Northeastern Feb. 2016 Issue

Northeastern Edition New York Delaware New Jersey Pennsylvania

Maryland Connecticut Rhode Island Massachusetts

34

YEARS

www.autobodynews.com ww ww.autobodynews.com

The Feds Will Have Rules for Self-Driving Cars in the Next 6 Months, Called “Aggressive and Ambitious” U.S. highway safety officials plan to take several steps this year to clear the way for autonomous vehicles—including those designed to operate without a driver—to hit the streets in large numbers.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Illinois Secretary of TransIndiana Missouri portation Anthony Iowa Nebraska Foxx Northannounced Dakota Kansas the moves Ohio at the Kentucky Detroit auto show, Michigan South Dakota part of an effort Minnesota Wisconsin to Anthony Foxx remove the obstacles posed by current auto safety reg-

Midwestern Edition

VOL. 6 ISSUE 11 FEBRUARY 2016

Google Seeks Help From Automakers For Its Autonomous Car Project

The search engine giant’s autonomous ulations, many of which were written automobile, also known as the Google more than 50 years ago. self-driving car project, has been getFoxx also announced that Presiting smarter and safer as the company dent Obama has proposed spending further develops it. However, seeing nearly $4 billion on autonomous vehithat there is no such thing as too safe cle pilot projects as part of the presiwhen it comes to the traffic, Google is dent’s broader effort to upgrade the seeking some help from traditional country’s transportation infrastructure. automobile manufacturers.

Foxx announced that he’s giving ‘We are going to need a lot of the DOT six months to draft comprehelp, and In the next stages of our hensive rules governing how auproject, we’re going to be partnering tonomous cars should be tested and more and more for sure,’ said head of regulated. The feds are also planning to Google’s self-driving car project and www.autobodynews.com fund new projects: President Obama’s former Hyundai CEO John Krafcik 2017 budget proposal includes nearly at the Automotive News World ConSee Federal Rules, Page 12

gress. ‘We hope to work with many of you guys.’

This may also confirm previous reports that the search engine giant is partnering with reputable automaker Ford in making a self-driving car.

Should the reported deal pushes through, reports claim that Ford would be developing the basic software as well as components, and Google, on the other hand, will be focusing on the car’s “smarts” while the manufacturing difficulties will be offloaded to a company that is expert on the field.

According to a report submitted

In a statement on December 16, DMV Director Jean Shiomoto said the agency’s main concern is “the

car crashes and improve the mobility of people who currently cannot drive.

“Safety is our highest priority and primary motivator as we do this,” spokesman Johnny Luu wrote in an email. ”We’re gravely disappointed that California is already writing a ceiling on the potential for fully self-driving cars to help all of us who live here.”

The proposal stems from a law, passed in 2012 by California legislators, ordering the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles to issue rules for the testing and use of autonomous vehicles. The DMV already has completed testing rules that require experimental vehicles to be operated by trained test

34

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See Google Seeks Help, Page 6

California DMV Proposes Ban on Cars With No Drivers, All Vehicles to be Steerable, Google Objects

safety of autonomous vehicles and the safety of the public who will share the road with these vehicles.”

P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018

California regulators, calling for caution on self-driving cars, on December 16 proposed rules that would sharply restrict their use on the state’s roads—and place an outright ban on “driverless” cars that travel with no humans onboard.

Under the proposal by the California Department of Motor Vehicles, all autonomous cars would need a steering wheel and pedals when operating on California’s public roads. Behind the controls, they would need a licensed driver with an “autonomous vehicle operator certificate” capable of taking control if something goes awry.

Change Service Requested

by Gabe Nelson, Auto News

Google impact The rules, if finalized, could prompt technology companies such as Google, and automakers such as Mercedes-Benz and Tesla, to look beyond California for their first deployment of self-driving cars. This summer, Google started testing its selfdriving cars in Austin, Texas, where a culture of businessfriendly regulation could make it easier to introduce the technology to the public.

In the December 16 statement, Google decried the proposal, saying California’s rules would hold back a technology with the potential to prevent

See California DMV Proposes, Page 4

The Guilt of the Self-Driving Car

Whew!

Made it home from the body shop before my owner found out.

Presorted Standard US Postage PAID San Bernardino, CA Permit #2244

2 FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

COLUMNISTS Attanasio - Body Shop Owner in NH Shapes a New Career as a Sculptor . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Attanasio - Marketing Dinosaurs That Should Be Extinct in 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Attanasio - Up and Coming Painter Shines at SEMA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Phillips - American Honda Addresses the Importance of Properly Repairing a Vehicle During Industry Update. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Sisk - A Decade of WINning . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Yoswick - Automakers discuss labor times, share other insights at ‘OEM Summit’ . . . . 66 NATIONAL Allstate Ranks Safest Driving Cities, Kansas City Rates #1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 AMI Launches Effort to Collect Industry-wide Training Info . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Apple Registers New Domain Names Such as “apple.car” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Auto Damage Experts Warning About Diminished Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Automakers, Feds Agree to Safety Principles Akin to Aviation Industry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Autotrader’s Tech Shopper Influence Study Shows 70% of Consumers Want Autonomous Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Axalta Celebrates 150 Years in the Coatings Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Body Shop in Spokane, WA Helps Mom with Trashed Car . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 California DMV Proposes Ban on Cars With No Drivers, All Vehicles to be Steerable,

Google Objects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 CAPA: ‘Sheet Metal Parts Protected from Corrosion’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 CARSTAR Welcomes New Area Director of Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 CCC Donates $4M in Software Subscriptions Through CREF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Consumer Watchdog Urges Caution on Autonomous Vehicles, Drivers Intervened 341 Times Last Year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 CREF Celebrates 25th Anniversary, Provides 2016 Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 FinishMaster Purchases ColorMaster Automotive Paint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Google Seeks Help From Automakers For Its Autonomous Car Project. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Google's Own Robot Car “Disengagement” Report Shows Need For Human Driver Says Consumer Watchdog . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Hyatt, Embassy Suites, Marriott Partner with AASP/NJ for NORTHEAST® 2016 . . . . . . 19 Hyundai in AL Sued Over Allegedly Defective Sunroofs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 I-CAR® And National Auto Body Council Partner On NABC Membership Discount For Gold Class® Businesses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Insurance Veteran Advises on What to Look for When Joining a DRP Program & Obtaining Garage Keepers Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Insurers Brace for the Self-Driving Future, Fewer Accidents, KPMG Report: Insurers May Be First Casualties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Lyft to Operate Self-Driving Cars After GM Invests $500M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 M-B Introduces ‘Magic Sky Control’ in New SLC Models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 MOPAR Masters Guild Pledges $2.5M in Parts to CREF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 New ‘Who Pays for What’ Survey Results Show Wide Range in ‘Certified’ Aluminum Labor Rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 NHTSA Fines BMW North America $40M for Failing to Meet Safety Requirements . . . . . 28 NYC Body Shop Now ProFirst Certified . . . . . 18 PBES 2016 Conference Registration Available in February. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Phillips - Sharing Information Through the Mopar Masters Guild Has Lead to Business Success and Lifelong Friendships Among Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Reflexxion Automotive Aluminum Cowl Induction Hood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 SCRS Launches Bumper Prompt Decision Aide61 Soundcore Acquires Three Alloy Wheel Franchises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Symach Announces New Factory & Headquarters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Tesla Model S Auto-parking Needs No Driver In The Seat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 The Feds Will Have Rules for Self-Driving Cars in the Next 6 Months, Called “Aggressive and Ambitious” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Valspar’s New Legacy EC21 Low VOC Euro Clearcoat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 VW Sales Stutter Makes Toyota, at 10.125 M, #1 Again . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Weschtools Announces Large Grapple Pulling Clamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

.org/#AMi/training-provider AMI said the continuing education they offer helps automotive collision and service repair professionals improve their business management skills.

In addition to providing business management classes, AMI offers the Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) professional designation, which is the repair industry’s first business education accreditation. AMI courses concentrate on seven core areas of business management education: leadership, sales and marketing, operational management, financial management, personnel development and human resource management, risk management and IT management.

For information, contact AMI at (817) 514-2929 or visit www.AMIonline .org.

Publisher & Editor: Jeremy Hayhurst General Manager: Barbara Davies Assistant Editor: Stacey Phillips Online Editor: Victoria Antonelli Contributing Writers: Tom Franklin, David Brown, John Yoswick, Janet Chaney, Toby Chess, Ed Attanasio, Chasidy Sisk, David Luehr Advertising Sales: Joe Momber, Sean Hartman, Bill Doyle, Norman Morano (800) 699-8251 Office Manager: Louise Tedesco Sales/Research Associate: Cass Heckel Art Director: Rodolfo Garcia

Abaris Training Resources, Inc. . . . 20 Acura of Westchester . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Allstate Insurance Company. . . . . . 40 Amato Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Atlantic Hyundai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Audi Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 65 Axalta Coating Systems . . . . . . . 5, 33 Bald Hill Chrysler-Jeep-DodgeRam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 BASF Corporation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Baystate Chrysler-Jeep-DodgeRam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 BMW Wholesale Parts Dealers . 52-53 Cadillac of Mahwah . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Car-Part.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 CarcoonAmerica Airflow Systems. . 54 Carstar Automotive, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . 9 CCC Information Services . . . . . . . 17 Central Avenue Chrysler-JeepDodge-Ram. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA). . . . . . . . . . . 47 Cherry Hill Audi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Cherry Hill Porsche . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Cherry Hill Volkswagen. . . . . . . . . . 44 Chief Automotive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Clay Auto Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Colours, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Crashmax Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Ditschman/Flemington Auto Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Eco Repair Systems of North America, LLC . . . . . . . . . . 25 Empire Auto Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Equalizer Industries, Inc . . . . . . . . . 34 FBS Distribution Co., Inc. . . . . . . . . 10 Fitzgerald’s Lakeforest HyundaiSubaru. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Ford Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 60 Fred Beans Parts . . . . . . . . . . . 37, 76 Fuccillo Kia of Schenectady . . . . . . 45 Gary Rome Hyundai-Kia . . . . . . . . . 28 Global Finishing Solutions, LLC . . . 19 GM Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . 67 H & S Autoshot Mfg. Co. . . . . . . . . 43 Herkules Equipment Corporation. . 20

Serving New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Northern Virginia, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and adjacent metro areas. Autobody News is a monthly publication for the autobody industry.

Permission to reproduce in any form the material published in Autobody News must be obtained in writing from the publisher. ©2016 Adamantine Media LLC. Autobody News P.O. Box 1516, Carlsbad, CA 92018 (800) 699-8251 (760) 603-3229 Fax www.autobodynews.com Email: news@autobodynews.com

Northeast

REGIONAL Autologic Diagnostics in Long Island, NY, Expands Market Presence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Caliber Collision Expands into Baltimore Market 18 From Chicken Coop to Successful Auto Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 FTC Hosts Workshop on Motor Vehicle Distribution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Keyport Dealership Among the First Ford Dealers in the Nation to Sell New F-150. . . . . . . . . 22 Liberty, NY, Man Charged in Body Shop Burglary 6 New Hoods Donated to Collision Repair Program at CCCTC in PA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 NJ Pet Store Shut Down, Owner Arrested for Selling Puppies out of Body Shop . . . . . . . 28 Owner Escapes Fire at Stoughton MA Auto Body Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Phillips - Body Shop Owner & President of ABARI Shares Insight about Legislation the Association Helped Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Phillips - General Manager of Jost Garage in New York Says Running a Successful Shop Requires Staying Up With Latest in Training & Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Phillips - Mitchell VP Predicts Parts Utilization on Average Estimate Will Decrease After Peaking in December . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 PPG Show Truck 2016 Tour Announced . . . . 20 Proud to Be From Pittsburgh: Recycled Rides 20 Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes Announces 2016 First Quarter Training Schedule in PA 16 Sisk - Plans in Motion for 39th Annual NORTHEAST® Automotive Services Show . 4 Telematics Legislation Introduced in RI Senate 16

As part of a major enhancement project, the Automotive Management Institute (AMI) announced on January 14 that it is launching an initiative to collect training provider information. AMI will maintain the information in a database on its website, www.AMIonline.org.

“For many years, the industry has been discussing the need for an easily accessible and current database of all industry training information,” said Jeff Peevy, AMI president. “As a nonprofit, we believe AMI is uniquely positioned to collect, offer and maintain this free searchable database as a service to the industry.”

AMI encourages all technical and management training providers to participate in this initiative. The collection form is available at: http://www.amionline

Indexof Advertisers

Contents

AMI Launches Effort to Collect Industry-wide Training Info

Honda-Acura Wholesale Parts Dealers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38-39 Hyundai Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 69 Infiniti of Norwood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Kia Motors America, Inc.. . . . . . . . . 21 Kia Motors Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Koeppel VW-Mazda . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Larson Electronics, LLC.. . . . . . . . . 28 Lexus Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . 72 Long Automotive Group . . . . . . . . . . 8 Maxon Hyundai. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Maxon Mazda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Mazda Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . 68 Mercedes-Benz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Mercedes-Benz of Fort Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Mercedes-Benz of West Chester . . 61 Mercedes-Benz of Wilmington . . . . 46 Mercedes-Benz Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 MINI Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 50 MOPAR Masters Guild . . . . . . . . . . 15 MOPAR Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 41 Nissan/Infiniti Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Orio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Porsche Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 64 PPG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Providence Lacquer & Supply Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 SATA Spray Equipment . . . . . . . . . 29 Security Dodge-Chrysler-JeepRam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Subaru of Morristown . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Subaru Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 73 Tasca Automotive Group . . . . . . . . 57 Thompson Organization . . . . . . . . . 59 Toyota of Morristown . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Toyota Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . 62 U-POL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Urethane Supply Company . . . . . . 24 VIP Honda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Volkswagen Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Volvo Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 66 Wagner Auto Group . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 3

Plans in Motion for 39th Annual NORTHEAST® Automotive Services Show

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

On March 18-20, 2016, AASP/NJ will host its 39th Annual NORTHEAST Automotive Services Show at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, NJ. According to Tom Greco of Greco Publishing, whose company manages NORTHEAST for AASP/NJ, “The NORTHEAST show is the largest and fastest-growing regional trade show of its kind in the country. NORTHEAST is tailored specifically to fit the needs and wants of today’s professionals, representing all walks of the automotive repair industry through products and information geared toward fostering optimal success in the market, from the seasoned professional to those just starting out. NORTHEAST provides seminars, presentations, product demos and a wide array of shopping and networking opportunities, all just minutes from New York City, in a location packed with activities and attractions.”

As in previous years, NORTHEAST 2016 will feature a variety of educational seminars, as well as demonstrations on the tradeshow floor, Continued from Cover

California DMV Proposes

drivers and to have a steering wheel when operated on public roads.

The newest rules would effectively block the commercial deployment of “driverless” cars, which could function as robotic taxis that pick up passengers and drop them off at the destination of their choosing. Established car companies also are dreaming of such a capability, which could enable personal cars that drive themselves to faraway parking spaces as if guided by robotic valets.

“Given the potential risks associated with deployment of such a new technology, [the] DMV believes that manufacturers need to obtain more experience in testing driverless vehicles on public roads prior to making this technology available to the general public,” the agency said.

Under the proposal, autonomous cars would also need to meet new safety and performance requirements, with testing and certification by a thirdparty auditor. To get a three-year operating permit, manufacturers would need to submit regular reports on the safety

which features industry vendors from around the country.

Jeff McDowell, President of AASP/NJ, stated, “NORTHEAST attendees are afforded the best of all the industry has to offer: For those who want to hone their techniques and sharpen their minds, automotive industry training is available throughout the weekend from a variety of

sources. In addition to the numerous tuition-based technical classes, many free courses and on-the-floor demos will also be available. For those who prefer to walk the show floor, the Meadowlands Exposition Center provides 60,000 square feet of uninterrupted floor space where attendees can meet hundreds of vendors faceto-face and view today’s latest offerings up close.”

One of the main draws of the NORTHEAST 2016 Automotive Services Show is accessibility. Greco pointed

and usage of their self-driving cars.

As of Dec. 3, the companies certified to test autonomous cars on California roads were automakers BMW, Ford, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Tesla and Volkswagen Group; suppliers Bosch and Delphi; and Silicon Valley technology companies Google and Cruise Automation.

Safety debate Developers of self-driving cars have generally warned the DMV that strict rules could slow the rollout of a nascent technology, while some consumer groups have called for regulation to ensure that self-driving cars are safe.

The agency has “admirably served as traffic cop,” John Simpson, director of the privacy project at Consumer Watchdog, said in a statement, calling the December 16 proposal a set of “reasonable limits to protect public safety.”

The DMV scheduled meetings to solicit public comments on Jan. 28 in Sacramento and Feb. 2 in Los Angeles.

Thank you to Auto News for permission to reprint this article.

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4 FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

out, “The show brings all of the latest technology and education in the automotive industry to our members’ backyard. Instead of flying to a destination, the NORTHEAST show is accessible by auto or public transportation throughout the Northeast. AASP/NJ members and non-members alike will experience the hottest products, tools, equipment and technology presented by industryleading companies at NORTHEAST 2016, and receives crucial industry information and updates from trade associations and representative organizations around the country.”

Expectations are high for this year’s event. McDowell observed, “Since we moved to the Meadowlands in 2009, the show has grown in attendance and exhibitors every year. The show floor sold out in 2014 and 2015. We still have over three months until NORTHEAST 2016, and exhibitor space is 95% full. Due to demand, we are already thinking of a major expansion in 2017.”

Additional information regarding plans for NORTHEAST 2016, including scheduled seminars and attending exhibitors, will be available in late January at www.aaspnjnortheast.com

New Hoods Donated to Collision Repair Program at CCCTC in PA

Choice Bumper Inc. of Philipsburg, a wholesale dealer for aftermarket collision and auto body parts, adhesives and vehicle accessories, recently donated 26 new hoods to the collision repair program at the Clearfield County Career & Technology Center.

Credit: gantdaily.com

Darrin Dale, collision repair instructor, said, “We really appreciate the donation and want to thank Choice Bumper. The students will be able to practice their dent repair, priming and painting skills.

“They also get a chance to work with new sheet metal, something they will do once they graduate and get a job in the industry.”

The students are pictured from left to right: Josh Jarrett, Brady Ridgley, Zacharias Suhoney and Brandon Rougeux.

We would like to thank gantdaily.com for reprint permission.

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www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 5

Liberty, NY, Man Charged in Body Shop Burglary

A Liberty man was arrested for allegedly breaking into an auto body shop on North Main Street in the village, damaging property in and around the business and then stealing a vehicle.

Village Police arrested Donald Houghtaling, 29, charging him with burglary, criminal mischief and grand larceny, all as felonies, and reckless driving, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and DWI, all as misdemeanors, and several vehicle and traffic violations. He is in the Sullivan County Jail without bail.

Police has been called to a late night report of a burglary in progress and the shop and when they arrived at the scene, they saw a suspicious vehicle leaving the scene. Officers attempted to stop it, but the car took off in a reckless manner, forcing several other drivers off the road.

Police eventually stopped the vehicle and took Houghtaling into custody.

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Continued from Cover

Google Seeks Help

to California’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Google’s self-driving car had been in dangerous situations in a number of times, and there have also been instances wherein manual overrides were required. However, it’s important to note that such incidents have been slowly decreasing.

There have been 13 incidents where one of Google’s self-driving cars would have made contact with another object if not without the control of a test driver.

