April 2022 Northeast Edition by Autobody News

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Massachusetts Right to Repair Court Case Decision Delayed by Camille Sheehan, Auto Care Association

U.S. District Judge Douglas Woodlock issued a notice March 8 informing of a delay to provide a decision on the Right to Repair court case due to “unforeseen and unforeseeable circumstances, principally involving supervening but insistent writing responsibilities in other matters.” While the decision was scheduled for March 7, the judge has now said he will issue a final judgement no later than April 15. Approved by Massachusetts voters on Nov. 3, 2020, by an over-

whelming 75% to 25% margin, the new Right to Repair law would require manufacturers to provide vehicle owners both access and control of the diagnostic and repair data generated by their vehicles. Subsequent to the vote, the car company trade group, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, filed a lawsuit in November 2020 asking the court to overturn the data access ballot question based on a host of allegations, including cyber security concerns, insufficient time to comply with the new data access requireSee Right to Repair, Page 10

GM and Some Other Automakers Suspend Business to Russia by Jamie L. LaReau, Detroit Free Press

General Motors is suspending its business in Russia following the country’s invasion of Ukraine. GM spokesman George Svigos said Feb. 28 the reason for the suspension was “due to a number of external factors, including supply chain issues and other matters beyond the company’s control.” The week before, the Russian military invaded Ukraine in what is the biggest attack in Europe between two states since World War II. Many Western nations have institut-

ed sanctions against Russia prompting many companies to idle operations there. GM’s presence in Russia is small. It sells about 3,000 Cadillac and Chevrolet vehicles a year in the country and it has limited supply chain exposure, Svigos said. In a statement, GM said: “We are working in real time through the implications for our operations of the sanctions announced this week. We continue to monitor developments and take action to implement mitigation strategies as appropriate.” See Suspend Business, Page 16

Vol. 13 / Issue 1 / April 2022

CT Tesla Service Center Permit Revoked Due to Local Dealership Concern Over Direct Sales by Joey Klender, Teslarati

Tesla’s permit for a new Service Center from the East Hartford, CT, Planning and Zoning Commission was revoked after a local dealership voiced concern regarding direct-to-consumer sales laws. The East Hartford PZC voted to approve the Tesla Service Center, which would be located at 300 Connecticut Blvd., in April 2021. However, the decision was revoked after Hoffman Auto Group, a company with a string of local dealership locations, argued Tesla was attempt-

ing to loophole its way through laws that prohibit automakers from selling directly to customers. Currently, 300 Connecticut Blvd. is a Volvo dealership. The lawsuit, which was first reported by the Hartford Business Journal, names Tesla, the East Hartford PZC and the firm working with Tesla on the project as defendants. Hoffman Auto Group claims in its suit against Tesla the automaker was hiding its true intent—to sell vehicles to people directly, violating state laws—by filing applications that See Permit Revoked, Page 19

Auto Dealer Service Departments Trying to Navigate Parts and Staffing Challenges: J.D. Power The combination of vehicle owners needing service more often due to accumulating mileage at pre-pandemic levels along with the disruption of the auto parts supply chain and significant staffing shortages is causing auto dealership service departments to navigate unique capacity challenges, according to the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Customer Service Index (CSI) Study, released March 9. Wait times to schedule service appointments for one- to three-yearold vehicles have increased by nearly one full day among owners of premium and mass market vehicles (to 4.5 and 4.3 days, respectively). Overall customer service satisfaction is 848 (on a 1,000-point scale.) “Dealer service departments are in a pivotal position to improve customer satisfaction and provide greater customer convenience, even though many challenges—including the parts supply chain disruption and the availability of new-vehicle loaners—are out of their control,” said Chris Sutton, vice president

of automotive retail at J.D. Power. “Proactive communication with customers is one solution for dealerships to mitigate a disruptively tough situation. “Simply implementing text or email alerts can greatly improve customer satisfaction,” Sutton said. “Additionally, letting customers know what is happening at each step along the way, including why it is taking longer to book an appointment or providing any updates in parts delays, can help improve satisfaction.” The study, now in its 42nd year, has been redesigned this year to include emerging features such as valet service, remote vehicle servicing and online/smartphone app payment options to gauge the effect these processes have on the service experience. The study measures satisfaction with service at franchised dealer or aftermarket service facilities for maintenance or repair work among owners and lessees of one- to threeyear-old vehicles. See Staffing Challenges, Page 18

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M AV ERICK APPROV ED .

REGIONAL

Car Repossessions on the Rise �� 56

5 Charged with Distributing Drugs Through

CCC Appoints Chief HR Officer �� 60

Maryland Auto Body Shops �� 8 CT Tesla Service Center Permit Revoked Due to Local Dealership Concern Over Direct Sales �� 1 Lucid Expands Retail Network with New Jersey Studio �� 6 MA Auto Body Shops Protest Lowest-in-Nation Insurance Reimbursements �� 12 Massachusetts Right to Repair Court Case Decision Delayed �� 1 New York Auto Show on for April �� 10 Newspaper Ad Leads to Successful Nearly 45-Year Career as NJ Maaco Owner �� 11 Rhode Island Secretary Headed to Jail After $220K Insurance Scam �� 12 Sunken Felicity Ace Was Carrying Boston Car Collector’s Bentley �� 14

CCC Report Reveals Accelerated Innovation in P&C Insurance Economy Amid Disruption �� 64 CIF Urges Support for Tech Burned in Shop Accident �� 30 CREF Opens Grant Applications �� 22 Ford Autonomously Operating 3D Printers to Increase Efficiency, Reduce Cost �� 22 Ford to Collaborate with Universal Technical Institute on EV Training Curriculum �� 66 Ford Will Sell Explorer SUVs with Missing Chips Due to Global Shortage �� 59 Ford’s EV and ICE Reorganization Will Have Huge Impact on Dealers �� 58 GM and Some Other Automakers Suspend Business to Russia �� 1 GM, Lucid Motors & Rivian Share EV Collision Repair Considerations �� 4 GUNIWHEEL™ Makes the Collision Repair

COLUMNISTS Anderson - Destructive Weld Testing a Crucial

World Go Round One Wheel at a Time �� 44 Mitchell Diagnostics Platform Surpasses

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

CONTENTS

Publisher & Editor: Jeremy Hayhurst General Manager: Barbara Davies Contributing Writers: John Yoswick, Janet Chaney, Toby Chess, Ed Attanasio, Stacey Phillips Advertising Sales: Joe Momber, Norman Morano, (800) 699-8251 Office Manager: Louise Tedesco Digital Marketing Manager: Bryan Malinski Art Director: Rodolfo Garcia Graphic Designer: Vicki Sitarz Online and Web Content Editor: Abby Andrews Accounting Manager: Heather Priddy Permissions Editor: Randi Scholtes Office Assistant: Dianne Pray

Serving New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Northern Virginia, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont 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. ©2022 Adamantine Media LLC.

Acura of Westchester �� 48

Long Automotive Group �� 27

Audi Devon �� 28

Matrix Edge �� 2

Audi Wholesale Parts Dealers �� 65

Mazda Wholesale Parts Dealers �� 60

Auto Data Labels �� 15

Mercedes-Benz of Atlantic City �� 31

Axalta Coating Systems �� 7

Mercedes-Benz of Fort Washington �� 31

Biener Audi �� 14

Mercedes-Benz of Paramus �� 26

Biener Ford �� 14

Mercedes-Benz of West Chester �� 18

BMW Wholesale Parts Dealers �� 52-53

Mercedes-Benz of Wilmington �� 18

Cadillac of Mahwah �� 43

Mercedes-Benz Wholesale Parts Dealers �� 63

Central Avenue Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge-Ram �� 29

MINI Wholesale Parts Dealers �� 50

Certified Automotive Parts Association �� 24

Mirka USA �� 6

Circle BMW �� 32

MOPAR Wholesale Parts Dealers �� 38-39

Classifieds �� 66

New Holland Ford �� 56

Colonial Automotive Group �� 41

New Holland Toyota �� 54

Courtesy Mitsubishi �� 36

Nissan/Infiniti Wholesale Parts Dealers �� 60

DePaula Chevrolet-Ford �� 22

Northstar Kia �� 40

Dominion Sure Seal, Ltd �� 11

Nucar �� 37

Autobody News P.O. Box 1516, Carlsbad, CA 92018 (800) 699-8251 / (760) 603-3229 Fax www.autobodynews.com editor@autobodynews.com

Eagle Abrasives �� 21

Open Road Acura of East Brunswick �� 28

30,000 ADAS Calibrations �� 24

Eastchester Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge �� 32

Open Road Chevrolet �� 10

Platform Measures Auto Body Damage �� 16

Empire Auto Parts �� 24

Ourisman Chevrolet �� 36

Registration Open for YANG Conference �� 19

Equalizer Auto Glass Tools �� 12

Ourisman Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge �� 16

Flemington Auto Group �� 49

Packer Norris Parts �� 47

Ford Wholesale Parts Dealers �� 61

Porsche Wholesale Parts Dealers �� 59

GM Wholesale Parts Dealers �� 55

PPG �� 9

Grieco Toyota �� 20

Rafferty Subaru �� 54

Hoffman Auto Group �� 45

Rockland Nissan �� 40

Honda-Acura Wholesale Parts Dealers � 33, 34-35

SATA Dan-Am Company �� 5

Hyundai Wholesale Parts Dealers �� 64

Schultz Ford �� 30

Industrial Finishes and Systems �� 25

Spanesi Americas �� 23

Infiniti of Norwood �� 42

Steck Manufacturing Company �� 12

Jaguar Land Rover Cherry Hill �� 51

Subaru Wholesale Parts Dealers �� 58

Kelly Jeep-Chrysler �� 8

Symach �� 16

Lineup, Model X Plaid Sees $12.5K Rise �� 60

Kia America �� 13

Toyota Wholesale Parts Dealers �� 64

ACA Announces Membership Head �� 60

TrueCar Introduces Online Marketplace �� 32

Kia Motors Wholesale Parts Dealers �� 57

USI of North America �� 68

All SCRS RDE Sessions Online �� 64

U.S. Bans Russian Energy Imports:

Kia of Attleboro �� 36

Volkswagen Wholesale Parts Dealers �� 67

Kia of Coatesville �� 46

White Plains Volkswagen �� 54

Kundert Volvo �� 19

Wrenchers �� 17

Liberty Kia �� 20

Yonkers Kia �� 44

Step You Should Be Paid to Perform �� 36 Attanasio - Painter/Technical Director Creates Amazing Art, Island-Style �� 48 Yoswick - ‘Who Pays for What?’ Survey Looks at Billing Practices Related to EVs, Accessing OEM Info �� 42 Yoswick - Collision Repair Shops Should

Rivian Electric Truck Maker Sued by Shareholder for Recent Price Shifts �� 40 Rivian Hires COO �� 28 Russia Accused of Toyota Cyberattack �� 54

Check Policies Related to Drugs/Alcohol,

SEMA Announces VP of Marketing �� 11

Animals in Workplace �� 50

Tesla Model 3, Model Y Receive Latest Round

Yoswick - Examples Demonstrate Problems with Collision Techs Making Repair ‘Presumptions’ �� 46

of Price Increases in U.S. and China �� 14 Tesla Model Y $24,000 Repair: Everything You Need to Know �� 51 Tesla Raises Prices Across Entire Vehicle

NATIONAL

Auto Dealer Service Departments Trying to Navigate Parts and Staffing Challenges: J.D. Power �� 1

What it Means �� 20 WIN ‘Voice of the Body Shop’ Webinar Features Women Who Own, Manage Shops �� 26

autobodynews.com / APRIL 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS 3

GM, Lucid Motors & Rivian Share EV Collision Repair Considerations by Stacey Phillips

Sales of alternative power vehicles, including electric vehicles (EVs), currently represent about 5% of all U.S. light-vehicle sales—but that share is expected to reach 45% by 2035, according to research by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA).

Goforth shared information about GM’s steps to help transform the automotive industry and some of the technologies being used to maximize power, range and flexibility. “We’re looking at technologies we need today and in decades to come and we’re investing heavily in those new technologies to bring them to market,” she said. “We can’t go

Representatives from GM, Lucid Motors and Rivian spoke at the SCRS OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit. Pictured, left to right, are Kye Yeung, European Motor Car Works; Ron Reichen, Precision Body & Paint; Dan Black and Kelly Logan, Rivian; Andrew Hall and Andy MacDonald, Lucid Motors; and Jennifer Goforth and John Eck, GM.

GM, Lucid Motors and Rivian representatives discussed the unique platforms they have developed and how their offerings differ from traditional vehicles during the OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit at the 2021 SEMA Show. The session was part of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) Repairer Driven Education Series. Following their presentations, Kye Yeung, president of European Motor Car Works, and Ron Reichen, owner of Precision Body & Paint, moderated a panel discussion. The session explored construction and repair considerations, and how the collision repair industry must adapt. “The inevitable growth of this market makes the perfect fit for a summit that has always had an eye on the developing landscape of modern vehicles, with a focus on emerging trends that influence repairability and collision industry preparation,” said Aaron Schulenburg, SCRS executive director. GM

Jennifer Goforth and John Eck, collision manager for GM, discussed the OEM’s EV strategy and the GM Collision Repair Network.

forward alone.” She said GM is passionate about its zero crashes, zero emissions, zero congestion strategy. “The key to this vision is electrification,” said Goforth. The electric architecture powering the OEM’s newest technologies, such as Ultifi and Periscope, is GM’s Vehicle Intelligence Platform. Goforth also discussed GM’s research and development regarding safety. “At GM, safety is in our DNA. There is nothing more important than ensuring the safety of our loved ones,” she said. “Most of all of our crashes that happen are due to driver error, so we’re focused on bringing new technologies that can reduce human error such as automated rear braking, forward and side collision alerts.” The company is looking at technologies that reduce distractions while driving, such as hands-free communications and touch-free navigation. GM plans to launch 30 new electric vehicles by 2025. “That doesn’t mean that we are giving up on combustion engines,” noted Goforth. “Those are going to

4 APRIL 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

be an important part of our portfolio for the next 10 or more years.” Goforth explained that repairing vehicles with internal combustion engines will be essential for the next 20-30 years because they will be on the road for many years. With a tremendous amount of technology coming out, Goforth said there will be many repairable parts. However, right now, some will not be serviceable, such as critical structural components and batteries. Eck shared information about the GM Collision Repair Network, which will continue to focus on recognizing facilities that invest in tools and training to ensure an excellent customer experience. “Our focus is on a safe and proper repair that utilizes all of our service information,” said Eck. This includes a heavy emphasis on diagnostics and inspections.

GM’s 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV RST.

