacing metal. Now, cars are about so much more than that,” said Jeremy Buller. “The evolution of repair tools has certainly helped to improve the accuracy of

“Vehicles are capable of more onboard diagnostics than ever before, and this is only continuing to evolve in this sector,” said Jeremy Buller. “For example, a Tesla doesn’t need a scan tool or any other outside electronics to scan or program it. All the hardware and software are integrated into the car and by putting the car into service mode, the car is its own scan tool. A Tesla is a supercomputer on wheels that is leading the industry in terms of technology. We can no longer just write an estimate and fix a car. We must study the technology the vehicle has and understand what must be done throughout and post repairs.”

Scanning vehicles is an integral part of the repair process that allows the repairs to fully diagnose any

“Fortunately, we have scan tools out there to help us with pre and post scans as well as calibrations,” continued Jeremy Buller. “We also have tools like Pro Spot that make factory-looking welds while recording every weld to ensure quality. In fact, it won’t even complete the weld unless the conditions are good enough!”

Community is Key

Outside of providing the community with exceptional service, the Buller brothers do their part to stay involved and host an annual summer event they call Abra Community Day. This summer’s event will be held Aug. 12.

“Each summer, we host our own car show at our Bismarck location as a joint effort with a local church and bank,” said Jeremy Buller. “We hope to create a great community event with all the proceeds going to a local charity of the community’s choosing. In addition to the car show, we have an RC airplane show, a kid’s corner and vendor show.”

For more information, visit www. abraauto.com.

Source: Abra

Average Age of Vehicles on U.S. Roads Hits Record High 12.5 Years

With more than 284 million vehicles in operation (VIO) on U.S. roads, the average age of cars and light trucks in the U.S. has risen again this year to a new record of 12.5 years, up by more than three months over 2022, according to the latest analysis from S&P Global Mobility.

The growth is in line with the firm’s prediction from last year that constrained new vehicle sales would continue to impact and put upward pressure on the average age. In addition, the continued rise of light trucks/utilities means the number of passenger cars on the road will fall beneath 100 million for the first time since 1978.

This is the sixth straight year of increase in the average vehicle age of the U.S. fleet. It also reflects the highest yearly increase since the 2008-2009 recession, which caused acceleration in average age beyond its traditional rate due to the sharp decline in new-vehicle sales demand.

In 2022, the average age experienced upward pressure initially due to supply constraints that caused low levels of new vehicle inventory, and then by slowing demand as interest rates and inflation reduced consumer demand

in the second half of the year. The combined effect caused retail and fleet sales of new light vehicles in the U.S. to drop 8% from 2021’s 14.6 million units to 13.9 million units in 2022, the lowest level recorded in over a decade.

surpass 14.5 million units in 2023, according to S&P Global Mobility forecasts, which is expected to curb the rate of average age growth in the coming year.

“While pressure will remain on average age in 2023, we expect the

perform correctly.

The aftermarket sector trajectory typically follows growth in average vehicle age, as consumers invest more to keep their aging vehicles running, barring some exceptions. As a result, the most recent S&P Global Channel Forecast, conducted jointly with Auto Care Association and MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers, estimates revenues of the U.S. light duty aftermarket in 2022 have grown to $356.5 billion, up more than 8.5% over 2021. For this year, early indications from the same forecast estimate a potential revenue increase in 2023 of 5% or more, prior to adjustments for inflation and other factors. The newest Channel Forecast is set to be published in June.

“We expected the confluence of factors impacting the fleet coming out of 2021 would provide further upward pressure on average vehicle age.  But the pressure was amplified in the back half of 2022 as interest rates and inflation began to take their toll,” said Todd Campau, associate director of aftermarket solutions for S&P Global Mobility.

Despite economic headwinds, new vehicle sales are projected to

curve to begin to flatten this year as we look toward returning to historical norms for new vehicle sales in 2024,” said Campau.

Favorable Business Pipeline for the Aftermarket

The increased pace of growth of the average light vehicle age benefits the vehicle service industry. An older fleet means vehicles will continue to need repair work and service to

According to S&P Global Mobility, the volumes of vehicles ages 6-14 will grow by another 10 million units by 2028, adding to an already favorable volume of vehicles in the aftermarket target range.