Director of the Google self-driving car project Chris Urmson wrote on Medium that he expects such instances to decline over time. Google’s engineers can replay such incidents to predict how the car would have been behaving through a simulator. All of the incidents, according to Google, are “driver-initiated disengagements,” wherein a manual passenger had to take control of the car.

Google Says Self-Drivers Crash Less Frequently The source for timely Eager to demonstrate its self-driving

vehicles are safe, Google says that its high-tech cars are involved in fewer crashes on average than vehicles with a driver behind the wheel.

A study commissioned by Google and released by the Virginia Tech Transportation InstGoogitute shows, looked only at Google’s fleet of more than 50 self-driving cars, which has logged 1.3 million miles in Texas and California in self-driving mode.

The test fleet has reported 17 crashes over the last six years, although none were the fault of the self-driving cars, Google said.

After adjusting for severity and accounting for crashes not reported to police, the study estimated cars with drivers behind the wheel are involved in 4.2 crashes per million miles, versus 3.2 crashes per million miles for

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self-driving cars in autonomous mode.

Crash rates for conventional vehicles at all severity levels were higher than self-driving crash rates, the study found.

Another study released in October by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute compared crash rates among Google, Delphi and Audi self-driving cars in 2013 and found they had a higher rate than for conventional cars.

But that study noted the low volume of driverless miles – 1.2 million compared with 3 trillion miles driven annually on U.S. roads.

In December, California proposed state regulations that would require all autonomous cars to have a steering wheel, throttle and brake pedals when operating on California’s public roads.

www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 7

Soundcore Acquires Three Alloy Wheel Franchises

Soundcore Capital Partners, LLC, a New York-based private equity firm, announced in January that it has completed three add-on acquisitions to its portfolio company Alloy Wheel Repair Specialists (AWRS), less than two months after purchasing the company.

The acquisitions of the Atlanta, Baltimore, and Indianapolis AWRS franchises represent an additional $9 million in annual sales, serving nearly 800 dealers and auto repair shops.

Norcross, GA-based Alloy provides on-site repair of cosmetic damage to alloy wheel cores, off-site remanufacturing of structurally damaged wheels, and OEM replacement parts through a retail network. Wheel repair accounts for more than $750 million in annual revenues in the U.S. “I’m very pleased to kick off this new era for the Company with the acquisition of three of the bestperforming businesses in the AWRS network,” said Rob Wheeley, newly appointed CEO of AWRS. “As we bring more operations under the AWRS corporate banner, we’re confident that we will be able to enhance both the service we deliver to customers and the financial performance of the business.”

NJ Pet Store Shut Down, Owner Arrested for Selling Puppies out of Body Shop

puppies.

Garruto, 63, was arA long-troubled pet store in Avenel rested Sunday, Dec. 27 by was raided by the state and shut the Woodbridge Police in down Christmas Eve after authori- front of his garage, Crystal ties said the owner attempted to ille- Auto Sales, on St. Georges gally sell dogs. The owner was then Avenue. When he was ararrested three days later for trying to rested, he had one puppy sell more dogs out of his auto body and two dogs with him, poshop down the road, township offi- lice said. This was in violacials allege. tion of a Dec. 24 restraining It’s only the latest negative head- order that prevented him line for Fancy Pups and its owner from selling, transporting, Rocco Garruto, Jr.: The pet store has and holding animals, townbeen shut down before, and Garruto ship officials said.

Credit: Woodbridge Patch claims he’s been the subject of phone That restraining order threats from animal activists after in- was served Christmas Eve as part of a able to get away with three dogs, vestigations he knowingly sold sick raid at Fancy Pups by the state SPCA, which he took with him to his nearby Woodbridge Animal Con- auto body shop. When they were trol and township police. found on Sunday, those three dogs Ten dogs were removed also needed to be treated for malnufrom the shop: Two went to trition, Green said.

Garruto, who lives in Bridgewaa Boxer rescue, and eight to the Woodbridge Animal ter, N.J., posted his $2,500 bail and Shelter, where they are cur- was released Sunday. Fancy Pups will rently. All of them needed remain closed through Dec. 30. to be quarantined and were That’s the date Garruto is due in court treated for illness/parasites, for his restraining order violation.

We would like to thank Woodincluding giardia, said Dennis Green, the Woodbridge bridge Patch for reprint permission.

Director of Health and Fancy Pups pet store in Avenel, NJ was shut down on Christmas Eve for illegally selling dogs. Credit: Woodbridge Human Services.

Patch However, Garruto was

by Carly Baldwin, Woodbridge Patch

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Mitchell VP Predicts Parts Utilization on Average Estimate Will Decrease After Peaking in December; Enterprise Length of Rental Update With Rhode Island Having the Longest Number of Days Highlights from Mitchell’s Industry Update

by Stacey Phillips, Assistant Editor

Every winter, Greg Horn, Mitchell’s vice president of industry relations, said that he begins monitoring the number of parts used during the average repair estimate.

“Notably, the number of parts on the average estimate increases, usually by over 1.5 parts per estimate and total parts spending typically increases by more than $100,” he said during the company’s latest industry update presentation for the fourth quarter of 2015.

Horn noted that parts utilization usually peaks in December and falls off in January onwards due to the increased number of accidents that time. He said it is due to poor road conditions and what he referred to as “drivers’ amnesia” when winter begins.

In addition, Horn said that it is typical for total loss percentages to increase during the early winter and then fall off during more severe weather.

Looking at parts usage during the third quarter of 2015, Horn said there is an overall decrease in the number of new parts used for a repairable car. New OEM parts were down from more than eight parts per estimate in the first quarter of 2012 to 7.33 parts in the third quarter of

2015.

Horn said that none of the alternate parts measured — aftermarket, remanufactured or recycled — increased during the same period. “What we’re seeing is more repair going on from that first quar-

Overall, there is an increase in the number of aftermarket parts being utilized compared to a year earlier, while fewer remanufactured parts are being used. “We’ve seen a lot of the remanufacturing facilities across the United States close down because it’s not as profitable as it used to be,” said Horn.

Length of Rental Continues to Increase Part of Mitchell’s industry report included statistics on Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s average Length of Rental (LOR) for repairable vehicles. Frank LaViola, assistant vice president of insurance replacement for Enterprise Rent-A-Car, said the U.S. average LOR increased in Average Cost per estimate when Parts are Present the third quarter of 2015 to 11.4 ter to the third quarter,” he said. days overall. This is an increase of .4 He attributed it to parts prices in- days over the same time period the year creasing and labor rates staying flat. “You before. can devote more repair hours per part if “We continue to see a rise in such the cost is going up and the labor rate is factors as claims frequency, miles driven staying flat,” he explained. and registered vehicles per licensed drivLooking ahead to changes in 2016, ers,” said LaViola.

Horn said that he forecasts the trend will Horn added that the overall severity most likely continue. and number of parts per estimate were

10 FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

stable in Q3 2015 compared to 2014.

“This suggests that the increase in total loss frequency for the quarter is driving length of rental,” said Horn.

In the northeast area of the United States, Pennsylvania and Delaware both had a declining number of days (.9) with Pennsylvania at 10.7 days and Delaware at 11.2.

Maryland was up .6 days to 11.2.

New York grew .3 days to 12.3, New Jersey came in at 11.6 and Connecticut decreased .4 days to 11.6.

Rhode Island has the longest LOR at 15.5 days with an increase of 1.1 days.

Massachusetts followed with 14.3 days, the second highest in the country, up .5 days.

In terms of DRP repairs, La Viola noted that the difference between DRP and non-DRP repairs is continuing to grow with DRP repairs dropping by 2.65 days. “This is due to processes in the DRP model that allow collision repair shops to begin repairs quicker than nonDRP shops,” he said.

More details about LOR, and other topics covered during Horn’s presentation, can be found online in the industry report: http://www.mitchell.com/thoughtleadership.

A Special Thanks to Tim Evans for his success and vision.

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Continued from Cover

Federal Rules

$4 billion over 10 years for pilot programs testing connected vehicle systems.

The news from Foxx’s DOT differs from the typical federal approach to regulating cars. Historically, NHSTA has been a reactive regulator: It lets the industry develop technology, then, once it knows what’s going on, creates new rules addressing it (for example, that everyone now needs airbags).

“You’re gonna see us shifting a little bit,” Foxx says. In December, NHSTA announced plans to change crash safety standards, requiring the use of active safety features to earn a perfect fivestar rating. It’s a new way of encouraging technology that’s leading us toward fully autonomous cars, like forward collision warnings and lane keeping features.

It’s a step automakers and others working on self-driving tech are likely to welcome, because they’ve long worried that states would do what the feds have not, and create a patchwork of rules and regulations that could hamper development of the technology.

“This is an aggressive and ambitious embrace of automated driving,” says Bryant Walker Smith, an assistant professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law and affiliate scholar at the Center for Internet and Society, who studies self-driving vehicles.

The DOT is looking at safety benefits self-driving cars could bring—the current human system comes with more than 30,000 traffic deaths a year—but it’s been slow to take action.

The last official word from the Department of Transportation came in May 2013, in the form of a tentative policy encouraging states to allow testing of the technology, but no more.

There are two key points to Foxx’s announcement. First, the DOT plans to create model legislation, to encourage nationally consistent rules. Second, it’s pledging to be open to what the companies actually making this technology think.

States’ attempts to govern autonomous technology has created a patchwork of rules. Nevada, California, Michigan, Florida, and Washington, D.C. have adopted laws regulating how self-driving car are tested and sold. Not surprisingly, these rules are inconsis-

12 FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

tent. Nevada, for example, requires a special license and registration, but that only applies to vehicles sold in the state.

Florida’s law is mostly useless, saying the state “does not prohibit or specifically regulate the testing or operation of autonomous technology.”

That’s not a major problem right now. With so few vehicles going through testing in just a few places, automakers and others can take the time to figure out what rules they need to follow and where. But when the technology is ready for customers, that changes. No automaker wants to build a car that has to meet 50 different sets of rules or more. It’s a logistical nightmare, and automakers are public about how much they want to avoid it.

“The technology benefits for uniformity from state to state and between states and the federal regulations,” says Audi spokesperson Brad Stertz.

Sean Walters, director of compliance and regulatory affairs at Daimler, which introduced an autonomous 18wheeler last May, agrees: “National standards are critical to the trucking industry, especially with respect to new and innovative technologies.”

NHTSA recognizes that its toolbox is much larger than regulations

and recalls. The DOT, though, can’t just apply its rules to all 50 states automatically. The feds control how cars are made—they can require airbags and seat belts, for example—but it’s the states that regulate how vehicles behave, through the power of traffic laws. Self-driving cars blur that distinction—how they drive is a direct result of how they’re made. “Most of the laws that will permit automated vehicles are going to be state laws,” Foxx told WIRED Magazine in November.

Apple Registers New Domain Names Such as “apple.car”

Apple has registered domain names related to automobiles including “apple.car,” under new domain extensions. Apple registered the domain names, which include apple.car, apple.cars and apple.auto in December. Apple has not yet disclosed plans to develop a car. The company is trying to bring its CarPlay platforms to automobiles, allowing control of operations to be communicated via voice and text commands. Apple has been recruiting auto experts from companies such as Ford and Mercedes-Benz.

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Sharing Information Through the Mopar Masters Guild Has Lead to Business Success and Lifelong Friendships Among Members As told to Assistant Editor Stacey Phillips

by Mopar Masters Guild members

In 1989, Chuck Hartle met Bart Cooper at a 20 group meeting in Dallas, Texas. Over the next four years the two developed a great friendship that changed their lives as parts managers forever.

During this time, the pair developed the idea of forming a National Mopar Parts Managers Guild. In 1992, the tandem became a trio with the introduction of Cy Yates. The three parts managers continued to conceptualize the idea of developing a National Parts Managers Guild. This was the beginning of the Mopar Masters Guild (MMG), as we know it today.

All three later served as president of the MMG. In February of 1993, the first annual Mopar Masters Guild meeting was held in New Orleans, Louisiana. The small group met in conjunction with the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) annual convention. This tradition still continues today and gives managers a platform to tackle business challenges together as well as interact with Mopar.

Realizing how important guild, vendor and brand interaction is, the Mopar Masters Guild has expanded its communication throughout the years.

The Mopar Masters Guild Magazine, website, vendor meetings and Mopar events all contribute to the sharing of knowledge — knowledge that is beneficial to all Chrysler brand dealers.

Since the first meeting in 1993, the guild has been active in the development of many factory programs.

Members say that not a day goes by that a Chrysler brand dealership does not use a program that the guild has played a role in.

Over the past 24 years, some members have moved on to new adventures. Likewise, many Mopar employees have also come and gone.

Members say the most important thing however, remains the concept started with the three guild founders – the concept of sharing information with others has made many members, better managers and people. Today with the addition of a forum available to all Chrysler brand dealership employees, the Mopar Masters Guild’s future continues to looks bright.

The guild is governed by its own bylaws established that same year and are led by elected officers serving twoyear terms. The guild was founded on the principles of sharing ideas and best practices with like-size dealers in a non-competitive environment. The initial membership was invited from Chrysler’s Mopar Masters Club, which was a dealer group representing the top 100 distributors of Mopar parts in the country. The group has evolved into an established collective voice with

part of a local guild for many years he said, “I wanted to be exposed to these other larger dealers from across the country to learn how they conducted business.”

Rick Cutaia, president of the MMG and parts manager for Rick Hendrick Dodge Jeep Chrysler Ram, in South Carolina.

Cutaia said he joined the MMG in 2005 by mistake. “I had signed up for a Performance group and as it turns out it was the MMG meeting that year in Orlando – best mistake I have ever made!”

Susan McDaniel, secretarytreasurer for the MMG and parts director at Bill Luke Dealerships, in Phoenix, Arizona.

McDaniel has been involved with the MMG since 2002. She said Gerry Oakes and Marvin Windham walked up to her and introduced themselves right away. “They alLaura Windham (Marvin Windham’s wife); Dan Hutton (Indianapolis, IN long-time member); Rick Monteiro ready knew all about my (Escondido, CA long-time member); Alan Yancey dealership [Bill Luke] and (Lawrenceville, GA long-time member); JD Ipsen (Salt made me feel very welcome Lake City, Utah newer member), Paul Allred (Charlotte, as did all of the other memNorth Carolina long-time member ); Susan McDaniel bers,” said McDaniel. “We (Phoenix, AZ current Secretar/Treasurer); Rick Cutaia (Charleston, South Carolina current President); Marvin always try to pay close attenWindham (Birmingham, AL long-time member); and tion to the new members and Blaine Turner at an NADA reception in San Francisco, make it a point to go up and CA in 2015 talk with them so that they Chrysler as well as a proven sounding feel part of the group instantly. That is board, helping vendors better their very important to us.” product offering to the automotive inShe said a lot of members have dustry. known each other for many years and From its inception, MMG has speak to each other on a daily basis funded its meetings, interactions with but they are always anxious to welvendors, the website and newsletter come new members. “Right before through supporting vendor’s membermy predecessor retired he said to me, ship dues. ‘make sure you get as involved with Today, Mopar Masters Guild’s Mopar Masters as you can; you will mission statement is: The exchange of learn so much and it will be well information by like-size dealers in a worth it. If you don’t do anything else, non-competitive environment. do this.’ He was right.”

Autobody News asked the following six MMG members about their ex- Gerry Oakes, parts director for Baxter perience with the guild over the years. Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, in Nebraska.

Oakes is a charter member of the Paul Allred, parts director for Stateline Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, in South Mopar Masters Guild. When he reCarolina. ceived a call in 1992 from Chuck HarAllred has been part of the guild tle, who described his vision of the since 1992 after hearing about a couple MMG, Oakes said he decided that it of parts managers forming the guild at was a must to be involved. “Since NADA in New Orleans. After being 1993, I’ve been fortunate enough to be

14 FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

involved with this great group of parts managers,” he said.

Andy Reed, vice president of MMG and parts director for Allen Samuels DCJ/Hyundai, in Waco, Texas.

Reed has been a member of the MMG for seven years as a parts director. His store has been a member since day one. “The reason that we continue to be a part of the MMG is because the wealth of knowledge from the meetings is endless,” he said.

Marvin Windham, parts director for Benchmark Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, in Birmingham, Alabama.

Windham’s first MMG meeting was in 1998 after being invited by another parts manager. “I had no idea of what to expect but was blown away at that first meeting,” he said. “I’ve been fortunate to have not missed a meeting since.”

Autobody News asked these MMG members about the organization that has become so important to them over the years.

What are some of the long-term Q: benefits that you have found from being part of the MMG? Allred: It has played a huge role in my success. I would say 80 percent of the way we conduct business goes back to some conversation with our group.

Probably the greatest reward has been the development of lifetime friends.

Cutaia: Over the last 10 years, I have been able to learn so much from the experience of so many very talented people. I have been able to take my parts department to not just the next level but to the next stratosphere. Anytime I had any question there was always someone willing to answer.

McDaniel: Learning new ideas. We all pretty much have the same goals (to grow our business and prosper!) and the same problems even though each store is different. You can take away a little something different from each individual. These conversations really get the ‘wheels’ spinning. I can guarantee you, you will go back to your store with a different mind-set, more See Sharing Information, Page 36

www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 15

Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes Announces 2016 First Quarter Training Schedule in PA

Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes recently announced its latest first quarter 2016 collision repair industry courses taking place at training sites through March 14.

Participants will learn through a combination of classroom, digital and hands-on settings at various metropolitan Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes training centers nationwide.

“In addition to the important, practical application process training The source forrefinish timely with our innovative products, the Sherwin-Williams philosophy of information that every lean operations common to all our body shopisneeds! classes,” said Rod Habel, director of training operations, Sherwin-Williams CALL 800-699-8251 Automotive Finishes. “We’re always seeking to introduce concepts that support sustainable practices, increase Mail Subscription productivity and minimize or even eliminate waste—all factors that are necessary for the success of a collision center.”

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Philadelphia 02/01/2016 Painter Certification (Ultra) 3 days 02/04/2016 Estimating SoluPromote tions for Profityour business with 1 day an exclusive article featuring 02/25/2016 Estimating Soluyour products or services. tions for Profit 1 day 02/26/2016 Achieving Service Excellence 1 day 03/04/2016 Estimating Call for details!Solutions for Profit / 1 day 800-699-8251 For more information, visit: http://www.sherwin-automotive .com/collision-repair/training-support/ or call 1-800-SWULTRA (1-800-7985872).

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FTC Hosts Workshop on Motor Vehicle Distribution

On Jan. 19, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a workshop titled, “Automobile Distribution: Current Issues and Future Trends.”

During the workshop, the panelists addressed a range of issues associated with state regulation of motor vehicle distribution including: ● Regulation of Dealer Networks ● Warranty Reimbursement Regulation ● Direct Distribution ● Future Trends The workshop was comprised of presentations and discussion and will focus on the following topics: (1) the regulation of dealer location; (2) laws relating to reimbursement for warranty services;

(3) restrictions on manufacturers’ ability to engage in direct sales to consumers; and (4) new developments affecting motor vehicle distribution, including autonomous vehicles, connected cars and the rise of subscriptionbased automobile sharing services.

The panels are comprised of representatives from across the industry including the FTC, the National Automobile Dealers Association, the American Automobile Association, Uber Technologies and several others.

For more information on the program, visit https://www.ftc.gov/ news-events/events-calendar/ 2016/01/auto-distribution-currentissues-future-trends.