With the technology integrated into vehicles, Eck stressed the importance of scanning, calibration and checking diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). “Making sure things are working as designed is critical to us,” he said. “We’re going to continue to create and add more support to the industry and make ourselves accessible.” GM’s OnStar Insurance, expected to launch in all 50 states this year, will be an important component. “We’ve been learning over the last few years post-collision how we can help customers navigate, but with OnStar Insurance expected to be national in 2022, they are going to be expecting a network that is fully supportive of driving safe and proper repairs for customers’ needs,” said Eck. Eck said GM ensures that repairers have the most current information. “Working with the industry, we’ve learned how to be hardware agnos-

tic,” he explained. “That has helped us add flexibility to the marketplace and understand what is going on from a cost structure and not making [repairers] buy OEM tools specific to GM.” GM offers technical documents for repairers to use during estimating/blueprinting. Examples include service bulletins, safety protocols, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) documents, position statements and post-repair inspections. For certified inspections, virtual and in-house audits are offered to shops. Over the last year, GM worked with SCRS to create a post-inspection form to help repairers negotiate with insurance carriers. “We want to continue to work with SCRS to find solutions like that to help you as the repairer make safe and proper repairs,” he said. Lucid Motors With global headquarters in Silicon Valley, CA, and an assembly plant in Casa Grande, AZ, Lucid Motors began delivery of the company’s first customer vehicle—the Lucid Air—in late 2021. Andy MacDonald, senior manager of Lucid’s global body repair program, and Andrew Hall, head of vehicle safety, provided an overview of the Lucid Body Repair Program. Currently, 50 shops in the U.S. and Canada are going through the certified program approval process, which they joined by invitation only. “As we ramp up production and vehicle parts grow, we will add to that number of shops,” said MacDonald. “We are interested in working with shops that can deliver high-quality repair capability and excellent customer service. That’s the cornerstone of what SCRS believes in and it’s a privilege to work with you.” MacDonald estimated there will be about 100 shops in the program in 2022 and that number will continually increase. Approved body shops will be trained and equipped to complete repairs, including all mechanical work. “Lucid’s program will restrict structural repair parts, such as aluminum safety systems parts and high voltage parts, to the approved See Repair Considerations, Page 62

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Lucid Expands Retail Network with New Jersey Studio Lucid Group on Feb. 17 announced the official opening of its newest Studio location at The Mall at Short Hills in Short Hills, NJ. This location serves as the 22nd in the company’s growing North American retail network. “Our new Studio in Short Hills will bring significant visibility for the Lucid Air in a state that has expressed its commitment to EVs, and will help us to further our mission to inspire the adoption of sustainable energy,” said Zak Edson, vice president of sales and service of Lucid. “This location is the first in a series of Studio and service center openings in the Northeast United States, expanding our presence beyond our flagship Studio in Manhattan.” New Jersey has long sought to encourage new business growth as part of its electrification goals. Lucid looks forward to making further investments and hiring in the state as the legislature considers equitable treatment for consumers and electric vehicle manufacturers in alignment with those efforts.

Studio Experience Every Lucid Studio offers a digitally oriented luxury experience tailored to each customer’s preferences, whether they visit in-person, make inquiries entirely online or combine the two. Lucid Studios allow customers to experience the brand and obtain

information about its products in locations that underscore the company’s unique design aesthetic. Visitors who explore a Lucid Studio will get a vision of how the company draws inspiration from the beauty, innovation and diversity of its home state of California. In addition, Lucid Studios augment the physical experience of seeing and touching a Lucid Air

with an elevated digital experience. Using a 4K VR configurator, Lucid’s Virtual Reality Experience combines the physical and virtual worlds to showcase seamless personalization of everything from interior finishes and materials to exterior color. Lucid Studios The Lucid Studio design has translated the company’s post-luxury design aesthetic into a welcoming physical environment where customers can review options for the full Lucid Air lineup of luxury, high-performance EVs. This includes the Lucid Air Pure, a very well-equipped model available from $77,400 ($69,900 with potential federal tax credit), through the Lucid Air Touring, which starts at $95,000 ($87,500 with potential federal tax credit), and the Lucid Air Grand Touring, starting at $139,000 ($131,500 with potential federal tax credit). The lineup features models offering more than 500 miles of EPA-estimated range on a single charge and industry-leading effi-

ciency of 4.6 miles per kWh on Grand Touring models. Future Studio & Service Centers The Lucid Studio in The Mall at Short Hills serves as the company’s first location in New Jersey. Additional locations will continue to open as Lucid expands its presence in North America and globally. Customers can visit during normal business hours or can book a personal appointment by contacting the Lucid team at lucidmotors. com/contact. They can always start exploring the Lucid Air through the “Design Yours” Configurator. Source: Lucid Group

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5 Charged with Distributing Drugs Through Maryland Auto Body Shops Five defendants were indicted for multiple charges in Maryland after investigators said they used two auto body shops to to orchestrate the distribution of fentanyl, cocaine, heroin and marijuana. The charged defendants are Dwayne Booze, 48, and Thomas Timothy Booze, 51, of Baltimore, Maurice Dotson, 47, of Severn, and Michael Booze, 27, and Thomas William Booze, 31, of Glen Burnie. They face charges of participation in a criminal organization, conspiracy to distribute drugs, possession with intent to distribute and firearm-related counts. The indictments were announced Feb. 23 by Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh and Anne Arundel County Chief of Police Amal Awad, who also announced the seizure of a large quantity of fentanyl and other controlled dangerous substances that would have been distributed in Baltimore City, Anne Arundel County and elsewhere throughout Maryland. The investigation revealed at least as early as February 2021 through December 2021, Dwayne

Booze was directing an effort to distribute large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, heroin and marijuana in Baltimore City, Anne Arundel County and Baltimore County, using two auto body shops, located in Baltimore City and Anne Arundel County. Detectives observed dozens of hand-to-hand drug transactions in multiple jurisdictions and intercepted communications over a wiretap that confirmed the distribution of large amounts of controlled dangerous substances. Based on the investigation, the Organized Crime Unit in the Office of the Attorney General, along with detectives from the Anne Arundel County Police Department and agents and investigators of the DEA Baltimore HIDTA group, obtained court-ordered search and seizure warrants for 20 locations throughout Maryland. Police seized more than 5 kilograms of fentanyl, more than 500 grams of heroin and more than 7 kilograms of cocaine and cocaine base. In addition, police located a sophisticated marijuana grow operation located at the Baltimore City auto body

handled in Anne Arundel County. Frosh thanked Organized Crime Chief Katie Dorian, Assistant Attorney General Paul Halliday, Assistant Attorney General Theresa Morse and detectives from the Anne Arundel County Police Department’s Narcotics and Special Investigations Division and agents and investigators from the DEA Baltimore HIDTA group. Frosh also thanked the Maryland State Police, Baltimore City Police Department, Baltimore County Police Department, Calvert County Police Department, Maryland Transportation Authority Police and State’s Attorney for Anne Arundel County Anne Colt Leitess for their assistance in this investigation. This investigation was a coordinated effort under the Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network (MCIN). A criminal indictment is merely an accusation of wrongdoing, and a defendant is presumed innocent until the State proves the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Source: Maryland Office of the Attorney General

shop with more than 400 marijuana plants. Police seized nine firearms as part of their investigation. “We have charged these individuals with orchestrating a drug distribution enterprise across multiple jurisdictions. The organization had enough fentanyl to kill millions of Marylanders,” said Frosh. “Dwayne Booze, charged under the Drug Kingpin statute, worked with family members to distribute deadly narcotics and opioids under the guise of legitimate businesses. Thanks to the investigative work of our partners, particularly Anne Arundel County, these individuals are charged with significant crimes that carry hefty penalties.” “This 10-month investigation was a huge undertaking with our dedicated detectives spending thousands of hours collecting evidence that ultimately led to the dismantling of a major drug trafficking organization,” said Awad. “I am grateful for the collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General and the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth & Victim Services to help make our community a safer place.” The defendants’ cases will be

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Continued from Cover

New York Auto Show on for April With a host of innovations and fresh new experiences, the 2022 New York Auto Show will open its doors to the public to kickstart the springtime automotive selling season.

Expo to showcase the latest in electric “last mile” transportation. “We’re back! In the past two years there’s been so much change with new and exciting products, technology and advancements and we can’t wait to again showcase the very

Right to Repair Association, J.D. Power, the World Car Awards, MediaPost and others during the media and industry days. “The great constant of the history of the automobile industry over the past 120 years is the New York Auto Show and its unique place as the

“No other event attracts so many potential car buyers or as much media attention. There is simply no other way to reach as many consumers in such an experiential way.” — John LaSorsa The show opens to the public April 15-24 at the fully expanded Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. The New York Auto Show will include innovative new displays from dozens of car companies including hundreds of new 2022 and 2023 models. Also for ‘22, the show has lined up a host of new engagements for the public including a dedicated multi-brand Electric Vehicle Test Track, an all-new Automotive Aftermarket Experience and, for the first time, a personal Micro Mobility

best that the industry has to offer to potential car buyers throughout our area,” said Mark Schienberg, New York Auto Show president. Long known as New York’s largest publicly attended consumer event, the show generates hundreds of millions of dollars in economic impact for the city and state, and the enthusiastic support by New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul is testimony to the show’s importance. In addition to its 10-day run for consumers, the show is thrilled to be partnering again with organizations like the National Automobile Dealers

premier automotive marketing event in the nation,” said John LaSorsa, New York Auto Show chairman. “No other event attracts so many potential car buyers or as much media attention. There is simply no other way to reach as many consumers in such an experiential way.” The show is constantly growing and evolving and for 2022 will make its long-awaited return as one of New York City’s most iconic events. See autoshowny.com for more information. Source: New York Auto Show

ments and their contention the ballot initiative is preempted by federal law. “While we are disappointed in the delay, we continue to hope that the court will ultimately uphold the will of the people of Massachusetts,” said Bill Hanvey, president and CEO, Auto Care Association, and Aaron Lowe, SVP, regulatory and government affairs, Auto Care Association. “However, no matter the result, Auto Care Association is committed to continuing the campaign to ensure that car owners, nationwide, have the ability to directly access their in-vehicle data in real time and to have that data available to the repair shop of their choice.” Source: Auto Care Association

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10 APRIL 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

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Newspaper Ad Leads to Successful Nearly 45-Year Career as NJ Maaco Owner Mark Leifer had just graduated from college in 1976, when disco was big and bell bottoms were bigger. Armed with a background in accounting and business, he was unsure of what he wanted to do for a career, when he and a friend saw a newspaper advertisement from Maaco. They filled out the ad and submitted it to Maaco headquarters. A few weeks later they received a call, and the rest, as they say, is history. Maaco is celebrating its 50year anniversary. As one of its early franchisees, Leifer recalls starting his Pleasantville Maaco franchise in Pleasantville, NJ. “My partner Peter Reese and I borrowed the money for the franchisee fee,” said Leifer. “We had no background in the automotive industry. We relied on Maaco for the education we needed to be successful in the auto painting business. We attended a thorough month-long training program where they shared their expertise and formula for success. After that, support was always just a

phone call away.” Leifer and Reese opened their Maaco facility in 1978. Located near Atlantic City, the partners saw business increase dramatically in 1980 as Atlantic City was beginning to grow. “At that time, the business was focused on overall paint jobs, as that was the Maaco model, and we were painting eight to 10 cars per day,” said Leifer. “We were dedicated to delivering quality and satisfying customers. If those customers whose cars we painted ended up having an accident, they brought their cars back to us to make the repairs. That’s how we evolved from strictly auto painting to collision repair. We now have an even mix between retail paint jobs, collision repair and fleet repair.” Leifer said he has enjoyed being part of the Maaco network for the last 44 years and encourages others who want to own their own business to consider becoming a member of the Maaco family. “It has really been one big family with Maaco,” said Leif-

er. “I used to take my children to the annual conventions, and we have so many friends among the other Maaco franchisees. There is a huge benefit to having both the support from headquarters, as well as a network of other owners that you can always talk with and learn from.” Maaco is always looking for new operators that strive for excellence as independent business owners. For more information about joining the Maaco family, visit MaacoFranchise.com to learn more about franchise opportunities. Source: Maaco

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SEMA Announces VP of Marketing The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has announced RJ de Vera as its vice president of marketing. De Vera comes to SEMA after 12 years at 3M, a Fortune 100 company, including the last seven as global leader of digital marketing and public relations for the Meguiar’s Car Care brand. He will be developing and implementing a modernized multi-channel marketing strategy for SEMA with a digital-first focus to expand brand awareness and build customer affinity for SEMA and its members. Prior to 3M/Meguiar’s, de Vera worked with OEMs including Honda, Lexus, Mitsubishi, Mazda and Scion to build corporate image vehicles. He also helped American Racing, Veilside Japan and Vorsteiner design and market aftermarket parts and accessories, while also consulting on automotive-related marketing initiatives with numerous brands, including Pepsi Co., Valvoline, Boost Mobile, Michelin/ BF Goodrich and Microsoft/XBOX. Source: SEMA

autobodynews.com / APRIL 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS 11

MA Auto Body Shops Protest Lowest-in-Nation Insurance Reimbursements by WHAV Staff

Several local auto body shops in Massachsetts are among dozens statewide to protest what they call “unsustainably low reimbursement rates that were artificially set by insurance companies.” The shops say the $40-perhour reimbursement rate is the lowest in the nation and force many consumers to pay the difference out of pocket. David Brown of DeLuca Auto Group in Haverhill, Jeff White of North Andover Auto Body in North Andover, JR Force of Repairs Unlimited in Georgetown and David Shepard of Shepard’s Automotive Center in Newburyport noted concerns during a more than four-hour hearing by the Special Commission on Auto Body Labor Rates in late January. Some say they may remove their shops from a referral list system maintained by insurance companies.

Brian Bernard, owner of Total Care Accident Repair in Raynham, said the rate falls far short of covering the body shop owners’ labor, equipment, training and repair costs. He added the labor reimbursement rates have stayed the same for 11 years and only moved $10 in nearly 34 years. “It’s tremendously unfair to consumers who pay thousands of dollars in premiums to have their insurance companies tell them they’re not going to cover the cost of their repairs. We’ve done our best to bring attention to this issue, but at this point we need to make it clear to insurers and consumers that we cannot do this work at the current reimbursement rates,” Bernard said. Collision shop owners support legislation introduced in the Massachusetts House that would increase the hourly rate over a two-year period and then tie it to regional price indexes moving forward.

Rhode Island Secretary Headed to Jail After $220K Insurance Scam by Ryan Smith, Insurance Business

A Rhode Island woman is headed to federal prison for stealing insurance payments meant for the customers of the auto body shop where she worked as an office secretary, according to the Department of Justice. Idalee Johnston, 48, devised a scam to steal the proceeds of nearly 200 checks sent to customers by their insurance companies for vehicle repairs, the Justice Department said. Johnston pleaded guilty to mail fraud and has been sentenced to two years in prison. Beginning in 2016, Johnston used two methods to steal customers’ insurance payments. In some cases, she would not have customers sign direct-payment forms that would have caused payments to be made directly to the auto body shop for repair work. In other cases where customers did sign the payment forms, she would not forward them to the insur-

ance companies. As a result, insurance checks meant to pay for auto repairs were sent directly to customers—who, at Johnston’s direction, gave the checks to her as a representative of the business. Johnston admitted in court she deposited some of these checks into her own bank account. In other cases, stolen checks were provided to family members to be deposited into their bank accounts. Later, at Johnston’s direction, these family members gave her most of the proceeds of those checks. The scam continued for two years and resulted in a loss to the auto body shop of more than $220,000, according to the Justice Department. After the completion of her two-year prison term, Johnston must serve two years of supervised release. She has also been ordered to pay restitution of $220,083 to the owner of the auto body shop.

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Sunken Felicity Ace Was Carrying Boston Car Collector’s Bentley by Elizabeth Puckett, Motorious

Ernie Boch Jr. is known in the Boston area for his creative approach to selling cars. He is the CEO of Boch Enterprises, a billion-dollar business consisting mainly of automobile dealerships in Norwood, MA. He is also known for having a very impressive car collection. One thing he won’t be adding to his collection is a Bentley that is now sitting at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean after the Felicity Ace famously caught fire in the middle of the ocean, and sunk March 1. Boch’s Bentley was a rare car, amongst 1,500 others cars reported to be rare as well. Another famous person’s car, Matt Farah’s Porsche 718 Spyder, is also said to have been aboard the ship when it sank. It’s unclear the specific number of cars onboard, rare or not, but the ship had a 4,000car capacity. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” Boch told WJAR. “What

sunk with that ship were extremely rare vehicles. There’s $800 million worth of cars on the ocean [floor].” Twelve-cylinder Lamborghinis were also said to be onboard. It’s wild to think these super rare halo cars are just sitting on the ocean floor and will never be driven. “Any car loss is tough for the public,” said Boch. “You can’t get vehicles now. That was a great shipment of vehicles, almost all of them were sold. And with the industry the way it is now, everything is short, so it’s just tough.” Boch also said this is going to add to the automotive shortage, speaking as a collector and player in the automotive industry. His specific concerns are based on a shortage of ships able to carry the cars, although he has already ordered a replacement Bentley. “The people who had lost vehicles, except Lamborghinis, are getting their new vehicle put at the front of the line so they can get them quicker,” he said.