“Traditionally, the ‘sweet spot’ for aftermarket repair was considered 6-11 years of age, but with average age at 12.5 years, the sweet spot for aftermarket repair is growing,” said

l CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

NABC Announces 2 New Team Members

The National Auto Body Council announced April 19 it has welcomed two new team members to the organization, Alison Ilg and Katy Schaan, to support the its growing membership, national programs and operations. Ilg will handle public relations and marketing for the NABC, its premiere programs and its members. Ilg has spent her career helping businesses create and implement results-oriented national and trade media relations, internal communications and social media programs. From mid-sized companies to Fortune 500 corporations, her expertise focuses on B2B and B2C initiatives, as well as internal communications. Schaan joins NABC as the executive administrator, bringing years of experience in bookkeeping, payroll, administrative support and business operations through her company, Haven Street Consulting. She has served as the VP of operations for a small Midwest-based real estate investment company, overseen payroll integrations with external vendors, and led multiple functional areas for a technology company.

Source: NABC

Agreement Gives Fargo, ND, Repair Shop Aug. 1 Closing Deadline

By David Olson The Forum

The city of Fargo, ND, and the operator of a north Fargo auto repair shop have reached an agreement that will allow John Bultman, who runs John’s Repair Shop, to stay in business until Aug. 1.

However, Bultman, who has operated the shop for 42 years, says he is unhappy with some of the terms set by the city— including how vehicles outside of the shop are to be managed—and he plans to wrap things up by the end of May.

The agreement, approved by the Fargo City Commission on May 1, settles a conflict that arose when the city informed Bultman earlier this year his business near 12th Avenue and 11th Street North was operating in violation of city ordinances and he was given until March 30 to shut down.

At the time, Bultman maintained that John’s Repair shop, which was also known as Bass Auto when Bultman was

also in the business of selling cars, was “grandfathered in” when zoning changes were made years ago and Bultman maintained that held true even though he had sold the garage that houses the shop and the nearby home he lives in.

Bultman, who now rents his former home and the unattached garage housing his shop, said he was willing to work with the city and shut down the business when he turns 70 in August, but when he was told by the city he had to leave at the end of March, he decided he would stay indefinitely.

A public interest legal firm in Arlington, VA, The Institute for Justice, took up Bultman’s cause and warned city officials that legal action might be taken if the shop was not allowed to remain open.

City commissioners subsequently met to talk about the situation and voted to give Mayor Tim Mahoney time to negotiate a settlement.

In a communication to city commissioners dated April 27, Mahoney said the city maintains it was within its rights when it

sought to close the repair shop in March, but he acknowledged a settlement had been reached that pushes the deadline for closure to Aug. 1.

The agreement is between the city, Bultman and Northstar Property Partners Inc., the owner of the building where the shop is located.

According to the agreement, Bultman has already removed some signage and agrees to refrain from putting up any new signs.

Bultman said earlier this year the conflict with the city had caused him stress.

“I’m 69 years old, I shouldn’t have to be worried about this right on the eve of my retirement,” he said at the time.

On May 1, Bultman said he was deeply unhappy with the terms of the agreement and he said rather than risk violating conditions set by the city and facing possible fines he planned to close things down by the end of the month.

“They basically put me out of business,” he said.

Age Of Vehicles

Campau. “There are almost 122 million vehicles in operation over 12 years old.”

In total, vehicles older than six years will account for more than 74% of the vehicle fleet in 2028, according to S&P Global Mobility estimates. These vehicles drive the most repair opportunities, and should serve as a positive trend for the independent aftermarket.

New Vehicle Market Skews Further in Favor of Light Trucks

Light truck/utility growth has trended upward for several years, and in 2022, 78% of all new vehicles registered in the U.S. last year were in this category. Given the exponential growth of the sport-utility segment, VIO has shifted as well---with light trucks/ utilities representing nearly 63% of the population.

Strong consumer preference for light trucks over cars points to a growing business potential for the vehicle service industry, as light trucks/ utilities generally cost more to maintain than cars, and people also tend to keep them longer. The analysis showed within the next 18-24 months, the total volume of passenger cars—sedans, coupes, wagons, hatchbacks---on the

road in the U.S. could drop below 100 million for the first time since 1978. By 2028, it is expected at least 70% of VIO in the U.S. to be light trucks/utilities.

BEV Average Age Remains Under Pressure

The average age of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in the U.S. is 3.6 years this year, down from 3.7 years last year. The average age has been hovering between 3 and 4 years since 2017 and is largely compressed as the new BEV registrations continue to grow. According to S&P Global Mobility estimates, new BEV registrations achieved a 58% gain year over year, to nearly 758,000 units in 2022.