Telematics Legislation Introduced in RI Senate

On January 13, Dominick Ruggerio, Rhode Island Senate Majority Leader, introduced Senate Bill 2055. This legislation would regulate the generation, collection, analysis, dissemination and sharing of connected car vehicle data.

The legislation seeks to protect consumer rights relating to the access

and sharing of that data. S.B. 2055 has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee for further consideration.

To view the text of S.B. 2055 and related items, go to ASA’s legislative website, www.TakingTheHill .com.

www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 17

Auto Damage Experts Warning About Diminished Value

According to Auto Damage Experts, (ADE), a national insurer has attempted to use erroneous information to undervalue settlements in claims for diminution in value.

In correspondence to a consumer/claimant, an Allstate Insurance claims person offered a diminished value claim settlement supported by information obtained from part of a CARFAX “History Impact” report.

Content of the letter: “Enclosed for your records is a copy of your vehicle’s CarFax Vehicle History Report which indicates the value of your vehicle is worth an amount + $60.00 above retail book value.” CARFAX augmented their Vehicle History Reports with what they refer to as “History Impact.” In a reply to ADE, CARFAX said:“The CARFAX History Impact is not the same as diminished value.”

The CARFAX History Impact analyzes millions of used car transactions to measure how the information impacts the vehicle’s value. ADE is concerned whereby this information may be used to harm consumers and would like CARFAX to state within their reports that the “History Impact” doesn’t constitute diminished value and shouldn’t be used as a basis for a settlement.

Caliber Collision Expands into Baltimore Market

Caliber Collision Centers announced that it has acquired Automotive Collision Technologies in Maryland.

Automotive Collision Technologies has served the Metro Baltimore Area for more than two decades in Maryland, operating seven locations in and around Baltimore and Annapolis.

“The Automotive Collision Technologies facilities and management team are perfectly aligned with our purpose, vision and mission.

Kim Parson and her award-winning team have consistently delivered unparalleled customer satisfaction and industry-leading operational consistency across the Baltimore market,” said Steve Grimshaw, Caliber Collision’s CEO. “It is exciting to take the next step for the ACT organization. We have done a lot in this community over the past 22 years and we are looking forward to having even more opportunities to grow with Caliber," said Kim Parson, owner and manager of Automotive Collision Technologies. Parson will be joining the Caliber team as regional manager for the Baltimore region.

18 FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

CARSTAR Welcomes New Area Director of Operations

CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts named Christina Rivera as its newest area director of operations. In her new role, Rivera will provide operational direction to coach, counsel, and in the Northeast Region, encompassing Massachusetts, Connecticut, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia. Rivera will report to Melissa Miller, CARSTAR’s VP of operations. Rivera has worked in the collision repair industry since 1998.

She has experience covering every aspect of running a collision repair shop, including systematic process implementation, identifying and correcting defects, KPIs, team building, estimating, consumer relations, partner development, employee training and maintaining leadership within the marketplace in terms of production facility operations. Rivera worked most recently at RK Auto Group in Vineland, NJ. Before that, she held management positions at Admiral Auto Body in Mays Landing, NJ, Sterling Collision Centers in Philadelphia, PA, and Interstate Collision & Towing in Philadelphia, PA. She holds both ICAR and ASE B6 certifications.

NYC Body Shop Now ProFirst Certified

NYC Auto Body in New York announced on December 25 that they have become a ProFirst Certified body shop.

Launched in December 2015

by American Honda Motor Co., the ProFirst Certified program identifies a select group of collision repair facilities that have committed to a high degree of training, have the proper tools and equipment, and exhibit professional customer care.

The ProFirst Certified program requires that shops achieve Gold Class status, the highest level of training afforded by the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (ICAR).

Alternatively, the shop must achieve VQ or Medallion status, the two highest recognition levels, with VeriFacts, an independent third-party firm. Shops must complete several Honda / Acura specific training classes on how to repair Honda systems.

NYC Auto Body is the only ProFirst Certified shop in the Manhattan area. Idan K. and his staff said they are ready to perform quality collision repairs on Honda and Acura vehicles, as well as many other makes and models.

Hyatt, Embassy Suites, Marriott Partner with AASP/ NJ for NORTHEAST® 2016

Every year, the Alliance of Automotive Service Provider’s of New Jersey’s (AASP/NJ) NORTHEAST Automotive Services Show draws attention from surrounding establishments. This year, the show has partnered with a record three host hotels for the event. For the 2016 NORTHEAST show, guests can expect special pricing from the top hotels within walking distance of the Meadowlands Exposition Center.

The Hyatt Place-Secaucus (575 Plaza Drive, Secaucus, NJ 07094) is offering a special room rate of $149 per night if you mention NORTHEAST. The deadline for this special is February 22. The Courtyard by Marriott (455 Harmon Meadow Blvd., Secaucus, NJ 07094) is providing NORTHEAST guests a rate of $149 per night for a king and $159 per night for a double.

The deadline for this deal is February 19. Now, for the first time, Embassy Suites will also be a NORTHEAST host hotel, offering a special room rate of $169 per night for show attendees if you book by February 16.

“We are very excited that these hotels have partnered with us to give our guests the opportunity for discounted rates,” says AASP/NJ Presi-

dent Jeff McDowell. “We have so many attendees from all across the country, as well as quite a few from overseas. It’s great to see Embassy Suites come on board this year. The show is becoming such a force that everyone in the area wants to become a part of it. We are thrilled.”

Spaces are limited and time is running out, so show organizers suggest those looking to book a room act fast. Visit aaspnjnortheast.com for information on the hotels and how to book your room at the discounted rate.

AASP/NJ’s 39th Annual Automotive Services Show will be held March 18-20 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, NJ. Free registration for the show is now open at tinyurl.com/NE16reg. To find out more about the show, visit aaspnjnortheast.com.

To find out more about AASP/ NJ, visit aaspnj.org.

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Autologic Diagnostics in Long Island, NY, Expands Market Presence

Autologic Diagnostics, a worldwide provider of an aftermarket automotive diagnostics solution that enables repair shops to identify faults and repair cars, made two employee related announcements on January 19. The North American headquarters in Commack, Long Island, New York, welcomed two new professionals, while another employee was promoted.

The company named Laura Boccardo, marketing manager; Gary Mueller, operations manager and promoted Justin Kidd to the post of new product specialist.

Boccardo brings more than 13 years of marketing expertise to her new role. As marketing manager, she will oversee all marketing and sales-related marketing efforts for the Company’s North American operations. Prior to joining Autologic, Boccardo served in various marketing management roles, including, among others, those at TRIED Distribution, a security distributer based in Woodbury, Long Island, N.Y. and IVCi, LLC of Hauppauge, Long Island, a N.Y. provider of collaboration solutions. Boccardo is a resident of Huntington, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marymount Manhattan College in New York N.Y.

Mueller is responsible for customer service management for Autologic’s North American clients. In this position, he will manage the company’s North American call center, based in its Commack headquarters. Mueller joins from Air Techniques, a Melville-based manufacturer of products for the dental and medical industries. There he oversaw technical support and customer service. Earlier, he managed call centers for Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic in Smithtown and Santinelli International in Hauppauge. Mueller, who resides in Commack, earned his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Missouri; Columbia, MO Concurrent with the new hires, the company promoted Justin Kidd to the role of new product specialist. Kidd joined Autologic in 2010 as technical support representative and, in 2012, was promoted to head of technical support, a position in which he headed all efforts of the North American technical support group. In his new capacity, Kidd, a certified Mercedes-Benz and BMW master technician who has spent more than a decade in the automotive industry, is focused on creating technical content and hosting weekly webinars.

www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 19

PPG Show Truck 2016 Tour Announced

PPG Automotive Refinish revealed the 2016 appearance schedule of its 75-foot 2016 Freightliner Cascadia tractor-trailer rig show truck. The

truck, with its spectacular red, white and blue finish, will begin its national tour March 4 at the Goodguys 7th Spring Nationals in Scottsdale, Arizon, continue on to 16 stops across 12 states, and conclude October 6 with the “Cruisin’ the Coast” event in Biloxi, Mississippi. The appearances include car, truck and hot rod shows sponsored by the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association and other prominent automotive enthusiast groups.

The paint scheme, created by Steve Breakfield and his team at Motorhead Racing and Design Co., Charlotte, N.C., presents a unique design suggesting the stars and stripes of the American flag. Gerber Collision & Glass in Grand Rapids, Michigan painted the truck using premium PPG DELFLEET® Evolution products in-

cluding F3995 Epoxy Primer, the FBC Basecoat System and F3921 2.1 VOC Clearcoat.

Veteran PPG driver Chad Hook will guide the truck across the country in what will be his final tour.

Truck and car fans are invited to visit the show truck wherever it stops.

Events and appearances are subject to change.

The PPG show truck with begin its tour March 4 in Arizona and conclude October 6 in Mississippi

Goodguys 11th Nashville Nationals May 13–15 / Nashville, Tenn.

Cruisin’ the Coast Oct 6–10 / Biloxi, Miss.

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20 FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Proud to Be From Pittsburgh: Recycled Rides

by WPXI Staff

A local group of students are giving old cars a new lease on life as part of a “Recycled Rides” program.

Collision repair teacher Josh Krentz and his students at Forbes Road Career and Technology Center in Pennsylvania were working on a car to donate to someone in need.

“It’s a great project. We never did something like this before and it’s a new challenge,” said Brandon Kirkpatrick, a student.

Tim Shoben, another student, looks at things from a different perspective. “If it were me on the other side, I’d be excited,” Shoben said. “It’s life-changing.”

Even with their completed work, the students had to keep up the pace to get their vehicle ready by the end of January.

Work began late during October and they have done about $4,000 worth of labor so far. The entire project needed to be finished by January 24.

The vehicle was given away at the World of Wheels Expo at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

Local Toyota dealerships have contributed to the cause, donating $7,000 worth in auto parts.

“I’ve been very impressed,” Krenz said. “I’ve had zero people turn-medown on donations.”

Krentz’s own life is much like the cars he repairs. After dealing with personal issues in his life, Krentz has been able to repair his life by studying the trade he loves.

“Here is a student that 13 years ago, it was borderline about where he was heading in his adult life,” said Ed McMullen, administrative director of the Forbes Road and Technology Center.

A panel of school board members, administrators and students will decide on the best candidate in need to receive the vehicle.

The lucky recipient must be able to insure the car and keep it on the road.

January 9 was the last day for applications for the refurbished vehicle.

Thank you to wpxi.com for permission to reprint this article.

www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 21

Keyport Dealership Among the First Ford Dealers in the Nation to Sell New F-150 A Monmouth County dealership in New Jersey is among the first Ford dealers in the country to sell a 2016 F-150 truck.

Joe Jarock Jr., an auto body shop employee and street rod enthusiast, purchased a new 2016 F-150

The 2016 Ford F-150

XLT from Tom’s Ford in Keyport.

An employee of Al’s Auto Body in South Amboy for nearly four decades, Jarock has driven Fords his whole life. As someone who says he simply “likes driving trucks,” Jarock is a big fan of the new F-150, which replaced his 1999 F-250. Jarock and his wife use the new truck as a daily driver, enjoying the vehicle’s innovative features, particularly the re-

mote start option.

With a range of high-end features, the new F-150 is making waves in the automotive world for its high-strength aluminum alloy body, which shaves 700 pounds off the total weight of truck and makes the truck more fuel efficient.

The EPA-estimated ratings of 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined are 5 percent to 29 percent better than previous F-150 models, due in part to the aluminum body.

Serving customers from Sayreville, Matawan, South Amboy, Red Bank, Middletown and beyond, Tom’s Ford has been in business since 1962. With a large inventory of both new and pre-owned vehicles, Tom’s Ford also provides top-quality regular automotive maintenance and commercial and diesel repairs.

Tom’s Ford is located at 200 Route 35 in Keyport. For more information, call 732-264-1600.

Reprinted with permission of Greater Media Newspapers.

22 FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Owner Escapes Fire at Stoughton MA Auto Body Shop

by Cody Shepard, The Enterprise

Jerry Capozzoli sat in the driver’s seat of a camper as two of his brothers stood outside, looking at the engine.

He put the keys in, started it up and heard a loud backfire. Then, smoke began pouring out from under the hood and the 29-foot camper caught fire.

Capozzoli ran to grab a fire extinguisher, but it was already too late.

“Boy, we went to get it, and by the time we got back, the thing was up in flames,” Capozzoli told The Enterprise. “There’s a propane tank in there, so I didn’t want to take any chances.”

They called 911 about 11 a.m.

Wednesday and firefighters from both stations in town quickly responded to C & J Auto Body, located at 1264 Washington St. “We could see it from miles away, in the center,” said fire Capt.

Brad Newbury, the incident commander. “Upon arrival, we had heavy fire and smoke showing.”

Firefighters quickly stretched a hose across Route 138 as police shut down a half-mile stretch of Washington Street, from Morton to Plain streets.

Newbury said firefighters also wanted to shut down the road because of the propane tank inside the motorhome, and the slight possibility of an

explosion. “It took us about 15 minutes to knock the bulk of the fire down,” Newbury said. Next to the camper, an old pickup truck also caught fire.

Firefighters remained on scene for close to two hours. After the bulk of the fire was extinguished, Capozzoli used a backhoe to help firefighters by moving the pile around to put out any smoke. By the end, all that remained was a charred pile of debris.

Capozzoli’s cousin owned the trailer, but died in November and it hasbeen sitting in his lot since then. He wanted to try to start it up on Wednesday to see if the 454 engine was still good.

“The flames were high,” Capozzoli said. “We got out quick.” The portion of Washington Street remained closed until about 12:45 p.m.

Newbury said the origin and cause of the fire are still being investigated.

“The fire was deep-seated, because of the amount of debris that was there,” Newbury said. “The firefighters did strong work. They got in and knocked it down and then we overhauled it.”

In his 52 years in business, Capozzoli said Wednesday’s fire was his first.

“The only thing I lost was my dignity,” he said. “Hopefully the engine is still good.”

Thank you to The Enterprise for permission to reprint this article.

www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 23

Shop Strategies Body Shop Owner & President of ABARI Shares Insight about Legislation the Association Helped Pass with Stacey Phillips - ASSISTANT EDITOR

John Petrarca founded Providence Auto Body in Rhode Island in 1982. He has been a member of the Auto Body Association of Rhode Island for 45 years and is the current president. Autobody News asked Petrarca about some of the key legislation the association has been involved with as well as what it is like to work in a family business.

plish this, we have had to educate our association, consumers and legislators.

As a result of our efforts, we have very consumer-friendly laws that are unique to Rhode Island.

has your primary focus been?

face notice to consumers of their ‘right to choose’ on all insurance id cards and appraisals, and it also must appear on auto body shop signage. We are the only state in the country that requires auto body technicians to be certified.

We require every vehicle with more than $2,500 of damage be inspected by a licensed auto damage appraiser. A vehicle 30 months or newer in age must be repaired with OEM parts unless the owner agrees to aftermarket parts in writing. The actual cash value (ACV)

Can you tell us about the antiQ: steering law ABARI helped promote?

of all total loss vehicles must be determined by the NADA or Kelly Blue Book retail value, and no vehicle can be deemed a total if the damage does

based upon usage rather than per hour.

Finally, Rhode Island has codified a labor rate survey requirement. Every insurer must conduct a labor rate sur-

How long have you been part We successfully lobbied for a Q: of the Auto Body Association A: very stringent anti-steering law, of Rhode Island (ABARI) and what which requires insurers to print a boldI have been a member of the A: Auto Body Association of Rhode Island for decades. I was origi-

nally a member in 1970. I am currently in my fifth term as president. Over the last 16 years, ABARI has worked tirelessly to professionalize our industry, protect consumers, support healthy competition, and advocate for fair and reasonable compensation from insurance companies. In order to accom-

24 FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Providence Auto Body’s owner, John Petrarca, still operates the family-run business he established more than 30 years ago in Rhode Island

not exceed 75 percent of the value without the owner’s written consent.

Insurance companies must use one manual to appraise a vehicle in its entirety and must consider fair calculation of paint and material charges

vey and report its results to the Department of Business Regulation.

What is the other significant Q: piece of legislation that ABARI helped pass?

Continuing with ABARI’s focus A: on consumer rights, last year our legislature passed law requiring

auto body repair shops be designated as Class A or Class B. Class A shops must be certified by at least one motor vehicle manufacturer in aluminum repair; must have all technicians certified; and must give a lifetime warranty on all repairs. The new law also requires that each insurer conduct a separate and distinct labor rate survey for each classification.

Q: ofWhatfocus?is ABARI’s current area Currently, ABARI’s focus is A: educating its membership on the new requirements and assisting

shops as they gear up for the classification process. I am very excited about this new development because as with all of the legislation ABARI supports, this law protects consumers by giving them the information they need to make a proper and informed decision about their vehicle repair. It also forces shops to face reality… aluminum is here, hi-tech state-of-the-art technology is in the average vehicle on the road, and if you don’t stay cur-

rent, you’ll be out of business soon.

After your extensive experiQ: ence with ABARI, what advice can you offer to other associations?

Our association has been sucA: cessful because we have been united as a group, and we have always

focused on promoting legislation that protects consumers and gives them information they need to exercise their rights. Information is priceless, and ABARI’s philosophy has always been that an informed consumer is a step in the right direction. Neither industry (insurance and collision repair) is always correct, and associations should put as much focus on how they can improve their own industry, as they do on improving insurance regulation.

However, at the end of the day, just like in our own business, it comes down to our customers. Focusing on legislation that helps to ensure a safe and quality repair, and removes some of the obstacles and hassles encountered along the way have been a very successful strategy for ABARI over the years. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Associations need to stick together and be patient.

Can you tell us about your own Q: experience running Providence Auto Body?

I started in the auto body repair A: business 50 years ago. I have been passionate about cars and customer

service since then. Vehicles have changed significantly, but customers haven’t. I believe the key to our success is that we treat our customers like family. If I would not allow my children or grandchildren to drive in a vehicle, I won’t let my customers either. I was the first in the state to offer a Lifetime Guarantee on all repairs, and I believe that a business can achieve perfect customer service. As a result, we have thousands of loyal customers who trust our service and appreciate the hassle-free experience we provide. There are 50 dedicated employees, many of whom I have been fortunate enough to employ for more than two decades, who work hard every day to ensure that our production can keep up with demand.

Is your shop certified in alurepair?

Q: minum I have always believed in inA: vesting in state-of-the-art equip-

ment for the quality of the repair and for the speed of production. A year ago, we became the first auto body repair shop in Rhode Island to be certified in aluminum repair by Ford. We are in the process with other manufacturers who certify in aluminum and look forward to many exciting announcements in 2016.

What has your experience been like working in a family-owned Q: business?

We are a family business, which A: is as rewarding as it is challenging. My wife manages our office staff,

and our rental company, and we have been working together for over 30 years. My children grew up working in the business as young adults, and are now both attorneys with law offices next door. They continue on in the company as legal counsel. Taking legal advice from your children was not easy to handle at first, but I have learned to listen, and am grateful I am able to see my family everyday. Of course as with any family business, a unique set of challenges can be present when disagreements arise. However, See President of ABARI, Page 43

www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 25

SEMA Show Goes On

Ed Attanasio is an automotive journalist based in San Francisco, California. He can be reached at era39@aol.com.