Tesla Model 3, Model Y Receive Latest Round of Price Increases in U.S. and China by Simon Alvarez, Teslarati

The long range variants of the Tesla Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover have received a $1,000 price adjustment in the U.S. In China, select variants of the Model 3 and Model Y also received a price increase of about $1,500. With the latest round of price adjustments, the cost of the Model 3 Long Range Dual Motor in the U.S. has increased from $50,990 to $51,990 before options and incentives. The Model Y Long Range Dual Motor now starts at $59,990. The Model Y Performance now starts at $64,990 before options and incentives as well. While Tesla did not specify the reasons behind its latest round of price increases, it is believed the recent adjustments were due to the rising price of nickel, which is used in the Long Range Model 3 and Model Y’s battery packs. This is hinted at by the fact the base Model 3 RWD did not see a price increase. The base Model 3 RWD is equipped with a lithi-

um-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery, which uses no nickel. While the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y remain strong contenders in both the U.S. and Chinese markets, the vehicles have received a number of key price adjustments over the past year. The price of the Model Y Long Range, for example, has jumped about 20% from January 2021. The Model 3 Long Range saw a 10.6% price hike in the same period. Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas warned the rising cost of nickel would likely result in electric vehicles like Teslas seeing a price increase. Just recently, nickel surged above $100,000 per metric ton on the London Metal Exchange, prompting a trading halt. Several reasons are behind nickel’s price increase, though it is believed a driving factor is Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. With potential sanctions being placed on Russian nickel, the supply of the material to Western countries might be constrained in the near future.

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Continued from Cover

Suspend Business GM no longer has any manufacturing plants in Russia, Svigos said. It has only a national sales company that sells to Russia and other Eastern European markets. It is based in Moscow and employs 67 people, Svigos said. The portfolio of vehicles sold come from North America and South Korea. GM is in contact with the team in Moscow to safeguard “our people and our business,” Svigos said. “At this stage, we’re in constant contact with them, multiple times a day and working through the ramifications,” Svigos told the Free Press on Feb. 25. GM put out a statement saying, “Our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine at this time. The loss of life is a tragedy and our overriding concern is for the safety of people in the region.” Morningstar Auto Analyst David Whiston said GM’s reasons for suspending its business in Russia is

“about war.” But with GM exiting Europe and Russia years ago, except for iconic vehicles, it’s probably a nonissue for the automaker’s stock. “Many firms want to cut ties with Russia given what’s happened, like BP is doing with its nearly 20% stake in a Russian oil firm,” Whiston said. “So GM probably wants to show its disapproval with Russia’s actions too.” Energy giant BP Plc is Russia’s biggest foreign investor. It said it was abandoning its 20% stake in state-controlled Rosneft at a cost of up to $25 billion. Detroit’s other automaker, Stellantis, did not immediately offer a comment on their plans for business in Russia. But Ford Motor Co. spokesman Ian Thibodeau said the company “will provide updates as warranted” on its plans for its operations in Russia. Ford has a 50% stake in three Russian plants, Reuters reported. Thibodeau previously told the Free Press Ford would monitor and manage any impacts on its operations, but was mostly concerned for

the safety of people in the region. On Feb. 28, Swedish automaker Volvo Cars was the first international carmaker to say it will suspend car shipments to the Russian market until further notice, Reuters reported. Daimler Truck also said it would freeze its business activities in Russia with immediate effect, including its cooperation with Russian truck maker Kamaz. Volkswagen in Russia temporarily suspended deliveries of cars to dealers until further notice on Feb. 28, Reuters reported. Mercedes-Benz Group was studying legal options to quickly divest its 15% stake in Kamaz, Reuters wrote, citing the Handelsblatt newspaper.

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Platform Measures Auto Body Damage A new company is launching a software platform that measures auto body damage, providing reporting repairers can share with their insurance partners to assist in negotiating repair times. The product, Dents.co, officially launched Feb. 22 and is available for download on Apple’s AppStore. Dents.co, the first-of-itskind app, is designed to revolutionize collision repair by bringing existing LiDAR technology into the automotive physical damage industry. The app pairs the laser-driven tech already present in iPhones and iPads with cutting-edge artificial intelligence to seamlessly capture damages, allowing repairers to share the information with insurance adjusters for assessment. This groundbreaking technology opens the door to a standardized quoting process for body shops and insurers and promises to uncomplicate the estimating process. Source: Dents.co

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Staffing Challenges It also provides a numerical index ranking of the highest-performing automotive brands sold in the U.S., based on the combined scores of five measures that comprise the vehicle owner service experience. These measures are (in order of importance): service quality (32%), service advisor (19%), vehicle pickup (19%), service facility (15%) and service initiation (15%). Following are key findings of the 2022 study: Customers trust dealer service departments: The redesigned study also measures factors relating to trust between a customer and the dealership. On a rating scale of 1 to 7 points, the most important trust attribute is, “I trust the dealership to perform complex repairs on my vehicle,” with an average rating of 6.16. However, the second-most important attribute, “Takes responsibility when a mistake is made and resolves it effectively,” has the lowest average rating (5.91).

Your vehicle is ready: The service department sending simple text messages to remind of upcoming appointment dates or to provide a status for in-process work are preferred by 42% of customers. Additionally, owners today gravitate toward other technology channels to communicate with the service department, including making appointments online (27%) and via mobile app (7%), and paying online (17%). “Dealers who meet customers on their preferred communication channels are gaining an advantage,” Sutton said. “Service departments need to jump on the technology train now or risk being left behind.” Seeing is believing: New to the redesigned study is a metric that measures satisfaction when the service department provides a recommended photo or video of repair work with the customer after a multi-point inspection and before needed work is approved. This additional communication feature is having a positive effect on business and trust, as well as on customer satisfaction. When customers receive a pho-

to or video communication regarding their needed maintenance work, they are three times more likely to have advisor-recommended work done. Additionally, on a seven-point rating scale, dealerships are building a higher level of trust with customers (.39 point higher) than are their counterparts who do not provide a photo or video. If you go to them, satisfaction will improve: New to the study in 2022 is a measurement of satisfaction among customers who select to have their vehicle serviced either by valet (when a dealership picks up the vehicle) or mobile (when the dealership sends a technician to the customer’s location). Overall customer satisfaction among owners using valet or mobile service is 866 compared to 847 among those who had an in-person dealership visit. Next frontier is battery electric vehicle (BEV) service experience: With BEV sales expected to increase in the coming years, dealers have a significant service quality satisfaction gap to close. Overall service satisfaction among BEV owners (784) is 68 points lower

than among owners of gas- or diesel-powered vehicles (852). Additionally, the average number of service visits a BEV owner makes in a year is 1.9 compared with 2.4 among owners of gas- and diesel-powered vehicles. “BEV service is the next frontier for dealerships,” Sutton said. “The automotive industry has to get ready now and get the service experience right with BEV owners or they risk losing them to aftermarket service providers. This includes fully understanding BEV customer pain points like range anxiety, unique maintenance requirements and support for related services such as availability of charging stations.” Study Rankings Lexus ranks highest in satisfaction with dealer service among premium brands with a score of 897. Cadillac (880) ranks second, followed by Porsche (879), Acura (871) and BMW (866). MINI ranks highest in satisfaction with dealer service among mass market brands for a second consecutive year, with a score of

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873. Buick (872) ranks second, followed by Mazda (856), Mitsubishi (854) and GMC (853). The 2022 U.S. Customer Service Index (CSI) Study is based on responses from 67,185 verified registered owners and lessees of 2019 to 2021 model-year vehicles. J.D. Power goes to great lengths to ensure that survey respondents are true owners of the brand they are representing. The study was fielded from July through December 2021. For more information about the U.S. Customer Service Index (CSI) Study, visit https://www.jdpower. com/business/automotive/us-customer-service-index-csi-study. Source: J.D. Power

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Permit Revoked had little or misleading information. PZC Chairman John Ryan confirmed in the report that, since Tesla’s permit was revoked, the property now is in control of its previous owner. The property was previously owned by Gengras Motor Cars. Tesla never officially purchased the building or property at 300 Connecticut Blvd., according to property records. After pulling the permit from Tesla, Hoffman Auto Group released a statement via the Hartford Business Journal. “We applaud East Hartford’s decision to revoke the town’s previously issued approval thereby preventing Tesla from pursuing the 300 Connecticut Blvd. location in defiance of Connecticut law and local zoning restrictions,” the auto group said. “It supports our position that the approval was wrongfully obtained, and that Connecticut law does not allow manufacturers to sell cars directly in Connecticut. “The Hoffman family of 10 auto

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dealerships along with more than 250 other dealers statewide remain committed to defending this state’s pro-consumer franchise system, which fosters healthy competition on a level playing field and will continue to resist global manufacturers from illegally entering our state in a way that would deprive local consumers of many of the protections they currently enjoy.” Tesla and other automakers with direct-to-consumer sales platforms have sparred with various state government agencies across the country to resolve the issue. Consumers have said for years that buying a vehicle from a dealership is one of the most stressful events in life. A 2016 study found 34% of people would rather wait in line at the DMV than buy a car, 26% would rather do their taxes and 52% feel anxious or uncomfortable when at a car dealership. Tesla currently operates two other locations in Connecticut: a Service Center in Milford and a Showroom in Greenwich. www.autobodynews.com

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U.S. Bans Russian Energy Imports: What it Means by Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering

In a bid to put pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to back down from the invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. government has announced a complete ban on Russian oil, liquified natural gas and coal, the White House said in a press release. U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order (EO) to this effect after consulting with allies. The U.S. move on energy comes after it imposed economic sanctions on Russian banks and also targeted industrial production in Russia. Putin has not shown signs of halting what he calls a “special military operation” and by introducing energy-related sanctions, the U.S. is signaling it can hit Russia where it hurts the most since energy exports are the mainstay of the Russian economy. The EO bans the import of oil, liquified natural gas and coal from Russia and provides a 45-day winding down period for existing contracts. It also prevents Amer-

icans and U.S.-based companies from investing, enabling or financing other companies that are willing to invest in the Russian energy sector. How much Russian oil does the U.S. import? According to the White House statement, the U.S. imported 700,000 barrels of oil per day from Russia last year. While this might seem like a lot, it is less than 10% of U.S. oil imports. According to a New York Times report, the U.S. was actually the largest producer of oil in 2020. Third-place Russia’s production was about half of that of the U.S. So, the U.S. does not rely as much on Russian oil and most of its imports are rather opportunistic and meant to keep its refineries running smoothly, Financial Times reported. The U.K., an ally to the U.S., relies much more on Russian imports but previously also announced it will wean itself off Russian imports by the end of the year. However, European countries that

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The impact of banning Russian oil on the economy Since the conflict began in Ukraine, crude oil prices have risen significantly. After the White House statement, they shot up another 6% to reach almost $130 a barrel before settling down a little later in the day. However, Russia hit back by saying the crude oil prices could reach $300 a barrel in light of these sanctions and even threatened to cut gas supply to Europe, Reu-

ters reported. Increasing crude prices have already affected prices at gas stations, with the average prices crossing over $4 in the U.S., a record of its own. The impact of these higher prices will be visible as inflation in the U.S is expected to cross 8% this month, New York Times said in its report. In the recent past, the U.S. tapped into its strategic petroleum reserves to simmer rising prices. The White House confirmed 60 million barrels will once again be released into the global markets from these reserves to ensure stable energy supply and prevent gas prices from escalating further. It is likely in the short term, U.S. oil production will be pressed further into action to address the global demand, but Biden reiterated the transition to cleaner fuels to reduce dependence on oil and natural gas and become energy independent.

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Ford Autonomously Operating 3D Printers to Increase Efficiency, Reduce Cost At Ford’s Advanced Manufacturing Center, Javier is tasked with operating the 3D printers completely on his own. He is always on time, very precise in his movements, and he works most of the day—taking only a short break to charge up. This innovative robot on wheels from supplier KUKA, called Javier by Ford’s additive manufacturing operators, is integral to the company’s development of an industry-first process to operate 3D Carbon printers with an autonomous mobile robot rather than a fixed, stationary unit. “This new process has the ability to change the way we use robotics in our manufacturing facilities,” said Jason Ryska, director, global manufacturing technology development. “Not only does it enable Ford to scale its 3D printer operations, it extends into other aspects of our manufacturing processes—this technology will allow us to simplify equipment and be even more flexible on the assembly line.” Ford has achieved great accuracy with Javier, using his feedback to significantly reduce margins of error. In addition to 3D printers, the

method can be applied to a vast array of robots already working at the company to increase efficiency and reduce cost.

uct will be finished, then the robot lets the printer know the robot has arrived and is ready for pick-up. This innovative communication is what

“Not only does it enable Ford to scale its 3D printer operations, it extends into other aspects of our manufacturing processes—this technology will allow us to simplify equipment and be even more flexible on the assembly line.” — Jason Ryska In its drive to innovate, Ford has filed several patents related to the overall process, communication interfaces and precise positioning of the robot, which does not require use of a camera vision system to “see.” Typically, different pieces of equipment from various suppliers are unable to interact because they do not run the same communication interface. Ford developed an application interface program that allows different pieces of equipment to “speak the same language,” and send constant feedback to each other. For example, the Carbon 3D printer tells the KUKA autonomous mobile robot when the printed prod-

makes the whole process possible. Javier enables Ford to operate its 3D printers all night long, even after employees have left for the day. Not only does this increase throughput, it reduces the cost of custom-printed products. Ford has used the printer to make low-volume, custom parts, such as a brake line bracket for the Performance Package-equipped Mustang Shelby® GT500. While the process itself is autonomous, Ford operators are responsible for uploading 3D designs to the printer and maintaining the machinery, and for engineering new ways to use the technology. Source: Ford

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The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) offers a solution for instructors seeking to fill gaps in funding, tools, equipment and suppliesby opening its 2022 Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark Grants, which allow schools to receive up to $25,000 in funding. Available at https://www. collisioneducationfoundation. org/collision-school-career-readiness-benchmark/, applications are now open with a deadline of June 1. CREF updated this year’s application to make it more impact-driven, goal-oriented and measurable, breaking it down into five sections: Recruitment, Program Maintenance, Program Additions, Employment and Fueling Innovations. The Benchmark Grant application allows instructors to request specific items needed to help them advance their curriculum, and applying schools that are not selected for grant funds are still eligible to receive a variety of tools, equipment and supplies donated by industry sponsors and supporters. Source: CREF

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Mitchell Diagnostics Platform Surpasses 30,000 ADAS Calibrations Mitchell, an Enlyte company, on March 17 announced its Mitchell Diagnostics platform has been used to perform more than 30,000 dynamic and static calibrations. This milestone—achieved in just over a year since the introduction of the MD-TS21 ADAS target calibration system—demonstrates how advancements in vehicle technology

sold in North America and must be precisely calibrated to OEM specifications following an accident to ensure they continue to function properly. Even sensors and cameras not directly damaged in the accident may require calibration. Bringing the work in-house gives facilities greater control over the repair. It can also assist them in