However, the average age of BEVs is under pressure as BEVs are leaving the fleet more rapidly than their ICE and diesel counterparts.

According to S&P Global Mobility analysis, of the nearly 2.3 million BEVs registered in the U.S. from 2013 to 2022, about 2.12 million are still on the road today—about 6.6% have left the fleet. When it comes to other fuel types excluding BEVs, of the roughly 158 million sold in the same timeframe, are around 149.8 million vehicles on the road today—reflecting that 5.2% have left the fleet over the time horizon.

Source: S&P Global Mobility

U.S. Seeing Historic 1-Year Drop in Gas Prices

By Tom Gantert The Center Square

The U.S. is witnessing a historic drop in the price of gas at the pump due to the war in Ukraine, according to an industry analyst.

AAA had the price per gallon dropping from $4.48 a gallon a year ago to $3.53 as of May 16.

Patrick De Haan, an energy analysis with GasBuddy, said on Twitter there have only been only four times in history, including now, when the U.S. experienced such a dramatic drop in gas prices.

He said the other times were the 2008-2009 recession ($3.04 Jan. 2008 to $1.79 Jan. 2009); when OPEC increased its production of oil in 2015 ($3.31 Jan. 2014 to $2.12 Jan. 2015); during the COVID pandemic in 2020 ($2.86 May 2019 to $1.87 May 2020). Gas prices listed are from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

De Haan posted on Twitter: “ ... the entire reason for the $1/gal drop is basically the worst fears after Russia’s

invasion didn’t play out, plus economic headwinds limiting consumption.”

Andrew Gross, energy analyst for AAA, said the oil market took an “overly negative” view of how the war would impact the oil market and that’s why gas prices were so high a year ago.

“Now, they are, ‘Oh. Wait. Russian oil is still getting out,’” Gross said.

The trend of lower gas prices should continue, barring unforeseen circumstances, De Haan told The Center Square.

“That’s typical for summer,” he said. “A peak in price before the summer starts due to the transition to summer gasoline and refinery maintenance, but once the transition is done and refineries are back, supply builds and prices ease.”

The next challenge will be the hurricane season, which starts in the middle of June and lasts until the end of September. Gross said that could have a big impact on the cost of gas going forward.

Remote

Vehicle

Sale Legislation

Signed Into Law in Iowa

Legislation to allow remote sales of vehicles was signed into law April 28 by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds

The legislation was introduced and sponsored in early March by the Iowa House Transportation Committee, and passed unanimously in both the Iowa House of Representatives with a 95-0 vote, and in the Iowa State Senate in a 50-0 vote.

Carvana, which buys and sells used cars online, has been a strong advocate of this legislation throughout the proceedings.

“Iowa residents have been clear that they are fans of Carvana’s online buying experience,” said William Dammann, manager of government affairs at Carvana. “Today, you can purchase almost anything online, from the comfort of your home, and have it delivered; buying a car should be no different. We are happy to see the legislation

pass with widespread support after working closely with the Iowa Department of Transportation and Iowa Auto Dealers Association to craft this legislation.”

The legislation modernizes Iowa state law with options for consumers to reflect the advancements of the car-buying model in the 21st century. The legislation benefits all automotive dealers and remote dealers in the state of Iowa. Many other states have permitted remote vehicle sales and home delivery, as they continue to respond to consumer needs and recognize the immense time and cost savings provided to residents are an increasingly critical element of modern-day life.

Carvana has been operating in Iowa since 2021, and with the passing of this new legislation, is eager to offer Iowans the ability to purchase a vehicle online with fulfillment to their front door.

Source: Carvana

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Tesla Most Recalled Car Brand; Mercedes, Toyota Least

By Steven Loveday InsideEVs

According to a recent study by iSeeCars, Tesla is the most recalled car brand. In fact, the publication said, the Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X secure four out of the top five spots for most recalled models. Porsche also has four of the most recalled models. Brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota show up the least on the list of recalls.

iSeeCars consulted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) list of recalls from 2014 to 2023 to put together its list. The goal was to learn which of today’s cars are expected to have the most and least recalls over the course of a 30-year lifespan.  “Looking through NHTSA’s recall data confirmed a wide spectrum of recall activity between the most and least recalled models,” said iSeeCars’ Executive Analyst Karl Brauer. “A car like the Lexus NX 300h or Nissan 370Z is projected to have less than one recall over a 30-year lifespan. Conversely, the most recalled cars, including all

four Tesla models, a Porsche and two Volkswagens, are projected to have between 20 and 62 recalls.”