Up and Coming Painter Shines at SEMA with Ed Attanasio

Adam Stone is one of the hottest the cast of Overhaulin’ just to name a emerging automotive painters in the few. It was an exhilarating show for country today, especially he got Stone, 38, because his journey to sucwith Edafter Attanasio three incredible creations in the 2015 cess hasn’t exactly been a smooth ride.

In fact, for several years it looked like Stone wouldn’t be able to get out of his hometown of Lindsay, CA, an agricultural area with a population of around 12,000. While most with Stacey Phillips - ASSISTANT EDITOR of the people in Lindsay work in agriculture in one capacity or another, Adam wanted to do something else, after seeing his father toiling hard as a produce broker for decades.

“My Dad ran a local fruit & Adam Stone, 38, has been painting professionally for produce stand for 25 years on roughly a decade. For many years, he dreamt of getting a car in the SEMA show, but instead two cars and one Cairns Corner in Lindsay,” motorcycle were featured last November Stone explained. “He made a SEMA show. With a car, a truck and a great living and was well-known for motorcycle on display in Las Vegas, having the best produce in the area. He Stone’s work garnered accolades and then began taking his knowledge of propositive reviews from major names duce and became a broker selling to sulike Gene Winfield, Rick Dore and permarkets and cold storages throughout

North America. It was a good job and he Media and Publicity for Shops supported his family, but I knew that I wanted to do something that would be

the viable alternative, but jobs were hard to find even in the closest big town—Bakersfield. “I could only get

Shop Strategies

Stone’s 1936 truck was displayed at Axalta’s booth at 2015 SEMA

more fulfilling and help to make a difference in some way.”

A career as a teaching looked like

work as a substitute teacher,” Stone said. “The schools were passing out pink slips and it just did not look like

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it was going to provide me with a good career. So, I started looking for something I could do that I like and maybe tap into my creative side.”

So, Stone began teaching himself how to do pin striping on cars—any car. Within six months, he was adept at this detailed work and ready to start a little business on the side. “I started doing pinstripes on new vehicles for local new car dealerships,” he said.

“During that time, they were taking the newer trucks and turning them into low riders. They liked my work, so the business started to grow.”

As more and more dealerships requested his work, substitute teaching quickly became less appealing, Stone said. “At first, I was making decent money. I charged $50 per vehicle for pinstriping and the dealerships started lining up. A lot of the jobs started out at $50, but ended up costing $250, because they would ask me to also paint the hood and the tailgate, etc. Pretty soon, I was making some serious money every day, so I knew then that my teaching days were basically over.”

But, when the economy imploded in 2008 and several local dealerships folded, Stone had to re-invent himself or risk being painted into a corner. “The

pinstriping business fell apart, so I decided maybe I should think about painting complete cars,” Stone explained.

“The people at Lalanne’s Paint Supply helped me out, by setting me up with my first spray gun (an Iwata) and pointing me in the right direction.”

and I think he was a teenager then,” Lalanne said. “He was asking questions and we’re very technical here, so we helped him, just like we do with every customer. We’re not surprised to find out that he is doing well. Axalta is working with Adam now and he is gaining a

His 1983 Lincoln Mark VI was a huge attraction at the Indasa booth at SEMA

Gary Lalanne, the owner of Lalanne’s Paint Supply in Porterville, CA is a third-generation owner for this jobber that has been in business since 1921. He has seen Stone’s path to success from the very first days and is happy to see the painter’s recent acclaim.

“Adam came in here the first time

lot of exposure through things like SEMA. He still comes in here and buys stuff now and again, so he has been a customer here for more than a decade.”

Two major highlights in his artistic journey happened in 2009, when the very first car that Stone painted completely, a 1974 Chevy Caprice, ended

up in Lowrider magazine, followed by an introduction to Danny Galvez (aka “Danny D”), the well-known custom automotive painter and pinstriper who is a legend in the lowriding world.

“Meeting Danny was a big deal, because he started introducing me to some of the right people and gave me a lot of encouragement,” Stone said.

“He is a very generous person and he’s a true artist in every way, because he is always about the work.”

If you get a car painted by Stone, you can rest assured that you won’t see any factory colors in the finished product. “I make all my colors, including the pearls, candies and toners,” he said.

“When I talk to the paint supplier, I tell them don’t give me codes, because I don’t want a standard color. That way, when you get a car, truck or SUV painted by me, you’re getting a custom, one-of-a-kind paint job, because I create them all myself.”

Several positive things that come with success include the media exposure you get and the fact that companies are willing to sponsor you, according to Stone. “I am now working with Axalta for my paint and INDASA is providing me with all of my tape, sand paper, See Up and Coming Painter, Page 42

www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 27

NHTSA Fines BMW North America $40M for Failing to Meet Safety Requirements

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) imposed a $40 million civil penalty and a series of performance requirements to automaker BMW North America for a series of violations of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act and NHTSA regulations.

Under terms of a Consent Order issued to BMW, the company acknowledged that it violated requirements to issue a timely recall of vehicles that did not comply with minimum crash protection standards, to notify owners of recalls in a timely fashion, and to provide accurate information about its recalls to NHTSA. NHTSA imposed a $3 million civil penalty to BMW in 2012 for similar violations.

“NHTSA has discovered multiple instances in which BMW failed its obligations to its customers, to the public and to safety,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “The Consent Order NHTSA has issued not only penalizes this misconduct, it requires BMW to take a series of steps to remedy the practices and procedures that led to these violations.”

The Consent Order resolves a NHTSA investigation into whether the

company failed to issue a recall within five days of learning that 2014 and 2015 Mini Cooper models failed to meet regulatory minimums for side-impact crash protection.

In October 2014, a mini two-door hardtop Cooper failed a crash test designed to determine whether the vehicle met crash-protection minimums. The

“The company [BMW] must take this opportunity to reform its procedures and its culture to put safety where it belongs: at the top of its priority list.”

—NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind

company responded that the vehicle was listed with an incorrect weight and would pass the test if conducted at the proper weight rating, but agreed to conduct a recall to correct the incorrect weight rating on the vehicle’s Tire Information Placard and to conduct a voluntary service campaign, short of a recall, to add additional side-impact protection.

In July 2015, NHTSA conducted a second crash test at the corrected weight rating on a vehicle with the additional side-impact protection, and the vehicle again failed. At that time, NHTSA learned that BMW had not launched the service campaign it had agreed to con-

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duct. Under the Consent Order, BMW acknowledges that it failed to recall the noncompliant vehicles in a timely fashion. It also acknowledges additional violations discovered in NHTSA’s investigation, including failing in multiple recalls since its 2012 consent order to notify owners and dealers of recalls in a timely fashion and to provide required

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quarterly recall completion reports on time.

“The requirement to launch recalls and inform consumers in a timely fashion when a safety defect or noncompliance is discovered is fundamental to our system for protecting the traveling public. This is a must-do,” said NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind. “For the second time in three years, BMW has been penalized for failing to meet that obligation. The company must take this opportunity to reform its procedures and its culture to put safety where it belongs: at the top of its priority list.”

The order’s $40 million civil penalty

includes $10 million due in cash, a requirement that the company spend at least $10 million meeting the order’s performance obligations, and $20 million in deferred penalties that will come due if the company fails to comply with the Order or commits other safety violations.

In addition to paying the civil penalties, BMW must: ● Retain a NHTSA-approved independent safety consultant to help the company develop best practices for complying with the Motor Vehicle Safety Act and NHTSA regulations and submit those best practices to NHTSA. ● Evaluate, under the independent consultant’s guidance, all safety or compliance-related issues under the company’s review and provide a monthly written report to NHTSA on those issues. ● Launch a pilot program to determine whether the company can use data analytics capabilities to detect emerging safety-related defect trends. ● Establish a plan to deter BMW dealers from selling new vehicles with unremedied safety defects, a requirement stemming from the fact that during NHTSA’s investigation, a NHTSA representative purchased a new vehicle with an open safety recall from a BMW dealer.

www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 29

From Chicken Coop to Successful Auto Business

by Christine Smith, Leominster Champion

The door to the 30-foot-by-60-foot chicken coop, with its walls constructed from the remains of old World War I barracks from Fort Devens and where the work truly began, can still be spied and the little structure explored.

It is dwarfed and nearly hidden, but still holds its place among the expansive buildings now attached to and surrounding it. It once stood on its own, serving as the beginning of what would become known as American Auto Body and Repair Shop at 20 Moore St. in Leominster, MA. There is a bit of mystery to the little building, as well as the quiet and unassuming partner in the business John Palange, who still spends much of his time, as they say, wrenching in one of the repair buildings. Visitors can see the 70year-old still working on vehicles, but he shies away from the camera and clearly prefers anonymity to the more public persona of co-owner and well-known local legislator, 69-year-old Dennis Rosa, who spends more of his time in the offices.

The old chicken coop had been rented out to a mechanic from Canada, who simply one day headed back north without much of a word to anyone really. Rosa, who was laid off from his position as a production controller at Nylon Products in Clinton due to an economic

recession during the oil embargoes of the 1970s, wanted to expand his side hobby of tinkering and painting cars into an auto body business and discovered the suddenly vacant property.

He and Palange, an experienced master mechanic and front end specialist for Kmart at the time, decided to give it a go in May 1975. The two had met previously when Palange had given Rosa paint work to do on some of the vehicles he had repaired.

Rosa put forward his savings of $2,616.99, his business sense and the limited repair knowledge he had, and Palange offered his automotive expertise and an IOU for his half, which he did eventually pay off. They set up shop in the chicken coop on the one-acre property, and never looked back.

Failure was not an option for Rosa after he returned from Vietnam, despite facing the gauntlet of people spitting at him, yelling obscenities and throwing objects at him, and being called a “baby killer.” Palange had been an army paratrooper, and Rosa, who had served in the Air Force, knew the statistics regarding men who came back after the war.

Sitting at the table one evening, Rosa and Palange decided during this era of political strife and turmoil in the country, they would call it American Auto Body

30 FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

and Repair. They also made a commitment to someday erect a tall flagpole and top it with the American flag in honor of Vietnam veterans.

They concentrated on lower end body work at first, with Rosa’s limited knowledge of repair work and Palange only working nights after he was finished at Kmart for the afternoon.

Rosa and his wife went to the library at every opportunity and studied automotive instruction manuals to learn how to change a quarter panel, which makes up most of the body of a vehicle. When he felt he had finally figured it out, and although it took him about twice as long as an expert, it came out “perfect.”

He said that was the moment he knew that the business would be successful. Word began spreading and more repairs ended up in their small shop, which encouraged Palange to take the big plunge and quit his day job to work full time at American Auto Body. The business continued to struggle, however, and neither man received a steady paycheck, but instead often split the proceeds only to cover the food and rent as each needed.

By the fourth and fifth years, they were building additions and had even hired two people, but were still both working seven days a week, 14-16 hours each day.

Rosa recalls those old Memorial Day holi-

days when his wife and two children would come to the shop, set up the grill, and for about an hour he would spend time with his family and then get right back to work.

Every extra penny the company made after expenses began going right back into the business and toward making improvements, including the eventual purchase of the site for $20,000.

An added dimension to the business was when they obtained a license to provide transport for police-ordered towing requests. It took two years and a political battle at the state level, and it was the event that later catapulted Rosa into the public arena and awakened his interest in politics and eventually led to his political career.

Having seen their business blossom from nearly nothing, the partners agreed that if they should make at least $900,000 in sales by the end of their ninth year, they would finally put up that 40-foot flagpole.

Rosa said the company exceeded that goal that year, making $925,000 and operating out of a 5,000-square-foot facility.

They celebrated with a special flag raising ceremony and dedication to Vietnam soldiers, which was attended by then-state Rep. Angelo “Stiff” Picucci.

As profits soared and stayed consistent, he was able to devote time to his political interests and even sought his own See From Chicken Coop, Page 32

www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 31

Google’s Own Robot Car “Disengagement” Report Shows Need For Human Driver Says Consumer Watchdog Google’s just released report detailing when human drivers took control of a selfdriving robot car being tested underscores the need—as required by California DMV draft regulations—for a driver behind a steering wheel of a self-driving car, Consumer Watchdog said.

The nonpartisan, nonprofit public interest group also called on Google to release any videos of the incidents, as well as technical data gathered immediately preceding the disengagements.

“The DMV got it exactly right and is putting our safety first,” said John M. Simpson, Consumer Watchdog’s Privacy Project director. “How can Google propose a car with no steering wheel, brakes or driver when its own tests show that over 15 months the robot technology failed and handed control to the driver 272 times and

a test driver felt compelled to intervene 69 times?”

Currently California has regulations covering testing robot cars on the state’s highways, which require a driver behind a steering wheel capable of taking control.

The test rules also require companies testing self-driving cars to file disengagement reports with the department.

Read Google’s disengagement report here: http://www.consumerwatchdog .org/resources/cadmvdisengagereportdec.2015.pdf “Release of the disengagement report was a positive step, but Google should also make public any video it has of the disengagement incidents, as well as any technical data it collected so we can fully understand what went wrong as it uses our public roads as its private laboratory,” Simpson said.

Valspar’s New Legacy EC21 Low VOC Euro Clearcoat

The Legacy line, by Valspar Refinish, unites performance with profits, according to a company press release. The company announced its launch of Legacy EC21 Clearcoat, a new, low 2.1 VOC, European style, polyurethane clearcoat with a 2:1 mix ratio.

Valspar Refinish said that EC21 is formulated for ease of application with outstanding dura-

bility, flow and leveling. Designed to deliver great quality with exceptional value, EC21 Clearcoat provides fast dry and polish times with exceptional gloss.

“Whatever options your shop requires, Val- spar Refinish has a performance combination that’s right for you,” a company spokesman said.

For more information, visit: valsparrefinish.com.

Seven companies that were approved for testing self-driving cars in 2014 were required to file disengagement reports with the DMV by Jan. 1. The seven are Volkswagen Group of America, Mercedes Benz, Google, Delphi, Tesla, Bosch and Nissan.

A DMV spokeswoman said the department expects to post the disengagement reports on its website.

Last month the DMV issued draft regulations for the general use of robot cars on the state’s roads that will—like the testing regulations—require a driver behind the wheel capable of taking control.

Google, which is testing 53 robot cars in California and Texas, said it was “gravely disappointed” and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom said the “draft regulations may prove too onerous, create road blocks to innovation, and may ultimately Continued from Page 30

From Chicken Coop

political office at both local and state levels, serving on the Leominster City Council from 1989-2009 and as Leominster’s state representative since 2009.

Devastation came for Rosa in 2008 when his wife unexpectedly died in the middle of his bid for state representative, although with the help of family and friends he pushed through and won the election. He boasts of a

drive the development of this promising industry to other states.”

“It’s imperative the DMV continue to put public safety first, and not cave to corporate and political pressure,” said Simpson. The department will hold public workshops to discuss the draft rules on Jan. 28 in Sacramento and on Feb. 2 in Los Angeles.

Eleven companies—Volkswagen Group of America, Mercedes-Benz, Google, Delphi Automotive, Tesla Motors, Bosch, Nissan, Cruise Automation, BMW, Honda and Ford—are now approved to test robot cars on California roads.

View the California DMV’s autonomous vehicle page here: https://www.dmv.ca.gov /portal/dmv/detail/vr/autonomous/auto Visit Consumer Watchdog at www .consumerwatchdog.org 100 percent attendance record at the State House, even while continuing to see to the company’s operations and its ever changing business model.

Rosa said he now finds time to relax and enjoy what he and Palange have built. Rosa noted something his father had always said, “The harder you work in life, the luckier you’ll get,” but that he knows the secret was always really in the hard work.

What has been a mainstay, a See From Chicken Coop, Page 44

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Shop Strategies with Stacey Phillips - ASSISTANT EDITOR

General Manager of Jost Garage in New Jersey Says Running a Successful Shop Requires Staying Up With Latest in Training & Technology Autobody News talked to Barry Jost, Sr., general manager of Jost Garage in New Jersey, about the fourth-generation family business. Established

Billy, Barry and Bryan, have dedicated themselves to running the body shop and providing excellent service to customers. Now, the fourth-generation Barry Jr. is involved in the business as well.

As a fourth-generation Q: business, can you share some of the changes you have seen in the industry over the years?

by Wesley Jost, Sr. in 1923, Jost Garage started as a Studebaker dealership in Long Island, New York.

After several moves, the Jost family settled in Wall Township. Wesley Sr. and his sons, Wesley Jr. and Robert Jost Sr., constructed a new garage.

Robert Sr. and his four sons, Bob,

Direct repair relationships are one of the first A: changes I remember when I

graduated college in the late 1980s.

Jost Garage has a large DRP conglomerate. It’s about 50 percent of our business.

Technology has come a long way as well with all of the Supplemental Restraint (SRS) systems, electronic advancements and driver assistance

34 FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

ad- vances. Metallurgy is a recent phenomenon in auto body repair. We now deal with all of the different strength steels, and of course aluminum. The last few years are all about lean processes, cycle times, parts correctness and complete disassembly. These are some of the new buzz words we hear today.

Q:

Can you tell us about new technology that you have incorporated in your shop and the benefit of staying up-to-date about new advancements in the industry?

was the bell of the ball at the SEMA show in Las Vegas this past year. are the benefits of using Wand in your shop?

Q: theWhatMatrix It provides us an accurate A: analysis of any damage, either unibody or full frame. It will also pin-

point any suspension damage or engine cradle movement. It’s the most innovative product we have seen in quite some time. You can now show proof of any type of structural damage to your insurance partners as well as speed up the tech in repairing a vehicle back to crash worthiness!

How do you stay current with training and how does it help with cycle time in your shop?

We have always done wheel A: alignments in-house with our Hunter alignment machine. We have Q: four Chief E-Z Liner frame machines, two resistance welders by Pro-Spot as well as three down-draft spray booths.

Our latest addition has been the Matrix Wand. It’s a 3D measuring tool that

Our current partnership with A: Sherwin-Williams and the proSee Running a Successful Shop, Page 44

Autotrader’s Tech Shopper Influence Study Shows 70% of Consumers Want Autonomous Features

Autotrader recently presented the findings of its 2016 In-Vehicle Technology Shopper Influence Study at the 2016 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and a not-so-surprising percentage of consumers would like more autonomous features in their vehicles.

After surveying a panel of over 1,000 vehicle owners online last year, Autotrader found that 70 percent of the consumers surveyed are more likely to consider a vehicle with autonomous features, such as parking assistance, collision avoidance and automatic braking.

One interesting finding, fleshed out by Autotrader’s associate research manager Rachelle Petusky, is that these in-car technologies are changing what many consumers perceive to be a luxury vehicle.

“When we ask consumers about what defines a luxury vehicle, traditionally in the past consumers have broken it out by automakers that play in the luxury space, such as Audi or BMW,” Petusky said. “But technology’s really changing the game, and non-luxury vehicles are starting to be viewed as a luxury vehicle because of the technologies

offered in the car. Things like Wi-Fi, lane change assistance, collision avoidance are helping consumers perceive non-luxury cars as luxuries.”

Since this is the second year that Autotrader has conducted this study, Auto Remarketing asked Petusky what the biggest change Autotrader has seen seen in consumer expectations over the last year.

Petusky pointed to the 77 percent that want a car with all of the technology features they want regardless of car color.

“Probably the biggest change that we saw was the fact that technology is becoming even more important than car color,” Petusky said. “Car color, I think, has been a part of a huge conversation. It still is very relevant in the purchase decision, but technology is definitely going to have more of an impact now than it did last year.”