“The Mitchell Diagnostics product suite has had a huge impact on our business and our repair cycle times,” — Matt Jackson are driving repairers to bring calibration work in-house using Mitchell’s patented diagnostic solutions. The Mitchell MD-500 scan tool can perform dynamic calibrations on more than 1,000 popular vehicle models. When combined with the MD-TS21, the integrated diagnostic system allows technicians to complete static calibrations on hundreds of ADAS-equipped vehicles. ADAS sensors and cameras are featured on most new automobiles

reducing cycle time, enhancing customer satisfaction and generating additional revenue by not relying on sublet services. “With the rapid increase in vehicle complexity, demand has never been greater for a comprehensive diagnostic solution that supports scanning, static and dynamic calibration, and repair blueprinting,” said Jack Rozint, senior vice president of repair sales at Mitchell. “This latest milestone reinforces our position as a

leader in collision repair diagnostics and demonstrates how we’re helping customers return drivers to the road, both safely and efficiently.” The Mitchell Diagnostics product suite features the MD-500, MDTS21 and the recently released MDOE22 remote OEM scanning service, providing repairers with a complete solution for diagnostic scanning as well as dynamic and static calibrations. The MD-500 and MD-TS21 are powered by Tier 1 supplier Bosch and based on Bosch’s diagnostic licensing agreements with all major OEMs. Using the tools, technicians can perform simple, quick and precise calibrations on front-facing cameras, blind-spot monitors and radar sensors. With the 2020 launch of the MD-500, Mitchell introduced the industry’s first DaaS solution. The allin-one solution lets facilities receive assignments, perform scans, access more than 1,000 dynamic calibration routines, take photos, write estimates, link diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) directly to OEM repair pro-

cedures, order parts, manage a production list of open repair orders and transfer sales activity to QuickBooks Online. Repairers can also upload standardized scan reports, calibration reports and invoices to share with insurance carriers. “The Mitchell Diagnostics product suite has had a huge impact on our business and our repair cycle times,” said Matt Jackson, CEO of Prime Collision Repair in Marietta, GA. “Because of our ability to calibrate and scan in-house, we are able to both generate more income and continue to meet our customers’ needs, providing them with timely repairs.” For more information about the Mitchell Diagnostics platform—including the MD-500, MD-TS21 and MD-OE22—visit the company at NORTHEAST (Booth #200) on March 18-20 or complete the web form. Follow Mitchell on Twitter @MitchellRepair and @Mitchell Claims for collision repair and property casualty updates. Source: Mitchell

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WIN ‘Voice of the Body Shop’ Webinar Features Women Who Own, Manage Shops by Abby Andrews

The Women’s Industry Network (WIN) on Feb. 23 hosted a webinar, “Voice of the Body Shop,” to find out about the experiences, challenges and lessons learned from women who have forged a career in the collision repair industry.

Madison Alexander with the Chevy Montage she and the rest of an all-female team built for Bogi’s Garage for SEMA 2017.

The four featured panelists included Kathy Mello, owner of TGIF Body Shop in Fremont, CA; Tiffany Silva, owner of Accurate Auto Body in Richmond, CA; Madison Alexander, owner of Riveting Rides in Milan, TN; and Tammy Trew, owner of Trew Auto Body in

Bremerton, WA. WIN Chair Jenny Anderson said the hour-long broadcast was well-attended and provided a lot of engagement. “We hope other women heard these stories and realize they can do anything in the collision space,” Anderson said. The broadcast opened with each panelist’s brief description of how she got into the industry. Mello said her husband, Richard, started TGIF Body Shop about the time they met and needed help running it as it grew. When he decided to step away to work in another industry, Mello continued running the body shop. Alexander said she grew up in the industry, as both her dad and grandfather worked in it. She started pursuing her own career while in high school, winning the SkillsUSA competition at the Tennessee state level and competing at the national level. She was attracted to the creative side of refinishing, and got a job in

26 APRIL 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

a hot rod shop. After the shop’s staff were all let go unexpectedly, she and three other people opened their own shop, Riveting Rides, in 2018. Trew owns two shops in Bremerton and Olympia, WA. The original location, in Bremerton, was opened by her parents in 1984. Trew

Silva said her company was also founded by her dad in 1984. After she attended college, she went to work in the family business alongside her dad and her husband, Dan. Silva learned every facet of the business and found out she was talented at writing estimates and com-

Tiffany Silva, front row, fifth from right, with the crew at Accurate Auto Body.

said she was 14 at that time and spent summers detailing cars and learning how to run the office. When Trew’s dad died in 2020, she became sole owner of the Bremerton shop, which now encompasses 17,500 feet. She bought the second location in Olympia in 2021.

municating with customers. Now she and Dan own the business, which has grown into a 27,000-square foot building and employs 22 people, five of whom are women. The panelists then answered questions. Alexander was asked if she has

experienced resistance as a woman working in a male-dominated industry. “The short answer is yes,” Alexander said, explaining she has been brushed off by instructors at college, denied jobs and put through various tests to see if she really knows what she’s talking about. When she was younger, Alexander said, she didn’t handle that resistance well. “I took a lot of offense,” she said. “I had a chip on my shoulder, felt like I had to prove myself. I had to go above and beyond to say I know what I’m talking about.” She has since changed her approach. “Now hardly anything ever bothers me,” she said. As an example, Alexander said, when she and her business partners first opened Riveting Rides, someone was leaving “weird, untrue comments” on their shop’s social media pages. “I didn’t let it bother me,” she said. “When people say mean things to you, it’s coming from a place of fear, jealousy and lack of self confi-

dence. “I chose to not be offended by the things he didn’t know about,” she said. “I didn’t have to explain myself, especially to someone I don’t know on the internet.” Alexander said eventually the commenter reached out via private message to apologize, and admitted he was making the comments because he was jealous. “If I’d gotten ugly right back, it would’ve made it worse,” Alexander said. “I forgave him not because he deserved it, but because I had to. I wasn’t going to carry that around anymore.” Alexander credited growing her faith in God with helping her to choose to see others’ points of view. “Unforgiveness will hinder me from growing as the person, business owner and follower of Jesus I strive to be,” she said. Mello said she also encountered obstacles as a woman owning an auto body shop. She said there was an adjustment phase for the shop’s employees when her husband left to work in another industry, putting her in charge.

After trying to give a presentation to employees about implementing processes, she got a government-funded grant to bring in a third party to do that training, which went over better and led to positive changes in the overall shop culture. “I think they had to hear it from somebody other than me,” she said. Trew was asked how she handles the pressure to be great at everything, from running her business to being a mother. “I’m not going to lie, I was not always good at it,” Trew said. “If I had the tools I have now, it would be easier.” Trew said she learned to control the things she can and not sweat the small stuff she can’t. “Put yourself in the moment, learning to say no and being OK with that,” she said. “I tried to make everybody happy in the beginning and was running myself ragged. That’s not good for anybody because I was so worn out.” Trew said she got into working out and playing golf. “You have to find that balance,” she said.

Silva was asked about mentors who have helped in her career. She said she has had a few—including Mello—she has met through association meetings and other networking opportunities. “It’s so amazing to be around other women,” Silva said. “Be around other people, absorb and learn everything you can.” Alexander was asked about building resiliency. She said that trait is built by handling things when they are going bad. “Every moment you mess up, you have to look at it as a chance for positive change,” she said. “Learn to adapt and grow in your knowledge.” Trew was asked how she has promoted women in her company. She said she encourages all of her female employees—currently in parts, detailing, repair planning, alignment and the office—to grow in the business and attend Discover Leadership Training, which she said “changed me for the better.” Trew said the biggest hurdle for women in the industry is gaining the respect of coworkers and customers. “They’re intelligent and want

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respect, but they have to earn it,” Trew said of the women who work for her. “Invest in them as a person.” Mello recommended joining an association like WIN for women trying to network, get more involved in the industry and look for mentors. “When we started WIN, we knew there were really a lot of neat women across industry, but had no idea of the caliber of women we would meet up with,” she said. She also said she visits local vocational schools to meet women in the automotive repair classes to let them know they have a place to go. Silva said she is always looking for strong, confident women who will fit into the team at her shop. She said she is currently coaching her next production manager, a woman who started 11 years ago as an office assistant who was “too timid to answer phone.” “I know she’s learned from me and other women on my team,” Silva said. “New female team members coming in need to be able to see if they can do it, I can do it too.” The panelists then took questions from the audience, which cov-

ered a lot of the day-to-day aspects of running a shop—dealing with parts supply chain issues, working with insurance companies and using LEAN processes. The audience also asked how the panelists actively recruit other women to work in their shops. Silva said she is working with nearby Contra Costa College to figure out how to attract more women to its automotive collision repair program. “I’m anxious to have a female technician,” she said. Trew said her shop hires young people—men and women—as detailers, and if they show an aptitude for working hard and showing up, she puts them in their choice of the body or paint shop. She said she currently has three former detailers working in those parts of the shop. “We had a female detailer but she wound up pursuing a different

path,” Trew said. “Our current female detailer is interested in alignment. She’s quiet and timid now but she’s interested in getting started in that process.” Another audience member asked for tips on tactics to earn respect from male coworkers. “There wasn’t one thing in particular, but how I earned their trust was by getting involved, not being a dictator or not listening to their point of view,” Trew said. “Now, if I make a change, they may not agree with me but they trust me. I tell them just try it, if it doesn’t work we can always go back, and I follow through. “It doesn’t happen overnight; it takes time,” she added. “Setting boundaries for yourself is important, particularly if there’s intimidation going on,” Mello said. “We have to communicate to people how we wish to be treated.”

Rivian Hires COO Rivian Automotive, Inc. announced the hiring of Frank Klein as chief operations officer, effective June 1. Klein was most recently president of Austria-based automotive contract manufacturer Magna Steyr, a subsidiary of Canadian-based Magna International. He will be based in Normal, IL, and will report directly to Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe. Klein succeeds Rod Copes, who retired from the position last year. During his time at Magna Steyr, Klein oversaw the company’s shift to the electric mobility manufacturing space, including the production of the first electric vehicle made by a contract manufacturer. At Rivian, Klein will lead the buildout of robust and stable operations processes as well as scaling vehicle production across several new programs. He will reinforce Rivian’s ongoing effort to achieve greater vertical integration in logistics, manufacturing and operations. Source: Rivian

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autobodynews.com / APRIL 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS 29 1/7/21 1:18 PM

CIF Urges Support for Tech Burned in Shop Accident By Joel Gausten, for CIF

The Collision Industry Foundation (CIF) is urging members of the auto body field to do all they can to help Bryan Miller, an Ohio-based technician and painter who is recovering from a devastating in-shop accident that burned more than 70% of his body and nearly ended his life. Last September, Miller was working on a motorcycle at Elite Auto Body, Cycle and Sales in Bethel, OH when it backfired and triggered a chain reaction that resulted in the shop going up in flames. Trapped inside his work area for several minutes, he caught on fire before forcing his way through a window. Once outside, he watched the building burn as his body was overcome by the agonizing trauma. “The only way I could keep myself from passing out was to scream,” he recalls. Thankfully, a man and woman on a motorcycle soon spotted him and stopped to offer assistance. As Miller remembers, it took 30 min-

utes for medical personnel to arrive on the scene and another 30 minutes for a helicopter to arrive to transport him to the hospital. He remained conscious the entire time. Miller’s experience caught the attention of CIF, which has been working hard to bring him a sense of hope and encouragement during this difficult time. At a recent Collision Industry Conference (CIC) in Phoenix, the 150-plus industry leaders in attendance did a virtual shout-out to Miller to show him their support. (A video of this virtual shout-out can be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/25hrcck2.) Although he survived the event, Miller was left with mostly third-degree burns covering the majority of his body. He also endured a near-fatal case of pneumonia while in the hospital. Six months ? and multiple surgeries and skin grafts ? later, he lives in constant pain that he describes as “background noise that’s normal.” Lotion needs to be applied to his body on a constant basis to keep his scars moist.

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“I have to wake up and basically stretch myself back to some kind of normal mobility. I get tight again every night; it’s like wearing a shirt that’s too small for you.” After leaving the hospital, Miller received constant care by his fiancée, Kassi Nellet, who spent five hours a day changing his dressings. Unfortunately, an infection in his wounds prompted his transfer to the Daniel Drake Center for PostAcute Care in Cincinnati, where he still resides. Shortly after the holidays, he contracted COVID-19. Thankfully now recovered from the virus, he hopes to leave the Daniel Drake Center within the next few weeks and move in with his father in Batavia, Ohio. He expects it will take at least another year for him to regain full mobility and for his scars to settle down. Originally a mover, Miller began his auto industry career in 2016 when a friend asked if he’d be interested in picking up some side work at a high-end restoration shop. A self-described “artist at heart” who

had tried his hand at tattooing prior to working at the shop, he instantly fell in love with the artistry of pinstriping and painting cars and took things from there. “I found that everything came quite naturally to me – from simple bodywork all the way to framework and painting.” After further developing his skills as a combination collision technician/painter at two other facilities, he moved on to his most recent job at Elite. “I love doing what I do for a living and could not imagine doing anything else. It is the most satisfying thing in the world when someone brings in something broken so I can transform it into something beautiful. And to me, ‘painter’ is a prestigious title.” Despite his recent harrowing ordeal, he hopes to someday return to the profession he loves. “I want to go back to work right now! It’s my passion; I feel blessed to have found a career that’s given me a sense of pride to be able to tell

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people what I do for a living. I just love everything about my job.” Michael Quinn, CIF Board president and president of AirPro Diagnostics, urges his collision industry peers to support Miller in his recovery and hopeful return to the automotive world. “Bryan’s incredible story is one of survival and fighting back. We as an industry have an obligation to help our own, and we ask you to dig deep to aid CIF in helping Bryan and his fiancée to start again. This is not a onetime donation or effort; CIF is committed to following Bryan through rehab and getting him the training and tooling necessary to work his way back to a shop. On a recent call with CIF, Bryan called us his new best friends. We are honored to know him, and we are committed to helping him rebuild his career in this industry.” Jim Ocampo, CIF trustee and strategic accounts sales manager for Axalta Coating Systems, echoes Quinn’s sentiments. “CIF’s core value is to help people in need. I don’t think there’s anything that better defines our mission than Bryan’s story. His spirits are

high, and he really has a desire to get back into the industry. We don’t want to lose someone like him. There are so many things he can do within the automotive field. We would like to raise as much money as we can for him, so we’re calling on everyone in the industry to help this young man rebuild his life.” “Before the folks at CIF had reached out to me, I was very depressed and had no idea how I would move forward,” Miller adds. “Jim and Mike encouraged me to keep fighting and to know that I had some unrealized purpose. It was like a storybook getting connected with these guys. And the video shout-out from CIC in January really helped motivate me and to know my industry cares.“ Miller’s many needs include (but are not limited to) funds to aid him in securing permanent housing, tools to replace the ones he lost in the fire and education/direction in regard to new professional opportunities (estimating, parts, etc.) that could accommodate his physical condition as he works towards his desired return to painting and bodywork. Miller, who recently celebrated

his 32nd birthday, is quick to express his deep gratitude to his industry friends for everything they have done for him thus far. “I would really like to thank everyone who is and will be involved in making all these amazing things happen for me in such a dark time. It is truly a blessing, and I don’t know if I would even be able to get back in the industry without your assistance.” Tax Deductible donations can be made at www.collisionindustryfoundation.org/donate , use ‘general donation’ and specify that your donation is for Bryan Miller. For more information, please call (855) 4CIFAID (toll free) or (804) 427-6982 (direct). Joel Gausten has been covering the national collision repair/automotive service industry since 2000. He can be reached at gaustenbooks@ gmail.com.

