October 2022 Northeast Edition

Pennsylvania Auto Body Shop Owner Charged with Submitting $426K in Falsified Insurance Claims

The owner of Chalfont Collision Center in Chalfont, PA, submitted nearly 300 false insurance claims over several years to four insurance companies, pocketing more than $426,000 in payouts.

John Paul Reis, 56, of Newtown Township, PA, turned himself in Aug. 25 on charges of insurance fraud, deceptive business practices, forgery and theft by deception, all third-de gree felonies. He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Regina Armitage, who set bail at $150,000

unsecured.

The charges filed against Reis are the result of a four-year investi gation by the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office Insurance Fraud Unit, that began in September 2018 after re ceiving a referral from Erie Insurance’s Special Investi gations Unit alleging Chal font Collision Center, at 74 Park Ave., was enhancing and or creating damage to customers’ vehicles to inflate insur ance estimates.

Superior Paint & Supply Joins Wesco Group

Kemperle, part of the Wesco Group, a leading paint, body and equipment distributor in the U.S. and Canada, is pleased to announce Superior Paint & Supply has joined the family of companies.

Steve Zogopoulos, owner of Superior Paint & Supply, has been serving customers in Maine since 1994. Zogopoulos and his family will stay on and manage the day-today operations, joining the Kemper le team.

“When presented with this op portunity to be with Kemperle I knew day one it was a perfect fit for my customers and company,” said

Zogopoulos.

“We are excited to welcome the Superior family and customers to the Wesco organization,” said Lloyd

White, CEO of Wesco Group. “This expands our footprint in New En gland. We look forward on working

California Officially Requires All New Cars Sold to Be Zero-Emission by 2035

by Madison Hirneisen, The Center Square

California air regulators have set a 2035 deadline for all new passenger cars and trucks sold in the state to be zero-emission vehicles, a move that will make the Golden State one of the first jurisdictions in the world to enact this increasingly-costly re quirement.

The state’s plan, adopted by the California Air Resources Board on Thursday, sets specified targets to phase out sales of zero-emission vehicles in the state starting in 2026. According to the plan, 35% of vehi

cles sold in the state will be required to be zero-emission in 2026, 68% in 2030, and 100% in 2035.

The regulations will largely phase out the sale of gas-powered vehicles in California, though there

See Zero-Emission, Page 4

California Gas Vehicle Ban Faces Pushback from 17 States

by William Johnson, Teslarati

Seventeen states have filed a lawsuit with the U.S. Court of Appeals, suing to prevent California from banning new ICE vehicle sales after 2035. California’s Air Resources Board (CARB) voted Aug. 25 to ban the sale of new ICE vehicles after 2035, but 17 states’ attorneys general have sued in federal court to block the move. California’s regulations are accepted as regulations in 14 other states and Washington, D.C.; an approval or blocking of this regulation could prove far-reaching.

“If California can set restrictive ‘gas emissions’ standards, manufacturing becomes astronomically expensive, and those additional costs are passed onto consumers, many of which are Missourians,” the Missouri attorney general said.

From a legal approach, the opposition to CARB’s regulation aims for the federal government to regulate what it sees as interstate commerce, as it is allowed via the U.S. constitution. At the same time, CARB

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Missouri’s attorney general, along with the attorneys general in Ohio, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and West Virginia, have sued to prevent CARB from banning new ICE vehicles after 2035.

See Superior Paint Page 4

See Shop Owner Charged

John Reis

Why worry?

YOU take the blame your ’s data ends up identifying their in a database that diminishes their vehicle value.

Don’t worry!

DataTouch knows how this information was taken and has the technology giving your Collision Center CONTROL to SECURE Repair Data AND Personal Identification Information (PII).

FOR profit companies are pirating estimate repair information from the vast majority of shops in North America.

Protecting PII is rapidly becoming a state regulatory requirement for ALL businesses. California, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah and Virginia have already enacted comprehensive consumer data privacy laws. Many other states are in the process or soon to follow similar legislation. just makes good business sense not to share the PII anyone!

Data Auditor

Identifying who has data pumps running on your systems!

Providing Software COLLISION and the Personal Identifiable well as protect estimate from being misappropriated (sold) by third the

Data Administrator

Giving YOU Control over software controls and data pumps running on your computer system (s) at ALL of your locations! Reporter your reporting and/or via email.

If your are wait until you

REGIONAL

2014 CREF Makeover Grant Winner Builds Solid Foundation for Collision Education Program 24

Auto Care Association Supports Right to Repair 6 Factorial Energy to Open EV Battery Facility in Methuen, MA 13

GST BOCES Holds Gifting Ceremony, Gives Mom in Need a Car 8

New York’s ‘Drive Clean’ Rebate Program Runs Out of Money 28

Pennsylvania Auto Body Shop Owner Charged with Submitting $426K in Falsified Insurance Claims 1

Repairers Gather for Education, Camaraderie and Fun at AASP/NJ’s all Kickoff Event 30

Rhode Island’s EV Charging Plan Gains Federal Approval 36

Subaru to Adopt All Middle School Classrooms in New Jersey School District 10

Subaru, Philadelphia Union Adopt Stetser Elementary School in Chester, PA 6

Superior Paint & Supply Joins Wesco Group����� 1

COLUMNISTS

Anderson - Your Auto Body Shop Needs to Provide Consumers ‘Social Proof’ You’re Their Best Choice 12

Attanasio - Are Your Processes and People Strategically Aligned? 50

Attanasio - Auto Collision Instructor Makes Industry Employment a Priority 22

Phillips - EV Safety Precautions for Collision Repair Facilities 18

Phillips - Florida ‘Shop of the Future’ Focuses on OEM Certifications, Building a Culture & Customer Reviews 38

Yoswick - CIC Panel Looks at How Auto Body Shops Can Respond to Rising Costs of Paint and Materials 32

Yoswick - Insurers, Collision Repairers Discuss How to Improve Estimating, Claims Adjusting Process 56

NATIONAL

12 Can’t-Miss SEMA Show Features 62

2022 MSO Symposium Conference Agenda Released 43

2022 SEMA Show New Products Showcase Expands 76

AAPEX Ranked Among Top Trade Shows 66 Apple Already Has High Future Vehicle Consideration with Consumers 48

ASE Summer Testing Registration Ending 48

California Gas Vehicle Ban Faces Pushback from 17 States 1

California Officially Requires All New Cars Sold to Be Zero-Emission by 2035 1

CIECA Webinar Focuses on New Technologies in Paint and Coatings 58

Cost of Car Ownership in the U S Increases 5% 60

Cox Automotive Forecast: August U S Auto Sales Languish at Slow Pace with Persistent Headwinds 34

CREF Hosting PiN Master Challenge 36

Driven Brands Adds Auto Glass Fitters, Becomes 2nd Largest in U S Auto Glass Services 78

Drivers Find Relief at the Pump, For Now 58 Enhance Your Career Through SEMA Show Education 53

Fisher Retiring After 50 Years in Industry 43

Ford Blower Motor Recall Issued After 25 Expedition, Lincoln Navigator Fires 28

Glass Doctor Adds AirPro Diagnostics 30

Honda Pushes to Secure EV Battery Metals Supply by Partnering with Hanwa 34

Kia Recalls 2023 Sportage Following 2 Fires 52

Mitchell Accelerates Total Loss Settlements 16

Mitchell Transforms Estimating Platform to Meet the Needs of Electric Vehicles 74

NABC Announces Level One Partner ��������������� 10 New-Vehicle Prices Increase for 5th Straight Month, Set Record Again in August 70

NHRA Champion Antron Brown Warns Congress Motorsports at Risk 46

Not Enough Lithium to Satisfy U S EV Adoption Goals, Says Mining CEO 72

PPG Upholds EcoVadis Gold Rating 30

SEMA Scholarship Fund Winners Announced 64

Solera VP Joins CIECA Board 42

Used Car Market Finally Reaches Peak, as Prices Fall After 2 Record-Breaking Years of Inflation 54

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

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

Senior Editor: Abby Andrews

Accounting & HR Manager: Heather Priddy

Permissions Editor: Randi Scholtes

Office Assistant: Dianne Pray

3M Automotive Aftermarket Division 9 49 of Westchester Icon Automotive Finishes 34 Wholesale Parts Dealers 71 6 8 8 Wholesale Parts Dealers 68-69 Auto Group 51

Brown-Daub Kia 30

Cadillac of Mahwah 48

Carworx Distribution, Inc 25

Central Avenue Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge-Ram 27

Certified Automotive Parts Association 23

Circle BMW 56

Classifieds 78

Colonial Automotive Group 59

Courtesy Mitsubishi 54

DataTouch, LLC 2

DePaula Chevrolet-Ford 32

Dominion Sure Seal, Ltd 13

Eagle Abrasives 17

Eastchester Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge 28

Empire Auto Parts 26

Flemington Auto Group 31

Ford Wholesale Parts Dealers 77

GM Wholesale Parts Dealers 67

Grieco Toyota 30 Hoffman Auto Group 63

Honda-Acura Wholesale Parts Dealers 39, 40-41

Hyundai Wholesale Parts Dealers 72

Infiniti of Norwood 42

Jaguar Land Rover Cherry Hill 43

KECO Body Repair Products 19

Kelly Jeep-Chrysler 10

Kia Motors Wholesale Parts Dealers 75

Kia of Attleboro 54

Kia of Coatesville 33

Kundert Volvo 20

Launch Tech USA 37

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

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

Lexus Wholesale Parts Dealers 76

Liberty Kia 24

LKQ Corporation 35

Long Automotive Group 22

Mazda Wholesale Parts Dealers 76

Mercedes-Benz of Atlantic City 57

Mercedes-Benz of Fort Washington 57

Mercedes-Benz of Goldens Bridge 23

Mercedes-Benz of Paramus 53

Mercedes-Benz of West Chester 12

Mercedes-Benz of Wilmington 12

Mercedes-Benz Wholesale Parts Dealers 79

MINI Wholesale Parts Dealers 70

MOPAR Wholesale Parts Dealers 44-45

New Holland Ford 52

New Holland Toyota 64

Nissan/Infiniti Wholesale Parts Dealers 76

Northstar Kia 46

NRD 4

Nucar 61

Open Road Acura of East Brunswick 60

Open Road Chevrolet 18

Ourisman Chevrolet 28

Ourisman Chevrolet-VW-Mazda of Rockville 55

Ourisman Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge 24

Packer Norris Parts 65

Polestar Princeton 16

Porsche Wholesale Parts Dealers 74

Rafferty Subaru 64

Rockland Nissan 34

SATA Dan-Am Company 7

Schultz Ford 36

Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 16

Shoot Suit 21

Sorbothane Soft-Blow Mallet 26

Steck Manufacturing Company 38

Subaru Wholesale Parts Dealers 66

Sunmight USA 14-15

Toyota Wholesale Parts Dealers 72

TYC Genera Corporation 11

USI of North America 80

Volkswagen Wholesale Parts Dealers 73

Volvo Wholesale Parts Dealers 62

White Plains Volkswagen 64

Yonkers Kia 62

Zero-Emission

is an allowance for a small portion of vehicle sales to be plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, which can run on gas. These vehicles are “designed to prioritize their electric function and use their gas engines in limited cir cumstances,” according to CARB. Officials acknowledged Aug. 25 that, despite the new regulations, combustion engine vehicles will likely remain on California roads for years after 2035.

Electric vehicles tend to be more expensive than their com bustion engine counterparts, rais ing concerns among consumers regarding affordability. In October 2020, the average transaction price for a new gas-powered vehicle was $46,000, while the average EV av eraged above $56,000, according to Kelley Blue Book. Costs have inflated since 2020 due to a world wide microchip shortage and record inflation.

The new rules also include in centives to expand electric vehicle access to more Californians, par ticularly in low-income and disad vantaged communities. The board’s resolution directs officials to con tinue working with manufacturers and environmental justice advocates to develop strategies and incentives to expand zero-emission vehicle access to low-income communities starting in 2025.

The rules also set minimum du

Continued from

together to service customers and continue our growth initiatives.”

The combined Wesco Group, which includes Wesco, Color Com pass, Kemperle and Capital, makes it one of the largest privately-held PBE distributors in North America, servicing customers from more than 132 stores, 13 distribution centers, 12 equipment divisions and 11 train ing centers.

Source: Wesco Group

rability standards for zero-emission vehicles, which aim to ensure vehi cles can maintain 70% of their elec tric range for 10 years in the first few years after the regulation takes effect in 2026. Come 2030, that percentage will rise to 80% of electric range. Officials emphasized Aug. 25 that the new regulations will help re duce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change in the Gold en State.

“A clean transportation sector is essential to protect the health of both our communities and our climate,” CARB Chair Liane M. Randolph said Aug. 25. “More stringent mo bile source emission controls are necessary to help California achieve federal air quality standards and the state’s greenhouse gas target that will protect public health and miti gate the effects of climate change.”

The regulations are expected to result in additional cumulative costs of $29.9 billion to manufacturers be tween 2026 and 2040, representing $2 billion on average per year, ac cording to an analysis from CARB. The board estimates that the regula tions will result in the total statewide cost of ownership net cost savings of $92.9 billion between 2026 and 2040 for businesses, fleets and in dividuals who purchase these vehi cles.

“Much of the [total cost of ownership] savings stem from re duced gasoline consumption, with gas prices conservatively assumed to remain relatively constant around $4 per gallon, with even greater sav

ings if prices remain at their current elevated levels or increase further,” CARB’s summary stated.

The adopted regulations imple ment Gov. Gavin Newsom’s pre vious executive order that required new car sales to be zero-emission by 2035. Newsom called the CARB’s new regulations “groundbreaking” and “world-leading” in a statement Aug. 25.

The board’s regulations gar nered praise from vehicle manufac turers, including Ford. In a state ment, Ford’s Chief Sustainability Officer Bob Holycross called the regulations a “landmark standard that will define clean transportation and set an example for the United States.”

“At Ford, combating climate change is a strategic priority, and we’re proud of our partnership with California for stronger vehicle emis sions standards, forged during a time when climate action was under at tack,” Holycross said.