While Autotrader finds that the majority (60 percent) of the consumers surveyed think self-driving vehicles are a dangerous idea, there are plenty that are more than willing to pay extra for the new technologies that are out today.

Forty four percent of those surveyed said they would pay up to $1,499, which Petusky says is a bit of a “magic number” in the technology package pricing game, for an in-vehicle concierge service. And 65 percent said they would switch brands to get the features they want.

On that note of branding, while Petusky says that in the immediate term it isn’t that cost effective to upgrade used vehicles with some of the new features that are coming out, the used cars that are most popular in the future will be heavily dependent on who adapts what technologies in their new vehicles now.

“But I think as automakers and technology companies figure out how to make it more cost-effective, it is going to start shifting consideration,” she said. “We’re already seeing some consumers that are shopping for new cars that are going to switch brands if the technology that they want isn’t in the car that they want.

“So I think even as people are looking at used cars, it may change which used car they’re considering depending upon which manufacturer is

earlier to the game to introducing new technologies in their cars.”

These new technologies are also expected to not only change how automakers certify used vehicles in the future, but also impact the value that used cars retain.

“I think there’s definitely certain things that they’re going to have to check to make sure they’re functioning properly,” Petusky said. “Our sister company, Kelley Blue Book, is actually seeing that vehicle technology is impacting the valuation price of used inventory.

“I think that vehicles that are in good or excellent condition that have that additional technology in the car, it’s just going to be a way that they can ask for a higher price point and that inventory is going to move faster compared to certified inventory that doesn’t.”

Petusky also thinks that dealers and aftermarket companies that can add some of the more affordable new technologies, especially backup cameras, to older vehicles, can reap the benefits.

See Autotrader’s Tech Shopper, Page 36

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Continued from Page 14

Sharing Information

positive than before, excited to take on new challenges and make the necessary changes to do so. Not to mention the relationships you will build along with the support you will receive from your new friends.

Oakes: The benefits are endless. A new member could attend our meeting and not say one word and he/she would be able to walk away with ideas that would pay for the trip expenses tenfold. Of course, we want all members to participate and share their thoughts and ideas. Sharing our ideas is the cornerstone of the MMG. The MMG has really become a resource of knowledge for me over the past 23 years. Whenever I have a concern or an idea about my DMS, a business strategy, or my department employees, I always search out members of the guild for guidance. In every case, I receive their thoughts and ideas the same day.

Reed: You have a large group of friends that don’t feel threatened to share ideas and suggestions. All of the members are very knowledgeable and helpful!

Windham: I credit most of my personal success to ideas, processes and attitudes that I picked up in my association with the MMG. It is one of the two most important decisions I’ve ever made in business.

What goals do you hope to accomplish in the future as part Q: of the MMG?

Allred: To continue to discuss and overcome the challenges of our changing business!

Cutaia: Having now served as presi-

Continued from Page 35

Autotrader’s Tech Shopper

“That’ll really be a way to differentiate themselves from other dealers,” she said.

There is one feature that customers don’t necessarily care for their vehicle to have completely integrated: navigation. Fifty seven percent said they would rather manufacturers focus on better integration with their

dent of the guild, I have accomplished most of my goals. Keeping the guild going for the next generation of parts managers is something I hope we can keep moving forward and to keep making us all better managers.

McDaniel: To create an even larger membership spectrum so that we can continue to grow stronger as a team and help each other to grow our businesses based on the knowledge we all share through our conversations as a group. Also, to continue to maintain our strong relationship with Mopar so that together we can ALL make this happen.

Oakes: Recently, I retired as parts director for my dealer group. However, I intend to do whatever possible to help the MMG continue to grow. I want all qualifying parts managers to experience what has been available to me through the MMG since 1993.

Reed: I hope to continue to gain knowledge and grow our business.

With the MMG, I am able to learn different processes that work at different dealerships and I am able to implement them in my store. Being active in the MMG helps to keep us active and not allow our business to grow stagnant.

life. Our group has become a fraternal organization that has much to offer anyone that will pursue and become active in it.

Cataia: I can truly say that being a part of such a group of talented people who are willing to share has made me such a better manager. I honestly believe I would not have been as successful of a manager had I not accidently joined this marvelous group that challenged me to become better and think outside the box. I have also made some friendships that have become an important part of my life and I feel blessed to have met some not only very intelligent but also genuine people that I am proud to call my friends.

McDaniel: Please join today, if you have not already. We welcome new members and new ideas. Each and every one of us who have continued our membership throughout the years can honestly say that we would not be as successful and open-minded as we are today without our involvement in the Mopar Masters Guild.

Oakes: Without a doubt the friendships that have been made through the

Allred: It is the best thing I could have ever done for my career and personal smartphones, while 39 percent said they would prefer the navigation system on a smartphone rather than one built into the vehicle.

“We definitely see it continuing to swing toward people wanting to just use the navigation system that’s in their phone,” Petusky said. “But they are wanting that to easily integrate into the dash. Some of the other apps and functions that people are doing on their smart phones now they are willing to surrender to the dash.”

36 FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Reed: From the very beginning of my membership of the MMG all of the members welcomed me and embraced me. I have always felt comfortable talking and sharing ideas at the meetings and training classes. It really is a great group of people that are open to sharing and listening to new people and ideas.

Windham: My wife and I have developed many lifelong friends with whom we will remain close, even when we get to that distant future with golf courses providing us with all our challenges. These people are an important part of our lives now and into the future.

For more information about the Mopar Masters Guild and to join, contact Susan McDaniel (602) 336-1557; Rick Cutaia (843) 402-6782; Andy Reed (888) 250-1852; Paul Allred (803) 5788099; Marvin Windham (205) 4584598; or Gerry Oakes (800) 642-1524.

Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Mopar and SRT are registered trademarks of FCA US LLC.

Acura of Westchester

Windham: The business is changing rapidly and I believe only those that keep up and adapt will succeed. Our challenges are many but so are our opportunities. I hope to conquer the challenges and take full benefit of the opportunities with the help of my MMG association.

Is there anything else you would to share about the MMG? Q: like

MMG are priceless. My wife and I consider many among our closest friends.

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H OND A C ONN ECT I CUT

Lia Honda of Enfield E nf ield

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

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www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 39

Day Job/Night Job Body Shop Owner in NH Shapes a New Career as a Sculptor with Ed Attanasio

People change their careers every day, and, in some cases, it happens randomly and without warning. This was the case for John Lacz, 67, a former

John Lacz owned a body shop for 38 years, but his budding career as a sculptor allowed him to close his shop in 2010 and pursue a passion in art. This piece is called Cotton Candy

body shop owner who is now a nationally acclaimed sculptor with pieces in galleries that sell for as much as $9,000.

Lacz’s career as a body shop owner wasn’t anything unusual— father moonlights fixing cars while his 10-year-old son learns the business.

“I knew pretty quickly that working on cars was my passion,” Lacz said. “I wanted to learn as much about the trade as I could, so I worked for three different shops and built a few cars over a five-year period.”

Then, in 1972 Lacz opened his own shop in Manchester, NH. The 22year-old put his name on the door (Lacz Body Shop) and assembled a crew of one.

“It was just me at the beginning,” he said. “I focused on doing frame-off restorations, but we also did collision repair as well. At times, I would be working on four or five cars simulta-

40 FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Tear Drops by John Lacz

Ed Attanasio is an automotive journalist based in San Francisco, California. He can be reached at era39@aol.com.

neously, and pretty soon my customer list started to grow.”

One day, John’s wife Terry asked him to go out and find a piece of art to put in their flower garden at home. After searching high and low for a good piece of sculpture that would work in the cou-

ple’s back yard, Lacz made a snap decision that would change his life.

“I couldn’t find anything out there that she liked” he said. “So I made something myself. I had never done anything like this before, but I knew how to paint the piece once I was done with it, so I gave it a shot.”

After the sculpture was complete, Lacz painted it at his shop and pretty soon this one-time need became a parttime hobby and eventually a full-time job. His eye-catching wood sculptures and unique steel figures started gaining attention almost immediately.

Lacz’s wood carvings vary from three feet to nine feet high and are finished with Sherwin-Williams chameleon-like multi-tone paints.

“The pigments contain crystals grown to act like prisms and they actually change color based on light refraction, giving it that unique look,” Lacz said. “I really enjoy creating my See New Career as a Sculptor, Page 42

www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 41

Continued from Page 40

New Career as a Sculptor

own colors to make my sculptures one-of-a-kind.”

Lacz’s metal sculptures are made of solid steel and are painted with automotive paint, so that they can survive the relentless winters in the East.

However, not every art buyer uses the original Lacz the same way.

“Clients are fascinated with the form, imagery and coloration John is creating,” Lee Forgosh of Art 3 Gallery in Manchester NH said, one of several art studios where Lacz’s creations are displayed. “He has sold major sculptural pieces to people with indoor gardens, but the form doesn’t have to be in a garden setting. The pieces stand on their own as true art.”

As Lacz’s art career began to flourish, he started to move toward the exit signs of his body shop. “I began to think about getting out of this business and the art helped me to do it” Lacz said. “Several things all happened together that made the decision easier. My #1 employee had a heart attack right here at the shop, so I began to ask, why am I pushing myself so

hard? I was 63 at the time and I could see that I was losing the passion for this industry. So, after 38 years in this

Phoenix Rising was sold to a collector for $6,000

industry, I stepped away in 2010. I realized that pursuing my passion for art was more important than money.”

Today, Lacz is a full-time professional artist, living half the time in

New Hampshire and the other half in Florida. Currently, he has pieces in five galleries between the four states.

“I make a point of visiting all of the galleries at least twice during the year,” he said. “To see my work in these fancy galleries is a rush every time.”

Now instead of juggling DRPs and worried about his cycle times, Lacz is able to retreat to his studio and simply create, without the multiple headaches associated with owning any business, let alone a body shop.

What does Lacz miss about owning a body shop?

“I used to love the satisfaction I got after restoring a car and then seeing the owner when he saw the finished product,” Lacz said. “I get that same feeling when someone buys one of my pieces and puts it in their garden, living room or office. What I don’t miss are the insurance companies. Now as a sculpture, I don’t have to play their little games anymore. I can dictate my own rates with my sculptures and I don’t have to listen to some college kid about how I should do it!”

www.autobodynews.com

Continued from Page 27

Up and Coming Painter

abrasives and tools. It helps a lot, because when I am pinstriping, I use a ton of tape. When we’re done with a job, we often have a huge ball of used tape on the floor—the size of a big beach ball! On one truck I painted recently, we used more than 10 cases of tape.”

Today, Stone Color Studio operates out of a 6,000 square foot facility with two employees. By attracting clients where money is not an issue, the business has been thriving. “We’re doing approximately 10 complete jobs and probably 20 smaller projects, adding graphics to other companies that are restoring vehicles. We also have some Arab customers and they’re willing to pay for premium work. We’re currently working on a 2003 Ferrari Spyder with a complete tribal paint job in black and charcoal custom colors and red trims.”

How can Stone follow his success at SEMA? “I want to get more into painting hot rods, but I don’t want to forget my roots in pinstriping and lowriders either. SEMA opened some doors, no doubt, but now I just have to walk through them.”

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President of ABARI

after working together so many years, you realize how rare it is, and how lucky we are.

Is there anything additional you Q: would like to share about the industry in general?

Aside from my role in ABARI, A: I have been fighting for consumer rights through my business for

decades. We have exposed shops that engage in shoddy repair work, and in unacceptable business practices, and 20 years ago I embarked upon an advertising campaign that began the process of educating consumers about

their right to choose their repair shop, the right to not use aftermarket parts on their new vehicle, etc … It is a wonderful feeling when you encounter people and they tell you, ‘Of course I know I have the right to choose, I listen to your commercials!’

An industry can be changed for the better one customer at a time, but patience and endurance are the keys to success.

John Petrarca can be reached at (401) 861-2211 or john@providence autobody.com.

For information about ABARI, call (401) 467-7575 or visit www .ABARI.net.

If you know of a shop that would like to share its “Shop Strategies,” contact Stacey Phillips at sphillips@ autobodynews.com.

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www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 43

Continued from Page 32

From Chicken Coop

method of success for American Auto Body, said Rosa, has been its commitment to the client. “We wanted the customer to be completely satisfied,” he remarked, explaining that if mistakes are made, they are fixed no matter what it cost the business.

“I knew that if we take care of our customers and they left satisfied,” he noted, “I knew that this business would grow.”

Noted in the industry as being among the top three in the nation in terms of sales, Rosa said that the company’s name has become a unique brand after its 40 years. The shop currently offers body framework, glass repair and painting, as well as front end alignments, mechanical repairs and towing, and other services.

Thinking about how to hand on the torch, Rosa said one day younger skilled management would be the key. Maybe then, he and Palange can truly then take a step back and do what we’re supposed to do and go and relax a little bit.

Right now, though, both men still seem pretty comfortable doing what they are doing.

Thank you Leominster Champion and Christine Smith for reprint permission.

Reflexxion Automotive Aluminum Cowl Induction Hood

Reflexxion Automotive, a Diamond Standard Group company that specializes in aluminum technology for Cowl Induction Hoods, announced that the Aluminum Cowl

2015-16 Ford F-150 Aluminum Cowl Induction Hood

Induction Hood for the 2015-16 Aluminum F-150 is now available.

“The great looks and contours accent and enhance the beauty of the ground-breaking technology for light weight yet strong body panel advances,” stated a company press release.

For more information, contact angiik@reflexxion.com or visit www .reflexxion.com.

Audi Genuine Parts

Weschtools Announces Large Grapple Pulling Clamp

Continued from Page 34

Running a Successful Shop

Weschtools announced that its unique, patented Large Grapple will be available for delivery February 1. The company plans to showcase this product at the \SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NV. According to Weschtools spokesman Brad Weschler, “The auto body repair business has become increasingly competitive and this requires cost efficient, easy-to-use clamps and tools.”

Weschler said the clamp was designed and produced by Weschtools to pull depressed body panel surfaces to their original contour with minimal surface disruption.” Techicians drill a ¾ inch diameter hole at the desired location, insert and expand the three prongs of the clamp and pull until the panel is in its original shape. As with all Weschtool items, the clamp is constructed of high-tensile strength cast steel to provide years of service even when stressed with pulling forces exceeding 5,000 pounds. With a weight of only 8.5 pounds, he said the clamp is easy to use, handle, and store. In addition, it has a durable powder coat finish and all of the hardware is grade 8 or stronger. The companion clamps include an offset wheelhouse clamp, a curved clamp, a small grapple, and a double bar clamp. For information, visit www.weschtools.com.

fessional staff, such as Steve Feltovich, have really helped us stay upto-speed in this industry, which constantly evolves. We have attended multiple classes and seminars on all of the hot topics.

We are engaged in a 20 Group with Sherwin-Williams as well. We also stay active with I-CAR training for our own information as well as to stay in check with our insurance partners’ requirements. We have a stateof-the-art mechanical facility that employees multiple ASE-certified techs.

What are some of the ecoQ: friendly initiatives you have incorporated at Jost Garage?

We use recycled anti-freeze A: and recycle all of our fluids.

We are 100 percent waterborne in our

refinish department and are very proud of that. We exceed the industry average in recycled parts usage. We also recycle all metals and cardboard, See Running a Successful Shop, Page 48

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Axalta Celebrates 150 Years in the Coatings Industry

In 2016, Axalta Coating Systems celebrates 150 years of creating industrial coatings. Axalta’s heritage dates back to 1866 when its first products were developed in Germany and since then the company has grown into one of the world’s leading manufacturers of liquid and powder coatings.

“All of us at Axalta are excited to reach this important milestone in the history of our company,” explained Axalta Chairman and CEO Charlie Shaver. “Over the next 12 months we will celebrate our past and build on our extensive knowledge and experience for the next 150 years. With nearly 13,000 employees and 120,000 customers in 130 countries, we will continue to use advanced technologies to develop next generation coatings while providing outstanding quality and service in the years ahead.”

From the earliest products that supplied European carriage manufacturers with colorful coatings in the 19th century, Axalta evolved to meet the needs of an automotive industry that flourished in the 20th century. In the 1920s, Axalta introduced the first quick-drying multi-color lacquer line for automobile production in the U.S. Company scientists developed the L,a,b color equations that became a key analytic tool in the catalogue of color sci-

ence. In the subsequent decades, technology at Axalta evolved to produce coatings that were increasingly durable and productive. In the 1980s, the company ushered in the first more environmentally responsible liquid coating systems with the introduction of waterborne products.

Building on experience acquired with its original Spies Hecker® and Standox® products, Axalta branched out to provide refinish technicians with improved coating products and systems. In the 1990s, the Cromax® family of waterborne products was introduced to automotive body shops.

Handheld spectrophotometers and VINdicator™ color tools were developed to help provide excellent color matching, which the company said saves repair time and reduces waste.

As the needs across many industries evolved, so did Axalta’s portfolio of products. To serve a growing number of industrial customers, Axalta introduced Nap-Gard® powder coatings for oil and gas pipeline manufacturers.

Today, both functional coatings and a wide array of decorative Alesta® powder coatings are used in thousands of applications. Voltatex® electrical insulation coatings enhance the productivity of motors and a host of electrical omponents.

PBES 2016 Conference Registration Available in February

The Paint, Body and Equipment Specialists (PBES) segment of the Auto Care Association announced on January 6 that it will hold its 2016 annual conference in Denver, Colorado on May 10-12. The 2016 conference theme is “Differentiate to Win.” The annual conference is a an opportunity for individuals and companies in all facets of the PBE industry to network and access educational resources.

“Each year, we present our attendees with a new set of speakers, designed to challenge their business process and create opportunity for improvement,” said Keith Bell, committee chair, PBES. “This year, we are focused on building more networking in the conference and gearing our speakers to talk about Differentiating to Win.” The conference will be held at the Embassy Suites at the Denver Convention Center. Registration will open in late February.

www.autobodynews.com

MOPAR Masters Guild Pledges $2.5M in Parts to CREF

In recognition of the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s (CREF) 25th anniversary in 2016, the MOPAR Masters Guild (MMG) group has pledged to provide $2.5 million in donated scrap parts from its dealership members to local high school and college collision school programs across the country. The MMG and the Education Foundation will work towards having at least 50 dealerships each donating at least $50,000 in scrap parts such as bumper covers, fenders, doors, and other items which are in high demand from school instructors for their students to practice on and prepare for entry-level employment.

CREF Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode noted, “Scrap parts are regularly the number one needed and requested item by high school and college collision school programs across the country and the Education Foundation welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with the MOPAR Masters Guild group and their members for this incredible donation pledge.” For information about MMG, visit http://moparmastersguild.com. For information about supporting CREF, contact Brandon .Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org or 847-463-5244.

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Hyundai in AL Sued Over Allegedly Defective Sunroofs

Continued from Page 44

An Alabama man is suing Hyundai over claims the company’s panoramic sunroofs spontaneously shatter.

Billy Glenn, individually and for all others similarly situated, filed a classaction lawsuit Dec. 10 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against Hyundai Motor America and Hyundai Motor Co., alleging unjust enrichment, breach of express and implied warranties, and violations of California’s consumer protection laws.

In the mid-2000s, according to the suit, car manufacturers introduced a substantially larger style of “panoramic” sunroof that spans almost the entire roof of the vehicle. Though aesthetically pleasing, the suit claims, these sunroofs, which require the replacement of metal roofs with large plates of glass, pose significant engineering challenges.