The study showed cars with the fewest recalls have “one or fewer predicted recalls” over a 30-year lifespan, while the most recalled models are predicted have at least 10 during the same lifespan—something new car buyers should consider as they shop for a vehicle.

iSeeCars noted the average car is recalled four times over its projected 30-year lifespan. However, a car like the Tesla Model Y is expected to accumulate 62 recalls.

iSeeCars pointed out Tesla has the ability to address many recalls via over-the-air software updates. Tesla has a handful of recalls right now that do require a service visit, but an onslaught of recalls over the last year or so have been software updates, which are still considered recalls.

Just because the car doesn’t have to go into the shop doesn’t mean there’s not a problem that could pose a safety issue. The fix may just happen to be easier on the customer.

UL Solutions Opens EV Charging Laboratory in Illinois

UL Solutions, a global leader in applied safety science, officially opened its North America Advanced Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Laboratory in Northbrook, IL. The facility will help enable EV charging OEMs and their suppliers with shorter development cycles, faster time-to-market and the ability to be more competitive in the global marketplace. Adjacent to UL Solutions’ global headquarters, the facility has capabilities for Level 1 and Level 2 alternating current (AC) EV chargers, direct current (DC) fast chargers and grid connectivity testing for vehicle-to-grid and distributed energy resources. It also features vehicle simulation equipment and a chamber to test EV chargers in various environmental conditions. “The automotive industry is transforming. The global transition to EVs continues to fuel the need for safe, secure and sustainable new technologies for the future of mobility,” said Jennifer Scanlon, president and CEO, UL Solutions. “The opening of this UL Solutions’ EV charging laboratory in Northbrook is an important milestone in our global footprint strategy to support

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MAPLE HILL HYUNDAI

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800-323-0022

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269-342-0065 Fax

Mon-Fri 8am - 5:30pm www.maplehillauto.com

Missouri

DEAN TEAM HYUNDAI

Ballwin

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636-591-0507

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the industry in critical automotive markets—from Illinois to the wider Midwest, and from the United States to related markets globally.” At the new facility, UL Solutions will offer testing services for AC and DC EV chargers for passenger and light commercial vehicles, vehicleto-grid connectivity and personnel protection equipment against several standards. UL Solutions’ North America Advanced Electric Vehicle Charging Laboratory is the company’s latest step to enhance its testing capabilities to support automotive, EV charging and battery manufacturers in the safe, secure and sustainable commercialization of related technologies. UL Solutions recently established an EV charging laboratory in Fremont, CA, bringing local testing capabilities to EV manufacturers on the West Coast. The company also announced plans to open a battery testing laboratory in Auburn Hills, MI, in mid-2024. When completed, the facility in Auburn Hills will be one of the most extensive battery testing and engineering laboratories in North America.

Source: UL Solutions

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HYUNDAI

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Ford Super Duty Roof-Crush Lawsuits Consolidated

By David A. Wood CarComplaints.com

Ford truck roof class action lawsuits are being consolidated in a Michigan federal court under the case name, In re Ford Super Duty Roof-Crush Litigation.

Minnesota Auto Body Shop Sponsors Technical College Uniforms

The jury was told the Ford Super Duty roofs were too weak, and the jury decided about 5 million 1999-2016 Ford Super Duty trucks were sold with defective roofs.

The first Ford roof class action lawsuit was filed weeks after the $1.7 billion jury verdict in the Hill case, and now those class actions will be consolidated into one.

In October 2022, Judge Paul Borman consolidated Beck v. Ford with a related case called Rhodes v. Ford.

Class action attorneys began filing Ford truck roof lawsuits following a $1.7 billion jury verdict against Ford in the wrongful deaths of Melvin Hill, 74, and his wife, Voncile Hill, 62.

The deaths occurred in a 2014 Georgia rollover crash of a 2002 Ford F-250 Super Duty truck.

The crash was alleged9ly caused by a blown tire installed by a Pep Boys service center, which installed the wrong size tire.

The latest action saw Judge F. Kay Behm consolidate Ryan Scott v. Ford, Steven Beck v. Ford, and Curtis Bright v. Ford into the single class action lawsuit, In re Ford Super Duty Roof-Crush Litigation.

The plaintiffs will file a consolidated Ford truck roof class action lawsuit in the Eastern District of Michigan.