The Advanced Energy Econo my, a national business group, also praised the board’s decision on Aug. 25, saying the decision “charts the

path toward a zero-emissions trans portation future for the whole coun try.”

“The California program will have a major ripple effect nation ally, opening the door for states to increase EV adoption, encourage economic growth and reduce emis sions,” AEE Transportation Policy Director Ryan Gallentine said in a statement. “We call on other states to take this opportunity to drive the growth of electric transportation na tionwide.”

California has historically set the standard for more than a doz en of other states when it comes to vehicle emission standards, and 16 other states could follow Califor nia’s lead with these new standards, according to the New York Times.

CARB staff said Aug. 25 the plan to transition away from gas-powered vehicles is “well-sup ported” by the recently signed state budget, which includes $2.9 billion this year and $3.9 billion over three years to invest in the state’s electric vehicle infrastructure and provide incentives for in-state manufactur ing.

operates under the assumption the federal government is limited in how it can affect state-level regulations.

CARB has long faced legal challenges from other states and corporations alike. GM and Toyota have notably sued CARB for imposing emissions regulations; however, both have since rescinded their suit.

With such a big case, this suit could end up in not only federal court but the Supreme Court to finally legally define if states may regulate emissions.

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Auto Care Right to

Auto Care Association President and CEO Bill Hanvey released a statement applauding the recently introduced Maine Right to Repair referendum.

“The Auto Care Association proudly supports the right to repair referendum introduced in Maine by independent auto repair shops,” said Hanvey. “As we await a de cision on the Massachusetts right to repair lawsuit and concurrently pursue federal legislation through the REPAIR Act, we applaud the citizens’ initiative for bringing more visibility to the need to se cure the consumers’ right to choose where they get their vehicles main tained and repaired. Momentum is increasing and it’s clear that con sumers and our industry will not be satisfied until these basic rights are granted.”

For more information on the association’s efforts regarding Right to Repair, visit: https://www. autocare.org/government-rela tions/current-issues/right-to-repair

Source: Auto Care Association

Subaru, Philadelphia Union Adopt Stetser Elementary School in Chester, PA

Subaru of America, Inc., in part nership with the Philadelphia Union, announced the automaker and Major League Soccer team “adopted” all classrooms at Stetser Elementary School in Chester, PA, providing critical learning materi als to more than 250 students.

Additionally, Subaru of Amer ica donated an extra $12,500 worth of school supplies and sports equipment to the school. The dona tions are part of the Subaru Loves Learning initiative, a partnership with AdoptAClassroom.org to give all students an equal opportunity to thrive in the classroom.

The adoption of Stetser Ele mentary School impacts more than 250 Pre-K through fifth grade stu dents in Chester, where the Union’s home stadium, Subaru Park, is lo cated. As part of the “adoption,” each of the 20 Stetser Elementary teachers received $500 to buy sup plies from AdoptAClassroom.org and a school supply kit with class room essentials.

In addition to providing flex ible funding for teachers to pur chase supplies customized to their

classroom, Subaru donated an additional $12,500 worth of sup plies and sporting equipment to the school.

“Students across the country are excited to be kicking off a new school year back in the classroom, yet for many families, the cost of school supplies can add an unbe lievable amount of stress to the

festival outside of the school for students and teachers, featuring re freshments, games and a visit from the Union mascot, Phang. Each student also took home a Subaru soccer ball.

“The Philadelphia Union prides itself on being a club that is dedicated to bettering the com munity,” said Charlie Slonaker, chief revenue officer, Philadelphia Union. “That begins in our own backyard and it starts with provid ing the next generation the tools to become successful in in academics and athletics.”

family budget,” said Alan Bethke, senior vice president of marketing for Subaru of America, Inc. “Suba ru is proud to give back in Subaru Park’s backyard and ensure that all students at Stetser Elementary have the tools they need to succeed this year.”

Subaru of America and the Union also hosted a back-to-school

As part of the Subaru Loves Learning initiative, Subaru of America and more than 600 par ticipating retailers are working with AdoptAClassroom.org to help teachers and schools purchase the tools and materials they need for their students.

For information about Suba ru Loves Learning and to find out more about the partners that Sub aru supports, visit subaru.com/ learning.

Source: Subaru of America, Inc.

Green is more than just a color to us.

The green SATAjet X 5500 FUTURE is not only a reference to nature, it is also a symbol of harmony and hope, especially for the future! We are striving for a sustainable and connected future that makes the most out of the potentials of the digital transformation. The globe-shaped circuits on the spray gun represent the technology which is connecting people and thus enables the globalized world of the future. The radiant green color with the black components not only looks harmonious, it stands for aligning our actions with sustainability and the preservation of nature.

As a manufacturing company, sustainable growth is of great importance to us and an integral part of our daily activities. This includes the consistent conservation of resources and avoidance of waste. As an example, we produce part of our electricity with our own solar power and have reduced our waste volume by around 20% in the last five years.

A gifting ceremony was held for a local mother in need thanks to the Greater Southern Tier BOCES, GE ICO and the National Auto Body Council (NABC) Recycled Rides program. That mom is Brenda Martinez from Steuben County, NY. She was presented with a refurbished 2018 Toyota RAV 4. Pro Action of Steuben and Yates, who offer a va riety of services to families in need, selected her as the recipient.

When Martinez got the call in forming her she was the recipient, she said she couldn’t believe it, her prayers were answered.

“I’m like super excited, I started crying,” Martinez said. She was su per shocked when she got the phone call she would be receiving a car.

“I didn’t say much and when I got off the phone I was just staring out the window, like I didn’t know what just happened,” Martinez said.

Martinez is a mom with two kids, a 7-year-old daughter and a 5-month-old son, both with special needs. Her son recently had surgery. She also works and attends school full-time. This car is a life changer and lifesaver, as she pays $800 in

cabs a month to get around.

“I live up in the countryside so I have to call for cabs to go where I needed to go, and I was paying an arm and a leg for cabs. And on top of that, with my son and my daughter having to go see a specialist because

automotive program at the Greater Southern Tier BOCES stepped up to the plate and repaired the car.

“Put it all together, our students did all the work between our classes’ auto body and the auto tech program here on the Coopers campus, and we

I also helped remove the trunk lids so that we could get a new one on there, and other than that it was all interior pieces and getting it all wrapped up so that we could give it to the new owner,” Brayden Cosiel said.

Cosiel said he learned how to repair cars from his teacher at GST BOCES Coopers campus, Phil Robinson

“The cool part is our students in the program were able to make the repairs and do all the cleaning and preparations leading up to this day. It’s a big collaboration with our ven dors and our students and our staff and our school board and our admin istrators,” Robinson said.

of their special needs, I would have to call an ambulance, and sometimes an ambulance took 45 minutes just to get to me,” Martinez said.

Martinez received the car through the Recycled Rides pro gram, part of the NABC, an organi zation that works with the collision industry. They partner with collision facilities and insurance companies like GEICO, which donated the car. The car parts were donated by many local businesses. Students in the

were able to provide this family to day with a life-changing mode of transportation now,” said Brian Mc Donnell, auto body instructor at GST BOCES.

One of the students who helped repair the Toyota RAV 4 graduated from the GST BOCES automotive program in the spring. He is working full time now and came back to un veil the car to present to Martinez. “I helped with doing the brakes and I also put the tires on the car and

Several local businesses con tributed to the project, including Wil liams Toyota, LKQ, Liquidz Auto Body Supply, Dunning’s (NAPA) Auto Parts, Firestone, Choice Auto Glass, Margeson Insurance Agency and BFTP Limited.

McDonnell and Robinson said this event was very special. They teach students how to work on cars, and to be able to see them provide this act of service and give back to the community is an amazing feeling.

“The cool part is our students in the program were able to make the repairs and do all the cleaning and preparations leading up to this day. It’s a big collaboration with our vendors and our students and our staff and our school board and our administrators,” — Phil Robinson

The National Auto Body Council® is proud to announce Wesco has joined the collision repair indus try’s premier philanthropic orga nization as a level one partner.

As a level one partner, Wes co will work alongside an elite consortium of collision repair facilities, rental car companies, parts and materials providers, in surance companies, automotive recyclers, salvage companies, towing companies, industry con sultants and more to serve com munities across the country with programs that help change and save lives every day. Wesco is the premier paint and equipment supplier for the automotive re finish, industrial, commercial, aerospace and marine markets, serving coast to coast with a huge presence on both coasts and more than 140 stores and distribution centers. In business for more than 45 years, Wesco is proud to pro vide exceptional service and the best value top quality products in the industry.

Source: NABC

Subaru to Adopt All Middle School Classrooms in New Jersey School District

Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) on Aug. 31 announced in continuation of its work to support the students of the Camden City School District in New Jersey, the automaker will “adopt” all middle school (grades six through eight) classrooms in the district, providing critical learning materials to students.

The adoption is part of the Subaru Loves Learning initiative, a partnership with AdoptAClassroom. org to give all students an equal op portunity to thrive in the classroom.

The adoption of Camden City School District middle schools will impact seven schools, 88 classrooms and 1,184 students. In addition to providing flexible funding for teach ers to purchase supplies customized to their classroom, Subaru will also provide school supply kits of class room essentials, packed by employ ees at Subaru of America.

“All students deserve the tools to thrive and succeed in the class room, and we want our friends and neighbors in Camden to have ev ery opportunity to get a great ed ucation and achieve their goals,” said Thomas J. Doll, president and

CEO, Subaru of America, Inc. “We hope this ‘adoption’ from Subaru helps support a great school year for all.”

Employees from Subaru of America headquarters surprised Camden City School District faculty with the announcement at a volun teer day to help teachers set up their classrooms. More than 100 Suba ru volunteers traveled to schools throughout the district to help set up and clean classrooms, decorate bulletin boards and more, in prepa ration for the first day of school.

“Middle school is a pivotal mo ment in a child’s education and lack ing essential learning materials adds extra burdens to students, parents and classrooms,” said Katrina Mc Combs, superintendent of the Cam den City School District. “Thanks to Subaru, the Camden City School District can focus on doing what we do best: helping students in our school district achieve their highest potential.”

Headquartered in Camden, Subaru of America has a long his tory of supporting education in the local community. In 2021, Subaru

adopted all kindergarten through fifth grade classrooms in the Cam den City School District. And since 2016, Subaru has provided more than 160 scholarships to support graduating seniors from Camden schools via the “Remarkable Grad uates” program.

As part of the Subaru Loves Learning initiative, Subaru of Amer ica and more than 600 participating retailers are working with AdoptA Classroom.org to help teachers and schools purchase the tools and ma terials they need for their students. The adoption of classrooms in the Camden City school district rein forces the automaker’s dedication to enhancing the learning experi ence for students, especially in their hometown of Camden.

For information about Subaru Loves Learning and to find out more about the partners that Subaru supports, visit subaru.com/learning.

Source: Subaru of America, Inc.

When I was in Chicago recently, I had an opportunity to go to lunch with Nick Schoolcraft and Tina Biancalana from Phoenix Solutions Group, which offers marketing and strategic solutions for collision re pair businesses.

One of the things they shared with me was the term “social proof.” Here’s what that is, and what it should mean to you and your busi ness.

First, a definition. One source says “social proof” is a term coined back in 1984 by author Robert Cialdini in his book, “Influence.”

“This phenomenon is also called ‘informational social influence,’ and essentially it’s the idea that people copy the actions of others in an at tempt to emulate behavior in certain situations,” the definition states.

But what does that mean in our industry? Let me preface this by

saying I in no way am claiming to be an expert on “social proof.” But as I did some research into it, I realized it fits with one of my key messages

day have a “trust but verify” men tality. So just because an insurance company, automaker or dealership says, “This is a body shop we rec ommend,” that consumer is still going to seek out “so cial proof,” evidence that you can be trusted and that the referral to you is a good one.

tions. Is it easy for customers to find evidence of your training and cer tifications with clear explanations of what that means to them? Just saying your shop has earned I-CAR Gold Class Professional status isn’t enough: They need to know how and why that sets you apart.

for this year: Change the way you compete. By understanding social proof, I think you can compete in a new way to gain market share.

That’s because consumers to

So what can be used as “social proof”? Certainly, if a customer can see you’re engaged with your custom ers through social media, that offers them some proof you’re creating customers who feel good about their experience with your busi ness. So “likes,” “shares” and com ments on your social media feeds is good “social proof.”

Then there’s “stamps,” things like accreditations and certifica

Are you providing them links to where they can see the OEMs real ly are saying you are qualified and certified to repair their brand of ve hicle?

“Social proof” also includes customer-generated content, like Google or Carwise reviews, that help potential customers follow the “wisdom of the crowd.” When I had my shops, I kept a list of Audi, BMW and Porsche owners whose vehicles we’d repaired and who gave us per mission to share their contact infor mation if someone wanted to speak with a “reference.” A lot of that type

Mike Center, an OEM-certified, auto repair facility in Alexandria, VA.

of social proof can now be done on line through reviews and car club blogs, etc.

If you’re not convinced “social proof” is important in our industry, spend a couple minutes visiting a few websites. State Farm’s shop locator, for example, now includes customer reviews of the shops list ed. Nissan’s certified shop locator now includes customer reviews of certified shops. Something I haven’t heard talked about much is CCC’s consumer-facing website, Carwise, now allows consumers to search for shops based on OEM certifica

Factorial Energy to Open EV Battery Facility in Methuen, MA

Factorial Energy, a leader in the development of solid-state battery technology for electric vehicle ap plications, on Aug. 25 announced it will establish a new advanced man ufacturing facility in the Boston sub urb of Methuen, MA.

The new facility will produce Factorial’s innovative new sol id-state battery cell technology for EVs. A groundbreaking ceremo ny was held Aug. 25 at the site in Methuen.

The new production site at 501 Griffin Brook Drive in Methuen was recently secured by Factorial with

bring 166 new jobs to the Methuen community.

Based in Woburn, MA, Factori al is developing the next generation of electric mobility technology. The company is currently working with automakers Hyundai Motor Com pany, Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis to develop safer and higher perfor mance solid-state EV battery cells for future passenger and commercial vehicles.

“The collaboration between Factorial, the City of Methuen and the Commonwealth of Massachu setts has been extremely helpful and

battery research and development facilities in New England and estab lish the region as a hub for electric mobility technology.”