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TrueCar Introduces Online Marketplace TrueCar, Inc., is debuting TrueCar+, its online car buying platform. Using TrueCar+, consumers will be able to explore, confirm and complete their car purchase with a dealer, and arrange financing and delivery from the convenience of home. They will also have the option of completing any portion of the transaction at a TrueCar Certified Dealer. TrueCar+ will allow dealers to extend their sales reach well beyond their local area and will provide instant access to a turnkey digital marketplace, reducing the need for investment in infrastructure, tools and technical expertise. Dealers will be able to quickly offer digital capabilities that consumers have come to expect in other segments of retail. TrueCar+ was launched as a pilot in September in Tampa, FL. The pilot has since expanded in Florida. Later, TrueCar+ will scale across the entire country, eventually spanning all 50 states. Source: TrueCar

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

MASSACHUSETTS

NEW JERSEY

NEW YORK

Curtiss-Ryan Honda

Boch Honda

Madison Honda

Lamacchia Honda

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833-319-6270 781-619-6791

800-648-0293 973-822-1710

315-471-7278

Shelton

Norwood

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-5; Sat 7-4 callen@curtissryan.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5 bh-wholesale@boch.com

Lia Honda of Enfield

LIA Honda Northampton

Enfield

Northampton

800-221-3131 860-741-3401

800-369-7889 413-587-2900

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 8-4 jdoucette@liacars.com MAINE

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5; Sat 8-3 dstanisewski@liacars.com NEW JERSEY

Berlin City Honda

Clinton Honda

800-640-6685 207-774-6685

877-657-2787

South Portland

Annandale

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30 mmmparts@berlincity.com

IRA Honda Saco 207-391-7910 207-282-0900

Hillside

973-705-9100

800-883-0002 856-516-6262

Dept. Hours: M-Sat 8-5 mdasilva@hudsonhonda.com

240-864-0880

Route 22 Honda

800-842-0557 973-579-3500

866-483-6917 201-868-9500

Germantown

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5 (W until 7); Sat 7:30-3 dlyons@rossihonda.com

Honda of Turnersville

West New York

Criswell Honda

Vineland

800-893-3030 856-692-4449

Sussex Honda

Hudson Honda

MARYLAND

Rossi Honda

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-2 abdulc@clintonhonda.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-4 mbivario@penskeautomotive.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Th. 7:30-7; Sat 7:30-4 klavalle@driveprime.com

Dept. Hours: M-Thu 7-7; Fri 7-6; Sat 7-5; Sun 8-4 jay.madisonhonda@gmail.com

Dept. Hours: M-Sat 8-5 rt22hondaparts@route22honda.com

Turnersville

Saco

Madison

Dept. Hours: M-Fri 7-7:30; Sat 7-6 hondaparts@criswellauto.com

Newton

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5 realhondaparts@sussexhonda.com NEW YORK

Ide Honda Rochester

800-462-0056 (N.Y.) 585-586-4919

Syracuse

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30 parts@lamacchiahonda.com

Lia Honda of Albany Albany

800-272-6741 518-482-2598

Dept. Hours: M, T, W, F 7:30-5:30; Thur 7:30-8; Sat 8-5 mjerard@liacars.com

Lia Honda of Brewster Brewster

845-278-4177

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5; Sat 8-4 cpaulson@liacars.com

Lia Honda of Williamsville Williamsville/Buffalo

877-659-2672 716-632-3800

Dept. Hours: M & W 7:30-7; Tu & Thur 7:30-6 Fri 7:30-5; Sat 8-5:30 mmiller@liacars.com

Ray Laks Honda Orchard Park

716-824-7852

Dept. Hours: M, Tu, Th 8-8; W, F 8-6; Sat 8-5 jmaybee@raylaks.com

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856-722-9600

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Brighton

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Dept. Hours: M-Sat 7:30-6 bmartinsen@eliteacura.com

Dept. Hours: M-Thur 8-7; F 8-6; Sat 8-4 manny.aliagra@bernardiauto.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5; Sat 7:30-4:30 sbaptist@penskeautomotive.com

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Denville

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 8-4 erin@theautosportgroup.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-4 robert.talbot@openroad.com

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908-704-0307

973-696-5151

Bridgewater

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-7; Sat 8-4 mattn@bridgewateracura.com 34 APRIL 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

East Brunswick

Wayne

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-4 jonathan.tangen@openroad.com

Maywood

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-3 ron@parkaveacura.com NEW YORK

Acura of Westchester Westchester

914-834-8887

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-8; Sat 8-4; Sun 9-4 acura.parts@yahoo.com

PENNSYLVANIA

VERMONT

Apple Honda

802 Honda

800-960-9041 717-848-2600

802-223-9700

York

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 7-4; Sun 10-4 applehondaparts@appleauto1.com

Berlin

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5; Sat 8-Noon hondaparts@802cars.com

Baierl Honda Wexford

818-332-7351

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-4 markludwig@baierl.com

Shenango Honda Hermitage

800-858-0849 724-981-7106

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

Sussman Honda Roslyn

800-682-2914 215-657-3301

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-1 rendrick@sussmanauto.com

NEW YORK

PENNSYLVANIA

Curry Acura

Baierl Acura

800-725-2877 914-472-7406

800-246-7457 724-935-0800

Scarsdale

Wexford

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-5 parts@curryacura.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-4 cameronegerter@baierl.com

Paragon Acura

Davis Acura

718-507-3990

267-296-1000 215-943-7000

Woodside

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-5; Sun 9-4 parts@paragonacura.com

Smithtown Acura

Langhorne

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 8-4 frankp@davisacura.com

St. James

Sussman Acura

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

800-826-4078 215-884-6285

631-366-4114

Jenkintown

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-1 rendrick@sussmanauto.com autobodynews.com / APRIL 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS 35

From the Desk of Mike Anderson with Mike Anderson

Mike Anderson is the president and owner of Collision Advice, a consulting company for the auto body/collision repair industry. For nearly 25 years, he was the owner of Wagonwork Collision Center, an OEM-certified, full-service auto body repair facility in Alexandria, VA.

Destructive Weld Testing a Crucial Step You Should Be Paid to Perform One of the few discouraging statistics for me from the “Who Pays for What?” surveys we’ve been conducting since 2015 involves destructive testing of welds. Last year, more than 40% of collision repair shops acknowledged they had never sought to be paid for the labor to create test welds and perform destructive testing on them prior to welding on a vehicle to ensure the welder was set-up properly. Let me be clear: I’m less concerned with whether shops are being paid for this work, though I believe they should be, and I hope this article will help you negotiate to get paid for it. What I’m really discouraged and concerned about is that I believe many technicians and shops are skipping this absolutely essential step in the repair process. Ladies and gentlemen, unless

you perform destructive testing of welds prior to any welding on a vehicle, you cannot know whether the welds you are doing on the vehicle are proper and will perform as necessary. It would be like an automak-

Mike Anderson says shops failing to follow OEM procedures for destructive weld testing would be like an automaker failing to crashtest a new model of vehicle

er not doing vehicle crash testing before selling a new model of vehicle. It’s a serious liability for your business. If you don’t do this—ev-

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ery time—you run the risk of someone who is in another accident in a vehicle you repaired being seriously injured or even killed because of a faulty weld. I cannot emphasize this enough: We have a moral and ethical responsibility to make sure our technicians are doing this. It’s not about whether you get paid for it. It’s the right thing to do. If we don’t do it, somebody could get hurt. A real-world example of the importance of destructive weld testing came up during an online meeting. At Collision Advice, we facilitate 20 Groups called The Spartans, which includes virtual estimating training sessions once a month. During one of these recent discussions, member Dean Massimini of Autotech Collision Service---one of the most committed shops that I know of in terms of following OEM

repair procedures---shared with our members that they make sure their technicians are performing and documenting weld testing every time it is needed. He told us they recently were performing a destructive test weld that failed. “We had a malfunction on our welder that we would not have found if we weren’t doing destructive tests,” Massimini said. This is what every shop should be doing. Another recent cautionary example: I was onsite at another shop in South Carolina, and one of the technicians told me how they had been having issues with a welder, and another industry consultant told them to use a different wire. Fortunately, I knew someone at the manufacturer of the vehicle involved. His first question: Has the shop had the software update done on their weld-

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er? Sure enough, the welder had not had the most recent update. My friends, performing destructive test welds is not a once-ina-while labor operation. It must be done on every single vehicle. Recently I had the opportunity to speak with some OEMs considering providing weld coupons with replacement panels. That would be huge. But again, shops must know how to perform this destructive test, and the OEM procedures spell it out for us. I only know of two OEMs that don’t have this in their procedures, and they defer to I-CAR, which provides information on how to perform this test. Roughly 30% of shops across the industry tell us in our “Who Pays” surveys that they are being paid all or most of the time for destructive weld testing when it is necessary and they are doing it. In my next column, I’ll discuss how you, once you ensure your technicians are doing this important step, can join those getting paid for it. www.autobodynews.com

Rivian Electric Truck Maker Sued by Shareholder for Recent Price Shifts by Steven Loveday, InsideEVs

According to a recent story published by Automotive News, a Rivian shareholder has filed a lawsuit against the company due to the recent confusing and misleading price increases, which were followed by a complete turnaround by the automaker. Essentially, Rivian upped its prices significantly, though it was still able to keep its starting prices listed as they were during its IPO. This is because the company will eventually launch dual-motor options that fit the earlier price point. Meanwhile, the EVs currently available saw a big increase. Many Rivian reservation holders were either threatening to cancel their orders or did it. The electric pickup truck maker quickly changed plans and decided people who currently have an R1T or R1S on order will still enjoy the previously agreed-upon prices. People who canceled their order were welcomed to reinstate them at the original prices. If the company’s stock wasn’t

already suffering for a variety of reasons, you can imagine what a huge shift in prices, new product announcements and then a shift back could do to the share price.

Moves like this cause investors to become confused and skeptical, not to mention lose faith in a company even if it eventually changes direction and does what’s seen by most as the right thing. Charles Larry Crews filed a complaint with the U.S. District Court in San Francisco suggesting Rivian “concealed how its R1S SUV and R1T pickup truck were so underpriced that it needed to raise prices not long after its November 2021 IPO.” Crews said the price increases will make people lose trust in Rivian and cause a multitude of potential cancellations. He also said

Rivian’s quick change of direction—along with the apology from CEO RJ Scaringe—was a “futile attempt at damage control.” In a case like this, it can be argued that no matter how the story ends, the damage was already done. Ahead of the lawsuit filing, Scaringe had already made it clear he shares some of the same views that Crews eventually brought forward. While Scaringe’s apology is respectable, Crews can try to use the CEO’s admission about breaking the trust of its customers to support his case against Rivian. In an email to Rivian customers dated March 3, the CEO wrote, “It was wrong and we broke your trust in Rivian.” For those interested in following the case, Automotive News lists it as Crews v Rivian Automotive Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 22-01433.

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Industry Insight

—John Yoswick is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon who 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.

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‘Who Pays for What?’ Survey Looks at Billing Practices Related to EVs, Accessing OEM Info

Shop Showcase

As new automaker electric vehicle charging was asked for the first time models—or pledges of new EVs on as part of the “Who Pays for What?” the horizon—get announced almost survey in the fall of 2021. with Ed Attanasio weekly, a recent industry survey “I expect to see the percentage found three out of four auto body billing and being paid for this to shops nationally have never includ- grow in the future as electric vehied a fee on their estimates or invoic- cles become increasingly common,” es for recharging an electric vehicle. said Mike Anderson of Collision Advice, who co-produces the surwith Ed Attanasio veys with CRASH Network. None of the three major estimating systems provide a standard calculation for electric vehicle recharge, so the only way to be reimbursed for it is to include a line-item charge. Among those that have billed Audatex says, “We do not inwith Ed Attanasio for vehicle recharging, 31% say they clude any operation, labor alloware reimbursed “always” or “most of ance or costs regarding charging the time” by the eight largest insur- hybrid or electric vehicles.” The ers, though about half say the large company that produces the CCC dainsurers “never” pay for recharging. tabase acknowledges, “Charging of The question related to billwith Ed Attanasio the HV/EV vehicles is not included ing and payment practices for EV in MOTOR estimated work times.”

Mitchell similarly says, “Charging the high voltage system has not been accounted for in any labor operation.”

ing.” Another factor shops will need to consider is how to determine a fee for the electricity consumed by the

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A “Who Pays for What?” survey last fall found about 20% of shops (up from 15% a year earlier) are paid regularly when billing for labor required to conduct OEM repair procedure research

Anderson also pointed out, “Another labor operation that may be needed is driving a vehicle sufficiently to reduce the battery charge prior to painting given that some OEMs say the battery cannot be above a 20% charge during refinish-

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recharge. “There are several companies that sell charging stations that have the ability to produce a receipt similar to a gas pump,” Anderson noted. The survey was one of four “Who Pays for What?” surveys con-

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ducted each year. The latest one, focused on not-included body labor operations, is being conducted throughout April. Shops can visit https://www.crash network.com/collisionadvice to take the survey.

tion. But as of last fall, the majority of shops reported they have at least sometimes passed those fees along on their estimates or invoices. Only 42% of shops said they have never sought to be reimbursed for these fees, and nearly one in four

survey found shops are most likely to report having subscribed to the OEM information from high-volume automakers like Nissan, Toyota, Honda, GM and Ford; for each of those OEM information services, more than 60% of shops said they have subscribed. Interestingly, the survey found some differences among types of shops as to how regularly they say

OEM procedures at the time they write an estimate compared to single-location facilities, franchise locations or even dealer-owned shops. The survey found 79% of MSO facilities responding to the survey said they research OEM procedures on “most” or “all” jobs. That compares to 60% of independents, 54% of franchise locations and just 40% of dealer-owned facilities.

“Who Pays for What?” surveys have found 42% of shops say they have never charged for OEM information subscription fees, but that’s down from 57% in 2019

Last fall’s survey also found the cost to access OEM repair information is one for which more shops are billing and getting reimbursed. The surveys since 2019 have asked specifically about the OEM subscription fees themselves, aside from the labor time shops spent actually researching the OEM procedures. In 2019, the majority of shops (57%) said they had never sought to be reimbursed for any charges they incur to access OEM repair informa-

(23%) said they always, or almost always, include a subscription fee charge. “Most shops are incurring fees for OEM repair information, so it makes sense for them to pass along those charges,” Anderson said. “This is not overhead. A shop would not be paying to access OEM procedures for Nissan, for example, if the shop did not have a Nissan vehicle in the shop that needed to be repaired.” Perhaps not surprisingly, the

A “Who Pays for What?” survey last fall found 85% or more of shops conduct pre- and post-repair scans on all or most vehicles

they research OEM repair procedures. Repair facilities that are part of a multi-shop operation (MSO) appear to be more likely to research

Only 7% of MSO facilities admitted OEM procedures are only occasionally researched, and none See ‘Who Pays for What?’, Page 54

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GUNIWHEEL™ Makes the Collision Repair World Go Round One Wheel at a Time by Ed Attanasio

An auto body shop manager in San Francisco, CA, told me he spends more time moving cars than fixing them. With limited space on the shop floor and literally zero parking in the lot, staging vehicles is a full-time job for an apprentice whose title is “porter.” He wants to train to be a technician, but in the end he’s nothing more than a valet. Fixing cars back to their pre-accident condition is tough enough and, in many cases, moving vehicles safely around the shop is a separate job all on its own.

Director of Marketing Mike Dunlap has seen the market for GUNIWHEEL™ explode. Here he is with Ghetto Bob from Count’s Kustoms and the TV show, “Counting Cars.”

With a mission to safely mount and move vehicles with its universal bolt pattern shop wheels, GUNIWHEEL™ is popular with body shops, car restoration companies, towing companies, wheel repair companies and car dealerships. Its universal four- or five-bolt pattern designs for cars and light SUVs are made of thicker steel for more durability needed in heavy-use shop environments. Easy to mount and safe to install on all hub locations, their skinny compact design frees up work space around the hub, stacks up neatly on racks and stands and eliminates the need for multiple spares laying around. Drivable up to 5 mph, GUNIWHEEL™ rolls easily over hoses, grates, humps and ramps. It can also be used in the paint booth to avoid overspray on expensive wheels and tires. It comes in three sizes based on the vehicle’s bolt pattern and the size of the center bore: the GUNIWHEEL™ 45S, 56 and 80.