A separate wrongful death Ford truck roof lawsuit was recently dismissed in the death of 2001 Ford F-350 driver Mikyley Rae Reitz

Abra Auto Body Duluth, a locally owned and operated collision repair facility located in Duluth, MN, provided and sponsored uniforms for technical college students in the community. This generous act was made possible by partnering with other organizations including I-CAR’s Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) and the Cintas Corporation. Among the uniform recipients were Lake Superior College and St. Cloud Technical Community College students currently enrolled in the auto body technology program. Abra Auto Body Duluth supplied the uniforms for Lake Superior College and Abra Auto Body St. Cloud supplied the uniforms for St. Cloud Technical Community College. This sponsorship will ensure all students have the proper repair uniform to wear during class. Abra takes pride in working with and helping future team members in the auto body industry. In addition, partnering with the local schools provides the students with incredible career opportunities. By building this connection, two of the

Maple Hill Subaru Kalamazoo

(800) 323-0022

Direct (269) 978-0191

(269) 342-0065 Fax

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Bloomington

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Direct (952) 887-0600

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Lake Superior College students who received repair uniforms are now employed by Abra Duluth. As all industries continue to see recordhigh levels of staffing shortages, these opportunities represent crucial moments to teach the younger generation about the trade industry and the possibilities tied to it. Danyell Wendland, operations director for Abra Auto Body & Glass in Duluth, Elk River, Princeton and St. Cloud, was the leader behind this decision and is proud to give back to the community and foster new connections. “Connecting with these students is truly invaluable,” said Wendland. “After over 26 years in the industry, I recognize the importance of reminding the next generation that there is not just one path to success. The trade industry represents one of many paths, and I could not be more grateful for having selected it.” Abra is optimistic about future sponsorship opportunities and hopes to remain heavily involved in the community.

Source: Abra Auto Body Repair of America

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Security Fix Doing Little To Slow Down Hyundai, Kia Theft Rates

The software Hyundai and Kia released nearly three months ago to prevent vehicles built without engine immobilizers being stolen has so far not made a dent in theft rates, the Associated Press reported May 9.

The AP analyzed data from seven U.S. cities, which it said shows the number of thefts is, in fact, still growing. Only Denver reported a decline in the theft rate of Kias and Hyundais compared to 2022—23%—but its rate is still high.

Part of the issue is the slow rollout; only about 5% of eligible Kias and 6% of Hyundais have received the update, the AP said.

The trend began in 2021, when videos were first shared on social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok, showing how to steal certain Kias and Hyundais, by simply removing the plastic cowl under the steering column and using a USB cable to trick the vehicles, which lacked engine immobilizers, into thinking a key was being used. Engine immobilizers, which

prevent vehicles from being started unless a unique code is transmitted from the vehicle’s key, are not required by U.S. law.

In February, the automakers, which are owned by the same parent company, started rolling out a software update that

Nominations Open For Techs Rock Awards

times the number for the same period in 2022.

“The scope of the problem is only expanding and is exponentially worse than it has been in the past,” Brian O’Hara, the police chief of Minneapolis, told the AP. “We have some weeks where nearly as many Kias and Hyundais are stolen in a week as had previously been stolen in a year.”

The TechForce Foundation opened nominations for its annual Techs Rock Awards.

Winners in five categories will receive a prize package valued at $1,975 from TechForce partners Advance Auto Parts, AutoZone, Cengage Learning, CRC Industries, Ford Motor Company, Nissan, Snapon Industrial and WD-40 Company.

extends the length of the alarm sound from 30 seconds to one minute and requires the key to be in the ignition switch to turn the vehicle on.

However, in Minneapolis, 1,899 Kia and Hyundai thefts have been reported, nearly 18

Dealers Auto Auction Group Expands To Midwest With Purchase of Ohio Auction

By Auto Remarketing Staff

The fourth-largest auction group in the country has added the Midwest to its footprint. Dealers Auto Auction Group has expanded into Ohio with the purchase of OKI Cincinnati Auto Auction, the group announced.

With the acquisition, DAAG now has 11 auctions, 10 of which are in the Southeast.

OKI will be renamed DAA Cincinnati, and Tony Schoenling whose father, Lee, founded the auction in 2000—will serve as its general manager. “We are very excited about DAAG entering the Cincinnati/Dayton market,” DAAG CEO David Andrews said in a news release. “Tony is a smart operator, and the Schoenlings have a great history of serving their customers,” he said. “As the fourth largest auction group in the country, DAAG listens to our customers and continues to expand DAAG’s ability to provide premier services and facilities across the United States.”