“Factorial Energy is an ex cellent example of an innovative company choosing to build its business and provide high-skilled jobs here in Methuen,” said Methuen Mayor Neil Perry . “We are excited to help Factorial start its new operations in Methuen, and we’re honored to support the growth of this future-focused company. This is an excellent ex ample of local and state govern

Mitchell’s advanced vehicle val uation solution now delivers full lender coverage and automated tax and fee calculations for total loss claims.

These enhancements are de signed to streamline the total loss settlement process for carriers by integrating Mitchell’s advanced WorkCenter® platform with tech nologies from LossExpress and Claim Toolkit.

Mitchell WorkCenter Total Loss combines the company’s best-in-class physical damage claims handling solutions with J.D. Power data analysis and pric ing techniques to generate fair market values for vehicles de clared a total loss.

Integrating the LossExpress technology with WorkCenter To tal Loss gives carriers access to the largest active lienholder net work and lender coverage for loan payoff amounts, as well as docu ment procurement for all finance, vehicle and asset types within Mitchell’s cloud-based solution.

Source: Mitchell

Shop Owner Charged

The investigation found Reis, the owner of Chalfont Collision Center, concocted an insurance fraud scheme where he would wipe a compound mixture onto the body of several vehicles and sometimes strike them with a hammer, making it appear as if the vehicles were in volved in an accident, so he could bill insurance companies for more money.

Because Chalfont Collision Center was a direct repair center for Erie Insurance and numerous other insurance companies, the collision center’s credentials meant they were verified by the insurance companies and were authorized to write esti mates, complete the repairs and sub mit the estimate/billing documents for payment, speeding up repair time for customers.

As the investigation progressed, Bucks County detectives contacted other insurance companies to see if they had also gotten falsified in surance claims from Chalfont Col

lision. Erie Insurance, Nationwide Insurance, CSAA Insurance Group and Liberty Mutual Insurance col lectively identified 289 estimates that contained artificial or inflated damages incorporated into the true facts of the estimates, submitted by Chalfont Collision between 2014 and 2022.

The insurance companies iden tified $426,233.64 in fraudulent claims paid to Chalfont Collision Center, including 185 by Liberty Mutual Insurance for $312,265.83.

Bucks County detectives, along with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and the Central Bucks Regional Police Department, executed a search warrant at Chal font Collision on March 25, seizing evidence that included photographs, files and computers.

“There is a tendency for some people to think of insurance fraud as a victimless crime,” District Attor ney Matt Weintraub said. “That is, until the financial losses from those fraudulent claims are passed onto us in the form of higher insurance rates. I commend our investigators and prosecutors in our Insurance Fraud

Unit for holding Mr. Reis and his body shop criminally and financially accountable.”

This investigation was conduct ed by the Bucks County detectives, with assistance of Central Bucks Re gional Police Department, the Attor ney General’s Office and the Special Investigations Units for Erie Insur ance, Nationwide Insurance, CSAA Insurance Group and Liberty Mutual Insurance.

This case is assigned for pros ecution to Deputy District Attorney Marc J. Furber.

Source: Bucks County District At torney’s Office

When body shop technicians ask Dirk Fuchs about the risks involved while working on electric vehicles (EVs), I-CAR’s director of technical program and services says the dan ger is “very real.”

To help prepare and educate shops and their teams to repair EVs, Fuchs recently shared information about safety considerations during a webinar hosted by the Automo tive Service Association (ASA), including how to assess the safety elements of a high-voltage vehicle the moment it arrives in a facility’s parking lot and key safety points in the repair process.

EV Safety: Where to Begin

Depending on the vehicle manu facturer, hybrid and battery EVs typically range from 200-920 volts. Fuchs talked about the risk of get ting shocked with EVs due to the

electrical power in the high-voltage system and the current, which runs the flow of electricity through a con tactor.

“The current kills you, not the volt,” he explained. “Therefore, you need to know what kind of current there is.”

The following graph outlines the risk of current relative to the hu man body.

In the area AC1, no effects are felt, even if applied for long periods. A pain sensation begins with AC2; however, it is usually without a dan gerous current running through the body.

Fuchs said the human body has a resistance of 1000 Ohm (the unit of electrical resistance).

“When a person encounters 400Volt in a high-voltage sys exposure, the body enters the dan gerous area—AC3—which leads to

the body will not let go,” he said. “After 500ms, we enter the next

Stacey Phillips is an award-winning freelance writer and editor for the automotive industry. She has 20 years of experience writing for a variety of publications, and is co-author of “The Secrets of America’s Greatest Body Shops.” She can be reached at sphillips.autobodynews@gmail.com.

ratory arrest can occur, which has deadly consequences.

Although EV technology can be very dangerous, Fuchs said that auto manufacturers have “many, many safety systems in place.” He stressed the importance of technicians being aware of the risks.

When an EV arrives at a col lision repair facility via tow truck/ flatbed, Fuchs reminds technicians

one time without pressing the brake pedal. The light on the dashboard will come on, signifying you are in axillary mode and the battery con tactors are open. Fuchs said no high voltage can go into the system using this method, which is important to know when connecting a diagnostic tool and pre-scanning the vehicle.

“Pre- and post-scanning EVs is really important to know the system configuration,” he said. “If there is a problem, we want it contained in the battery where the risk is.”

He also talked to shops about using a factory scanner to see the fault codes. By viewing the live data, technicians can check the bat tery/cell balancing.

“It’s important to know the dif ference between the minimum and maximum voltage between the indi vidual battery cells,” he said.

dustry stay safe,” said Fuchs.

Before removing the battery, he encouraged technicians to always follow the described pre-scan proce dure and check the battery tempera ture, as well as the live data and/or use a heat gun.

In a case where there is a prob lem with the battery, Fuchs highly recommended not bringing the ve

hicle into the shop until the vehicle can be monitored and the battery is removed.

Fuchs also advised shops to create a designated safe zone where EVs can be repaired apart from ICE vehicles in a very clean environ ment. “If someone grinds on a quar ter panel or does a repair that is full

High-Voltage disconnecting procedure tips:

* Remove the ignition key and lock it in the lockbox so only the technician working on the vehicle has access

* When the ignition is off, discon nect the 12-volt battery (plus and minus cable) and then remove the high-voltage disconnect with prop er personal protective equipment (PPE)

is to let the capacitors completely drain because they can store energy like a battery and contain the same voltage, which is dangerous�

* Use PPE to remove the connec tions closest to the high-voltage bat tery and use a two-pole voltmeter or multimeter to verify zero potential

to take precautions to stay safe. “You’re working on the unknown and that’s what can kill someone,” he said.

Fuchs recommended never double-clicking the start button of an EV. Instead, he advised pushing it

The difference between two cells can lead to a higher internal re sistance, which creates higher tem peratures and can “end up in a fire.”

New OEM and aftermarket di agnostic tools are being introduced to the market to read the live data.

“It’s a great way to help the in

* Place the removed battery discon nect in the lockbox�

* Ensure high voltage is isolated in the battery and perform a Zero [elec trical] potential test after the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended wait time The reason for the wait time

* Always take the following three measures on both the battery and the system side to check if the high-voltage battery is isolated and the system is safe: high voltage plus against high voltage minus, high voltage plus against ground, and high voltage minus against ground

The EV Lab at I-CAR’s Chicago Technical Center in Vernon Hills, IL

Auto Collision Instructor Makes Industry Employment a Priority

by Ed Attanasio

Abe Sells is a collision repair in structor at Tidewater Community College in Chesapeake, VA, teach ing in the dual enrollment program at the Chesapeake Career Center.

His students and industry part ners—vendors and local auto body shops—know Sells is in it to win it when it comes to making great things happen for everyone he en counters.

It’s a lot more than just a job for Sells.

“I like what I am doing and I guess it shows,” Sells said. “This industry has been good to me, and I want to help fill the void in the collision industry by creating career opportunity for them. When you see a young person embracing what I am teaching it is a great thing, and I want to tap into that as much as I can.”

Sells, 51, is constantly busy and enjoys the variety. When he isn’t teaching, he runs Dent Chasers, where he performs paintless dent

repair (PDR) for his clients in the Chesapeake area. It works out well during the summer months when he is not teaching full-time.

It’s remarkable Sells ended up teaching collision repair classes be cause at first, carpentry was what he wanted to take at his local vocation al school in Ohio. Auto body was his second choice and he had no interest in it.

income and was moving in the right direction.

Center to revive the program.

After graduating from high school, Sells needed a job. His fa ther worked two hours away at a steel mill. But Sells didn’t want to move and have to work as hard as his father did, so he thought maybe he should give collision repair an other shot.

Sells started at $4.25 an hour, making $170 for a 40-hour week. Then he made $7 an hour, averaging 50-55 hours a week, making $380 a week—which meant he doubled his

When Sells took ownership of his future, fortunate things started to happen for him in the collision field. In 2013, he was approached to run the collision repair program for Tidewater Community College. Working with the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), Sells was able to apply for grants that helped finance some of his equipment for the program.

“We have received grants through the past years ranging from $3,000 and up over the years, which really helped to strengthen my pro gram with updated tools and equip ment,” Sells said. “Starting out, we had to find a facility for our pro gram and a local career center had just closed their auto body program down. So TCC was able to lease and partner with Chesapeake Career

“Collision repair is a two-year program where we provide dual en rollment for high school kids and adults,” Sells said. “They both take the same course using the same cur riculum at the same time.”

Sells appreciates the fact he is getting a self-motivated student in his classrooms, in most cases.

“We have a lot of former mili tary people who take my class, so I get a better quality student,” he said. “In addition, even the high school students have to pay to take our program because they get college credits. When they graduate from college with a career study certifi cate, they also receive their I-CAR pro-level 1 and 2 certifications.”

When Sells started the program, the school had solid enrollment numbers, but students weren’t get ting good placement in the job mar ket, he said.

“My goal from the beginning was to create good quality techni cians and fill the void,” Sells said. “That first year, I had 16 students

“My goal from the beginning was to create good quality technicians and fill the void,” — Abe Sells

and I got jobs for four of them, and now I make sure that 100% of my students get hired. It is important to us and our program that we create careers for these young people and set them up for ongoing success.”

Members of his advisory com mittee, industry partners and body shops offer praise and criticism as well, Sells said.

“We value their feedback and make changes to help accommodate their needs,” he said. “Employers of ten come and speak with the kids to offer possible employment opportuni ties when they graduate. Hiring them is the first step, but then retaining them is another part of the equation.

“I implemented several ideas for retention. One idea was putting a tool box with basic tools for en try level techs. They are given the tools if a student stays with the com pany, say for six months to a year. The largest expense that a collision

a four-day camp hosting 11 rising freshmen and sophomores from lo cal schools. Students were exposed to several parts of the collision field like welding, dent repair and panel replacement.

“This gives us an opportunity to expose them to the industry,” Sells said.

One of the projects Sells got them involved in was the design and painting of Tervis tumblers, which every student got to make and take home.

With classes of 26 students cur rently, Sells is hopeful he will be able to add more as the pandemic looks more and more like a thing of the past.

“Yes, the COVID set us back like it did at a lot of other schools,” Sells said. “But we are in a very good position because we have es tablished a great repertoire with our business owners and industry part ners. We have their support and the

pate further growth and a very bright future here at Tidewater Community College and the Chesapeake Career

of dust or debris that goes into the environment, it can have severe con sequences for an EV,” he said.

Ongoing EV Education Implemented

Earlier this year, Fuchs helped host an I-CAR EV Technical Repair Summit with vehicle makers, colli sion repairers, insurers and tool and equipment manufacturers. The goal was to gain industry input, share learning and other EV information and training required to keep the in dustry safe.

During the summit, Fuchs ex plained current EV disconnecting procedures can be challenging for technicians to follow due to the number of hyperlinks included.

As a result of industry input, I-CAR developed and published best practices and safety protocols for high-voltage disconnecting proce dures, modeled after the European regulation ECE-R-100. “It was cre ated so everyone can perform a safe disconnecting procedure,” said Fuchs.

The document can be found at https://rts.i-car.com/best-practices/ high-voltage-disconnecting-proce dure.html

Due to strong engagement and interest, regular EV Technical Re pair Summits are being planned.

A September summit will focus on handling high-voltage batteries and their disposal.

I-CAR currently offers eight EV courses and 29 electrical, diag nostics and calibration courses, in cluding a new five-day EV HandsOn Skills Development EV course taught at I-CAR’s Chicago Tech nical Center. Learners will receive in-depth instruction, with activities and practical hands-on exercises performing electrical measurements vital to determining the status and safety of HV systems using specif ic high-voltage systems test equip ment. Additionally, attendees will perform hands-on high voltage shut down, zero potential verification, bonding and isolation testing, and power up in a shop environment.

Find the latest course news, re sources and webinars at info.i-car. com/electric-vehicles

2014

CREF Makeover Grant Winner Builds Solid Foundation for Collision Education Program

For many years, Thomas Edison Ca reer and Technical Education High School in Jamaica, NY, offered only one year of collision classes. As ju niors, students decided whether to study automotive or collision during their senior year.

In 2012, Assistant Principal Moses Ojeda agreed with Barry Roopnarine, automotive collision instructor, that “one year was not suf ficient to get students trained for an entry-level job in collision repair.”

Upgrading the collision pro gram to a three-year track neces sitated “a major revamp from the ground up,” Roopnarine recounted.

“We required new tools, equipment, supplies and other necessities to help the program run smoothly and to ensure we were providing students with the education they’d need to be successful in their future careers.” Fortunately, Roopnarine learned about the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), and when he received reminders to pro vide information about Thomas Ed ison CTE, “I completed the school

survey and filled some other things out,” he said. “Then, every so often, the school would receive a package containing supplies or safety items being donated to the program from the collision industry through the foundation.”

Roopnarine remembers apply ing for the foundation’s 2014 Make over Grant: “It was a lot of work! The foundation collects data and ref erences to obtain a good snapshot of

the collision programs that applied.

At the awards ceremony, I watched all the schools get recognized for various smaller grants, and then when it was time for the BIG one, all I heard from ‘Thomas Edison’ before I went into a state of shock

that prevented me from hearing the rest of the school name.