Made from polyurethane injection molding, the solid black tire on every GUNIWHEEL™ won’t go flat and features a unique safety feature to prevent over speeding. Evenly-spaced ribs are molded across the width of the tire and will begin to vibrate once speeds reach the speed limit rating of 5 mph. The carbon steel rim has a durable design and is painted orange for quick and easy identification. Each wheel weighs just 34 pounds. Director of Marketing Mike Dunlap has seen the market for GUNIWHEEL™ explode and has been integral to the company’s success. The first big distribution agreement it signed was with LKQ/ Keystone, and shortly thereafter, car rebuilders and many top names in the industry started lining up to try GUNIWHEEL™. “We were at SEMA setting up a small booth for their Ignited event in [2019], and we ran into some of Chip Foose’s builders,” Dunlap said. “They saw the GUNIWHEEL™ and said ‘we love it,’ and two weeks later Chip called us. When a major player like Foose starts recommending a product, people listen, and that’s how we found a whole new group of people who became believers.” Alex Rodriguez owns Dynamic Collision, a mini-MSO with three shops in New York, New Jersey and Florida. He has been using GUNIWHEEL™ products for the past three years and has been an enthusiastic brand ambassador for the company since the first day he tried one. He owns a total of 60 GUNIWHEEL™ products of all different sizes to accommodate every vehicle that comes through his doors. “When I find products that provide solutions for my business, I am never afraid to recommend them and that’s why we often post photos and reviews about GUNIWHEEL™,” Rodriguez said. “Our shops are busy all the time, so we can’t afford to stop or slow down our production. We need to keep the vehicles driveable and moving through the body repair process. They make us more efficient and we’re able to get rid of multiple spare tire racks or digging through the customers’ trunk for spares. Our insurance partners are

44 APRIL 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

always looking at our cycle time, so efficiency is paramount and GUNIWHEEL™ helps us to keep the ball rolling without stopping or waiting.”

to’s indirectly led to the invention of the GUNIWHEEL™, Dunlap said. “We had a high-end body shop in Arizona that we were repairing wheels for and one particular Bentley gave us some trouble. We were having difficulty matching the color on the wheels, so the Bentley sat in the shop as we went back and forth,” he said. “They told us they needed the wheel back so they could finish the repair and get the vehicle out of the shop. So, Sergio thought of a solution, and that’s the genesis of GUNIBody shops use GUNIWHEEL™ to avoid starts and stops WHEEL™.” and keep their production rolling uninterrupted When he came up with Great inventions often start the initial design, Rovito was going as simple solutions for potentially to name it the Uniwheel, but to make complex problems. In 2018, the in- it more unique and personalized, ventor, GUNIWHEEL™ President Rovito added the “G” in honor of and CEO Sergio Rovito, had a com- his daughter, Gabriella. Many peopany that repaired and reconditioned ple call them “Gunis” and the comwheels for body shops and car deal- pany’s motto is “Get your Guni on!” erships. The true genius behind the See GUNIWHEEL™, Page 56 One particular customer of Rovi-

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Industry Insight with John Yoswick

Examples Demonstrate Problems with Collision Techs Making Repair ‘Presumptions’

Shop Showcase

As A presentation at the Collision way to get the adhesive in there.” Industry Conference (CIC) earlier Jason Bartanen of Collision this year included a number of ex- Hub pointed to something simiwith Ed Attanasio amples of vehicle repairs that could lar with the lower outer rail on the easily be done incorrectly if a tech- Chevrolet Bolt. nician makes presumptions about “It’s attached [at the factory] with the process based on past experience spot welds and MIG-brazed joints, rather than carefully following the essentially,” Bartanen said. “But OEM procedures. when you do the replacement proceScott VanHulle, manager of with Ed Attanasio dure, there’s adhesive, spot-welding, I-CAR’s Repairability Technical weld-bonding, rivets, rivet-bonding, Support and OEM Technical Rela- plug welds and MIG-brazing. Seven tions, cited a Silverado box side in- different attachment methods on that stalled at the factory with 10 welds. one part that came from the factory “In the repair, you’re only with two attachment methods. So putting seven in,” VanHulle said. making an assumption that you know “Where those three extra welds were, what you’re doing because you’ve with Ed Attanasio they want you to put crash-toughened been doing it for a long time is a very adhesive in there. If you were to get dangerous assumption to make.” to this point and only then realize VanHulle also shared slides reyou need to have crash-toughened lated to a sectioning procedures for a adhesive, you’re going to have to re- front lower rail on a Ford Explorer. move that part that youEd already have One slide of the procedure he shared with Attanasio partially installed because there’s no calls for MIG welding.

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SEMA Show Goes On

But in addition, he said, depending on which of two zones is being repaired, “you actually have to make these panels out of the service part that you have to rivet bond over the top of the area you just welded. So when you’re doing the repair planning, if you just quickly go through that procedure, you might think, ‘Oh we just need to weld it.’ Well, no, you have to make these parts. You have to do the rivets. So if you’re not truly understanding the procedure, and have those rivets in-stock, there’s no way the technician is going to know what to do, and he’s going to make a mistake or only do part of it.” VanHulle said another example of the increased use of adhesives by automakers can be seen in I-CAR’s free 51-minute “Repairers Realm” video on the roof replacement procedure for the 2022 Honda Civic. “The procedure is interesting, but

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Shop Strategies 46 APRIL 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

if you don’t do the proper planning, and have the proper pieces in place, there’s no way you’re going to put that roof on correctly, especially if you’re assuming it was like the last Honda you did,” VanHulle said. “And this is not just happening with one automaker. All of them are having adhesives show up pretty much everywhere.” The presentation at CIC was similar to a message from American Honda last fall about making repair presumption. Scott Kaboos, assistant manager of collision repair training and technology for American Honda, said students at Honda’s hands-on training facility in Illinois are often surprised the ADAS cameras on one model year Accord will require different targets and processes than those on another. “Even within Honda and Acura, we have so many different systems, See Repair ‘Presumptions’, Page 54

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Day Job/Night Job

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

with Ed Attanasio

Painter/Technical Director Creates Amazing Art, Island-Style I have been telling people for deca- ning. des that car refinishers are truly arHe joined the company as its tists, and every time I see a beautiful technical director back in 2012, Gary Wickert car at SEMA orwith on YouTube or so- where he helps collision repairers cial media, it reinforces my beliefs. with things such as product inventoGreat painters continually refi- ry control, technical support, KPIs, ne their skills and techniques, and work in progress (WIP) and training many of them display their creati- focused on OEM procedures. vity and passion through other meIsland Concepts recently estadiums that often shine brighter than blished a training room as well as painting vehicles. a storage area to house the products with Stacey Phillips In this story, a talented car pain- they provide to collision repair faciter created a side business that car- lities. In addition, there is a separate ves and paints tiki statues, as well area where the company has plans as masks, furniture and skateboard to set up a spray booth and/or prep decks, just to name a few. station for hands-on training. Painter and Technical Director In the past, much of the instStacey Phillips Todd Stogdell, with 52, entered the colruction on the island was conducted lision repair industry three decades by Honolulu Community College as ago, when he was hired at an auto part of its auto body repair and painting program. However, the program closed in the summer of 2021 due to a lack of enrollment because of the pandemic and travel restrictions in with Stacey Phillips Hawaii. With the addition of the new training center, Stogdell said Hawaiian technicians won’t have to necessarily go to the mainland to learn new skills anymore. with Stacey Phillips “Our new facility will enable us to hold classes and offer hands-on skills training,” Stogdell said. “Two years ago, I traveled to New York to be certified as an I-CAR instructor in Fusor’s product line, teaching metal panel bonding, structural adwith Stacey Phillips hesives, seam sealing, plastic repair, fiberglass and composite repairs, so Painter and Technical Director Todd Stogdell we can feature I-CAR classes now, poses with one of his tikis and several of which is great.” his skateboard decks, displayed at Island To get started in the world of Concepts, a paint jobber with a training center tiki figures, Stogdell put out a call in Oahu, HI for tikis on Craigslist and through with Victoria Antonelli body shop in California as a helper. the Hawaiian grapevine, and got luWithin 10 years, he had moved up cky with a few beauties almost imthe ladder to become a production mediately. “I’ve always liked tikis and inimanager, and then decided to relocate to Hawaii. tially I got existing ones to paint and Today, Stogdell works for Is- recondition,” he said. “I am always with Victoria Antonelli land Concepts, a paint jobber in looking for ones that are a little weOahu that is the exclusive paint dis- athered. I could see early on I can tributor for AkzoNobel in Hawaii. get really creative with these and The company serves many of the use my painting skills to make them 200-plus shops on the island, with look awesome. In some cases, I even product support and ongoing trai- surprise myself when I see the finis-

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hed product.” As his interest in tikis grew, Stogdell yearned to learn more about the process and reached out to some of the finest carvers on Oahu.

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Stogdell uses his painting skills to make each of his tiki statues vibrant and highly unique

“I met Tonu and Soni at Ohana Island Creations and we have become friends,” he said. “They wanted me to paint a large wooden sailfish

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for them and of course, I said yes. When it was finished, they wanted to pay me and I said just teach me how to carve and that will be my payment.” The history of tiki culture dates back to ancient Polynesia. Such carvings were first discovered in Polynesia, and tiki carvings are said to represent a Polynesian god. They’re an integral part of South Pacific mythology, culture and history. Tiki statues were carved to represent the image of four gods as an embodiment of each of their mana, or power. With well-formed tikis in their possession, people could attain protection from harm, strengthen their power in times of war and be blessed with successful crops. Kane is the god of sunlight and natural life; Ku is the god of war; Lono is the god of peace, winds, See Island-Style, Page 59

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Industry Insight

with John Yoswick

Collision Repair Shops Should Check Policies Related to Drugs/Alcohol, Animals in Workplace

Shop Showcase

California-based employment law law or your policy because they’re attorney Corey King discussed a not under the influence by the legal variety of topics during the Col- standard for alcohol.” with Ed Attanasio King also said more employlision Industry Conference (CIC) held earlier this year: company drug ers are getting employee requests and alcohol policies, stocking up on to bring a “service animal” to the COVID tests and “service animals” work place. In order to qualify as a in the workplace. “service animal” under the federal As more states legalize marijua- Americans with Disabilities Act, it na, King said, use of Ed cannabis and has to be a dog or, oddly, a miniawith Attanasio related products grows. It’s a good ture horse individually trained to reminder, he said, for businesses to perform tasks for a person with a ensure their drug and alcohol policy disability. does not include the phrase “under “The ADA does not recognize the influence.” If it does, King said, emotional support, comfort, com“that policy is completely untenable panionship or guarding as a recogand, I would argue, completely un- nized task,” King said. “So your with Ed Attanasio enforceable.” emotional support animal isn’t proIn a state where the alcohol tected under the ADA. This applies DUI limit is .08, King said, “Do even if that person brings you a docyou really want somebody jumping tor’s note that says [they] need this behind the wheel of that car to test emotional support animal.” drive it when they blow a If asked about bringing an aniwithwould Ed Attanasio .07? They’re not in violation of the mal to work, the ADA requires em-

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SEMA Show Goes On

ployers to “engage in an interactive process… and provide reasonable accommodations that will allow disabled employees to perform the essential functions of their job,” King said. Ask what kind of animal it is, he said. If the employee’s disability is obvious, the inquiry is over and the dog or horse must be allowed. If it’s not obvious, ask if the animal is required because of a disability— but do not ask for documentation of the disability. If it is, ask what tasks the animal is trained to perform; do not ask for documentation of training nor for a demonstration of the animal’s ability. Common tasks include guiding the visually impaired, pulling a wheelchair, alerting people who are deaf, calming individuals with PTSD during anxiety attacks, alerting and protecting a person having

Media and Publicity for Shops

a seizure or reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed meds. If all those requirements are met, the animal must be allowed unless it becomes disruptive or a danger. “Now, if someone tries to make an issue of this with you, don’t go this alone,” King said. “Get hold of me, of someone you trust, who knows this stuff, to help you navigate through.” As COVID-related restrictions continue to be dropped around the country, King still suggested businesses encourage their employees to order the at-home rapid COVID tests being offered for free by the federal government. “Check your politics at the door: I guarantee you your state law says something about whether an employee can come back into

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your workplace after being exposed or testing positive,” King said. “I would almost guarantee you that it’s going to have a requirement that, before they return, they provide you with a negative test. You want to have those tests around.” King said his daughter had COVID early this year, putting the whole family in quarantine. “The four of us could not go back to school or work without having negative COVID tests, and finding a testing facility is a challenge,” particularly if you want immediate results and don’t want to stand in line with people who think they have COVID,” King said. “You and your employees are [likely] going to have to prove at times they have a negative test in many circumstances. Encourage your employees to get those free tests, and be judicious about when they use them. Those are gold. Save them. They are literally going to set you free and allow you to re-enter the world.”

AUTOBODY

Tesla Model Y $24,000 Repair: Everything You Need to Know by Steven Loveday, InsideEVs

Not long ago, we shared a story about a Tesla Model Y that was rear-ended for the second time. It wasn’t drivable after the accident, thanks to a blown “pyro fuse.” The whole situation turned out quite messy. The Model Y’s owner, Ryan Shaw, had previously rented out the electric crossover on Turo, which resulted in it being rear-ended the first time. The Tesla, which Shaw hadn’t yet owned very long, needed a $10,000 collision repair. Fortunately, the Model Y’s repair was covered by the at-fault driver’s insurance, and Shaw also received loss of income and other monetary compensation. However, he was without his new Model Y for a very long period of time, only to have it heading right back into the shop following the second accident. Shaw noted in the previous video the second Model Y collision repair was going to cost around $20,000, though it ended

up costing more. While he wasn’t responsible for paying the tab, he knew the repair was likely to take forever. Shaw promised a follow-up video breaking down the cost and length of the repair, along with other details.

Shaw said he learned a lot after two Tesla collision repairs over a short time, and there are details he knows now he wishes he knew before the mess. For this reason, the follow-up video should prove very helpful to other Tesla owners, since it will provide you with a solid idea of what to expect if your car ends up in a collision and needs repair.

If you’re without your car for months like Shaw, you’ll still be responsible for insuring it during that time. Rental cars are much more expensive than they once were, and in some areas, they’re much harder to come by. You may be stuck with a rental you don’t necessarily want, and it may cost more than the insurance company is willing to reimburse for. Shaw went into extensive detail about the whole situation and all the processes involved. He filled us in on the specifics related to diminished value, which we found very helpful and informative. Despite all of the concerns, Tesla Insurance coordinated everything with the collision center, the repair turned out excellent, the car’s paint looks better than it did prior and the Model Y’s rear hatch now works more smoothly than it did in the past. The only real issue here would be if Shaw decided he wanted to sell the car, since it has lost a significant amount of value.

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Russia Accused of Toyota Cyberattack by Steven Symes, Motorious

At 7 p.m. local time in Japan on Feb. 28, the largest automaker in the world, Toyota, announced it was the victim of a cyberattack. As a result, the company had to shut down all plant operations March 1, as its supply management system and subsidiaries were affected.The production suspension affects 28 assembly lines in 14 factories located in Japan. Toyota estimates the stoppage will affect about 13,000 vehicles at a time when shortages are common. Toyota issued an official press release saying it will resume all operations starting with the first shift March 2. The plan is to access a backup network between it and suppliers. Restoring the original system is estimated to take a week or two. Both Daihatsu and Hino Motors, subsidiaries of Toyota, have halted operations at some of their plants as well. Also targeted in the cyberattack was Kojima Industries, a plastic components manufacturer and supplier for Toyota. The company is still assessing the extent of the damage done by the attack.