Andrews added: “DAAG continues to leverage traditional auction lanes with technology to

create strong participation and interaction between our in-lane and online buyers and sellers.”

Schoenling grew up in the business, began working at the auction in 2001 during college and eventually worked up to more responsibilities and an ownership position. “David Andrews is a person I trust to help grow this market. David and the Dealers Auto Auction Group team are a great fit for my team, me and the car industry,” Schoenling said. “The timing of this acquisition is great for dealers and commercial clients looking for an auction offering high-level, personalized service in the Ohio River Valley and beyond markets”.

Warren Byrd of Keyscore Consulting helped put the acquisition together.

“I am pleased to assist DAAG in their development effort and to play a part in their expansion northward into a major market in the Midwest,” Byrd said. “This is Keyscore’s third acquisition with the Dealers Auto Auction Group in the past two years.”

In April, 17 state attorneys general sent a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration calling for a safety recall on the affected models. The same month, the mothers of two teenagers killed in a crash in a stolen Kia SUV in New York filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Kia, claiming the automaker could have prevented the crash by installing an engine immobilizer. In total, the rash of thefts is linked to 14 crashes and eight deaths nationwide.

A grand prize winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to STX 2024 in Nashville, TN, valued at $3,000 courtesy of Advance Auto Parts, along with additional prizes valued at $6,000 from TechForce partners AutoZone, CRC Industries, Ford Motor Company, Nissan, Snapon Industrial and WD-40 Company.

For more information, and to nominate a tech, visit techforce.org/our-work/techsrock-awards/

Source: TechForce Foundation

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Hawkinson Kia

Matteson

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New-Vehicle Prices Decline As Incentives Hit Highest Point in a Year

The average price Americans paid for a new vehicle in April remained below the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for the second consecutive month, according to data released May 9 by Kelley Blue Book, a Cox Automotive company.

The average transaction price (ATP) of a new vehicle in the U.S. remained relatively flat in April 2023 at $48,275, a month-over-month decrease of 0.03% ($14) from an upwardly revised March reading of $48,289.

New-vehicle transaction prices in April were up 3.7% ($1,744) compared to year-ago levels. Meanwhile, auto manufacturers’ incentive spend rose to the highest level in the last year at 3.6% of the ATP in April, averaging $1,714.

After 20 months of new-vehicle ATPs holding above average MSRP, or sticker price, transaction prices are now trending downward. In April, the average price consumers paid fell to $378 below sticker price. For comparison, a year ago, the average ATP was $600 above MSRP.

Sales volumes were down month over month by 1.5% but up 9% year over year in April, higher than most forecasts and fed by higher inventory levels and a healthy dose of fleet deliveries.

“New-vehicle transaction prices are trending downward in 2023, which should feel like a breath of fresh air to buyers following the last few years of low supply and rapidly rising prices,” said Rebecca Rydzewski, research manager of economic and industry insights for Cox Automotive. “Now that inventory levels are starting to climb and manufacturers are increasing incentives, the market will respond accordingly. High auto loan interest rates are still a major issue for many buyers, but inventory and price trends are a positive in the market right now.”

Average Prices for Non-Luxury Vehicles Rise in April

The average price paid for a new non-luxury vehicle in April was $44,750, an increase of $461 compared to March. Year-overyear, non-luxury prices increased by 5.2%. Even as the average nonluxury sticker price rose above $45,000 in April, buyers still paid below MSRP by $381.

Several non-luxury brands— including Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen— saw ATP declines between 0.2%

to 3.5% month over month in April. Kia and Honda showed the most price strength in the non-luxury market, transacting between 3% and 4% over sticker price in April, respectively. Both companies continue to have inventory levels well below the industry average.

Average Prices for Luxury Vehicles Fall in April to Well Below $65,000

The average luxury buyer paid $64,144 for a new vehicle in April, down $1,605 from March, and the first time transaction prices for luxury fell below $65,000 in 11 months. Transaction price estimates for Tesla, the luxury brand leader in the U.S., continue to show the results of price cuts across the company’s four vehicles.

Across key segments, luxury vehicle ATPs were a mixed bag in April, with entry-level luxury cars, high-end luxury cars, luxury compact SUVs, luxury mid-size SUVs and luxury subcompact SUVs all showing price declines between 0.5% and 1.4%. Luxury cars and luxury full-size SUVs saw price increases between 0.8% and 1.6%. Strong luxury vehicle sales have been a primary reason for overall elevated new-vehicle prices. This

trend continued in April, with the luxury vehicle share at 18.2% of total sales. However, luxury share is trending down after hitting a high of 19.5% in February.

