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AUTOBODYNEWS.COM Vol. 10 / Issue 1 / October 2020
Toby Chess: 40-Plus Years of Service to the Industry He Loves
Toby Chess Says SOPs, Industry Training & Networking are Key to Body Shops’ Future Success
by Ed Attanasio
by Stacey Phillips
If you’ve been in the world of body shops for more than a few years, you likely know the name Toby Chess. He’s the smiling bearded guy who brings gifts to people—and no, he’s not Santa Claus. His story all began in a salvage yard and has turned into a fantastic career of teaching, mentoring and helping the collision repair industry and other people on many levels. Chess, 75, has given his life to others through several channels and
Several weeks ago, a local body shop owner asked Toby Chess to help set up a welder to repair an aluminum deck lid on a Mercedes-Benz. When Chess arrived at the facility, he quickly realized the technician didn’t have an understanding of the process to repair the vehicle. As a result, Chess created a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the shop, laying out the steps to get the job done. Since then, Chess has created more than 30 SOPs for the collision repair industry and has been
See Toby Chess, Page 12
Toby has been involved in First Responders’ auto body extraction for many years.
‣ See Nonprofit Finds, Matches Living Organ Donors , Page 47
Toby’s SCRS presentations are often hands -on and use attendees to push concepts.
sharing them with shops across the country. See Training & Networking, Page 14
• Toby Chess: Best Practice for Air Conditioning Repair, R&I and Replacement, Page 54 • Toby Chess: Best Practice for Pre and Post Scans, Page 54
Expert Predicts Auto Industry Could Take 2 Years to Rebound to Pre-Pandemic Sales Levels
Luxury Vehicle Sales Expected to Rebound from Covid-Driven Depression
by Dave Boucher, Detroit Free Press
by Kimberly Hurley, CBT News
It’s going to take at least two years for auto manufacturers to restore the sales and production numbers seen before the start of the coronavirus pandemic, an industry expert told Michigan lawmakers in Lansing on Sept. 2. Despite successful efforts from suppliers and manufacturers to keep their doors open and employees safe, staffing shortages and some overall drop in demand means the industry
The coronavirus pandemic has not been beneficial to most industries, and this definitely includes the auto industry. According to Cox Automotive, the Kelley Blue Book Brand Watch™ reported that for Q2 2020, luxury vehicle sales dropped 35% and hit their lowest level in the past two years. The past couple of years had already seen a decline in luxury sales, with just 34% of consumers considering one, down from 39% in Q3 2018. There are various reasons for this, but for starters, lower-priced non-luxury vehicles are starting to be manufactured with technology previously only featured in luxury vehicles. But the news isn’t grim. Luxury vehicle sales are expected to recover as the circumstances that caused the drop dissipate. One reason luxury brands were highly affected by the pandemic, according to Cox Automotive, is that
The automotive industry did not take as big of a hit as many predicted due to the coronavirus pandemic. But experts and analysts told Michigan lawmakers on Sept. 2 their future is still a bit tenuous. Credit: Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press See Pre-Pandemic Sales, Page 23
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New York City and Los Angeles are the two highest luxury markets in the country. Seeing as those cities have been plagued by coronavirus for months, it is no surprise demand sharply decreased and sales dropped. The good news is as these areas recover in terms of economy and health, sales should too. Dealerships will be open for business, and healthy consumers who are open to shopping again will begin to do so. Inventory levels have also been a struggle for luxury manufacturers due to the massive halt in supply chains that shut down factories for weeks or even months. As you might expect, the best-selling luxury vehicles are currently at the lowest inventory counts. Japanese and German automakers have lagged behind the most, including Mercedes Benz and BMW. This is expected to get a lot better now that factories are back up and running, albeit with a lot more social See CAA More Essential, Page 24
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