The suit states Hyundai has not met these demands, with more than 100 drivers having reported to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) that their panoramic roofs spontaneously shattered.

The suit claims Hyundai has known about the problem since at least October 2012, when the NHTSA investigated the 2012 Hyundai Veloster, prompting a par-

plus we are 90 percent paperless in our office!

by Robbie Hargett, legalnewsline.com

tial and limited recall. In December 2012, the Korean Automobile Testing & Research Institute also investigated the shattering of panoramic sunroofs of several manufacturers, including Hyundai, ultimately concluding these sunroofs were prone to spontaneous shattering at least in part due to ceramic tint used on the glass.

Despite the company’s awareness, Hyundai has still not warned drivers, including Glenn and others in the class, about the risk of sunroof shattering, still sells the defective vehicles, and denies that the defect exists.

Glenn and others in the class seek damages, restitution, interests, attorney fees, and other costs of the suit, together to exceed $5 million.

They are represented by attorneys Eric H. Gibbs, Dylan Hughes and Steve Lopez of Gibbs Law Group in Oakland, California; by attorney Jason T. Dennett of Tousley Brain Stephens in Seattle; by attorneys Gregory F. Coleman, Lisa A. White, and Mark E. Silvey of Greg Coleman Law in Knoxville, Tennessee; by attorneys Shanon J. Carson and Eric Lechtzin of Berger & Montague in Philadelphia; and by attorney Paul C. Peel of Farris Bobango Branan in Memphis, Tennessee.

Thank you to legalnewsline.com for permission to reprint this article.

Running a Successful Shop

Are there other changes you Q: have noticed in the industry?

CARFAX is changing the way A: repairs are being viewed. I’ve noticed that people are more con-

cerned about the repair process since CARFAX has been put in place.

Barry Jost can be reached at (732) 681-0115.

If you know of a shop that would like to share its “Shop Strategies,” contact Stacey Phillips at sphillips@ autobodynews.com.

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Symach Announces New Factory & Headquarters

Symach announced in December that it has moved its operation into a new 160,000-square-foot location in Calderara di Reno (Bologna) Italy.

Symach, an Italian-based company known for its fast-drying paint methods, is offering its products in North America as well as setting up body shops with its patented technology.

Starting in March, the company will also open a new showroom and training center consisting of 20,000 square feet. This is where it will install all of its products in operation, including the FixLine SprayTron (10 paint jobs per day) and FixLine KombiTron (20 paint jobs per day,) in addition to FixStation for one panel repairs and the entire line of ShopLine furniture for bodyshops.

Symach focuses on the construction of new body shops by designing the repair process, layout, and taking care of the installation and training for technical staff and managers.

For more information, contact info@symach.com or visit www .symach.com. Videos are also available online at: https://youtu.be/3TzNsok7w88

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Media and Publicity for Shops Marketing Dinosaurs That Should Be Extinct in 2016 with Ed Attanasio

In all industries there are sworn-by marketing practices that will eventually become archaic due to emerging technologies and other factors. Like anything else, times change and things that were working 10-15 years ago are no longer the best path to take.

If you’re still driving a VW Thing, using VHS tapes and have a flip phone, you’re probably lost when it comes to the latest trends. Chances are, you’re also still doing direct mail and advertising in the Yellow Pages.

If so, this column is a marketing wakeup call.

Here are some marketing techniques that should be retired, right alongside the sea monkeys and liquid paper:

emails getting a 0.12% response rate.

But, now the numbers have changed dramatically, and in 2015 direct mail is pulling in 3.7% response rate and many experts claim that email marketing

Ed Attanasio is an automotive journalist based in San Francisco, California. He can be reached at era39@aol.com.

costs $11 per new client.

The Yellow Pages: In 2013, I wrote a column declaring what everyone already knew—the Yellow Pages were dead or at least dying. But yesterday I looked at our YP directory here in San Francisco and there were more than 300 body shops still advertising there. I called one shop owner from the directory and he told me he’s spending roughly $1,800 annually to run a small display ad in the book, but he isn’t sure if it works. He keeps doing it, because he sees his competitors in there year after year. So here’s the 411—if you’re still buying ads or listings in any type of phone directory, you might as well go back to fixing

T C N I T X E

Direct Mail: Looks at the numbers. In 2012, the Direct Marketing Association reported that an average response rate for direct mail was 4.4% with

is coming in at around 4–5%.

For lead generation, direct mail costs the sender roughly $19 per every customer acquired if using direct mail, but with email marketing, it

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cars with an old, rusted frame machine and revert back to using repair manuals again. Take that money and put it into things like email marketing, online ads, social media and new content for your web site or blog.

Phone Work: Shops work hard to keep their customers in the loop and connected during the repair process.

That’s a great thing and an integral part to any customer service model, but you don’t need to do it all via voice calls anymore. The Millennials are much more comfortable communicating by texting or emailing, because they’re more efficient and save time. Experts say that if you want to build relationships with your customers live in their world and emulate their habits. Stats show that young people aren’t exactly psyched about the old personal phone call and if you have a teenager you’d probably agree.

Some post-40 types may still desire a

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voice call now and again, however so find out what they prefer and use that technique.

Spam: Spam filters are more sophisticated than ever and must be changing all the time to adapt to the tsunami of spam that grows at an incredible rate. But no matter how good spam filters get, some will invariably leak through. The problem is that even shops that properly tag their emails still could be inappropriately tagged as spam and discarded. In fact, your reader may never even know that the message was attempted at all, which is even more concerning. So, learn the ins and outs of how to avoid looking like spam. Here are some quick tips: Make sure the message in your subject line isn’t silly or ambiguous. Mailing to large batches of people at once will increase the odds of being tagged as spam, so break them up. Use a company-issued email address. Sending from a free email account like yahoo.com or gmail will increase the odds of getting tagged, so use a service like Constant Content or Mail Chimp. Avoid large images, intricate graphics and html code in your email and maybe most importantly

spell check everything carefully before you send out anything, because when filters see bad spelling they figure it’s spam.

Keyword-Heavy Content: Writing online content for web sites and blogs that is stuffed with keywords in lieu of worthy and useful information will fail. Five years ago, writers had to adhere to rules like use the company name three times in the opening paragraph, to the point where it became ludicrous and much of the content ended up being illegible.

Search engines today will sniff out your keyword-heavy content without hesitation and ignore you. It used to be all about backlinks, but now it’s more about providing top quality content that your readers will be interested in.

Fake Testimonials/Ads: In the old days, you could misdirect a consumer with a bogus offer in order to direct them to your page, but that will not work anymore. Most people (even many seniors) have become online experts, so they can smell that it’s a rat before they move their mouse. In the same vein, fake (or hyped) customer

testimonials are easy to see through and that’s why companies such as Yelp and Angie’s List are losing viewership and users. Customer reviews are still important, but now you need to monitor them a little more carefully, because an obvious fake testimonial can negatively impact your shop.

By getting these marketing monkeys off your back, you should be able to invest more money in social media—the hottest form of marketing you’ll find in 2016. If you’re still not onboard with it, just take a look at the numbers. Around the world, there are now more than 2 billion active social media users (growing at a steady pace of 25 percent a year).

This means more people now regularly use social media than the entire populations of the United States and China, combined, based on data provided by LinkedIn. So, for those of you who still use a dial phone or root for the Montreal Expos, maybe the time is right to update your life and marketing techniques this year, because “...once a new technology rolls over you, if you’re not part of the steamroller, you’re part of the road.” –Stewart Brand.

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The cars can also be summoned from a parking spot, according to the company, which said the tools remain in a beta version. In cruise control mode, the car will now anticipate highway exits by slowing down if you have activated your turn signal, Tesla said.

But the updated Autopilot driving system (7.1 software update)also put new limits on its hands-free operation. The function will now be restricted on residential roads or roads without a center divider, Tesla said, meaning that the car cannot drive faster than a maximum of the speed limit plus five miles per hour. Tesla’s Autopilot features lets cars change lanes with turn signals and parallel park. Tesla was one of the first companies to offer a hands-free steering system. Industry experts believe full autonomous operation may be available by 2020.

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New ‘Who Pays for What’ Survey Results Show Wide Range in ‘Certified’ Aluminum Labor Rates It would be easy to say that the national average labor rate for aluminum repair being charged by OEM-certified shops is about $92 per hour, but that wouldn’t tell the whole story, according to newly-released findings from the quarterly “Who Pays for What?” survey series conducted

by CRASH Network and Collision Advice.

Nearly 800 shops participated in the quarterly “Who Pays for What?” survey this past October, and 130 of those shops that are certified by one or more of the automakers to repair aluminum vehicles reported their hourly rates for aluminum repair. Those labor rates spread over more than a $100 range. At the low-end of rates for structural aluminum repair, a small percentage of shops reported charging only a few dollars more per hour than their regular repair rates. Near the top, there are shops charging in excess of $145 an hour for certified structural aluminum repairs.

The findings, available at http:// www.collisionadvice.com/survey, show hourly labor rates for structural and non-structural repairs (broken down by percentiles) for shops certified by nine OEM aluminum certification programs.

The 75-page survey report also includes information on: what shops estimated they spent on equipment, training and facility changes to meet OEM alu-

minum repair certification requirements; mark-up rates reported by shops for sublet work such as glass, towing, etc.; and payment frequencies among the eight largest insurers for 29 different shop supply estimate line items, such as seam-sealer, panel bonding adhesive and weld-through primer.

Also available on the website are survey findings and analysis of earlier “Who Pays for What?” quarterly surveys, which focused on “not-included” frame/mechanical operations, and “not-included” refinish operations. Reports include analysis and resources to help shops better understand and use the information presented.

“I’m hearing from shops every week who say participating in the surveys is helping them improve their estimating and repair planning,” Mike Anderson of Collision Advice said.

“This aluminum repair labor rate information is particularly interesting to me.

We will continue this series of surveys in 2016 with four more surveys to help shops understand what’s happening in the industry.” Shops can visit http:// www.collisionadvice.com/survey to sign up to take the February survey. Shops participating in a survey receive results at no charge. For information, contact John Yoswick, jyoswick@spiritone.com, (503) 335-0393.

M-B Introduces ‘Magic Sky Control’ in New SLC Models

Mercedes-Benz has premiered the new Mercedes-Benz SLC, which will be available in the spring of 2016. A press release from Mercedes-Benz stated, “A feature that continues to be unique to the SLC is the panoramic vario-roof with Magic Sky Control—this glass roof is lightened or darkened at the touch of a button.

This means that it provides an openair feeling at any time, but when required gives welcome shade under a hot sun.” The feature uses Research Frontiers SPD-SmartGlass technology, is a carry over from the SLC’s predecessor model, the SLK roadster.

The SLK was originally introduced with Magic Sky Control in 2011.

Joseph M. Harary, President and CEO of Research Frontiers, the company which invented the SPD-SmartGlass technology used in Daimler’s Magic Sky Control panoramic roofs, noted: “It is great to see Research Frontiers’ patented SPD-SmartGlass technology featured so prominently here at the Detroit Auto Show in a growing number of Mercedes-Benz vehicles,” including the Mercedes-Maybach S600, is available for viewing at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit from January 11-24.

CCC Donates $4M in Software Subscriptions Through CREF

Through a program with the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), CCC Information Services Inc. surpassed more than $4 million in software subscription donations to collision repair schools in 2015. The schools that received the subscriptions completed the CREF’s Collision Repair School Solutions Survey, which provides data on schools and areas where support is needed. The CCC ONE® Estimating software package provided to schools by CCC includes digital imaging capabilities, access to tire and recall databases, Paintless Dent Repair, frame specifications and access to CCC ONE® Touch, CCC’s mobile estimating solution that enables users to write estimates right at the car.

“The CREF is proud to once again partner with CCC Information Services to provide this invaluable opportunity for schools,” said Clark Plucinski, CREF Executive Director. ”It’s important that students can access and receive training on the technology and tools collision repairers use in their daily operations,” said Mary Jo Prigge, president, services operations, CCC.

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Lyft to Operate Self-Driving Cars After GM Invests $500M

Lyft, a ride-sharing service, announced on January 4 that GM invested $500 million in the company to assist with developing an on-demand network of self-driving cars and a series of short-term car rental hubs across the United States.

In California, a law was recently passed that requires manufacturers to receive certification and pass certain cybersecurity thresholds before releasing a self-driving car. In addition, a licensed driver must also be behind the wheel of the car at all times, reported blackenterprise.com According to PitchBook, GM’s financial backing is the largest direct investment by an auto manufacturer into a ride-hailing company in the United States. With the rise of car services such as Uber and Lyft, auto manufacturing companies are working to adapt to the future of the car market industry. The services are expected to lead to a decrease in car ownership, reported Black Enterprise.

Several car manufactures have also entered partnership deals with auto-related startup companies.

GM’s president, Mary Barra, will also sit on the board of Lyft.

FinishMaster Purchases ColorMaster Automotive Paint

FinishMaster, Inc., a distributor of paint and related products in the United States and subsidiary of Uni-Select Inc., a distributor of automotive products in Canada, announced on January 4 that it has completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of ColorMaster Automotive Paint, Inc. This transaction was initially announced on December 28, 2015 and its consummation was subject to certain customary closing conditions, all of which have been satisfied.

“We are happy to welcome more than 76 new team members to the FinishMaster family. Our combined efforts will accelerate growth in new geographic areas and maximize our service, product, and technical support to new and existing customers,” stated Steve Arndt, president and COO, FinishMaster.

“This acquisition of a leading regional player in the automotive refinish sector is a key strategic addition to our portfolio,” said Henry Buckley, president and CEO of Uni-Select.

I-CAR® And National Auto Body Council Partner On NABC Membership Discount For Gold Class® Businesses

by Robbie Hargett, legalnewsline.com

An Alabama man is suing Hyundai over claims the company’s panoramic sunroofs spontaneously shatter. Billy Glenn, individually and for all others similarly situated, filed a class-action lawsuit Dec. 10 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against Hyundai Motor America and Hyundai Motor Co., alleging unjust enrichment, breach of express and implied warranties, and violations of California’s consumer protection laws. In the mid-2000s, according to the suit, car manufacturers introduced a substantially larger style of “pano-ramic” sunroof that spans almost the entire roof of the vehicle.

Though aesthetically pleasing, the suit claims, these sunroofs, which require the replacement of metal roofs with large plates of glass, pose significant engineering challenges. The suit states Hyundai has not met these demands, with more than 100 drivers having reported to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) that their panoramic roofs spontaneously shattered.

The suit claims Hyundai has known about the problem since at least October 2012, when the NHTSA investigated the 2012 Hyundai Veloster, prompting a par-

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tial and limited recall. In December 2012, the Korean Automobile Testing & Research Institute also investigated the shattering of panoramic sunroofs of several manufacturers, including Hyundai, ultimately concluding these sunroofs were prone to spontaneous shattering at least in part due to ceramic tint used on the glass. Despite the company’s awareness, Hyundai has still not warned drivers, including Glenn and others in the class, about the risk of sunroof shattering, still sells the defective vehicles, and denies that the defect exists. Glenn and others in the class seek damages, restitution, interests, attorney fees, and other costs of the suit, together to exceed $5 million. They are represented by attorneys Eric H. Gibbs, Dylan Hughes and Steve Lopez of Gibbs Law Group in Oakland, California; by attorney Jason T. Dennett of Tousley Brain Stephens in Seattle; by attorneys Gregory F. Coleman, Lisa A. White, and Mark E. Silvey of Greg Coleman Law in Knoxville, Tennessee; by attorneys Shanon J. Carson and Eric Lechtzin of Berger & Montague in Philadelphia; and by attorney Paul C. Peel of Farris Bobango Branan in Memphis, Tennessee. Thanks to legalnewsline.com for permission to reprint this article.

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Insurers Brace for the Self-Driving Future, Fewer Accidents, KPMG Report: Insurers May Be First Casualties As autonomous driving technology advances, perhaps the most notable benefit is the promise of a striking reduction in accidents, say reports in the New York Times. But fewer accidents could, according to a recent report, turn the entire auto insurance industry on its head.

“We think that over the next 20 to 25 years, the number of accidents will fall by 80 percent,” said Jerry Albright, principal of actuarial and insurance risk practice at KPMG, the consulting firm that released the report. “From a consumer perspective, this is a very good thing.

You’ll see improved safety, fewer deaths.”

At Progressive’s investor relations meeting in 2013, John Curtiss, the company’s auto products development chief, said the industry had grown 90 percent over the previous 30 years, mostly because more vehicles were on the road.

More recently, Mr. Albright said that most insurance companies had problems turning a profit over the last six years and that the changes autonomous vehicles would bring were sure to make profitability more elusive.

At risk is the lifeblood of the industry—$200 billion in premiums that the insurers collect every year from policyholders, KPMG says.

According to KPMG’s report, the insurance industry could contract by as much as 60 percent by 2040 as accident damage payouts and premiums fall.

Even Warren E. Buffett, whose Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate owns GEICO, has said that widespread adoption of autonomous technology poses “a real threat” to the industry.

“This technology will be disruptive to the insurance industry,” Mr. Albright said. “There will be winners, and there will be losers. There will be fewer companies than there are today. But the question is, Who will survive?”

It could even result in fewer cars for companies to insure. A recent report from Barclays Capital said that autonomous technology would lead to a 40 percent decline in sales and a 60 percent drop in the number of cars on the road.

Already, the changes are happening.

Devices like automatic braking, adaptive cruise control (it adjusts the car’s speed to match that of the traffic ahead) and sensors that automatically keep the car from drifting outside a lane are available. And this does not include the fully autonomous cars that companies like Google and automakers have been testing for years.

Insurance companies have, accordingly, been examining potential changes to the current business model.

KPMG’s report envisions a future in which insurers will depend more on commercial accounts for revenue as companies offering ride-sharing and mobility on demand become more prevalent. Individual policyholders will decline as house-

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which insurance companies had to respond in the past included the advent of seatbelts, collapsible steering columns and airbags. Those devices changed automotive safety, but not until car insurance had been around for a few decades.

“This is not just about technology,” she said. “There are issues of behavior that need to be understood—how will people react to these new systems? Cybersecurity is another issue that’s been at the forefront of this.”

Mr. Albright said that devising a strategy to face the new world of auto insurance would be as expensive for insurers as it was tricky.

“It will take time and cost billions of dollars,” he said. “There’s enormous skepticism in the insurance industry about the pace that changes will come, but they’re going to come sooner than people think.”

Part of the problem, Joe Schneider of KPMG pointed out, was that insurance companies rely on past behavior to predict the future. What happens when there is little experience to base decisions on?

“The insurance industry is historically data-driven,” he said. “There’s been an actual person behind the wheel of every car for 100 years, and all of a sudden saying the rules are going to be different going forward, that’s a very difficult situation to wrap your head around.”

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And as the cost of covering losses declines, so will the premiums insurers collect. “Currently, the personal auto sector accounts for almost $125 billion in loss costs,” the report said. “By 2040, we believe this sector could cover less than $50 billion in loss costs.”

State Farm has been working with Ford, the University of Michigan Mobility Transformation Center and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, among others, to figure out how best to adapt to what’s coming.

“Automated technology has been a major industry issue,” Chris Mullen, director of State Farm’s technology research program, said in a telephone interview.