While nobody has been able to pinpoint the origin of the cyberattack, the timing is suspicious. Japan just joined other countries in putting into place financial and economic sanctions against Russia, thanks to the Ukraine invasion. Sensing potential problems, the Japanese government warned domestic companies to be on guard for possible cyberattacks, only for one of its largest corporations to be targeted hours later. Russian Ambassador to Japan Mikhail Yurlevich Galuzin said in an interview on Japanese TV the week before there would be “consequences” if Japan were to impose sanctions on Russia. He didn’t elaborate what exactly that meant, but many considered it to be a threat. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said his government is investigating the cyberattack. They hope to establish whether or not Russia was involved and why Toyota was specifically targeted. For now, no other automakers have reported cyberattacks. However, everyone is anxiously awaiting news the already struggling industry could be knocked back on its heels again.

Continued from Page 46

‘Who Pays for What?’ said they “never” did the research. However, 4% of dealer and franchise locations admitted to never researching procedures at the time they write the estimate, and 2% of independents said the same. “The only way to write a complete and accurate estimate is to know what procedures will be required to repair that vehicle,” Anderson said. “I do like to see that, compared to five or six years ago, many more shops are making use of the OEM websites directly. I know they all have their own system for locating the right information, but many automakers offer online or

in-person training classes on how to efficiently navigate their websites.” Last fall’s survey showed a continued increase in the percentage of shops regularly performing vehicle scans. In 2019, according to the “Who Pays for What?” surveys, about 88% of shops said they performed a post-repair scan on all or most vehicles they repaired. In 2021, that figure rose to 93%. The percentage of shops that said they performed pre-repair scans was also higher, improving to 85% in 2021 from 78% in 2019. “It appears we’re trending in the right direction, but still not fast enough,” Anderson said, noting he believes 100% of repairs should be completed with both a pre- and post-repair scan.

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Repair ‘Presumptions’ so many different calibrations,” Kaboos said. “There is no one standard way [across models] even within our own company.” It highlights the need to always check the automaker’s repair procedures for each particular vehicle. Kaboos said a student in one of his classes last fall told him he’d used an aftermarket scan tool on a 2017 Honda Odyssey, and followed that software’s recommendation to use a certain target and to put the camera into calibration mode. “He did that, and fried the camera,” Kaboos said, acknowledging he had to look up the reason why. “It turned out it was a dynamic-only camera. So it allowed it to go into [calibration mode], but then it went into a spiral loop, and would never come out of that function because it wasn’t designed to do a static calibration. He ended up having to buy an $800 camera and get it dynamically calibrated [to get the vehicle] back to the customer.”

Continued from Page 43

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Continued from Page 44

GUNIWHEEL™ product is a universal vehicle bolt pattern Rovito conceptualized and then patented. The company’s road to success has been random and wonderful, Dunlap said, with a string of amazing victories along the way. “We have been nominated for the SEMA New Product Awards every year, and we have always been a bridesmaid,” he said. “But, just to be associated with SEMA has given us a ton of credibility. Then, Kristen Felder at Collision Hub did a video about us as part of her ‘Cool Tools’ series, and that was huge.” Some of the country’s top vehicle restorers praise GUNIWHEEL™. Chip Foose called them “Great rollers for around the shop!” Dave Kindig said, “GUNIWHEEL™ is awesome for us! Perfect for moving our many projects around the shop.” www.autobodynews.com

Ryan Evans from Count’s Kustoms said, “These are a staple in our shop.” Goolsby Customs said, “GUNIWHEEL™ is the perfect option for transporting or just to move things around the shop.” Every year, GUNIWHEEL™ comes up with new products for new applications, with each one gaining industry acceptance and garnering five-star reviews. One of these is the GUNIHUB™ 45, a universal rotating hub used when brakes are disengaged or when a car is stuck in the parked gear. “This product is perfect for cars like Teslas and other electric cars where if the battery is dead, the wheels won’t rotate,” Dunlap said. Another product GUNIWHEEL™ will be releasing in mid2022 is the new GuniSpare, designed for cars without spare tires. It’s a universal emergency spare wheel that will come with one year of roadside assistance and all the accessories needed to change the spare, including a safety vest and a hydraulic jack.

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Car Repossessions on the Rise by Steven Symes, Motorious

The auto industry is in huge upheaval at the moment, thanks in no small part to the ongoing semiconductor chip shortage. As new car supplies remain tight, people are holding onto the old cars, impacting dealers negatively as they need product to move. For them there’s a light at the end of the tunnel: car repossessions are on the rise. That sounds horrible but it’s all detailed out in a recent article from The Economic Times. While that article talks specifically about the Indian market, things aren’t much better here in the U.S. A recent earnings call for America’s CAR-MART detailed the growing rate of vehicle repossessions in this country. Per CFO Vickie D. Judy, government stimulus money has helped shrink car loan charge-offs, even when consumers are financing greater amounts thanks to increased used vehicle prices. Higher car repossession rates also kept charge-offs lower, with the company achieving 28.5% for the past

quarter versus 27.1% a year ago and 26.6% two years ago. Judy also noted the company’s frequency of losses increased in the last quarter. She attributed that to “normalization after the unsustainable historic lows resulting from stimulus payments.” After cars are repossessed and borrowers can’t bring the loan back into good standing, those vehicles go to auction. From there they filter to dealerships, where other consumers can either finance them or pay cash. It looks like this repossession problem may become worse before it gets better. After all, Americans are facing inflation like they haven’t seen in decades. That means vehicle payments can be much higher than before. For those who were barely making ends meet before, it might come down to paying utilities, buying enough groceries, purchasing gas or making the car payment. Having your car repossessed is no fun, especially if it’s your only vehicle, but it’s a situation more people are facing.

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*Kia Genuine replacement parts sold but not installed by an Authorized Kia Dealer are covered for 12 months from purchase date, regardless of mileage, for the part only, and any labor charge is the consumer’s responsibility. autobodynews.com / APRIL 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS 57

Ford’s EV and ICE Reorganization Will Have Huge Impact on Dealers by Steven Loveday, InsideEVs

As was recently reported, Ford officially announced plans to separate its electric vehicle and internal combustion vehicle business models. Ford CEO Jim Farley made it clear on a number of occasions he’s learning a lot from Tesla, so the fact Ford wants to bank on the growing interest in EVs comes as no surprise. In order for automakers to sell EVs, dealerships will have to be on board. Otherwise, the brand could try to sell online, direct-to-consumer—much in the same way Tesla and Rivian are operating—but it would most certainly cause contention with dealers since it’s against the rules. Ford will, instead, work alongside dealerships to help them adopt a hybrid version of the model. Ford said in its announcement it would handle EV sales differently, combining some sort of direct sales model, along with dealers involved providing expertise, service and support. Plans haven’t yet been finalized.

According to Automotive News, Ford’s goals include eliminating inventory, operating with set prices and working out of fewer locations. “It’s going to be much more efficient, a lot more online,” Farley told the publication. “It’s going to be a really different model.”

Farley also said having dealerships involved could give Ford an advantage over Tesla. He noted lack of physical support for customers can be problematic and some fixes simply can’t be handled remotely. “We can do things Tesla can’t do,” Farley added. Farley made comparisons to stores like Target and Home Depot that have a huge online presence and sell products on the internet,

but also have a multitude of physical stores across the country. Dealerships would certainly raise concerns if Ford just attempted to abandon them and sell its cars directly, so the hybrid plan is a compelling option. However, it’s likely some aspects of the automaker’s potential future plan will be a disruption to dealers’ policies and operations. However, Automotive News noted, thus far, it seems dealers are “cautiously optimistic” about what the future may hold. Ford will allow its dealers to decide if they want to sell EVs in addition to gas cars. There are not yet details about whether a dealer could choose to become “EV-only,” though Farley said Ford is “betting on” its dealerships, and they should “get ready to specialize.” Ford National Dealer Council Chairman Tim Hovik made it clear he’s happy Ford is working to cooperate with dealerships. He also said dealers are already learning to deal with a lack of inventory, so having no EV inventory on hand wouldn’t be that different. Another dealership execu-

MASSACHUSETTS

tive, Vadim Makhlis, shared his support of Farley, though making it clear he’s anxious. “I love the concept but am anxious to see how it plays out,” Makhlis said. “Given Mr. Farley’s leadership the past few years, I do believe if they’re going in this direction, it must be what the consumer wants.” Despite any apprehension from dealers, which is to be expected, NADA spokesperson Jared Allen claimed franchised dealers are “allin on EVs.” He said dealers will be integral in increasing EV adoption. In the end, Ford doesn’t really have another viable option. It can’t abandon its dealerships, and it needs their support in order to succeed. It’s motivating to see the automaker is making every attempt to move into the future while also continuing to support its dealers in the process.

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Emerson (888) 782-9493 (201) 261-3261 Fax

Continued from Page 48

Island-Style rain, sports and fertility; Kanaloa is the god of the ocean. Stogdell appreciates their role on the islands and loves finding out as much as he can about the history behind them and their cultural significance. “Tikis are special here and people look at them as their protectors,” he said. “I love the tradition and the heritage behind every tiki and enjoy the stories behind them. I have quite a collection now and feel connected to them in many ways.” Once Tonu at Ohana Island Creations showed Stogdell how to carve a tiki, he was on his way and excited to create his own from scratch. “Tonu is a fourth-generation wood carver and is a teaching artist of fine art at BYU-Hawaii, so I couldn’t have had a better teacher,”Stogdell said. “The first thing I do when I get a piece of wood is use the chainsaw to do the basic shaping and create a rough version. Then I use a chisel and smaller knives to do

the fine work, followed by sanding. And then finally I paint them and hit them with the clearcoat.” Stogdell is now using monkeypod wood for many of his creations and is enamored with the results. “Carvers want to use Albesia wood or palm, but I really like monkeypod wood,” he said. “You can find monkeypod everywhere here and it’s perfect for tikis. It’s dark inside and lighter on the outside, so if you can integrate that into the design, it gives the piece more depth and definition.” Creating a buzz and garnering great reviews for his tikis and other items, Stogdell has enjoyed every step of his journey and is always looking for more challenges. “When people say nice things on Instagram (@island_kustom_ concepts) about my tikis, it’s so satisfying,” he said. “Doing the pieces is fun and the accolades are really fulfilling.”

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Ford Will Sell Explorer SUVs with Missing Chips Due to Global Shortage by Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering

Amidst the ongoing ship shortage, Ford has decided to ship and sell its Explorer SUVs without the chips that control non-safety features such as heating and cooling for the rear seats, Automotive News reported. The global chip shortage came into the limelight during the pandemic as global supply chains were disrupted. From smartphones to cars, the production of a wide range of goods was affected. Last year, more than 70,000 Ford vehicles were waiting in storage for chips. Ford was to ship cars in undrivable conditions to its dealers last year, where the chips would be installed on availability. However, the company seems to have found a solution around this, and according to recent reports, the cars will be missing a few non-critical non-safety features. Ford’s new strategy will result in its vehicles being sold without a few features. These include the controls of heating and cooling for the rear seats, although these features

can be controlled from the front seats. It is likely the company expects the shortage will end later this year since it is promising the customers the dealerships will install the chips within a year from purchase. Customers willing to still purchase Ford Explorers without these features can expect a reduction in the final price for this small inconvenience. Last year, Ford shipped its popular F-150 without the automatic start-stop feature and gave a $50 credit to customers who opted to purchase without it. Ford isn’t the only carmaker working around chip shortages in such a fashion. While electric vehicle maker Tesla shipped cars without some USBs, General Motors dropped features like wireless charging and HD radios. Chip makers such as Intel are also investing heavily in manufacturing facilities in the U.S. but it will be a while until one sees the benefits from the move. For now, the chip shortage is here to stay and might even be exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine.

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autobodynews.com / APRIL 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS 59

Tesla Raises Prices Across Entire Vehicle Lineup, Model X Plaid Sees $12.5K Rise Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently noted Tesla and SpaceX are seeing significant inflation pressure in raw materials and logistics. This is understandable, considering the ongoing war in Ukraine and the sanctions being imposed on

ed the company’s entire vehicle lineup, from the base Model 3 RWD to the top-tier Model X Plaid. The price increases range from $2,000 to $12,500. As can be seen in the company’s online configurator, the Model 3 RWD now costs $46,990—$2,000 more than its previous price. The

Russian commodities. The price of Tesla’s current vehicle lineup appears to have been adjusted accordingly to correspond to these pressures. Fresh off a recent price adjustment for the Model 3 and Model Y in the U.S. and China, Tesla has now implemented an even more substantial round of price increases for its vehicle offerings. But this time around, the adjustments affect-

midrange Model 3 Long Range now costs $54,490, up $3,500. The topof-the-line Model 3 Performance has been adjusted to start at $61,990, up $2,000. On the Model Y’s side, the Model Y Long Range now starts at $62,990, which is $3,000 more. The Model Y Performance now starts at $67,990, also up $3,000. Being Tesla’s flagship vehicles, the price adjustments for the

by Simon Alvarez, Teslarati

Model S and Model X line were much more substantial. The Model S Long Range now starts at $99,990, $5,000 more than its previous price. The Model S Plaid, Tesla’s fastest car as of writing, now starts at $135,990, $6,000 more than its previous price. Tesla’s largest vehicle in its current lineup, the new Model X, received the most notable price adjustments. The Model X Long Range now starts at $114,990, up $10,000 from its previous price. The Model X Plaid now starts at $138,990, up $12,500. While the price adjustments recently implemented by Tesla are some of the company’s most significant yet, demand for the Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X still seems fairly strong. A look at Tesla’s U.S. configurator hints the company is still backlogged for several months, with deliveries for some vehicles like the Model X Long Range being estimated as late as January 2023. More affordable cars like the Model Y Long Range are listed with an estimated delivery date of September 2022.

ACA Announces Membership Head The Auto Care Association announced Todd Finnerty as the director of membership engagement, where he will be responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction for member engagement and retention efforts by developing strong relationships with member companies in the automotive aftermarket industry. In this role, Finnerty will leverage his experience as a former industry participant to more deeply connect and engage with members. He will lead a membership team dedicated to understanding member challenges, presenting solutions and fine-tuning the member experience to ensure seamless, end-to-end service. Having served nearly six years with the association’s membership department, Finnerty is already well-respected and connected with the entire supply chain: manufacturers, warehouse distributors, retailers and shops. Source: Auto Care Association

CCC Appoints Chief HR Officer CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc. announced the appointment of Christy Harris as senior vice president and chief human resources officer. Harris will lead CCC’s company-wide people strategy, including talent acquisition, employee experience and the continued advancement of the company’s inclusion and diversity initiatives. Harris succeeds Gary Newman, who is retiring after 15 years with the company. Harris will focus on continuing to advance CCC’s award-winning culture. Named a 2022 Best Places Work by Built In Chicago, Austin and Los Angeles, CCC continues to attract and engage top technology and product talent. “CCC has an outstanding reputation as a leading technology company and employer,” said Harris. “I look forward to having a positive impact on the employee experience while building on the company’s commitment to inclusion and engagement.” Source: CCC

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60 APRIL 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

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autobodynews.com / APRIL 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS 61

Continued from Page 4

Repair Considerations network—those who are technically trained and we know are capable of repairing the vehicle,” explained MacDonald. Lucid’s repair methodology is developed in close partnership with the OEM’s crash testing program.

The Lucid Air on display at Lucid Motors’ studio in Short Hills, NJ.