“It was surreal—I wanted to share the news with everyone back home immediately, but there was a three-hour time difference prevent ing me from spreading the excite ment that night,” Roopnarine said.

The grant being awarded could not have happened at a better time because, with the expansion of the program, it was responsible for pro viding a solid foundation.

“We received tools, supplies and various pieces of equipment that helped modernize the class room to meet industry standards,” Roopnarine added. “Without these donations, the revamped collision program at Thomas Edison would not have had the strong start that it enjoyed. The industry’s generous donations, facilitated by the foun dation, provided our students with the necessities to be able to learn the trade and sharpen their skills. With out the grant, budgetary constraints would have prevented many of these items from ever making it to the classroom.”

The donations didn’t just result in a revamp to the school’s shop; the Makeover Grant also resulted in a favorable impact on students’ mo rale.

According to Roopnarine, “The students were always as excited as I was when there was a delivery, and that was before the grant. Winning the grant just meant more deliveries, and it was always exciting to see new things come into the shop class. Students saw the industry’s effort to ensure they had what was necessary for their education, and that motivat ed them to want to succeed!

“It is frustrating when you are trying to teach students something that requires hands-on activities, but you lack the tools and supplies to do so,” Roopnarine said. “CREF has helped alleviate that problem for Thomas Edison and many other schools.”

Receiving the grant brought fi nancial support and vital donations to the collision program, but the Makeover Grant provided Thom 783.8848 815 Route 17 Ramsey, NJ 07446

as Edison CTE with an unforeseen benefit as well.

“Upon receiving this grant, industry support came along with it,” Roopnarine explained. “Train ing opportunities, internships and additional supplies were provid ed, which helped us develop great working relationships with members of the industry. Their involvement constantly strengthens the program.

“The support received from the foundation has also played a critical role in our success as a SkillsUSA chapter,” Roopnarine added. “The donations have helped prepare our students for the various competi tions, including a Gold Medal at the 2013 SkillsUSA National Refinish ing Competition. It has also allowed top placement at multiple state con ferences. Without the support of the grant and prior donations, this would have added additional challenges to overcome.”

Collision repair shops con sistently complain that the indus try needs more skilled technicians entering the field, while collision schools are in desperate need of more equipment, supplies and in

ternship opportunities, according to Roopnarine.

“The solution is literally staring us in the face!” Roopnarine said. “We need to get the shops and the schools together! When the industry works with the schools, it helps pre pare students for those positions that are waiting to be filled. Yes, there is a technician shortage, but together, we can fill that gap.”

Roopnarine works with local shops to provide job shadowing and internship opportunities for his students, but he’s always in need of more industry supporters to help en sure students are prepared to enter a shop with the skillset needed to safe ly repair vehicles after graduation.

“We have been fortunate to work with some of the top body shops around, including Mid Island Collision and High Velocity Au tobody,” he said. “These facilities have welcomed our students in for mentoring and job shadowing and have allowed students to form a connection between classroom and industry.”

Many of those shops also par ticipate on Thomas Edison CTE’s

advisory board. The school’s “advi sory board consists of industry pro fessionals who critique our program and make suggestions for improve ments. Students can job shadow, and they work internships at these shops which serves as a valuable resource on its own,” Roopnarine said.

Being a recipient of the foun dation’s 2014 Makeover Grant also provided additional networking op portunities for Roopnarine.

“Getting involved with the foundation not only allowed me to form great partnerships with in dustry members but also with in structors from across the country, through a Facebook group where we can share ideas, ask for help and communicate with others,” he said. Roopnarine lauds the founda tion’s efforts to support collision schools and students.

“I never thought Thomas Ed ison CTE would win the founda tion’s 2014 grant, and I am forever grateful for the opportunity given to my program by all those involved in the decision to award our school the grant,” he said. “The Collision Repair Education Foundation only

has a small staff, but they show per sonalized attention to the instructors they work with. The people behind the scenes are as amazing as the foundation’s mission.

“The lasting impact of win ning this grant has been creating a gateway between the industry and the classroom,” Roopnarine added. “The media coverage we received for winning the 2014 Makeover Grant helped promote the vocational trades, and it also promoted the importance of industry support. It has set a mo mentum for the program that has kept going strong to this day!”

Industry members interested in getting involved and supporting CREF’s efforts to assist secondary and post-secondary collision repair training programs should contact Brandon Eckenrode, managing di rector, at 312-231-0258 or Brandon. Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org.

For information on how to donate to programs supported by CREF, vis it www.CollisionEducationFounda tion.org.

Source: CREF

Ford Recall Issued After 25 Expedition, Navigator Fires

by David A. Wood, CarComplaints com

A Ford blower motor recall involves more than 198,000 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs covering 2015-2017 model years. Following at least 25 fires, the Ford blower mo tor recall involves the front blower motor located behind the glovebox. Even though this is a blower mo tor recall and engineers have spent months investigating, Ford isn’t sure of the exact root cause of the fires. “No cause of these vehicle fires has been identified to date; howev er, they are believed to originate in the blower motor which is located on the passenger side interior behind the glovebox,” Ford said. Of the 25 reported fires, 13 were localized fires in the blower motor area and the re maining 12 reports involved more ex tensive damage to the vehicles. There were also three instances of property damage to structures and one Ford fire that caused another vehicle to catch fire. The 12 reports of extensive fire damage made it difficult for engineers to know for a fact the fires came from the blower motors. According to Ford,

all 25 fires occurred while the SUVs were running.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration informed Ford of five complaints about 2016-2017 Expeditions. Based on those five reports, there were two complaints about blower failures, two com plaints alleged fires under the glove boxes and one report of a melted har ness to the blower controller. Of the five complaints to NHTSA, only one customer had also contacted Ford re garding their concerns.

Customers have reported var ious symptoms, including fans that failed, burning smells and smoke from the instrument panel vents while the vehicles were running.

Based on blower motor testing, the fires may be due to an internal short or localized heating of the brush springs or holders. Ford blower mo tor recall letters will be mailed Sept. 12, and Ford dealers will replace the front blower motor assemblies. Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator owners may call Ford at 866-4367332 and ask about blower motor recall number 22S56.

New York’s ‘Drive Clean’ Rebate Program Runs Out of Money

by William Johnson, Teslarati

New York State’s “Drive Clean” EV rebate program has run out of money, according to the state agen cy that runs it.

On Sept. 16, Reddit user u/ fiehlsport posted on r/electricvehi cles the “Clean Drive” EV rebate program had contacted him and told him he would no longer be recieving the funds he applied for because the program had run out of money. Teslarati reached out to nu merous parts of the New York State government and finally confirmed this is the case.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Au thority (NYSERDA) runs the EV rebate program. The agency con firmed to Teslarati on Sept. 16 that both the program had run out of money and customers who recently applied will not receive the funds they applied for.

However, Teslarati was also told by one NYSERDA represen tative “new funding will be given to the program soon,” though no

timeline was given.

There is some relatively re assuring news for those who may have just purchased a vehicle in the state. Even though money is currently not available, the NY SERDA representative assured Teslarati customers could apply for the rebate later. However, due to the program’s structure, customers will have to work with their dealers to reapply in the future.

The “Drive Clean” rebate ran out of money once before and re ceived a $12 million increase in funds from the state earlier this year; however, a downtime was as sociated with that fund increase.

This has become an all too common reality for EV incen tives. California’s program has also run out of funding numerous times, causing backups and delays in funds promised to customers. If you are considering purchasing an EV and plan to apply for state re bates, it may be a good idea to call your state’s energy/transportation office to confirm availability and eligibility.

An enthusiastic crowd of collision repairers from across the Garden State assembled at Car Lofts in Fairfield on Sept. 14 for the Alli ance of Automotive Service Pro viders of New Jersey’s (AASP/NJ) fall kickoff meeting.

In the words of Executive Director Charles Bryant, “It was great to see so many familiar faces come out to not only better them selves through valuable informa tion, but also to stick around and socialize after the meeting! It’s encouraging to see our members taking the time to keep abreast of what resources are available to them.”

Attendees learned estimat ing best practices from Society of Collision Repair Specialists’ (SCRS) Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg, who set out to equip the audience with “new informa tion that you can use immediately and things you can access for free” to combat the challenging world of collision repair.

“Our jobs are becoming more complex due to vehicle sophistica tion,” he said, reminding repairers

they aren’t “the only ones” who have been challenged by bill pay ers when billing for proper repair procedures.

Documentation can go a long way toward getting properly reim bursed, and this can be achieved by using SCRS’ Blueprint Optimi zation Tool (BOT) software, able to immediately analyze and iden tify items that might otherwise be overlooked on an estimate.

As Schulenburg explained us ing real world examples, the BOT was designed to make documenta tion of operations being performed easier for repairers by increasing accuracy and minimizing the need for supplements. Backing up a repair plan with data is critical in having a successful business, he explained.

“Everyone in the process pre fers consistency, and that includes your bill payer. Your customer benefits when you are consistent with what you tell them and you will be able to make better com mitments.”

Schulenburg also spoke about the benefits of the Database En

hancement Gateway (DEG), a free tool “the industry can lean on” to assist in helping to improve the quality and accuracy of collision repair estimates.

After the meeting, attendees enjoyed an open bar, buffet and relaxed networking on the upper level of Car Lofts, a luxury vehicle storage facility and social club.

“Oftentimes, what is dis cussed after the meeting can be almost as important as what’s pre sented during it,” Bryant noted. “Our Fall Kickoff meeting includ ed a wealth of important informa tion, which I know gave our mem bers plenty of food for thought to take back to the shop the next day. And we couldn’t have had a better venue for mingling and network ing afterwards! I look forward to continuing the conversation with our members and supporters next month at our Annual Meeting.”

AASP/NJ’s Annual Meeting is scheduled for Oct. 19 at the Gran Centurions of Clark, NJ. For more information on upcoming events, visit aaspnj.org.

Source: AASP/NJ Fall Kickoff Event

PPG Gold Rating

PPG on Aug. 29 announced it has maintained a Gold Rating in corporate social responsibility from EcoVadis, a trusted busi ness sustainability ratings plat form.

PPG ranked higher than 92% of evaluated companies. The company earned high scores for its environmental, ethics and sus tainable procurement practices.

PPG recently expanded as sessment of its global supply base using EcoVadis’ four sus tainability categories. By the end of 2021, more than 67% of invit ed PPG suppliers had responded to the assessment, many of which performed above the EcoVadis average.

EcoVadis experts evaluate company performance on 21 fac tors grouped into four categories: environment, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. Each company is assessed in these areas based on size, location and industry.

Source: PPG

AirPro Diagnostics, the leader in remote diagnostics, scanning, programming and cost effective ADAS calibration solutions, is proud to announce it is now a preferred vendor of Glass Doc tor®

Established in 1962 with one shop in Seattle, WA, Glass Doctor® offers complete glass re pair, replacement and services to the residential, commercial and automotive markets with more than 260 locations in the U.S. and Canada.

The Auggie calibration de vice is a wireless, compact solu tion that saves time and increases efficiency rendering the ADAS targets and lighting conditions in a theater like environment to precisely perform forward for ward-facing camera (FFC) reca librations. Auggie is a patented, mobile device, designed to serve the automotive service sectors with quick, mobile and safe reca librations.

Source: AirPro Diagnostics Doctor Adds Diagnostics

Professionally Trained Toyota Wholesale Parts Specialists on Staff

Competitive Discounts and Pricing on All

A panel discussion at this summer’s Industry Conference (CIC) the impacts of inflation fo cused primarily on how body shops can address increases in the costs of paint and materials—including how to discuss rising costs with insurers.

No matter which of the major paint lines is being used within a shop, virtually all colli sion repair businesses have received at least one letter—and generally multiple—in the past 18 months an nouncing price increases for those materials.

One paint company, for exam notified its U.S. shop customers in January 2021 of a “weighted av erage increase of 4.1%,” followed by a similar “weighted average in crease of 4.25%” in May 2021, and another of 9.8% in February of this

Panelists at CIC noted some

shops may be confused by the term “weighted average,” particularly if they see their paint costs rising above the percentages noted in the letters.

Paint company representatives said those average increases are

“So some products may be raised more, some will be raised less,” said Braxton Ewing of BASF. “A lot of that is dependent on supply chain issues and raw material avail ability.”

Tim Ronak, senior services con sultant for AkzoNobel, concurred.

“An individual shop may not buy that entire weighted range of products in the same distribution that we’ve averaged it,” Ronak said, noting most companies offer a vari ety of clear coats, for example, that might increase in price at different rates. “What that means is that each shop may see its own unique price increase, irrespective of what’s pub lished.

Track and Document Costs

Panelists noted one way a shop can better document its costs is through the use of a paint materials calcu lator or billing system other than the traditional “paint labor hours times a given rate.” A “Who Pays for What?” survey in January found although the percentage of shops using that method has been falling, about half still do.

Committee co-chairman Aaron Schulenburg pointed to an article on the CCC Intelligent Solutions website stating although most of its customers use the “rate times hours” method for calculating materials charges, “this is also usually inaccu rate.”

an aggregate average across all the various products that manufacturers may include in the notice.

“A 10% published number might be, for an individual shop, a 12% increase in actual expenses, whereas another might see an 8% increase,” Ronak said.

Ronak said most shops in the 20 Groups he oversees have moved away from using a “rate times paint labor hours” billing method for ma terials.

“In fact, they’re becoming far more specific about what is a paint material, and creating invoices and documentation for that,” Ronak said. “They’re taking some of the things that used to be called materi als, like panel bonding adhesive and seam sealers, and billing for those independently on a per-job, docu

he recommended. “You need to truly understand job-costing. The trans formative moment for most shops that I’ve worked with in all the years I’ve been doing this is when they un derstand job-costing and they stop doing the things that take money away. That’s typically all you need to do: Stop doing the stuff that costs you money, and start doing more of the things that make you money.”

Ewing, a performance group manager for BASF, said shops using the Mitchell Refinishing Materials Calculator, PMCLogic from Com puter Logic or their paint scale to more accurately track and invoice for the actual materials used will see two otherwise identical jobs may have different paint costs just be cause of the color. Charging based on paint labor hours doesn’t take into account so many factors like that, he said.

continue to become more detailed over the long term, just as estimates themselves were once as basic as “replace and paint fender for $xxx.”