“It’s been what everyone is talking about, so as you can imagine, we have put quite a bit of focus on understanding it.”

Part of that understanding, she said, had been accepting that the changes had already begun—and are happening faster than many experts had predicted several years ago.

“A lot of what is disturbing the industry is the pace at which this technology is expected to come,” she said. “State Farm has responded to changes in our industry throughout our existence. Changes are coming again, and we’re investing the resources to understand how these changes will affect the industry.”

Ms. Mullen said that the changes to

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Allstate Ranks Safest Driving Cities, Kansas City Rates #1 Climate scientists are warning that one of the strongest El Niños on record could bring unusually wet conditions to roads in much of the country. And while this added precipitation might result in mayhem in some places, the 2015 Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report reveals certain cities are safer than others when factoring rainy or snowy conditions into collision frequency.

“Whether it’s packing up the family to drive to a friend’s house in another state, or traveling a few miles to open gifts at the in-laws, it’s important to stay extra vigilant on the roads this holiday season,” said Jim Ledder, vice president of auto claims, Allstate.

“Auto collisions are already on the rise across the country, and combining that with an especially powerful El Niño makes Allstate’s ongoing efforts to keep drivers, their families and communities safe more important than ever.”

Recently, the National Safety Council estimated the U.S. is on track for its deadliest driving year since 2007. In the first six months of 2015, NSC reported traffic deaths were up 14 percent from a year ago, and serious injuries were 30 percent higher

over the same period. While there are many factors that impact highway safety, an improving economy and lower gas prices have led to an increase in the number of miles being driven. The Federal Highway Administration’s latest Traffic Volume Trend Report says cumulative travel for 2015 is up by 3.5 percent. The September report is based on hourly traffic count data reported by the states, using data collected at approximately 4,000 continuous traffic counting locations nationwide.

Kansas City, KS, earned this year’s top spot, after also taking home the distinction for overall Safest Driving City when the report was released in September. Factoring in precipitation, Cape Coral, FL, and Brownsville, TX, came in second and third, respectively.

The top 10 safest cities, when factoring in collision frequency and precipitation are summarized in the following table.

City Rank with Precipitation Factor—City—NOAA Average Precipitation (inches/year) Second Row: Average Years Between Collisions—Accident Likelihood (Compared to national average of every 10

years) 1—Kansas City, KS— 39.1—13.3—24.8 percent less likely 2—Cape Coral, FL— 55.9—12.7—21 percent less likely 3—Brownsville, TX 27.4—13.3—24.6 percent less likely 4—Boise, ID— 11.73—13.1—23.5 percent less likely 5—Madison, WI— 37.3—12.2—18.2 percent less likely 6—Huntsville, AL— 54.3—11.7—14.7 percent less likely 7—Fort Collins, CO— 15—12.7—21.1 percent less likely 8—Port Saint Lucie, FL— 63.7—11.3—11.8 percent less likely 9—Cary, NC— 47.4 —11.6—13.8 percent less likely 10—Montgomery, AL— 52.8—11.4—12.4 percent less likely

The report is based on Allstate claims data and ranks America’s 200 largest cities in terms of car collision frequency to identify which have the safest drivers. The data uncovers how these cities rank when precipitation is a factor. These rankings are based on the expected driver performance given each city’s average annual precipitation as measured by NOAA.

VW Sales Stutter Makes Toyota, at 10.125 M, #1 Again

VW has said that it has delivered 9,930,600 units worldwide for the full year of 2015, down from a record 10.1 million in 2014. Volkswagen’s global deliveries were down 2 percent year-on-year, mainly due to a 5% decline of its Volkswagen passenger vehicle brand, and furthermore due to Volkswagen’s huge exposure to the flagging Chinese market. The dieselgate scandal did not help to improve this picture.

As dieselgate developed only in the fourth quarter of 2015, the full impact of any lasting damages to the brand will be felt this year. With these numbers, Volkswagen conceded that again it fell short of regaining the title of World’s Largest Automaker, a crown the company has publicly coveted for many years. Reigning number one Toyota Motor Co. will publish its yearend data by the end of January, however, the company said last month that it expects the number to be 10.125 million units. General Motors will likely remain in third place.

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CREF Celebrates 25th Anniversary, Provides 2016 Updates

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and as such, the organization has made a few changes as they move into 2016 in hopes of en-

couraging the support of more companies and individuals.

First, CREF has revamped their Makeover Grant Program. “Instead of just asking schools to provide us with their $50,000 wish list of needed tools, equipment and supplies, the new Makeover Program will ask for a profile on the school in their ability to graduate qualified and productive collision students for the industry’s employment,” Brandon Eckenrode, director of development for CREF, explained. “Through the school’s application, they will be assigned to tiers that will designate them based on how equipped they are to gradu-

ate a quality student, and this list will be promoted to the industry to showcase which schools are doing well at this and who needs some help to bring them to another level.”

CREF will also continue to promote job placement opportunities for recent graduates entering the collision repair industry, and Eckenrode reminded industry professionals, “Spring will be here sooner than we know it, and that is when many students will be traditionally graduating and looking for employment. We are in the process of gathering students’ resumes and contact information into a database that will be made available to our industry supporters this spring so they can view these students’ information for employment consideration.”

Finally, registration has opened for CREF’s annual golf fundraiser which will take place this summer during NACE. Eckenrode encourages industry professionals to register only to show their support for CREF and the future of the collision repair industry.

SCRS Launches Bumper Prompt Decision Aide On December 18, 2015, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) released an instructional aide to help with “Answering the CCC One Bumper Refinish Prompt.” Developed due to frequent, widespread reports of the refinish process being misrepresented when responding to system-generated questions, the Bumper Prompt Decision Aide was designed in hopes that a clearly defined decision making process will minimize confusion and alleviate the misuse of a greatly debated mechanism in the estimating system. Aaron Schulenburg, executive director of SCRS, called the prompt a “pretty exciting resource.”

A prompt in the CCC One Estimating system asks, “Will the bumper be refinished in a separate procedure from the other panels?” If the response is “no,” the system will apply overlap deduction on the next refinished panel and will include the bumper cover in the 2.5 clear coat cap. If the answer is “yes,” the next refinished panel will be identified as the first major panel without overlap deduction and labor for the bumper cover refinish will not be included in the 2.5 clear coat cap.

The appropriate response should be “yes” when a flex additive is utilized on plastic components and a separate

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Unfortunately, because a selection of “no” results in a lower estimated value, the prompt is frequently answered inaccurately on insurance appraisals. Certain conditions, such as the bumper’s color and whether it’s in the paint booth at the same time as the rest of the vehicle, do no impact the appropriate response to the prompt.

CCC provides several options for the estimating system’s configuration: no prompt, default to “yes,” or default to “no.” The system identifies a response of “no” with the symbol <> which indicates that the refinish operation will not be performed as a separate procedure from the other panels on the estimate.

All estimating databases are intended for use only as a guide, so SCRS reminds collision repair professionals, “It is important to remember that the auto body professional performing the repairs is in the best position to thoroughly inspect, diagnose and identify the methodology and their unique cost of the vehicle damage repair.”

For more information about SCRS, visit www.scrs.com.

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National Associations

A Decade of WINning

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As the Women’s Industry Network tions for its 2016 MIW Awards, which (WIN) approaches its 10th anniversary are designed to recognize women who in 2016, the association celebrates Rae a have with Chasidy Siskenriched the collision repair indecade of WINning with big plans for dustry through their leadership, vision the new year after enjoying a successand commitment to excellence. Nomful 2015. Denise Caspersen, Chair of inations must be submitted WIN, shared, “With the wrap-up of on the official nomina2015, our WIN membership drive has tion form and will be surpassed our goal of 450 members evaluated by an imwith a year-end close closer to 500 partial third-party, with Ed AttanasioSandra Herron, members.”

WIN’s sponsorship drive is unfounding princiderway, and the association is already pal and owner of nearing its goal of $135,000 for 2016.

MiddleEdge, Inc. WIN has released a call for nominaMIW Honorees tions to choose this year’s WIN Scholwill be recognized arship recipients,with and the association during the MIW Gala Ed Attanasio is now accepting nominees for this at WIN’s 2016 Educayear’s Most Influential Women (MIW) tional Conference and will Awards. receive a Tiffany’s crystal award and WIN offers scholarships as a way commemorative pin. MIW Honorees of supporting females with a desire to will also participate in a mentoring excel in the collision repair industry. program with scholarship recipients Ed Attanasio In addition to with receiving financial and other young women transitioning awards to assist with tuition, educafrom their education to their career. tional opportunities and enrichment The organization is gearing up for events, scholarship recipients will retheir 2016 Educational Conference, ceive a one-year membership to WIN and in light of the association’s 10th to further support their journey and anniversary, this year’s theme is provide community guidance as they “Power of the Past, Force of the Fuwith Thomas Franklin pursue their career goals. ture.” The 2016 Educational ConferFor high school students enrolled ence will feature the Gala Dinner in a secondary collision repair techduring which the MIW awards will be nology program who intend to condistributed, as well as the Annual tinue their education at a technical Scholarship Walk fundraiser. Program school or college, WIN awards five specifics have not yet been released, $1,000 scholarships based on applicabut WIN promises a “comprehensive with Ed Attanasio tion competitiveness and the complelineup of professional development tion of scholarship criteria. WIN’s programming.” Wendy Rogers, one College Student Tuition and Conferof WIN’s 2016 Conference co-chairs, ence Scholarship is awarded to five anticipates that this year’s event “will qualifying students enrolled in a postprovide a look back and forward at the secondary collision repair technology continuing opportunities for success of program, and in addition to receiving the Women’s Industry Network and its with Chasidy Rae Sisk $1,000 towards tuition and educational members.” expenses, recipients will be invited to The 2016 WIN Educational Conattend WIN’s 2016 Educational Conference will be held at the Tampa ference with the registration fee and Hilton in Tampa, FL on May 2-4, 2016. travel expenses covered.

Caspersen noted, “The 2016 WIN EdScholarship recipients will also ucational Conference marks the 10th have the opportunity of being mentored year of successful collaborations with Thomas Franklin by one of this year’s MIW honorees. among WIN volunteers, members and Applications for both scholarships are sponsors. One of the early Educational available on WIN’s website and should Conferences was held in Orlando, so be sent to WIN Scholarship Committee, this 10th Anniversary is the perfect time to return to Florida and reflect on c/o Beverly Rook-Twibell, Safelite Sohow the WIN network has grown and lutions, 1820 N. Corrington Avenue, Kansas City, MO with 64120. Ed Attanasiobeen enriched during this decade.”

WIN is also accepting nominaStay tuned to Autobody News for news

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Chasidy Rae Sisk is a freelance technical writer from Wilmington, Delaware, who writes on a variety of fields and subjects, and grew up in a family of NASCAR fans. She can be contacted at crsisk@chasidyraesisk.com. and updates on this event as it approaches!

WIN has also recently released their annual call for applications from members interested in joining the organization’s diverse board of directors which is comprised of members from all segments of the collision repair industry, including repairers, shop owners, jobbers, suppliers, consultants, paint manufacturers, recyclers and insurers. Members from all segments of the industry are encouraged to apply as long as they are a current WIN member in good standing.

WIN’s board of directors collaborate to promote the education, recruitment, retention and networking of women in the collision repair industry.

During their monthly conference calls

and two annual in-person strategic planning sessions, these ladies decide upon the direction of the organization’s many initiatives, such as the annual Educational Conference, other industry events, scholarship awards and MIW awards.

According to Petra Schroeder, WIN Vice Chair and co-chair of the Board Development/Nominating Committee, “Being a part of the WIN board is an outstanding way to shape the future of the collision repair industry.

Participation allows members to not only contribute to the growth of the WIN organization, but also to contribute to their personal growth through leadership skills and industry relationships.”

Application requirements and details are available at http://thewomens industrynetwork.ning.com/page/join -the-board, and the deadline for applications is February 29. New board members will begin at this year’s Educational Conference in May during See A Decade of WINning, Page 70

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CAPA: ‘Sheet Metal Parts Protected from Corrosion’

The Certified Automotive Parts Association says it requires all of its sheet metal parts such as hoods and fenders to be galvanized, even if the corresponding car company brand is not.

Galvanization is the process of applying a layer of zinc over the sheet steel.

The zinc coating protects the metal beneath it from corrosion and rust. Even if the zinc coating is scratched, the steel will continue to be protected by the remaining zinc. For replacement parts, the presence (or absence) of galvanization is significant because galvanization dramatically improves corrosion resistance, and subsequently, the life expectancy of parts. “Using a CAPA Certified sheet metal part is the only easy way to tell if a sheet metal part is made of galvanized material,” said Debbie Klouser, CAPA’s Director of Operations.

“The yellow CAPA seal is your assurance that the part has been tested for galvanization as a part of the CAPA certification process.”

www.autobodynews.com CHECK IT OUT!

Insurance Veteran Advises on What to Look for When Joining a DRP Program & Obtaining Garage Keepers Insurance interviews and conducted presentations foot. A significant dependency on one

by Stacey Phillips as well as been a subject-matter expert customer or source of customers can become a problem, if not properly neAutobody News asked Gerald Cecil, for automotive businesses.

Cecil recommended reviewing the gotiated,” he said. vice president of sales and marketing When asked about garage keepers at Arrowhead Automotive Aftermar- DRP agreement with legal counsel as ket, what to look for when joining a well as a business insurance provider. insurance, he said that most of those in Direct Repair Program (DRP). The He said the main advantage is that you auto service say they have garage keepKansas-based company provides busi- will be an informed negotiator before- ers insurance even though their dehand and if you scription or term for business insurance ness insurance programs for automoelect to accept the only describes only a portion of the tive businesses. terms, you have coverage typically purchased. How“Our recommendation is to go done so in an in- ever, shopowners use their shorthand, into any deal and especially a DRP formed way. “If calling their coverage “Garagekeepers” with your eyes open and being aware changes are com- as it is an important part of the insurof the benefits as well as possible negmunicated subse- ance package as it provides coverage ative outcomes of partnering with a quently in a casual for the shop owners’ exposure for the carrier,” said Cecil, a 30-year insurance manner, be sure customer’s vehicle in their care, custody veteran. “Too often the situation inGerald Cecil,vice you discuss and or control. volves all of the work business that president sales “The bottom line for garage keepunderstand the rewill be obtained or provided without and marketing quest and what it ers is that the shop owner work with regard to the contractual obligations or at Arrowhead means to you and specialists,” said Cecil. By dealing with requirements such as: hold harmless, Automotive the carrier with someone who is familiar with this area, primary non contributory and waiver of Aftermarket the DRP,” advised they can help manage the exposure and subrogation as well as a request that the in Kansas Cecil. “A casual re- explain the options in coverage availshop owner provide primary coverage when providing a temporary replace- quest may not be the correct way to make able. “It is also important to work with a change that could have a negative im- carriers and programs that have experiment vehicle or rental.”

Cecil has spent the last 25 years pact on your experience if you are as- enced claims folks who are accustomed focused on automotive businesses, in suming more risk or exposure than you to seeing the type of claims shop owners have,” said Cecil. particular those in auto service repair realized.”

His firm provides guidance on He stressed the importance of and parts businesses. He developed the purchase this type of insurance. to how of volume the “If strategic plan for the ASM Automotive DRP negotiations.

Promote your business with Specialty Markets division of what was business is what you expect and the re- For more information, contact Gerald featuringCecil at 913-312-2808 or email Gcecil article an exclusive be long-term, is expected to then Universal Underwriters. In addi- lationship services. or the products right @arrowheadgrp.com. get off on as well tion, he has written articles, provided you mayyour

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Industry Insight

—John Yoswick is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon, who has a body shop in the family and has been writing about the automotive industry since 1988.

He is the editor of the weekly CRASH Network (for a free 4-week trial subscription, visit www.CrashNetwork.com). Contact him by email at jyoswick@SpiritOne.com.

Automakers Discuss Labor Times, Share Other Insights at ‘OEM Summit’ with John Yoswick

During a recent industry event at balancing it against the P-pages and inwhich automakers discussed some of cluded operations…you have the opthe complexities of making collision portunity to…say, ‘Hey, this is not an repairs to their new vehicles, a shop included operation. This is a separate with Ed Attanasio owner asked the OEMs a decidedly operation. We need to add this as a line more business than technical question: item.”

Are you working to come up with reA number of automakers stressed alistic labor times for the repair operthe importance of looking up collision ations on these vehicles? repair procedures before every repair The answers across the board because they can sometimes change were a qualified with “no.” Ed Attanasioeven within a model year or between “I don’t necessarily come up with design changes. Chris Tobie, an inlabor times. That’s not my sphere of structional designer with American influence,” Mark Allen, a collision reHonda cited several examples. “The pair programs specialist with Audi of 2014 Odyssey has 1500 megapascal America said. steel in it, whereas previously the car Allen said his “sphere of influonly had 780 megapascal in it,” Tobie ence” includes working with insurers said. “Same thing with the CR-V: The EdtoAttanasio and information with providers educate 2014 CR-V the body stops at 780 them “on what is necessary and proper” megapascal; 2015, all of a sudden, the in terms of collision repair of Audi vesills and the front pillars are 1,500 hicles. Allen said at least six major auto megapascal. That totally changes the insurers have sent personnel to Audi way you approach the repair. So if you training facilities, but he acknowledged just say, ‘This looks like the repair I with Ed10Attanasio that not even all of the Top insurers did last week,’ it could be a very dando that. gerous assumption and a very unsafe Brandin Benson, a service engirepair.” neer with Mercedes-Benz USA’s prodHere are some of the other highuct technical support team said his lights from automaker presentations response was much like Allen’s, with during the day-long “OEM Collision the company offering workshops for Repair Technology Summit” organwith Stacey Phillips ASSISTANT EDITOR of Collision Reinsurers. ized- by the Society “We tell them here’s why we do pair Specialists: this and why it may take longer,” Ben■ Audi’s Allen said the mix of son said, noting that labor times are materials and diversity of “joining” established by the estimating database methodologies are more reasons that providers. researching the OEM repair procedures “We’re very sympathetic to the has become crucial. “We’re about to need, but we are bound to stay in our launch our Q7, and from its previous swim lanes, and labor times are quite a generation it lost 800 pounds,” Allen few swim lanes over,” General Motor’s said. “So there is 41 percent aluminum Mark Szlachta, concurred. “The pricontent to the vehicle, and the rest is a ority when repairing these vehicles mixture of high-strength and ultrashouldn’t be getting it done as quickly high-strength steel throughout the enas possible. The priority should be gettire body. You really have to know ting them done properly and as safely what you’re dealing with. [In terms of as possible to return them back to facjoining methods], adhesives are not tory specifications. The labor times, we just glue. They’re also corrosion prowould hope, would reflect that. But we tection. You can’t just go to Sears and don't have any control over those.” get the pop-rivets you used to fix But Allen said the labor times Grandpa’s lawn chair. You have to use issue is yet another reason that downthe right rivets and right rivet gun and loading the OEM repair procedures is right technique. It’s a challenge for us such an important first step in every reto make sure the industry is ready for pair. it.”

“Here’s where the shop has an op■ Several of the automakers cauportunity,” Allen said. “If you’re using tioned against TIG welding aluminum, the OEM repair procedures, and you’re noting that the heat vaporizes the mag-

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nesium or other elements used for hardening the aluminum. “TIG welding is a wonderful way to weld, no question, but it’s not very friendly in the automotive market,” GM’s Szlachta said. Audi’s Allen concurred, saying TIG welding can reduce the tensile strength of the metal by 50 percent. “The frequency and energy being put into the material, and the electronics in the vehicle, never play well together as well,” Allen said.