After working with 11 different OEMs over his career, Hall’s philosophy is to bring the Engineering, Serviceability and Body Repair teams together to be as effective as possible. As a start-up company with limited resources and an aggressive schedule, Hall noted Lucid Motors doesn’t have an unlimited number of crash cars for testing. As a result, vehicles are crashed more than once after being rebuilt by the service teams. For example, a car that has been front crash-tested at 35 mph is rebuilt to do a side crash test. Through this experience, Hall said Lucid Motors has demonstrated the capabilities of rework. This allows the OEM to bring in the service team a lot earlier and offer cost efficiencies for the business. “We’re also a lot further ahead with repair procedures than we would normally be,” he said. In terms of training, Lucid plans to offer online education to deliver fundamental system knowledge requirements to shops. This includes approximately 10 days of structural repair training and 15 days of mechanical. The instructor-led courses will cover structural aluminum repair, cosmetic repair, visual damage assessment, high voltage systems, mechanical, diagnostics and ADAS. One of the biggest challenges for shops, according to MacDonald, is the mechanical side of the business.

“There is no simple repair anymore,” he said. “The days of doing a quick spot repair on a front-end bumper or rear-end are gone now because you have to align the vehicle and then calibrate it for ADAS.” As a result, Lucid is building measurement processes to determine how well vehicles are repaired. “With so much technology in vehicles, it’s of paramount importance that when accidents happen and we’re required to repair the vehicles, you have the right level of equipment and training in place to bring that car back to a pre-accident condition,” said MacDonald. “Safety is important for the lifecycle of the vehicle and it is for every OEM moving forward to meet the challenges we are going to face as we move into the ADAS world and safe driving,” added Hall. “For us, it’s about providing education and transparency… so insurers, repairers and customers all understand what we need to do to deliver the best possible service,” said MacDonald. “A safe and proper repair goes without saying.” Rivian Rivian representatives included Kelly Logan, global body repair program senior manager, and Dan Black, manager for service engineering in collision repair.

The 2022 Rivian R1.

Logan helped create Rivian’s Certified Collision Program with Frank Phillips, collision program manager, and now manages the program. “Having the opportunity to create an OEM collision repair program from scratch is a great honor,” he said. “We want a highly trained network that can repair our cars and that aligns to what SCRS represents.” Logan and Phillips devised two networks that fall under the umbrella of Rivian’s Certified Collision Program. The Rivian Certified Collision

62 APRIL 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

Center network focuses on passenger cars, the R1T electric truck and the R1S SUV. The Rivian Certified Fleet Center network includes commercial vehicles such as the 100,000 electric delivery vans Rivian is building for Amazon. The program’s mission is: “Revolutionizing the collision repair customer experience with an efficient and highly trained collision repair network.” “It used to be easy to fix cars,” said Logan.

That has changed with mixed materials and light-weighting in the auto industry, with efforts focused on removing mass and increasing efficiency to extend range and increase miles per gallon. “It’s something you have to have training and tooling for to be able to repair vehicles properly,” he said. The Rivian team has been connecting with great collision centers over the last year. “We want everyone to know that just because you didn’t get chosen for the Rivian collision network today doesn’t mean it’s forever,” said Logan. “As our vehicle population grows, we are going to continue to need more highly-skilled collision centers.” Black heads the service engineering side of the business and works with technical specialists and service engineers to create collision repair procedures. They perform hands-on validation of the repair procedures, tooling and equipment through their R&D Workshop team at their flagship location in El Segundo, CA. As part of the repair procedures, Rivian will include information about different substrates used. The goal is to assist shops in understanding what can and cannot be executed to restore a car to its pre-accident state. “At the assembly plant, we can execute a variety of controlled vehicle construction processes with

advanced equipment,” said Black. “Some of the equipment and joint accessibility does not exist in the aftermarket so we’re always developing new solutions that we can provide to repair the vehicle correctly and restore the strength of the vehicle to ultimately perform correctly the second time around.” With cameras and sensors being used in automobiles, Black said preand post-scans are required on every vehicle and calibration is paramount. “That’s the only way to restore our vehicles correctly,” he said. He recommends shops analyze the diagnostic systems and document the results before beginning repairs to determine the work required. “From my experience at a manufacturer that is developing advanced technology, Driver + systems (Rivian’s suite of advanced driver-assist features) are becoming more sensitive,” said Black. “As we move forward, frequencies are greater and the sensitivity of systems are higher so repair procedures are very critical to follow because you can easily introduce an issue into the vehicle without knowing it.” Logan said the Driver + system will be standard on all Rivians, and ADAS calibrations will be required. “When you look at collision repair and what it takes to repair a car properly today, the lines between service repair and collision repair are now blurred,” he said. “A collision center needs to know just as much as a service center.” To keep cycle times low and fix cars, Logan said it is necessary to have the correct tools, training and knowledge. “We’re just at the forefront of it,” he said. “It’s something that isn’t going to go away anytime soon.” Visit https://rde.scrs.com.

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autobodynews.com / APRIL 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS 63

All SCRS RDE Sessions Online During the 2021 SEMA Show, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) captured every classroom delivery of Repairer Driven Education (RDE) on video and the content is now fully uploaded and available to watch online at https://rde.scrs.com. The 2021 Repairer Driven Education (RDE) full series product contains both the general sessions plus the OEM Summit sessions. Participants will have access to more than 35 hours of educational programs designed for collision repair businesses and delivered by the nations’ leading subject matter experts. These sessions can be shared with an auto body shop’s entire staff with one subscription, all from the comfort of the business. Current SCRS members are entitled to an online coupon code which will provide them a 20% discount on purchases at https:// rde.scrs.com. For members who have misplaced their coupon code, contact the office at info@scrs.com to receive a new one. Source: SCRS

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CCC Report Reveals Accelerated Innovation in P&C Insurance Economy Amid Disruption CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc., a leading SaaS platform for the P&C insurance economy, announced March 15 it has released CCC Crash Course 2022, a data-driven report covering the business, consumer and technology trends shaping the automotive, claims, repair and collision industries. The report offers insights on today’s economic, social and technology trends impacting and reshaping the P&C insurance economy, including shifts in driving behavior, advances in vehicle technology and the record pace of growth in digitization across the insurance economy. CCC Crash Course 2022 marks the 27th year for the industry-leading report, which this year explores the future of digital journeys in the wake of disruption: supply versus demand, labor shortages, inflation, increasing vehicle technology and more complex repairs. The extensive report draws insights based on decades of experience from solutions offered by CCC and its affiliates, including 260 million claims-related transactions,

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Course 2022 include: • Supply versus demand imbalances and the impact on U.S. inflation. • Labor shortages and the role its playing in driving up wages and altering experiences across nearly all industries. • The operational future of automakers, insurers, repairers and other providers. • The role of vehicle technology (ADAS, EVs) and complexity in increasing repair costs. • Technologies such as AI, mobile, cloud and the Internet of Things, and their role in user experiences. • Changes in driving behaviors and the impact to frequency and severity of auto accidents and auto casualty claims. In addition to macro trends and topics, CCC Crash Course 2022 also includes industry-level detail on claims frequency and severity, parts costs and use, total loss trends and more. Download the full report here: https://cccis.com/crash-course-2022/ Source: CCC Intelligent Solutions

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50 billion miles of driving data, and millions of auto bodily injury and personal injury protection (PIP)/ medical payments (MedPay) casualty claims. “After tracking key trends for so many years, we can confidently say the P&C insurance and automotive industry landscape has been forever changed,” said Susanna Gotsch, senior director and industry analyst, CCC. “The disruption experienced over the last two years has accelerated the pace of innovation driven by everything from supply chain and labor to climate change. There is more urgency than ever for the industry to adapt and evolve with an increased focus on the advancement of digital technologies, user experiences and connected networks foundational to change and growth.” Gotsch continued, “Today’s customer expects a business to provide an always-on user experience. This coupled with managing growing complexities presents both challenges and opportunities for the P&C economy.” Key topics covered in Crash

BOCH HYUNDAI

800-559-9210 781-762-9210 800-991-1009 Fax

Mon-Fri 7:30am - 5pm bchwholesale@boch.com

ROUTE 2 HYUNDAI Leominster 743 North Main St.

888-240-3495 978-534-9933 Fax

Mon-Thu 7:30am - 7:30pm Fri-Sat 7:30am - 6pm parts@rte2hyundai.com www.rte2hyundai.com 64 APRIL 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

These Dealers are Genuine Wholesale Parts Specialists.

Maine

Downeast Toyota / Scion BREWER

800-432-0220

207-989-4610 Fax

M-F 7am-5pm; Sat 7am-4pm partsdepartment@downeasttoyota.com www.downeasttoyota.com

New York

Toyota of Massapequa SEAFORD

516-217-1420

516-217-1421 Fax

M-Sat 7am-5pm jpinero@aagny.net www.toyotaofmassapequany.com

Rhode Island

Grieco Toyota EAST PROVIDENCE

401-438-2206

401-431-0673 Fax

M-Th 7:30am-7pm; F 7:30am-6pm Sat 7:30am-5pm toyotaparts@griecocars.com www.griecotoyota.com

Audi Part Professionals are experts on collision parts, replacement components and mechanical items.

Order Audi Genuine Parts from these select dealers. MARYLAND Audi Silver Spring Silver Spring

301.890.3015 800.288.6982 301.890.3748 Fax M-F 7:30am-5pm wholesaless@mileone.com www.audisilverspring.com

MASSACHUSETTS Audi Shrewsbury Shrewsbury

888.751.7214 508.581.5880 508.845.1642 Fax M-F 7:30am-5pm audiwholesaleparts@mcgovernauto.com

NEW JERSEY Audi Meadowlands North Bergen

201.408.2085 201.223.7842 Fax M-F 7am-6pm Sat 8am-2pm jpooler@bbmcc.com

Bell Audi Edison

732.396.9630 732.396.9090 Fax M-F 8am-5pm Sat 8am-4pm dmcsorley@bellaudi.com

DCH Millburn Audi Maplewood

800.553.9250 973.762.2381 Fax M-F 7:30am-6pm Sat 7:30am-4pm ddipalma@dchusa.com www.dchmillburnaudi.com

Flemington Audi Flemington

800.221.1256 908.782.1795 Fax M-F 7:30am-5pm Sat 8am-12pm www.njparts.com

Paul Miller Audi

NEW YORK

PENNSYLVANIA

Audi Brooklyn of Bram Wholesale Parts Network

Audi Devon

866.770.5999 718.392.6570 Fax M-F 7:30am-5:30pm parts@lexusofqueens.com

Audi Southampton Southampton

631.204.2565 Tue-Sat 8am-5pm parts@audisouthampton.com www.audisouthampton.com

Devon

610.263.7026 610.263.7027 610.688.1742 Fax M-F 7:30am-6pm Sat 9am-4pm www.audidevon.com bnawn@audidevon.com wmohler@audidevon.com

Biener Audi

Great Neck 516.487.0127 516.829.4821 Fax M-F 8am-4:30pm Sat 8am-4pm www.bieneraudi.com alutchman@biener.com rfeyjoo@biener.com parts@biener.com

Parsippany

862.277.0009 973.575.5911 Fax M-F 8am-6pm Sat 8am-5pm www.paulmilleraudi.com Audiparts@paulmiller.com

autobodynews.com / APRIL 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS 65

Ford to Collaborate with Universal Technical Institute on EV Training Curriculum by Joey Klender, Teslarati

Ford Motor Company and Universal Technical Insititute (UTI) are collaborating to roll out a new curriculum responsible for training students to maintain and work on electric vehicles. UTI is rolling out a new curriculum in its Ford Accelerated Credential Training (FACT) program. With substantial increases in electric vehicle purchases and ownership in 2021 and forecasts for plenty of additional growth over the next several decades, the need for EVtrained automotive technicians will only increase over the coming years. Ford’s FACT program and UTI plan to train students in the art of servicing high voltage batteries and electric vehicles, as they will become essential to Ford’s business model in the coming years. The Ford EV curriculum will feature blended learning courses on high voltage systems safety, hybrid vehicle components and operation,

battery electric vehicle (BEV) components and operation and an introduction to high voltage battery service, as well as a Ford instructor-led class on hybrid and electric vehicle operation and diagnosis, UTI said in a statement.

“Ford has been working with UTI for more than 20 years to ensure our students receive state-of-the-industry training to prepare them for a rewarding, lifelong career in the transportation industry,” UTI CEO Jerome Grant said about the program’s new additions. “Demand for our graduates remains strong, and

by staying at the forefront of new technologies like EV, we are building the workforce of tomorrow and supplying automakers like Ford with the skilled technicians they need to adapt to consumer demand.” Ford will send a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) to every campus the curriculum, currently available at nine of the 14 UTI campuses. The PHEV will be a necessity in students receiving hands-on training, which will eventually lead to the acquisition of a certification in high voltage systems. There will be 11 other required certifications to pass the curriculum, with three additional certification pathways that will require attendance at Ford’s Training Center. The nine campuses are: Avondale, AZ Bloomfield, NJ Exton, PA Houston, TX Lisle, IL

Mooresville, NC Orlando, FL Rancho Cucamonga, CA Sacramento, CA The course will take 15 weeks to complete and students are immediately eligible to enroll in the FACT program after completing UTI’s core automotive or diesel programs. More than 25,000 students have graduated since the program launched in 1999. “Ford has been investing in building a pipeline of qualified technicians for years now, and our alliance with Universal Technical Institute allows us to do that through the Ford FACT program,” said Ford Manager of Technical Support Operations Elizabeth Tarquinto. “The enhancements we’re making to the program ensure that Ford and Lincoln dealers across the country will be able to find certified technicians ready to work on the vehicles of the future, and help them keep up with consumer demand for hybrid and electric vehicle service.”

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Fortune favors factory-original quality Parts: They’re our passion Crack into greater customer satisfaction with some help from OEM-quality Genuine VW Collision Parts.

CONNECTICUT

MASSACHUSETTS

Curran Volkswagen Stratford

203-378-6516

Volkswagen of North Attleboro North Attleboro

Fax: 203-380-3732 M-Th 8am-6pm; F 8am-5pm Sat 8am-2pm parts@curranvw.net www.curranvw.net

Fax: 508-695-0321 M-F 8am-5pm; Sat 8am-2pm kenr@driveavw.com www.driveavw.com

Lia Volkswagen Enfield

860-698-6890 Fax: 860-265-7840 M-F 8am-5pm; Sat 8am-12pm aguimaraes@liacars.com

MARYLAND Ourisman VW of Rockville Rockville

855-417-4511 Fax: 240-499-2488 M-F 8am-5:30pm; Sat 8am-5pm rockvilleparts@ourismanautomotive.com

www.rockvillevolkswagen.com

508-695-7131

NEW JERSEY Flemington Volkswagen Flemington

Paul Miller Volkswagen Bernardsville

908-360-1162 Fax: 908-766-6171 M-F 8am-5pm; Sat 8am-4pm aaitchison@paulmiller.com www.paulmillervw.com

PENNSYLVANIA Ciocca Volkswagen Allentown

610-791-4177 Fax: 610-289-7016 M-F 8am-5pm; Sat 8am-4pm cioccavwparts@cioccadealerships.com

NEW YORK Hudson Valley Volkswagen Wappingers Falls

845-298-2365 Fax: 845-224-3686 M-F 7:30am-5pm; Sat 8am-5pm

877-NJPARTS 877-657-2787

billsantoro@thepremiercollection.com

Fax: 908-782-1795 M-F 7:30am-5pm www.njparts.com

Platinum Volkswagen Hicksville

Open Road Volkswagen of Bridgewater Bridgewater

Fax: 516-822-4831 M-F 7:30am-5:30pm parts@platinumvw.com www.platinumvw.com

516-822-4800

908-685-1068 Fax: 908-685-1547 M-F 7:30am-5pm; Sat 8am-3pm vwb.parts@openroad.com www.openroadvwparts.com

autobodynews.com / APRIL 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS 67

68 APRIL 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com