Shorter-term, he said, shops need to work with the manufacturer of the paint they are spraying “to re ally understand how to be profitable with their products,” and then “learn how to document and communicate that” to whoever is paying the bill for repairs.

Addressing Costs with Insurers

An insurance company representa tive on the panel said, like shops, insurers are seeing their costs rise quickly. Dan Tessadri, auto physi cal damage business consultant for CSAA Insurance, said at least in some states, there can be a long lag time before insurers can reflect their higher costs in premiums.

“That’s a little different than what [a paint company CEO said in a news clip played at the meeting] where every quarter they look to ad just prices,” Tessadri said.

Tessadri was asked about shops’ approach in seeking rate increases.

“There is an incredible differ ence in the documentation, in the communication, in the overall sort of understanding of the impact infla tion is having on their store,” Tessa dri said.

The most effective way he sees for a shop to start that conversation?

“From my perspective, it’s un derstanding that you’re not oper ating in a vacuum. We’re not all in the same boat, but we’re in the same storm,” Tessadri said.

Work for some open discussion, he recommended.

mented basis.”

He said “knowing your num bers” is even more crucial for shops in inflationary periods.

“Be able to break down how you look at your business, rather than just sales versus a pile of costs,”

“You may have a weak esti mator who writes lower hours than should be expected for that repair, or may have missed something during the estimating process,” Ew ing said. He said paint and materials documentation and invoicing will

In California—and some other states—insurers must get the premi um increases approved in advance. Between the process of determining the increases needed and getting ap proval, he said, it can take up to two years to see the increase reflected in premiums.

“‘This is what I want, but this is what I could potentially live with,’” Tessadri suggested. “Those are the discussions that end up probably more successful. I’m a data guy. So I do sort of enjoy seeing [some one who has] gone to the length of crunching that information to ex plain it to me.”

Tim Ronak of AkzoNobel said collision repair during

by Joey Klender, Teslarati

Honda Motor Company has partnered with Hanwa Co. to secure a stable supply of electric vehicle battery ma terials as the Japanese automaker pre pares for a push to transition to EVs.

On Sept. 6, Honda said it had entered a partnership with Hanwa and will have a steady supply of nickel, cobalt and lithium, three metals commonly used in electric vehicle batteries. “Honda will ensure stable procurement in the medium to long term,” the company said, “positioning the mined resources secured by Hanwa at the core.” Hon da said the partnership also will help the company realize carbon neutrality by 2050. “Honda is striving to make battery-electric vehicles (EVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCVs) rep resent 100% of its global vehicle sales by 2040. Toward this target, Honda is planning to launch 30 EV models globally by 2030 with a production volume of more than 2 million units annually,” it said.

Honda has not made huge ad vances in EVs compared to other companies. However, the Japanese

automaker has established several strategic partnerships over the past year that have indicated a refined and calculated strategic push toward even tual electrification. Honda and Sony have agreed to a partnership in electric vehicle development, with first deliv eries expected to occur in 2025. Hon da also has a partnership in place with General Motors, which will develop a lineup of EVs that will make the powertrains more affordable. Internal ly, Honda is developing the Prologue, an all-electric SUV that is set to be re leased in 2024.

Honda plans to sell 500,000 EVs annually in North America by 2030, and is making changes in other parts of the business, like updating dealer ships and requiring them to have EV chargers at every location.

EV companies have struggled to establish stable and dependable ma terial supply chains over the past two years due to the pandemic. Automak ers have started to establish contrac tual obligations with both mining and cell manufacturers to alleviate these potential bottlenecks, which can delay

U.S. new-vehicle sales in August are expected to show that the substantial ly slower pace of new-vehicle sales that started a year ago continues as new-vehicle supply remains virtually unchanged. According to the Cox Au tomotive forecast released Aug.25, the August U.S. auto sales pace, or sea sonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR), is expected to finish flat month over month at 13.3 million, up from last year’s 13.1 million level.

The sales volume in August is forecast to finish near 1.14 million units, up 3.6% from last year but down 0.3% from July. With 26 selling days in August, the same as in July and one more than last year, the year-over-year gain in volume is expected to be lifted by the extra day.

“New-vehicle inventory remains essentially unchanged since tight in ventory started severely limiting sales in July 2021,” said Cox Automotive Senior Economist Charlie Ches brough. “The headwinds to a sales recovery this year are growing as buy ing conditions worsen. Rising interest rates and historically low consumer sentiment are keeping many potential

buyers out of the new-vehicle market. And high prices for both gasoline and vehicles are making affordability an even greater challenge. However, the lack of supply is the biggest obstacle over the near term, and there is little evidence of new-vehicle supply re turning to a healthier level.” Most industry forecasters, including Cox Automotive, expect the chip short age and other supply chain problems to improve slightly by year-end. Still, the pace of that recovery will be varied and volatile.

August 2022 Sales Forecast High lights

In August, light new-vehicle sales are expected to rise 3.6% from August 2021 but decline 0.3% from July, with 26 selling days, one more than last year but the same as July.

The SAAR in August is estimat ed to be 13.3 million, above last year’s 13.1 million level but flat with last month’s pace.

Sales for the full-size pickup truck, compact car and mid-size car segments increased from July.

Source: Cox Automotive

Rhode Island’s EV Charging Plan Gains Federal Approval

by Brent Addleman, The Center Square

A Rhode Island plan to install electric vehicle charging stations throughout the state has gained federal approval.

The Biden administration green-lighted the state’s plan to build electric vehicle infrastructure that was filed by the state’s Department of Transportation, Gov. Dan McKee said. “Electric vehicle charging station in frastructure is a critical component of our plan to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector to achieve the objectives of the Act on Climate,” McKee said in a release. “This federal funding will help us expand our existing network of electric vehicle charging stations, making it easier than ever for elec tric vehicle drivers to find a place to charge.”

Rhode Island will receive $3.8 million in federal dollars through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in fiscal year 2023, and is set to receive an additional $22.9 million over the next five years to support the program through the Federal High way’s National Electric Vehicle In frastructure Formula Program.

“RIDOT and our partners set a tight timeframe for development for the plan, and in fact Rhode Island was one of the few states to submit its plan early, allowing the federal gov ernment to act on it quickly,” RIDOT Director Peter Alviti Jr. said in a

main corridors along with coordinat ing the use of all direct current fast charging stations, workforce develop ment, and maintenance and upgrade. The state has designated Interstate 95 as a priority through an Alternative Fuel Corridor for investment.

release. “Now that they have, we are excited to continue working with the other agencies on the EC4 and move closer to turning these dollars into a smart, statewide interconnect electric vehicle charging station network.”

The state’s Department of Trans portation, according to the release, has joined forces with EC4 members within the state’s Office of Energy Resources and the Department of En vironmental Management to develop and deploy the plan.

According to the release, the program is designed to construct

The program’s goal, according to the release, is to build an inter connected network that will cull data collection, access and reliability for charging stations, along with priori tizing funding to fill gaps within the charging market, support the state’s transportation network and develop a local workforce.

Over the past decade, charging stations have been deployed across the state, and 300 publicly acces sible charging stations exist in the state to support to the nearly 6,000 electric vehicles in the state.

The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) is pleased to again partner with FinishMaster to host the second annual PiN Master Challenge, for high school and col lege collision tech students, 6-8 p.m. Oct. 7 at The Alexander in Indianap olis, IN. The 2022 PiN Master Chal lenge allows collision students to demonstrate their skills and show case their talents by designing and creating the best restored and paint ed bowling pin. A panel of industry professionals and influencers will judge each entry. All winners get a 300-piece Craftsman tool set and a Smart starter kit; in addition, the first-place winner gets a SATAJet 20B spray gun. Second place gets a Sagola Xtech 500 spray gun, and Sagola Classic Pro spray guns will be awarded to the third-place winner and Wild Card recipient. Eligibility is open to any high school or college student enrolled in collision repair program, including students who graduated in May or June. Learn more at collisioneducationfounda tion.org/pin-master-challenge Source: CREF Challenge

“RIDOT and our partners set a tight timeframe for development for the plan, and in fact Rhode Island was one of the few states to submit its plan early, allowing the federal government to act on it quickly,” — Peter Alviti Jr.

and Christina Molina, Collision Care Xpress, of ten tell customers no job is too big or too small. They take pride in build ing trust with customers and offering the latest auto body repair and paint technology at their Florida facility. Robert always had a passion for 2008, during the Great Re cession, he worked as a body shop manager for Cadillac and Hum mer outside of Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

“The whole world was on then,” recalled Robert. “I thought it was a great time to open a shop of my own.”

In 2010, Robert and Christina found a location in Pompano Beach, FL, north of Fort Lauderdale, to open their shop. For the first few Robert was a one-man show.

made the business successful.

How did you begin building the business?

Christina: In 2015, I had just given birth to our second child, and instead of returning to nursing, I stayed on board and helped Robert run and grow the business.

Working there was a natural feeling because my dad was a me chanic for 40 years and I was always at his shop. I have photos of myself in a diaper with grease from head to toe.

Robert and I purchased our first freestanding building in 2016, about a mile from our original location. It was really scary. We were promised that a DRP would come in and they never did. We looked at each other and said, “What did we get ourselves into?”

We have the expertise and re sources to provide insurers with documentation and procedures to justify necessary repairs, and that aids the insurance estimator to prop erly value the repair.

To be a high-caliber facility, we believe you have to be OEM certi fied and repair vehicles the way the OEM specifies.

About a year after opening the new facility, we began working with Tesla and were one of the first Tesla-certified shops in Florida.

Robert: We’re proud that as of to day, we have more than 20 OEM certifications. That goes a long way with customers. We find they put a lot more trust in us and feel they are bringing their vehicle into a shop that is well-versed in repairs.

What is the importance of customer

service and reviews?

Robert: We can’t afford to have cus tomers come in and not do a good job. After every repair, I follow up to find out if there was anything more I could do to help.

From the beginning of running the business, every time we finished a job, we asked customers to go online and leave a review on Goo gle or Yelp. We have thousands of five-star reviews. That wasn’t as common then as it is now, but it’s what started growing the company. We began picking up traction and getting more business because of those reviews.

We’re customer-centric and want to ensure our customers are happy. If we receive one star due to a situation we couldn’t control, we work hard to convert it into five stars.

“I did everything, including estimat ing, body repairs, welding, pulling, painting and dealing with insurance companies,” he said.

Christina was a nurse at the

“Those first years, she was con cerned that I had left my job to open my business,” recalled Robert. “I told her it’s going to be something special one day.”

The shop focused on custom restoration work, which helped them get through the early years until they built up the collision side of the business.

“Christina paid the bills and alive there,” said Robert. support, I was able to continue chasing my dream and was determined not to give up.”

I talked to Robert and Christina about OEM certifications, building a culture and initiatives that have

Looking back, it was probably the best thing that could have happened because it made us not be dependent on a DRP for steady work. We had to think outside the box and focus on marketing and so cial media to succeed.

Robert: We went from having about 3,000 square feet of shop space to 16,500. I thought we had made a huge mistake by listening to a DRP, but it was a blessing in disguise. We were able to figure out how to mar ket and grow our company.

An essential part of your busi ness is focusing on OEM certifica tions. Why is this important?

Christina: Our marketing efforts made us realize that we wanted to focus on OEM certifications. We have a great working relationship with all major insurance compa nies. Because we are an independent shop, we never deviate from facto ry-mandated restoration procedures and are always able to keep the best interest and safety of our customers as the top priority.

Curtiss-Ryan Honda

Shelton 800-523-4190 203-929-0635

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

Lia Honda of Enfield Enfield 800-221-3131 860-741-3401

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

Berlin City Honda South Portland 800-640-6685 207-774-6685

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

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

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

Criswell Honda Germantown 240-864-0880

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

Boch Honda Norwood 833-319-6270 781-619-6791

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

LIA Honda Northampton Northampton 800-369-7889 413-587-2900

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

Clinton Honda Annandale 877-657-2787

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

Honda of Turnersville Turnersville 800-883-0002 856-516-6262

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

Hudson Honda West New York 866-483-6917 201-868-9500

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

ACURA

MASSACHUSETTS

Acura of Boston Brighton 800-254-1169 617-254-5400

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

Acura of Peabody Peabody 800-878-3600 978-532-9110

Dept� Hours: M-Sat 8-5 dbritt@acurapeabody com

Acura Turnersville Turnersville 888-883-2884 856-516-6060

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

Autosport Acura Denville 973-361-3117

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

Bill Vince’s Bridgewater Acura Bridgewater 908-704-0307

Dept Hours: M-F 8-7; Sat 8-4 mattn@bridgewateracura com

Madison Honda Madison 800-648-0293 973-822-1710

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

Rossi Honda Vineland 800-893-3030 856-692-4449

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

Route 22 Honda Hillside 973-705-9100

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

Sussex Honda Newton 800-842-0557 973-579-3500

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

NEW YORK

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

Dept Hours: M-Thur 8-8; Fri 8-5:30; Sat 8-5 parts@idehonda�com

Lamacchia Honda Syracuse 315-471-7278

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

Elite Acura Maple Shade 856-722-9600

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

Open Road Acura ofEast Brunswick East Brunswick 732-238-0777 732-238-5466

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

Open Road Acura of Wayne Wayne 973-696-5151

Dept Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-4 jonathan tangen@openroad com Park Ave Acura Maywood 888-690-7621 201-587-0028

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

Acura of Westchester Westchester 914-834-8887

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

Apple Honda York 800-960-9041 717-848-2600

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

802 Honda Berlin 802-223-9700

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

Curry Acura Scarsdale 800-725-2877 914-472-7406

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

Paragon Acura Woodside 718-507-3990

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

Smithtown Acura St James 631-366-4114

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

Baierl Acura Wexford 800-246-7457 724-935-0800

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

Davis Acura Langhorne 267-296-1000 215-943-7000

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

Sussman Acura Jenkintown 800-826-4078 215-884-6285

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

VERMONT

Christina: We want customers to have the best possible experience. Many think of a body shop as a dirty dark space where their car gets lost in a black hole. We hold a higher standard than that and customers can feel comfortable bringing their cars here and know they are fixed properly.

