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Auto Body Shops Asked to Submit Experiences with SRS Inspections by John Yoswick
I-CAR is seeking help from collision repairers as it reviews OEM safety inspections related to secondary restraint systems (SRS). Scott VanHulle, manager of I-CAR’s Repairability Technical Support and OEM Technical Relations, said the project grew out of a virtual summit the training organization held in March with 150 shops, insurers and automakers. The discussion centered around whether the industry had adequate information about what inspections
were required and when, what the inspections should “look like” and the “why” behind the inspections. The OEMs may not be aware of shortcomings in their procedures related to this, VanHulle said, because traditionally much of the feedback they receive is from dealership service departments that aren’t dealing with collision-damaged vehicles. I-CAR hopes to develop industry-vetted best practices related to the inspections, provide feedback to the automakers about any potential repair information improvements See SRS Inspections, Page 16
39 YEARS
AUTOBODYNEWS.COM Vol. 10 / Issue 10 / July 2021
Toyota Says It’s Still Too Soon to Focus on Electric Cars by Steven Loveday, Inside EVs
Toyota continues to assert its vehicle lineup will offer a variety of options over the next 30 years, a stance it reiterated at the company’s annual shareholders meeting.
Toyota has been pushing hybrids and hydrogen for years, and it still insists it’s not time to focus on
electric cars. An investor asked during the meeting why Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, has a different view from that of Honda. The competing Japanese brand has set a goal to have a fully electric lineup by 2040. Toyota Director Shigeki Terashi, who joined the call from Toyota’s Aichi headquarters, reportedly replied, “It’s too early to concentrate on one option.” Terashi added between now and 2050, the brand needs to offer mulSee Focus on Electric Cars, Page 16
Shop Strategies: Award-Winning Fix Auto Chicago Body Shop Owner Shares Best Business Practices
Korte’s Collision in MI Gives Away $4,000 in Repairs to Honor Milestone Achievement
by Stacey Phillips
by Zach Russell, Press & Guide
As a child, Peter Reszczynski recalls often spending time at an auto body shop located on the northwest side of Chicago. In 1984, he started a business with his parents, Import Auto Repair. When they retired, Reszczynski took over as owner and has managed the 9,500-square foot facility since then with a team of 22. In 2014, Reszczynski aligned his shop with the body shop network Fix Auto USA, becoming Fix Auto Chicago. Reszczynski also joined the
Since opening in 2003, Korte’s Collision has served the auto body repair needs of Dearborn Heights, MI. In their 18th year of business, owners Lisa and Matt Korte and their team recently passed the milestone of the 10,000th repair and wanted to give back to the community to celebrate by offering complimentary work. The winners of the giveaway say the free repairs couldn’t have come at a better time. “I’ve been in the auto repair business since 1984,” Matt Korte said. “Lisa had thought of doing a giveaway for our 10,000th repair and doing something for the people. We come from a Christian background and wanted to give back.” The milestone repair winner was Mike McRae, whose daughter, Brooke, a nursing student at Wayne State University, needed a repair on the front bumper of her red Ford Fusion after getting in an accident. He said he didn’t realize he had won the
Peter Reszczynski, award-winning owner of Fix Auto Chicago.
network’s Franchise Advisory Board, representing the Midwest region. Since then, Fix Auto USA has named Reszczynski the brand’s See Shop Strategies, Page 18
giveaway until after the work was complete.
Mike McRae, right, and his daughter Brooke stand with the owners and staff of Korte’s Collision after they were given a $4,000 auto repair for free for being the 10,000th customer. Credit: Zach Russell, for MediaNews Group
“Times have been hard financially, especially for my daughter, who was going to have to pay out of pocket for the repair,” McRae said. “I come in to pay, and then tell me ‘it’s all set.’ I couldn’t believe it. She and I both needed help and as fate would have it, it was huge. It was such a humbling experience. It made me feel great because of their See Korte’s Collision, Page 6
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