April New Electric Vehicle Prices Down More Than $10,000 from Year Ago

Initial estimates for the average price paid for a new electric vehicle (EV) in April decreased from March by $4,464 (down 7.5%) to reach $55,089. The ATP for EVs in April 2023 is down a noteworthy $10,096 compared to one year ago. The average new EV sold for an upwardly revised $59,553 in March, according to Kelley Blue Book estimates, which still is well above the industry average. New EV pricing peaked in June 2022 and has fallen significantly so far in 2023.

“April’s downward movement of EV average transaction prices reflects EV automakers, particularly Ford and Tesla, seeking a balance between pricing and profitability,” said Michelle Krebs, executive analyst at Cox Automotive. “With average EV prices trending lower, we are seeing EV sales increase. For example, EV sales estimates in April

were up by 26% year over year.”

Auto

Incentives

Offered by Manufacturers Continue Trending Upward as Supply Increases

Incentives averaged $1,714 in April to reach the highest point in a year, increasing to 3.6% of the average transaction price compared to 3.2% in March. While April incentives increased by $170 month over month, they remain at a historically low level. For comparison, Kelley Blue Book estimates incentives averaged 7.8% of ATP in April 2021 and 9.0% in April 2019. The luxury car segment had the highest incentives in April 2023 at 7.7% of ATP. Meanwhile, vans had the lowest incentives at only 0.3% of ATP.

“Incentives are one of the ways automakers can ensure new-vehicle inventory levels are kept in check,” said Rydzewski. “Buyers can benefit significantly from manufacturers increasing incentives, including special low APR financing to help keep new auto loan rates attractive. As supply continues to increase, industry average incentives are likely to go up as well.”

Source: Kelley Blue Book

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Carvana Expands Chicago Presence With Newest Car Vending Machine

Carvana on May 3 launched its newest car vending machine near Chicago, located in Schaumburg, IL. The state-of-the-art steel and glass structure stands 12 stories tall with a 43-vehicle capacity, offering local car buyers a second location in the Chicago area to partake in the full car vending machine experience.

Carvana customers can save valuable time by shopping online, and can choose to either pick up their vehicle at the Schaumburg car vending machine or have the vehicle delivered to their home. When customers opt for a car vending machine pick up, upon their arrival at the tower, they will be greeted by a customer advocate and receive a commemorative, oversized Carvana coin to activate the automated vending process. Then, Carvana customers get a front-row seat to watch their newly purchased vehicle descend through the brightly lit vending structure from the heart of the allglass tower. Whether Chicagoans are shopping for a vehicle big enough to bring the whole family

to Wrigley Field, or are in need of an all-weather vehicle prepared for the chill of Lake Michigan winters, Carvana offers an inventory that can best serve the needs of the Windy City. “We first launched in the Chicagoland area over six years ago and the response has been overwhelming,” said Alyssa Simmons, Carvana market operations manager.

“Since then, we’ve opened one vending machine in Oak Brook, and are excited to be adding a second location in Schaumburg. We’re looking forward to bringing even more great car-buying experiences to Chicago area residents.”

Carvana is proud to be expanding its presence in Chicago. The debut of the newest car vending machine marks the second of its kind in the Prairie State, and the 37th in the U.S. It is located at 1717 N. Penny Lane, Schaumburg, IL 60173. Location hours are Monday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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Rivian R1T Fender Bender Lands Owner $42,000 Repair Bill

By Iulian Dnistran InsideEVs

A Rivian R1T owner from Ohio was involved in a fender bender that ended up costing about half the price of the truck to repair.

Chris Apfelstadt posted his story on the Rivian Electric Vehicle Discussion page on Facebook, where he said he was rear-ended in his red R1T in early February, but the airbags didn’t deploy and the collision happened at a relatively low speed. He exchanged insurance information with the driver who hit his truck and got a check for $1,600 from the other driver’s insurance company for the repairs to his pickup. But as he later found out, it was nowhere near enough.

Apfelstadt contacted Rivian, which instructed him to go to one of the three certified body shops in Ohio. He chose K-Ceps which, according to him, has a 70,000-square-foot facility dedicated to EV repairs.

The shop mechanics were and meticulously thorough with the repair process, documenting each step with photographs, but

Source: Carvana

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for some undisclosed reason, they disassembled most of the R1T’s rear section, including removing the rear window. In the end, the repair bill was more than $42,000.