We’re serious with our tech nicians and ensure that they do the right thing with every repair, espe cially when no one’s looking. We re pair about 250-300 cars a month and neither Robert nor I can personally check every car.

How do you encourage teamwork?

Robert: We think outside the box. We have an on-site gym with a shower, an arcade, a recreation room for our 60 employees, and several employee lounge areas.

Christina: We also hold a lot of parties and events. We find these gatherings help build a culture and lead to happy employees who want to come to work. When you have happy employees, you get wonder

ful results. Unhappy employees are disgruntled and unlikely to put out a great product.

Robert: Customers can sense that. It’s like when you walk into a restau rant and know the servers are upset. You’re uncomfortable. It’s import ant to ensure our staff is happy be cause they will radiate that to cus tomers. It’s a critical part of being successful.

What are your plans for the busi ness?

Robert: We’ve purchased a new building almost every year since opening and are expanding again. We have more than 90,000 square feet of air-conditioned repair space and call it our campus compound. It’s a shop of the future that custom ers can drive their cars into and is gorgeous.

There are four buildings and each has a different focus and cus tomer base we market to: DRP, elec tric vehicle repairs, combustible engine repairs and fleet repairs. By breaking up each part of our busi ness, it is easier to coordinate em

ployee training, offer better service and be more efficient.

We recognize the industry is changing and we can no longer re pair everything the same way. We have to divide and conquer and provide customers with the best op tions.

Christina: Using this system, we’ve found our business is more organized. It allows us to spend time with employees and offer special ized training, especially with EVs.

If you aren’t focusing on OEM cer tifications and learning about EVs, you aren’t going to have a shop in the future. It’s important to be for ward-thinking.

Robert: Another development is the creation of a human-less valet system that moves cars automatical ly through the shop. This will help with repair planning and being more efficient. That’s the future of the collision business—less human and more interactive with computers.

CIECA announced Aug. 29 that Bill Brower, vice president of in dustry relations for Solera, joined CIECA’s Board of Trustees, effec tive immediately.

Brower is a claims leader across the insurance property and casualty (P&C) claims industry who has more than 35 years of experience leading claims teams with top brand companies, includ ing Solera, Nationwide Insurance, Liberty Mutual Insurance and LexisNexis Risk Solutions.

Additionally, Brower re cently joined the newly formed CEICA AI Committee and has a wealth of prior board experi ence. Previously, he served as a member and past chairman on the I-CAR Board, a former member of the Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) Board, past chairman of Simplicity Car Care Advisory Board (a Canada-based MSO), and a former member of North Fulton Community Char ities Board of Directors in Ros well, GA.

Source: CIECA

The MSO Symposium, an exclu sive one-day conference created by and for multi-shop owners and operators, will be held Oct. 31, the Monday before SEMA/ AAPEX, in Las Vegas.

opportunities for attendees during this event include a formal luncheon sponsored by Berkeley Capital Advisors, a refreshment break sponsored by Axalta Coating Systems and an exclusive industry reception sponsored by Repairify, from 5:15-6:30 pm.

Below is an overview of the MSO Symposium’s 2022 confer ence timeline and agenda:

4–4:30 p.m.: Electric Vehicles 4:30–5:15 p.m.: Artificial Intelli gence and New Technology 5:15–6:30 p.m.: Industry Recep tion

Fisher Retiring Years in

Developed by the Automo tive Service Association (ASA) and the MSO Symposium adviso ry board, the conference includes unique programming with insight on a diverse set of topics top-ofmind to the leadership of the in dustry’s most influential collision repair operators in North America and beyond.

The event begins at 9:30 a.m. PDT with a light breakfast, networking and vendor displays. Three additional networking

Monday, Oct. 31 9:30–10:30 a.m.: Networking Breakfast, Sponsor Showcase 10:30–10:45 a.m.: Welcome and Introductions 10:45–11:45 a.m.: Industry Macro & Micro Trends with Vincent Ro mans & CCC Intelligent Solutions 11:45–12:30 p.m.: Panel discus sion: Inclusion and Diversity 12:30–1:30 p.m.: Formal Lun cheon

1:30–2:15 p.m.: Panel discussion: Environmental, Social and Gover nance (ESG) & Why it Matters 2:15–3 p.m.: Economic Trends

3–3:30 p.m.: Labor Trends, Chal lenges and Opportunities

3:30–4 p.m.: Networking Break

Those interested in register ing for the 2022 event are advised attendance is limited and one must qualify to attend. Those in vited to attend include multi-shop operators of all sizes, insurers, OEMs and single-location repair facilities with revenue exceeding $3 million in annual sales.

To begin the registration ap plication process, go to the MSO Symposium’s website: www.mso symposium.com/register

Attendance by media per sonnel and equipment or service providers is available, but also limited. For additional informa tion visit msosymposium.com or send your questions or requests for sponsorship information to Jennie Lenk or Brian Nessen

Source: MSO Symposium

www.autobodynews.com

Longtime industry veteran, for mer CARSTAR franchisee and, most recently, Driven Brands collision president Dean Fisher announced his retirement for the end of the year.

Fisher has always had an in terest in cars and owned multiple automotive-related companies for more than 35 years. In 1990, Fisher took a leap and brought his independent repair center into the CARSTAR family as a fran chisee. Through his time with CARSTAR, Fisher had a com mitment to operational excellence and customer service, propel ling him to earn the CARSTAR Franchisee of the Year Award in 2012. After passing the business along to his son, Fisher joined the CARSTAR corporate team, quickly rising through the orga nization and becoming an inspi rational leader to many at Driven Brands.

Chris Dawson has been pro moted to president of paint and collision for Driven Brands.

Source: Driven Brands

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NHRA Champion Antron Brown Warns Congress Motorsports at Risk

by SEMA Editors

Just days after winning the NHRA Top Fuel Race in Indianapolis, Antron Brown made his way to Washington, D.C., to urge Con gress to pass the SEMA-supported Recognizing the Protection of Mo torsports (RPM) Act.

On Sept. 7, the three-time Top Fuel world champion, who began his racing career nearly 40 years ago, appeared before Congress to share personal stories about the need for federal law to protect grassroots racing and tens of thou sands of jobs in the motorsports parts industry.

With his two sons and wife at his side, Brown shared how motor sports taught him to set goals, work hard to achieve them and other im portant life lessons.

Representing a four-genera tion family of racing professionals, Brown talked about how he began racing motorcycles at the age of 4, has enjoyed a successful career with 70 NHRA wins and became a team owner earlier this year. He continues to support and promote the NHRA to the community and youth groups, relaying the origins of the organization that was formed in 1951 to get hot rodders safely off the streets and onto the track.

“Americans all over the coun try enjoy the hobby of modify ing vehicles into racecars,” said U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-WV, ranking member of the Sen ate Committee on Environment and Public Works. “The bipartisan RPM Act would clarify that vehicles to be used solely for competition are not to be treated like the cars that drive on our nation’s roads. This legisla tion would ensure small businesses that help hobbyists who transition vehicles into racecars, which are not driven on the roads, are not un fairly punished or targeted through EPA enforcement.

“It was a pleasure to welcome champion driver Antron Brown to

day and hear his life’s story, which reinforces how the RPM Act would protect the future of motorsports by making clear those who want to pursue their passion can affordably do so without fear of Washington bureaucrats,” Capito said.

though the ruling was never final ized, the EPA maintains its position that such conversions are not legal and continues to enforce against the production and sale of high-perfor mance parts.

Brown emphasized during his testimony the RPM Act is focused solely on dedicated race vehicles that are trailered to and from the racetrack. Opponents to the RPM Act acknowledged during the Sen ate hearing that such vehicles do not have a measurable or meaning ful impact on the environment.

federal Clean Air Act.

Capito is amongst the 31 bipar tisan co-sponsors of the RPM Act. First introduced in 2016, the bipar tisan bill would enshrine in federal law that it is legal to modify street vehicles into dedicated race vehi cles.

“Racing is much more than just a pastime for me,” said Brown. “I have countless fond childhood memories and have learned many life lessons at the racetrack. I have built a life on the track and am building a business through AB Motorsports. I feel strongly that we must keep the path to entry into motorsports accessible to future racers.”

Brown explained that for am ateur racers, modifying production vehicles is the only cost-effective way to get into racing. He testified the converted motorcycle that he began racing cost about $5,000; a purpose-built vehicle would have been 10 times that amount.

This practice of converting street vehicles into dedicated race vehicles had gone unquestioned until 2015 when the U.S. Environ mental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a draft ruling stating it is not legal to convert production vehicles into dedicated race vehicles. Al

“Racing is important to many Arizonans and it’s a part of our state’s legacy,” said U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-AZ. “The RPM Act will help provide certainty to Arizona’s amateur racers and auto mechanics from EPA regulations, which could harm their ability to enjoy the hob by of motorsport.”

The RPM Act would not im pede on the EPA’s ability to en force clean air laws. Vehicles driven on public streets would continue to be governed by the

“For nearly 45 years, the Clean Air Act did not apply to dedicated race vehicles. The EPA’s recent in terpretation of the law has thrown the motorsports industry into a state of uncertainty,” said Mike Spag nola, SEMA president and CEO. “Now that the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has held a hearing on the RPM Act, we urge the committee to schedule a vote on the bill. SEMA is urging all racers, motorsports businesses and fans to ask their elected officials to support and pass the RPM Act.

“Racers and small businesses that manufacture, distribute and sell race parts have waited long enough. It’s time to pass the RPM Act and give the racing community the clarity it needs and deserves,” said Spagnola.

The SaveOurRacecars.com website has resources to help iden tify and contact the appropriate pol icymakers about the RPM Act.

Source: SEMA

NHRA driver Antron Brown advocates for the motorsports industry by testifying before the U S Committee on Environment and Public Works in Washington, D C , on Sept 7

Apple Already Has High Future Vehicle Consideration with Consumers

Even though Apple has yet to an nounce plans to produce an automo bile, the brand already has some of the highest future brand consideration among recent new vehicle buyers, ac cording to Strategic Vision’s New Ve hicle Experience Study (NVES).

NVES is the largest, most com prehensive survey of new vehicle owners in the U.S., and these findings indicate that if Apple builds it, cus tomers will come. For nearly 30 years, Strategic Vision has asked new vehicle owners whether they would consider and how they feel about the quality of over 45 automotive brands, including some not available in the US. In 2022, a potential Apple-branded vehicle was introduced to that list.

“Apple is the third-highest brand consideration, with 26% of customers stating they would ‘definitely consid er’ an Apple branded vehicle in the future, just behind Toyota (38%) and Honda (32%), followed by Ford (21%) and Tesla (20%),” said Strategic Vi sion President Alexander Edwards. “However, Apple’s strength doesn’t end here. “What should be concern ing to others is that Apple generates a greater amount of love than any other

automotive company, double that of strong brands like Honda, Toyota and Tesla,” Edwards said. “For example, more than 50% of Tesla owners would ‘definitely consider’ a future Apple ve hicle; everyone should be prepared.”

Apple has the greatest combined score when looking at the top-box re sponses of two key measures: Future Consideration (“definitely consider,” 26%) and Your Impression of Quality (“I love it,” 24%). “Of course, what Apple ultimately presents in terms of styling, powertrain, product and other key features will finally determine the level of interest generated among car shoppers. However, their brand aware ness and reputation provide a formi dable platform that automotive manu facturers should brace themselves for accordingly,” said Edwards. Combined with recent news of the next generation of its CarPlay system, Apple has with in its brand arsenal the ability to take a moonshot among automotive manu facturers. Of course, this depends upon how established competitors respond as potential newcomers like Apple nav igate their way into the market.

“If others don’t prepare today for this type of disruption, they may

find themselves wondering ‘What happened?,’ similar to when Tesla en tered the market,” said Christopher Chaney, Strategic Vision senior vice president. “All the current players in the industry mostly hold their own destiny. If they simply stay lulled into spending all their ingenuity chasing electric mo tors, LED lighting and flat screens with thousands of apps and every high-tech feature you’ve never dreamed about, Apple may land the moonshot right in their sales backyard.”

The only weak spot in Apple’s position is they haven’t yet produced a vehicle, leaving 34% of new vehi cle buyers to state they “don’t know enough about” what an Apple prod uct might be like. “The good news for current automotive brands is that Apple’s road to destiny isn’t a given,” said Chaney. “Designing future strate gy and building cars based on ‘true in novation’ involves rich and impactful impressions, a blend of art and science. Having highly motivational features that are each linked to the customer’s values and emotions is what will keep a potential Apple car on a relatively level playing field.”

Source: Strategic Vision

Registration for the National In stitute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) summer test ing period ends Sept. 30. Those service professionals who register will have 90 days to schedule an appointment to take the selected ASE tests, whether registering on the first day of the registration period or the last. More than 50 ASE certifi cation tests covering nearly ev ery aspect of the motor vehicle service and repair industry are available for ASE certification. ASE testing is available through out the year and is conducted days, nights and weekends at nearly 450 secured, proctored test centers.

To register, visit ASE. com, click on register and signin. Once logged in, users can next click on “orders” and then “store” where they can find the tests they want to take, add those tests to the cart and check out, and registration is complete.

Source: ASE

Now more than ever, your customers need to know their vehicle will be repaired right the first time. Depend on the factory fit, finish, and performance of Genuine Nissan Parts. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff is here and ready to serve you by phone or online. OF

Are Your Processes and People Strategically Aligned?

by Ed Attanasio

An auto body shop owner or manager might say “we are a process centric shop,” “we stress processes here and focus on efficiency and productivity” or “it’s all about workflow here and everyone knows their role.”

But they are thinking “our pro cesses need to be updated, but is ev eryone on board,” “we are forgetting about the people part of the equa tion,” “do we have the right crew to achieve our goals” and “our process es take too long and don’t help our cycle time.”

To achieve consistent results, every successful body shop needs to devise a series of processes that maximize its strengths while com ing up with viable solutions for problematic areas. It’s Business Management 101—“strategic align ment,” a mechanism by which an or ganization uses tools to visualize the relationship between processes and strategies.