■ Several of the automakers said the weakening of the metal from heating is why the OEM procedures often call for use of a backing plate when joining to restore the full strength of that area of the vehicle. Audi, for example, uses the same “T4” temper aluminum that some other automakers use, because it can be formed into complex shapes in the manufacturing process. But unlike Ford (among others) that use thicker grades of the material to improve its strength, Audi and some other automakers put their vehi-

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cles through an age (or bake) cycle during production to raise the aluminum to a “T6” temper which can be at least 50 percent stronger than T4.

This allows them to maximize weight reductions by using even thinner grades of aluminum. That’s why they require the use of specialized welders and a backer to build the strength back into a repaired area.

■ Given the increasing complexity of collision repairs on some vehicles, how are the automakers ensuring their vehicles go to a shop equipped and trained to do the work?

“It’s a challenge getting a customer to understand that they have a special vehicle, and it’s also a very awkward conversation [at the time of purchase],” Allen said. “It’s kind of saying, ‘Welcome your new child into the world, and by the way, meet its mortician.’ That doesn’t fly well in a sales scenario. So it’s a balancing act See Automakers discuss, Page 70

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American Honda Addresses the Importance of Properly Repairing a Vehicle During Industry Update

by Stacey Phillips, Assistant Editor

During a recent Guild 21 presentation, Chris Tobie and Gary Ledoux gave a Honda & Acura Collision Repair Industry support update.

They both stressed the importance of learning the correct requirements and procedures to properly repair a vehicle.

Chris Tobie, an Tobie, an InstrucInstructional tional Designer for Designer for the Collision Re-Think the Collision ReProject at Think Project at American Honda American Honda, focused on new body structure issues that have occurred since the last Guild 21 presentation in August, 2014, when he gave comprehensive overview about high strength steel repair.

Due to changes in collision test requirements, American Honda has made significant body structural modifications to some of its vehicles. He used the example of a 2012-14 Honda CRV body that does not contain ultra high strength steel in comparison to a

2015 Honda CR-V body that incorporates 980 and 1,500 MPA steel.

“This completely changes how you approach repairing the vehicle,” said Tobie. “It may look like the 2012, but you can’t repair it the same way.”

He said it becomes very critical to use the company’s Body Repair News and body repair manual in order to properly repair these vehicles.

“You have to make that part of the culture in your shop,” said Tobie.

“Anybody that is unable or unwilling to do that, is going to create a potential liability for you.”

Tobie noted that the new 2016 Honda Pilot uses a door stiffener ring, which employs similar technology to the 2014 Acura MDX and 2015 Acura TLX. As a result, the repair method is the same.

“The reason this is important is we sell roughly 125,000 Pilots per year, versus about 50,000 MDXs,” he said. “There’s a much better chance that you are going to see a 2016 Pilot collision repair just because there are more of them out there.”

Constructed of 1,500 MPA steel, the door stiffener ring must be repaired

as a single assembly if it is damaged.

Multiple stampings are spot welded together at the factory. When installed, Tobie explained that there is no access to the factory joints so they cannot be repaired. He stressed the importance of not using MAG welding or MIG brazing as a substitute where the factory stampings are joined with spot welds.

In November, the 2016 four-door Honda Civic sedan was introduced with significant body technology upgrades. Fifty-eight percent of the vehicle is constructed of high-strength steel.

“It’s absolutely critical that when a car using this type of steel is hit, that the entire vehicle is measured using a 3D measuring system to find out what moved so you can correct all the damage,” he said.

Equipment Tobie then discussed the critical equipment necessary to repair Honda and Acura vehicles constructed of high strength steel and ultra high strength steel. These include a squeeze-type resistance spot welder, a pulse-controlled MIG welder, silicon bronze wire and

The Right Parts.

Bosch DS980J MAG wire or an equivalent.

“The requirement is that the filler wire must have a tensile strength equal to or greater to the lowest tensile of the parts being welded,” explained Tobie.

The supply of DS980J is no longer available in the United States and Canada. In some cases, when welding 590 and/or 780 MPa steel parts, such as some frame rails, Tobie said 120 ksi MAG welding wire may be used.

“The only time you absolutely need the DS980J is if you have to do a plug weld on 980 to 980 MPa steel,” he said. “That almost never happens in our cars.” An announcement about a replacement for DS980J wire is coming soon.

Collision Parts Tobie said collision parts availability can be a challenge for body shops. In response, Honda developed a parts review process, in cooperation with the Parts Division in Ohio and Japan, to analyze and resolve collision service parts availability issues.

“We absolutely believe that in order to have complete and proper

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body repair, everybody should own that in the industry – from the dealer who sells the part to the shop that installs it to the manufacturer – we all have a piece in that.”

He said information about these parts is widely available. Honda’s field staff of 10 Collision Select Marketing Managers are spread out across the country in support of this effort.

Since December 2014, Honda has included a parts information bulletin in its parts catalog, which is linked to every part number that contains significant amounts of 980 or higher MPa steel. Each part is also tagged with an instruction sheet in up to 16 languages, so personnel will know that it has specific installation features and requires special handling.

“Our mission is to educate the industry about the need for complete and proper body repairs,” said Tobie.

The company embarked on an experiment to demonstrate how doing an improper repair on a vehicle will affect its future crash worthiness. Tobie explained that they used an Acura MDX and sectioned the one-piece door ring and incorrectly welded it back with MAG welding. Then a small overlap See American Honda, Page 72

ProFirst Certified Collision Repair Facilities

Gary Ledoux, administrator of the ProFirst certified program for American Honda, gave an overview of the ProFirst program during the Guild 21 presentation.

The ProFirst program, which costs $2,700 per year per shop, now includes over 400 shops across the United States.

Ledoux said there are a limited number of spots still available.

Gary Ledoux, administrator of the “We want to have ProFirst certified enough shops so program for American Honda our Honda and Acura customers are served but not so many that they will be on top of one another.”

Ledoux said that similar to other car manufacturers, Honda and Acura products are becoming increasingly more sophisticated. New

technology, such as collision avoidance and mitigation technologies, is evolving at an increasing pace.

He stressed the importance of training technicians to use the correct tools and procedures and ensure they have access to current repair procedures.

“It is extremely important to American Honda that Honda and Acura products are repaired correctly and completely at whatever body shop performs the work,” said Ledoux. Since there are only a small percentage of Honda and Acura dealers with body shops, he said Honda depends on the independent shops to do the majority of the collision work.

“It is extremely important that ProFirst certified body shops reflect the Honda brand and the quality that Honda and Acura owners have come to expect,” he said.

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www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 69

Consumer Watchdog Urges Caution on Autonomous Vehicles, Drivers Intervened 341 Times Last Year

Proposals by top federal auto safety officials indicating the agency is willing to allow auto manufacturers to detour US motor vehicle laws and regulations, particularly for unproven robot cars. If true, this would be a “wrong turn” for the agency, Consumer Watchdog said in a news release.

“With multiple instances of deadly defective cars, a historic number of recalls, the Volkswagen scandal and the report that Google’s robot cars had hundreds of near misses, now is not the time for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to abdicate its responsibility to enforce auto safety through binding safety rules,” said Harvey Rosenfield, founder of Consumer Watchdog, a non-profit citizen organization.

The Detroit News reported that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) would “announce an industry-government consortium aimed at putting safety breakthroughs into production faster than would happen through the traditional rule-making process” and that today, NHTSA Administrator Michael Rosekind would “announce an industry-government consortium aimed at putting safety breakthroughs into production faster than would happen through the traditional rule-making process.”

Rosekind’s boss, Dept. of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, flanked by executives from Google, General Motors and other auto compa-

nies, promised that the agency would remove “roadblocks” for robot cars by granting manufacturers various exemptions from legal requirements.

The “Proactive Safety Principles” released by NHTSA Administrator Michael Rosekind this morning in Detroit include a “commitment to work collaboratively” between NHTSA and automakers. However, sources say that industry opposition to any standards— whether voluntary or mandatory— forced NHTSA to delay announcement of pact between the agency and automobile manufacturers.

If implemented, the agency’s plans would set it on a “collision course with consumers,” Consumer Watchdog said. Consumer Watchdog and other leading consumer safety advocates formally petitioned NHTSA to issue a safety rule requiring auto companies to install new breaking technologies as standard equipment.

And the consumer advocates caution that so-called “driverless vehicles” – intensely promoted by Google— “pose unprecedented safety, privacy and ethical questions that have yet to be addressed, much less answered.”

Google admitted that its much-hyped “driverless vehicles” actually needed humans to take control 341 times during the previous year in order to avoid a crash or because the technology failed.

“If this is the new NHTSA unveiled this week at the Detroit auto show,

Continued from Page 66

Continued from Page 62

for us.” Allen said Audi is using a website and working with insurers to help consumers find qualified shops.

Szlachta said for the new Cadillac CT6, GM is following the lead of some other automakers and limiting the sale of certain structural parts—and access to vehicle measuring data—to only certified shops.

■ “The technician of yesterday doesn’t recognize that he shouldn’t go to work on just any car, based only on his experience,” Allen said in summarizing the need for shops to do more to prepare themselves for repairing complex vehicles. “The technician of tomorrow, based on his experience, recognizes not to work on a car until he has the proper training.”

which they will attend a new board member orientation.

During the first quarter of 2016, WIN’s Industry Outreach Team will be mobile with appearances at CIC and CREF, plus the team will make their first appearance at the NORTHEAST Trade Show in March. Caspersen also reported, “As WIN grows, 2016 will be the year for technology as we have a goal of implementing a new association management software to better connect our members and provide great efficiencies to our all-hands-ondeck volunteers.

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Americans aren’t going to buy it,” Rosenfield said. “We urge the agency to stay the course and stick to the job of carefully and thoroughly regulating the industry.”

Petition Seeks Braking Technology Requirement The petition submitted to NHTSA by Consumer Watchdog, the Center for Auto Safety and Joan Claybrook, former NHTSA Administrator and President Emeritus of Public Citizen, asks the agency to require automakers to install as standard equipment Automatic Emergency Breaking, a set of three technologies that use combinations of radar, lidar (reflected laser light) and cameras to prevent collisions.

Noting that auto manufacturers had been lobbying NHTSA for permission to “‘voluntarily’ establish safety standards in place of …mandatory safety regulation,” the Petition points out that such self-regulation pacts “are developed behind closed doors, with no public involvement; are not binding on any company or particular vehicle or model at any given time and can be unilaterally (and secretly) abandoned;

cannot be enforced by any members of the public, NHTSA or any other government agency; and often do not reflect objective, scientific or empirical research.”

Read the petition here: http://www .consumerwatchdog.org/newsrelease /consumer-advocates-ask-auto-safetyagency-make-new-technologies-standard -equipment-urge-

Report to California DMV Shows Safety Issues in Robot Cars As part of its public safety first approach to robot cars, the California Department of Motor Vehicles requires companies testing driverless vehicles to submit an annual “disengagement” report to the DMV summarizing instances when human drivers had to take control of a self-driving robot car during testing. Seven companies that were approved for testing self-driving cars in 2014 were required to file disengagement reports with the DMV by Jan. 1. The seven are Volkswagen Group of America, Mercedes Benz, Google, Delphi, Tesla, Bosch and Nissan. The reports, released last Tuesday, showed that Google led in “disengageSee Consumer Watchdog, Page 74

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Continued from Page 68

American Honda

test was conducted according to IIHS specifications. Afterwards, the results were analyzed.

That car became part of the Acura MDX collision display at the NACE and SEMA shows in 2015. It will also be part of the display used at the AASP NJ Northeast show in March.

Tobie said if a repair is completed utilizing the body repair manual procedures, the car will be extremely close to its original design strength. “If you repair it improperly, the car may not perform the way it was designed to during the next crash.”

Service Publications & Training Body Repair News publications are posted on Honda’s independent repair website (www.techinfo.honda.com) at no charge. They are available for six Acura models, nine Honda models, and two non-model-specific issues.

The information covers body structure issues, welding/brazing procedures, airbag system and general electrical repair requirements/guidelines and driver support systems.

Shops that are part of the ProFirst program also receive the body repair manual and parts catalog for free.

Changes have been made to the body repair manuals starting with the 2016 Honda Pilot. A Body Repair Basic manual contains all of the basic procedures that apply to multiple models in one location. Previously, this wasn’t offered in the United States.

In addition, the Body Repair Manual contains all of the model-specific issues and instructions for the vehicle.

Honda is developing a training program for I-CAR to deliver. Three courses were launched in early 2015 and deal with service information, high strength steel and restraints repair.

More than 6,500 classes have already been attended online. The newest addition is HON14, a course on Honda and Acura electrical collision repair.

ProFirst shops are required to complete the courses within 90 days of their release.

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Continued from Page 69

ProFirst Certified

2) Honda and Acura Specific Training 3) Tools & Equipment requirements available on website: www.profirstinfo .honda.com 4) American Honda requests that shops have a CSI system and may use any existing commercial system.

5) They require the facility to be clean, professional and customerfocused As part of the company’s ProFirst program and in response to industry requests, Honda established a technical help line, which utilizes the VeriFacts Paint & Body Techline and the Ask I-CAR Repairability technical support tech line. “If repair questions cannot be answered at that level, VeriFacts and I-CAR personnel have direct access to re-

pair and technical professionals at American Honda,” said Ledoux.

“One way or the other, a shop’s questions will be answered.”

Ledoux cited some of the additional benefits of the ProFirst program, which include a plaque and exterior aluminum signage suitable for public display; free access to Honda and Acura parts catalogs; free access to Honda’s Service Express for repair information, as well as access to communications information. All ProFirst shops are listed on the Honda corporate shop locator at collision.honda.com, which has approximately 15,00018,000 hits on average per month.

VeriFacts is Honda’s technology partner and provides collision repair network certification, verification and auditing services.

For more information about the ProFirst program, visit http://profirstinfo.honda.com/.

Body Shop in Spokane, WA Helps Mom with Trashed Car

by Lindsay Nadrich, KREM.com

A local auto body shop stepped up to help a mom in need this holiday season.

On December 22, KREM 2 told Stephanie Roderick’s story about a grinch who tried to steal her Christmas. Her car was stolen and gutted before it was finally returned to her.

Credit: KREM.com

“It’s horrible, it’s hard being a single mom and I’ve tried everything to make it by myself,” said Roderick.

“This $500 is 90% of my rent money, so to face having to buy a new car or replace what I have it’s hard.”

Thanks to City South Auto Body Center, she does not have to make that choice.

Within ten minutes of airing the story, KREM 2 got a call from City South Auto Body. They offered to repair the car for free, and not for the publicity. We posted the act of kindness on our Facebook page, and it was many of our viewers who asked for the name of the shop responsible.

“The family that owns the car is kind of strapped this year like a lot of families are, we decided to take it in and give this family a good Christmas present,” said Elmer Smith of City South.

Smith said they will replace the glass in two broken windows, replace her tires, and even re-key the locks.

“Tires will be a big issue. We kind of looked at them and we just kind of made the determination that we should step up and go ahead and get new tires on it because it’s a family running in this thing and we want them to be as safe as possible,” said Smith.

City South Auto Body Center will also replace the car seat stolen from inside the car.

“There’s times that you know businesses have to step up and take the hit and take care of the community and this is one thing we’re doing, take care of the community and make sure the young lady that owns this car and her kids are safe on the road when it leaves here.”

Roderick called KREM 2 on Wednesday in tears. She said she was overwhelmed by how generous the company is and said it is all more than she could have ever expected.

Roderick received her car back in time for Christmas.

We would like to thank KREM .com for reprint permission.

72 FEBRUARY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

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Automakers, Feds Agree to Safety Principles Akin to Aviation Industry In a second major announcement by Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx at the American International Auto Show in Detroit, it was revealed that a group of 18 automakers and the Department of Transportation have agreed to a set of “proactive safety principles” and plan to work together to quickly spot and resolve problems before they endanger the public.

The pact was announced at the North by Foxx with Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne, GM CEO Mary Barra and several other top industry officials in attendance.

Officials said most details are still to be worked out, but the pact marks a change in the relationship between the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the auto industry after revelations that serious defects went undisclosed to the public for years, and as automakers rapidly develop technologies that one day could lead to driverless cars.

“Don’t underestimate what happened today,” said Marchionne, whose company was fined millions by NHTSA last year for not reporting safety defects fast enough and failing to follow through on recalls. “It was the approach that the secretary and the administration took. I think you’ll see a huge change.”

Foxx said it came out of meetings he requested with industry executives,

and he conceded that the relationship has to change.

“I don’t need to recount the crisis after crisis we’ve been dealing with,” the secretary said. “We know the stories, and we all know they haven’t been good for the industry, for DOT and, most importantly, for public safety.”

Automakers and regulators will study whether the aviation industry’s voluntary safety reporting can be applied to autos, and they agreed to look at using big data to spot and report safety problems faster. They’ll also work together to increase the percentage of recall repairs done, and they will study and share cybersecurity information.

In recent years, the U.S. public has learned of serious safety issues with cars on the road, such as defective ignition switches and faulty air bags, that went unreported for long periods and caused injuries and deaths. NHTSA imposed record fines last year on some automakers for failure to disclose defects, but the agency was faulted for an inability to identify safety problems and take action.

Foxx hopes to borrow from the Federal Aviation Administration’s safety management agreement with airlines, which requires them to share safety data.

“It has dramatically reduced aviation accidents,” he said. “It relies on informa-

tion sharing by industry and the trust established by the FAA and its stakeholders.”

It’s hard to determine how much the FAA philosophy is responsible for the historically low level of aviation deaths.

Many experts believe greater disclosure has improved safety, but also say credit goes to improvements in planes. Lessons learned from air crash investigations have been incorporated into new generations of airliners. Planes today are also highly automated, eliminating a lot of human errors.

The auto industry pact, combined with an agreement on autonomous cars announced Thursday, is aimed at bringing voluntary agreements instead of regulations, which take years to get through the government bureaucracy and move too slowly to keep up with technology.

Safety advocates have criticized such industry-government cooperation because regulators can become too reliant on automakers for information and data.

But Foxx said NHTSA will keep its enforcement powers for use when needed, and Hyundai North America CEO Dave Zuchowski said the cooperation is needed so the government can keep up with changes.

“The old way of doing business doesn’t work,” he said. “You have to have separation of church and state, but you need to be able to move quicker.”

AUTOBODY MARKETPLACE

Repair System

Continued from Page 70

Consumer Watchdog

ments”: over the 15 months ending on November 30, 2015, its robot technology failed and handed control to the driver 272 times and a test driver felt compelled to intervene 69 times.

Read more information on the California self-driving vehicle disengagement reports: http://www.consumer watchdog.org/newsrelease/google’sown-robot-car-”disengagement”-reportshows-need-driver-behind-wheelconsumer-wa Proposed regulations covering self-driving robot cars issued in December by the California DMV require the robot cars to have a steering wheel and pedals and be occupied by a licensed driver capable of taking control of the vehicle.

“The spectacle of top federal auto safety officials getting together with executives from the industry they are supposed to be regulating at an industry trade show and bubbling on about robot cars is troubling,” Consumer Watchdog said. “Auto safety policy should be developed in Washington, D.C., not made in Detroit.”

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