This led some commenters to say something fishy was going on.

“This is 100% insurance fraud on behalf of this authorized repair facility,” one commenter said. “Clearly they are taking advantage of the fact this is an extremely new platform to justify egregious costs. Unless it takes 300 hours to remove the bed and rear glass (for no reason at all it would seem) and reassemble how in the world is this a 42k dollar repair? I’ve seen [Lamborghini] Aventadors have entire rear carbon sections repaired and repainted for less than that…” The owner of the damaged Rivian said the body shop did “an incredible job” and his R1T “looks as nice as the day it was shipped.”

He concluded his post by saying he’ll try to fight the other driver’s insurance company to cover his losses, adding the insurance policy maxes out at $50,000, which is very close to the final expense sheet, considering he also had a rental car during the repair.

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Toyota Announces New Certified Collision Center in Kansas

Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (TMNA), is proud to announce Lewis Toyota of Topeka, KS, 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 operations including facility, business practices, employee certifications and equipment benchmark achievements.

“It’s a privilege to have Lewis Toyota 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 on-going 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.

Source: Toyota Motor North America, Inc.

SCRS Welcomes Static Solutions/Pro-Stat

The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) welcomes UK-based Static Solutions, which operates in the U.S. as Pro-Stat, as the newest corporate member of the association.

Parent company Static Solutions has been manufacturing the market-leading Stat-Gun for nearly two decades. The company strives to expand its efforts to educate collision repair professionals on the causes, detrimental effects and solutions to static electricity in spray booth environments.

The new Pro Stat-Gun (green model) demonstrates Static Solutions’ commitment to raising the bar on safety, and now carries Class 1/Division 1 Certification for North America, to comply with National Fire Protection Association and OSHA regulations.

For companies looking to support SCRS through membership, contact the SCRS office at info@scrs.com or visit www.scrs.com/join-scrs.

Source: SCRS

Catalytic Converter Thefts Nationwide Surge More Than 200%

A new report based on insurance claims data released by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) shows a surge in catalytic converter thefts across the country. In total, the nation experienced more than 64,000 catalytic converter thefts in 2022—a 207% increase from 2021.

Leading the country are California and Texas, which experienced more than 32,000 catalytic converter thefts last year.

“This new data is just a snapshot of an underreported crime that affects communities across the nation,” said David J. Glawe, president and CEO of NICB. “While a catalytic converter can be removed in just a few minutes, for vehicle owners, the cost is much more than the replacement parts. Victims must find alternate transportation, schedule necessary repairs, and may face loss of work as a result.”

Based on insurance claims, thefts of catalytic converters increased significantly from 2020 through 2022. Insurance claims for these thefts increased 288% from 16,660 claims in 2020 to 64,701 in 2022. Catalytic converter

theft claims had an upward trend trajectory throughout 2020 and 2021 and theft claims in 2022 were significantly higher than in previous years.

Mandated in the U.S. since 1975, catalytic converters neutralize harmful gases in engine exhaust that contribute to air pollution and smog and are bolted to the underside of cars or trucks as part of their exhaust system. Catalytic converters contain platinum, rhodium and palladium, rare earth metals that are more valuable than gold. Often metal recyclers pay between $50 to $250 for a catalytic converter and up to $800 for one removed from a hybrid vehicle.

Replacing catalytic converters is not cheap. It can cost between $1,000 and $3,500 or more to replace a catalytic converter that is stolen, depending on the type of vehicle.

“In addition to law enforcement actions and possible legislative solutions to prevent catalytic converter thefts, vehicle owners can also take important steps to keep their property safe,” Glawe said. “The first is to park in well-

lit areas or in a garage monitored by cameras. Vehicle owners can also consider installing a catalytic converter anti-theft device, which can make removing a converter extremely difficult and time-consuming. Finally, owners can etch their unique Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) on catalytic converters, which can make it easier to track if it is stolen.”

Legislative efforts are also underway to address the rising number of catalytic converter thefts. New bills and amendments are being introduced to increase requirements of catalytic converters sellers, impose due diligence obligations on metal recycling entities, and establish penalties for unauthorized sellers and buyers engaging in fraudulent practices related to catalytic converter purchases.

In 2022, NICB’s Office of Strategy, Policy, and Government Affairs tracked 163 legislative bills across 37 states, with 31 bills enacted. So far in 2023, 94 bills are being tracked across 39 states, with 12 bills already enacted.

Source: National Crime Insurance Bureau