Every auto body shop owner and manager is always looking to optimize workflow because they know it’s a critical component that can significantly impact productivi ty and performance.

Production often gets caught up in the day-to-day roller coaster and managers fail to realize the shop’s processes are outdated, inefficient or no longer in use. Continually changing processes and workflow strategies isn’t a bad thing. In re ality, frequently assessing internal operations to ensure they are lean and working efficiently is something every body shop should do.

The rub here is how to take theory and put it into practice while using the technology and tools avail able. In many cases, body shops devise methods that look good on paper but don’t offer practical solu tions for real-world applications.

When a shop is in a rut, it’s time to re-calibrate and update its processes to better coincide with the workplace environment. In many instances, the plan is reliable, but if the crew does not strictly adhere to the strategic policies devised, the department will never realize its full potential.

Rick Selover, industry insider/

consultant, gives a historical per spective on how processes eclipsed the importance of people over the years.

Selover, a former refinish in structor, is a multi-award-winning sales leader, collision industry con sultant and advisor, motivational coach and host of a personal and professional development podcast series, “The Mind-Wrench Pod cast.”

“Today, you’ll hear things like ‘your people are your business’s greatest asset,’ ‘teamwork makes the dream work’ and ‘your compa ny is only as strong as your weakest link,’” Selover said. “But this wasn’t the credo that body shops lived by back in the 1970s to 1990s, not at all. Back then if you could bump a panel, skin a door and pull a frame or unibodies, or you could DA, paint and rub a car, and didn’t mind hard work, you could work in this indus try, or even start your own shop!

“Baby Boomers were probably 90% of the workforce in those days, and just plain old hard work was the standard,” Selover said. “Concepts such as job satisfaction, fulfillment and work-life balance weren’t a thing yet! If a shop owner didn’t like your work, or your attitude, or the fact that you came in late—or hungov er—every other day, they would fire you and your replacement would be unloading his toolbox the same time you were rolling yours out the door.

“The technology—or really, lack of—and finish of those vehicles set the talent bar relatively low com pared to what is needed to repair to day’s vehicles,” Selover continued. “Most shop owners couldn’t swing around a seized-up come-along without hitting eight to 10 body and paint guys looking for work.”

But as car technology started to advance through the 1990s into the 2000s, paint companies started teaching lean concepts, introducing repair processes, MSOs started tak ing root in the industry and things began to change, Selover said.

“The growing groups of MSO shops started focusing on creating, defining and implementing repair processes and operating procedures that increased the efficiency of their shops and increased production, or

the number of cars going out the door each week,” he said.

As this transformation evolved, the focus was really on the process es, not the technicians, Selover said.

“They were treated more as assembly-line workers than crafts men,” he said. “Remember, techs were easily replaceable in the past. But today, the required talent level has been increasing and the talent pool has shrunk drastically smaller.”

Fast forward a couple decades and vehicle technology and com plexity has grown exponentially, Selover said.

“The talent level required to do the work has increased to an unbe lievable degree, and meanwhile, in surance company DRPs have ruined the mindset and broken the will of the 90% of the workforce that was the ‘engine’ of collision repair for the past 30 or 40 years,” Selover said. “As the average age of those Boomer techs creeps up on 60, they have been on a steady march right out of this industry at an alarming rate—either aged out, burned out or

just grown too tired to fight the fight anymore.

“The collision repair business is highly unique in the service sec tor of business, as the combination of intelligence, creativity and pas sion require unique individual men and women,” Selover said. “Finding them is more challenging now than ever in our history. But that is where collision center owners need to en gage their own intelligence, creativ ity and passion to mold their busi ness, create a desirable culture and provide a unique place that appeals to multiple generations.”

If you are currently in a po sition where you want to re-work your processes and shake things up a little, here are three takeaways to ensure ongoing success.

Get Input from Everyone

If management creates workflow strategies for all employees at ev ery level, there is going to be some disconnect along the way. After all, it’s never easy to ensure the process es being installed without getting

feedback from your service writers, technicians, parts people and front office personnel.

If you’ve discovered your em ployees are drifting away from your workflow, you may need to make adjustments to eliminate potential obstacles. Getting input from staff at various levels can help give the insight needed to devise the most ef fective and solution-based approach that works.

Be Realistic

In addition to polling your crew and letting them play a role, also be trans parent and accountable when deter mining what they can and cannot do. This requires an accurate assessment of the challenges your department currently faces. Some strategically aligned processes will work for some staff and not others, and a good man ager will be able to recognize that and pivot successfully.

There is never a one-size-fitsall approach to business process management. What works for some service departments might not for yours. That’s why it is essential to

your department’s individual needs.

But you also have to be truth ful about their strengths, weakness es and tendencies. Too many shop owners and managers install pro cesses that are based more on wish ful thinking than anything else— so be real and deal with the cards you’ve been dealt.

Select the Right Tools, People and Technology

If your employees don’t have the right resources and tools to perform their job responsibilities properly, it will undoubtedly disrupt your entire workflow and impede every aspect of your business. The more intuitive your technology, the better posi tioned you will be to make intelli gent decisions to help enhance your efficiency, streamline your workflow and uncover even better processes. To be effective and stay at the top, body shops need to create a se ries of processes that will position their crews for ongoing success. By using new technology, soliciting valuable feedback from the team and being realistic when assessing staff,

by David A. Wood, CarComplaints com

It may be 2022, but Kia has already recalled nearly 20,000 of its 2023 Sportage vehicles right from the get-go.

According to Kia, the Sportage alternator battery positive terminal nut may loosen and cause a stalled engine or even a fire due to electrical arcing at the B+ termi nal.

ing a customer who complained the 2023 Sportage lost power, shut off and wouldn’t start. The Kia dealer found melting of the alternator B+ terminal and nut.

Kia is aware of two 2023 Sportage fires, one that involved melting at the B+ terminal and one with localized damage around the alternator. But Kia says it is un aware of any fatalities, injuries or crashes.

Kia says the alternator battery positive (B+) terminal nut ensures the electrical connection is main tained between the battery wire harness terminal plate and the al ternator B+ terminal. But the B+ terminal nut may not have been properly torqued by the supplier during assembly.

In May, Kia learned about a complaint made to a dealer re garding a 2023 Kia Sportage that wouldn’t start. The dealer found a loose alternator cable and thermal damage to the alternator, wire har ness and intake manifold.

Kia then received a second re port in July from a dealer concern

A Sportage driver may notice an illuminated charging system warning light.

Kia Sportage recall letters will be mailed Sept. 23, and Kia dealers will tighten any loose alternator B+ terminal nuts.

Kia Sportage owners may contact Kia at 800-333-4542. Kia’s number for this recall is SC248.

by SEMA Editors

The 2022 SEMA Show Education program will feature more than 70 seminars designed to inspire personal and professional development.

Led by industry- and sub ject-matter experts, the program of fers a customizable lineup of sessions and workshops that confront industry challenges, capitalize on emerging trends, highlight and reinforce busi ness best practices, enhance leader ship skills and much more.

One of the newest components of the 2022 Show Education program are four sessions focused on the Di versity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in the workplace.

The first DEI session, “Diver sity and Inclusion: How You Can Advance Equal Opportunity in Your Workplace,” takes place Nov. 1, and will presented by James Pogue, Ph.D., president and CEO of JP En terprises.

In addition to the DEI sessions, three new tracks have been added: “Inside the Shop,” “Enthusiast” and “Keynote.”

The “Inside the Shop” series

will motivate aspiring builders and technicians as they hear from leading customizers sharting their experienc es crafting off-road machines, hot rods, musclecars and detailed resto rations.

The new “Enthusiast” track, scheduled for 8-9 a.m. Nov. 4, will feature industry personalities and ce lebrities providing insight on building cars, ideas for obtaining sponsorships and the importance of protecting the automotive aftermarket from over regulation. One of the five sessions, “Celebrity Insights,” moderated by African American Racers Associa tion co-founder Chris Harris, will give attendees a glimpse into the lives of some of their favorite celebrities, legends and luminaries.

The “Keynote” track will fea ture the new “Main Stage Experi ence,” where some of the industry’s iconic figures and leaders will bring their unique perspectives on ways to strengthen business strategies. The Main Stage promises to be an immer sive, informative and entertaining experience. The first presentation is scheduled for 10–10:45 a.m. Nov. 1, the opening day of the 2022 SEMA

Show.

Building on the success the 2021 Show’s education program, the “Leadership Essentials” track, pre sented by Dale Carnegie, returns to the Show, offering six courses spread out over three days. The courses, which can be taken as a whole or individually, feature trainers from Dale Carnegie providing the institu tion’s acclaimed leadership, commu nications and sales program that im prove both individual and business performance.

“The SEMA Show has a lot to offer, from seeing new products and vehicle builds, meeting with manu facturers, learning from experts and developing meaningful relationships that you can only get from an in-per son event,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “We encourage Showgoers to take advan tage of all the elements of the SEMA Show so that they get the greatest ROI.”

With a wide array of seminars and workshops, the education offer ings at the Show provide something for everyone. The 14 tracks avail able are:

• Aftermarket Updates & Future Trends

• Business Management

• Digital Marketing

• Electric Vehicles

• Enthusiast

• I-Car Collision Repair Training

• Inside the Shop

• International Roundtables

• Keynote

Source: SEMA Show Education

• Leadership Essentials (present ed by Dale Carnegie)

• Legislative and Regulatory

• SCRS Repairer Driven Edu cation

• Tire Industry Association

• Vehicle Technology

All sessions are held in meeting rooms at the Las Vegas Convention Center, making it easy and conve nient for attendees to schedule sem inars between meetings with exhibi tors. Registrants can sign up for the education program while applying for SEMA Show credentials at www. SEMAShow.com/register.

For a review of the 2021 SEMA Show Education Program, visit www. SEMAshow.com/education.

Used Car Market Finally Reaches Peak, as Prices Fall After 2 Record-Breaking

Years of Inflation

After used car prices rose to alltime highs amid the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting supply chain disruptions and even held firm amid multiple interest rate hikes this year the market has finally peaked, according to the monthly Return to Normal in dex from leading car shopping app CoPilot.

Overall used car prices fell in August to an average of $33,414, as dealers dropped prices across the board to maintain sales mo mentum. Prices are now $8,497 or 34% above projected normal levels, a premium that fell by a staggering 9% from July, the larg est-ever monthly drop for CoPi lot’s index.

Most segments and brands have dropped in price after reach ing record highs in recent months. CoPilot’s Return to Normal Index shows the price premium, or the differential between current listing prices and what the same used cars would have been worth, if not for the COVID-19 pandemic and other unprecedented events of the past two years. This provides a unique measure of the relative in flated value of vehicles for Ameri can consumers, and a new econom ic barometer for the retail used car market.

Across all age brackets, prices declined in August, and this trend was seen most prominently in the prices of 1- to 3-year-old vehi cles. While, for much of this year, nearly-new car prices remained near all-time highs, as consumers turned to them as a substitute amid record-low new car inventory, they are now falling the fastest of any age bracket, down $715, or 2%, to $41,545 in August.

The Price Premium for these cars fell the most of any age brack et, dropping 7%, from $11,944, or 39%, in July, to $11,097, or 36%, in August.

Used SUVs and pickup trucks remain the segments rela tively closest to returning to nor mal pricing levels, with SUVs priced $8,092, or 23%, above normal, and pickup trucks list

ed $8,638, or 26%, above nor mal. Average used SUV prices now $43,222 have fallen for the past six months, while used pickup truck prices now $41,469 have seen month-over-month declines for the past four months.

Electric and hybrid vehicles are also reflecting this broader trend within the used car mar ket. As gas prices continued their steady decline in August, used electric and hybrid vehicle pric es which had skyrocketed along with fuel costs in the spring fell dramatically. Used electric vehicle prices declined by 4% from July to August, to an average of while used hybrid prices fell by 3%, to $47,790.

Additionally, used Teslas ten seen as a proxy for the electric vehicle market dropped in price by 4%, or just over $3,000, to an average of $67,324. After peaking at an all-time high of 50% projected normal in June, prices are starting to show early signs of softening, with prices de clining in August to 43% normal levels.

“After years of astronomical price hikes in the used car market, relief may finally be imminent,” said CoPilot CEO and founder Pat Ryan. “While we’re still a long way from normal prices in absolute terms, across the vast majority of vehicle segments and brands, it’s clear that prices have fallen off their record highs. Consumers who have been waiting out this unprec edented market for months, or even years, should be ready to finally make their move.

“Cars are still moving fast on dealer lots, but as days-to-sale ticks up in recent months, dealers are dropping prices by hundreds of dollars for nearly-new cars to keep sales moving in the face of rising interest rates and other eco nomic headwinds that dampen demand,” Ryan added. “The story is evolving, but we recommend shop pers should prepare to strike when they find a car that matches their needs, and be close ly looking out for the moment soon when prices may fall off even more substan tially. In many cases, buyers will already find they finally have more negotiating leverage at the dealer.”

Some brands, however, con tinued to hold firmly near alltime high prices in August. On

average, foreign brands were priced $8,105, or 44%, above projected normal levels, a slight increase from last month’s Price Premium of $8,012 above normal. Used Volkswagens had the high est Price Premium among foreign brands, averaging $9,338, or a massive 57%, above normal pric ing levels.

“While most vehicle segments and brands have fallen off their peak prices, some still are lingering near their record-high prices, so it pays to explore alternative brands to find the best value,” Ryan said. “For people with a used car to sell, now is the time to make a move and sell that vehicle at a profit, in order to capitalize on these oncein-a-lifetime market conditions, before prices fall much further on your trade-in.”

Source: CoPilot

Collision repairers and insurance company representatives at this Collision Industry Con (CIC) discussed the friction that exists between the two segments of the industry in terms of estimat ing damages and adjusting claims. appraiser for Erie Insurance seemed to surprise some collision repairers at the meeting when she suggested shops and insurers should keep customers in the loop about the claims adjusting processes.

“So if you’re emailing the shop, ‘cc’ your customer in that for infor mation purposes,” Connie Hutton

my first line says: If you need a sup plement—photos, invoices, sublets, whatever—just send all that’s clear, and you’ll be paid,” she said. “Half of [shops] don’t even read that. It just wastes time for you, not me.”

Hutton was asked what types of repair operations are the hardest for her to approve.

“A sublet to a [dealer] that doesn’t include any documenta tion when the bill is $3,500,” Hut ton said. “It just says, ‘Calibration done.’ I need a little bit more than that. I’ll pay it, but give me a lit tle bit more information. And the shop should need it, too. Any time you sublet something, it’s on you, still. We’ll come back to you, not to them.”

Collision repairers on the pan el were asked what operations they most struggle to get approved for payment.

shop involving the same Lexus ve hicle, with virtually the same dam age and the same insurer involved. Shortly after the shop completed the

during the CIC Estimat ing Committee panel discussion. continue the thread. It keeps them informed and, believe it or I was on the shop side, I for most everything I did kept [the customer] in

Panelist Rob Wagner of Rob Wagner Auto Body in Pittsburgh said he was “blown away” by Hutton’s suggestion.

“We need to invest in cloning technology,” Wagner said of Hutton, drawing laughter. “Because that’s literally something that’s created friction between me and appraisers It’s, ‘What are you doing talking to the customer about this?’ But it’s their car.”

Insurer Estimate Not a Repair Plan

Hutton also emphasized there’s a difference between an insurer estimate and a repair plan.

“When I send my estimates out,

“Safety inspections. It’s getting easier, but that’s definitely one,” Wagner said. “If you have structur al damage on a Subaru and you’re writing to take the whole interior apart, and you have a bill-payer that’s not used to seeing that, that’s probably going to freak them out.”

Panelist Erin Solis of the Cer tified Collision Group referred back to Wagner’s reference to cloning.

“You want to clone them, but the rest of us want to clone you,” she told Wagner. “Because part of the reason why you can’t get paid for the R&I of the steering column on a Subaru when you have to measure it could be because you’re the only one in your market doing it.

“There are still a lot of repairers not doing the safety inspections, and I hear from shops all the time they are getting push back because [they are told] no one else in their market is doing it.”

Claims Handling Inconsistency

Wagner said one of his frustrations with how auto claims are adjusted is the inconsistency in what proce dures get approved.

He pointed to two claims at his

first $17,000 repair to the vehicle, the customer hit a deer, resulting in similar damage and a $19,000 bill. “With the first repair, there was

the second repair there was a shortpay of about $2,500,” Wagner said. “But items that the insurer said on the first claim they would never pay, got paid on the second claim, no problem. And vice versa. It just seems like they reach a quitting point [when reviewing a claim], and decide, ‘That’s good enough.’”

Wagner also drew applause at CIC when he challenged the es timating system providers to do a better job including small and onetime-use parts often needed during repairs in their systems.

“Clips, O-rings, screws are parts, and they need to be in the da tabase,” Wagner said. “If you want to talk about the one thing that abso lutely irritates me to no end, it’s all the time I have to spend digging to try to find all those parts.”

Wagner said his shop recently Claims Adjusting Process

Connie

by John Yoswick

Representatives of several automo tive paint companies on a CIECA webcast this summer cautioned that, like nearly every other aspect of collision repair, ADAS will im pact refinishing.

“Colors that are formulated with high metallic content, me tallic flake, can be a problem for radar and lidar, so that’s one area in the next three years that will be impacting actual colors,” said Dan Benton, global product director of color marketing for Axalta Coating Systems.

“It’s becoming much more important to follow the refinish procedures, just like we talk about following OEM repair procedures,” said Jeff Wildman, manager of OEM and industry relations for BASF North America. “You need to do the same thing with paint, be cause it really is a functional part of the safety systems.

“In some cases, especially with some of the translucent colors, we may be looking to reflect off the primer behind the color, rather than

by Andrew Gross, AAA

Stable global oil prices and modest domestic demand for gasoline led pump prices to fall a nickel in the past week to $3.90.

“Drivers are now benefiting from gas prices that are $1.11 less than their peak in mid-June,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesper son. “But now we need to keep an eye on the weather as hurricane sea son arrives. These storms can affect prices by disrupting oil production in the Gulf of Mexico and impact ing large coastal refineries.”

AAA found drivers are mak ing significant changes to cope with high pump prices. In a recent sur vey, almost two-thirds of U.S. adults said they have changed their driv ing habits or lifestyle since March. Drivers’ top two changes to offset high gas prices are driving less and combining errands.

According to data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand rose slightly from 9.12 million b/d to 9.35 mil lion b/d the week of Aug. 15, which is nearly identical to this time last

the color of the vehicle,” Wildman said. “If you’re not applying the right color of primer, or if you’re applying too much base coat, that may not operate properly. I’ve

of electric vehicles in order to help keep the interior cooler; the goal is to reduce air conditioning use to help maintain battery range. What that could mean in terms of refin ishing isn’t yet known, Wildman said.

Just as environmental issues have driven the development of waterborne primers and base coats, he said, waterborne clears are being used in other markets and other in dustries.

worked with a lot of painters who apply one extra coat, just to make sure they get coverage. Well, that one extra coat may cause a radar sensor not to work. So you really need to follow those procedures.”

Wildman also said it’s likely shops will at some point have to invest in some equipment changes in their paint department, but the “when” and “what” aren’t yet clear.

He said paint manufacturers are working, for example, on fin ishes that will reflect more heat off

“We’ll see those in our indus try at some point,” Wildman said. “I don’t know when exactly, but they’re coming. When those come out, then I can tell you what equip ment you will need for them.”

Similarly, UV primers require only a small UV light. But if UV clears begin to be used, he said, that too would require equipment changes in body shop paint depart ments. Focuses on New Technologies in Paint and Coatings

year. Total domestic gasoline stocks decreased by nearly 5 million bbl to 215.7 million bbl. Although gaso line demand has risen and supplies have tightened, easing oil prices have helped lower pump prices. If oil prices edge lower, drivers will likely continue to see falling pump prices.

The Aug. 22 national aver age of $3.90 is 51 cents less than a month ago but 74 cents more than a year ago.

The nation’s top 10 largest weekly decreases: Florida (-12 cents), West Virginia (-11 cents), Maine (-11 cents), New Jersey (-11 cents), Rhode Island (-11 cents), Vermont (-11 cents), Massachusetts (11 cents), Wyoming (-10 cents), Connecticut (-10 cents) and Missis sippi (-10 cents).

The nation’s top 10 least ex pensive markets: Arkansas ($3.41), Mississippi ($3.43), Georgia ($3.43), Texas ($3.44), Tennessee ($3.44), Louisiana ($3.46), South Carolina ($3.46), Missouri ($3.47), Alabama ($3.47) and Kansas ($3.48).

Source: AAA

Improve Estimating www.autobodynews.com

was repairing a vandalized Jeep and needed to disassemble the dash to re move broken glass. The two O-rings needed as part of that work weren’t in his shop’s estimating system, so he had to locate them in OEConnec tion’s RepairLink, then manually enter them into his estimate.

“Luckily the O-rings were $24.30 each, so we’re at least mak ing a little more money than we would on a $3 O-ring,” he said. “But it still can make my blood boil when I just spent 20 minutes to sell $50 worth of O-rings that should have just been a simple click in the [esti mating] system.”

Panel moderator Danny Gre dinberg of the Database Enhance ment Gateway encouraged the in dustry to report such missing parts to his organization, something Wag ner does regularly.

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“Submit that inquiry, and we’ll work with the information providers to hopefully get that added in there,” Gredinberg said.

Wholesale 610.688.1742 Mon.-Fri. 7:30am-6pm Sat. 9am-4pm

Cost of Car Ownership in the U.S. Increases 5%

doxo, a web and mobile bill pay ser vice, on Aug. 24 released two new doxoINSIGHTS reports for 2022, revealing the cost of car ownership has increased 5% year over year to $5,722.

The report also revealed Amer icans as a whole spend $743 billion annually, on auto loans and auto in surance combined. A statistical anal ysis of actual household payments toward auto loans and auto insur ance was used to size the market and amount spent per household across 97% of U.S. ZIP codes.

es up. Simultaneously, inflation is im pacting not only auto purchasers, but insurers who are passing the more expensive cost of vehicle repair and replacement on to consumers.

The 5% year over year increase in loan and insurance costs that doxo tracks represents only the fixed cost of ownership and doesn’t include the substantial increases that have occurred over the past year with re gard to the variable cost of fuel.

“The last few years created a bit of a perfect storm to increase the

different service categories. By in corporating tens of millions of bill payments across 97% of U.S. ZIP codes and all U.S. income and re gional demographic segments, the U.S. Auto Loans and Auto Insurance Market Size and Household Spend ing Reports represent a true and direct representation of what Amer icans actually pay for their auto re lated bills.

Each report provides a compre hensive look into the auto loan and auto insurance bill pay market, with a deep dive into category market size and average spend at the na tional, state and regional level. Key findings include:

Cost of Car Ownership in the U.S.

Americans spend a total of $743 billion dollars a year on auto loans and auto insurance

The average annual cost per household is $5,722 a year for both auto loans and auto insurance

Auto Loans Market Size and Household Spending Snapshot

Total Market Size: $493 billion spent per year

Average Monthly/Annual Cost: $433 spent per month; $5,196 spent per year

Percent of Households: 73% of U.S. households pay auto loans

Average Annual Cost per U.S. Household: $3,793 per year

Percent of Annual Income: Auto loan bills amount to 8% of consumers’ income per year

Auto Insurance Market Size and Household Spending Snapshot

Total Market Size: $250 billion spent per year

Average Monthly/Annual Cost: $196 spent per month; $2,352 spent per year

Percent of Households: 82% of U.S. households pay auto insurance

Average Annual Cost per U.S. Household: $1,929 per year

Percent of Annual Income: Auto insurance bills amount to 4% of consumers’ income per year

Source: doxo

The 2022 U.S. Auto Loan Mar ket Size and Household Spending Report and the 2022 U.S. Auto In surance Market Size and Household Spending Report found U.S. House holds with auto loan and auto insur ance bills spend $629 per month, or $7,548 per year or $5,722 when averaging across all U.S. house holds.

The reports also break out the U.S. household spending market size, percentage of households that pay each bill, and average monthly and annual bill pay costs by state, largest metro areas and cities based on population.

A number of factors have com bined to drive up costs across both categories. Interest rates on auto loans are at a near-peak high over the last eight years, with supply chain issues and limited inventory pushing both new and used car pric

cost of car ownership across the cat egory. Driving went back to pre-pan demic rates, and so did the accidents and insurance rates associated with it, just as the cost of buying a car and buying gas were both on the rise,” said Jim Kreyenhagen, vice pres ident marketing and consumer ser vices, doxo. “doxoINSIGHTS gives consumers transparency into the av erage costs in both auto loans and in surance so they can make informed decisions about their own finances, whether that’s negotiating a better rate with their insurance company or rightsizing their auto loan with their budget.”

U.S. Auto Loans and Auto Insurance Market Size and Household Spend ing Reports doxo’s bill pay service enables allin-one bill pay to more than 120,000 providers across the country in 45

by Douglas McColloch, SEMA

Celebrating its 55th anniversary in 2022, the annual SEMA Show has evolved to fit the times, reflecting and responding to changes in the specialty automotive industry, and this year’s Show should be no different.

With an extra 600,000 square feet of exhibition space courtesy of the new West Hall, last year’s Show provided attendees with more room to conduct business in a collegial environment while still having ample space to enjoy a dazzling array of enthusiast events, builds, competitions and networking opportunities. The 2022 Show promises more of the same. While the SEMA Show floor is organized by category and numbered to improve navigation, an ideal way to simplify the Show experience is with the 2022 SEMA Show app, which contains detailed exhibitor information, interactive floor plans

attendees to capture product information from the New Products Showcase and exhibitor information from feature vehicles on display. The app puts the entire SEMA Show in

SEMA Car of the Year, SEMA Truck of the Year, SEMA 4x4-SUV of the Year, SEMA Sport Compact of the Year, SEMA Powersports Vehicle of the Year and SEMA EV of the Year.

expected to exhibit more than 2,500 new and featured products in a brandnew, 30,000-square foot exhibition space in the Upper South Hall.

your pocket, and it’s available as a free download from your mobile device’s native app store or by logging on to www.SEMAShow.com/app.

SEMA Awards Presentation

5-7 p.m. Oct. 31, Silver Drive, Outside the Central Hall Entrance

The annual SEMA Awards, given to the top-trending vehicle models in six categories, will be presented Oct. 31, the day before the SEMA

are presented to automakers for the

SEMA Award winners are determined and voted on by SEMA Show exhibiting manufacturers to recognize vehicles that manufacturers are investing in and developing products for. The program heightens awareness for aftermarket products and exemplifies the industry’s partnership between automakers and aftermarket manufacturers that develop products to improve vehicle performance, safety and convenience as well as appearance and comfort.

The New Products Showcase

Upper South Hall, Booth #31307 A first stop for many attendees and a must-see for everyone else, the New Products Showcase provides a window into the automotive aftermarket for the coming year as hundreds of manufacturers roll out their latest innovations. In all, the 2022 New Products Showcase is

For 2022, two additional product categories will be added to the Showcase: advanced driverassistance systems (ADAS) and EV technology.

The New Products Showcase enables buyers to focus their efforts on the companies they need to see to keep the product pipelines active and their inventories fresh, and media attendees can get a glimpse of the latest trends to emerge from the industry’s leading influencers. Additionally, scanning products with your mobile device using the SEMA Show app enables communications between buyers and exhibiting companies to generate leads and drive future sales.

SEMA Central Grand Lobby, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 31–Nov. 3; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 4

This year, SEMA Central expands to offer Showgoers a more Yonkers, 10710

immersive industry experience than ever before. Visit this Show hub to see top-tier vehicle builds and center-stage interviews with iconic personalities. There’s even a boutique shop to outfit you with the latest SEMA Gear.

SEMA Central is also the place to see celebrity appearances, to take in daily panel discussions and Brew Talks with some of the industry’s most notable and knowledgeable figures, and to get an up-close look at last year’s Battle of the Builders winner Bob Matranga’s classic ’55 Chevy, which will be on display during Show Week. SEMA Central is also the site for the finals of SEMA Launch Pad, SEMA’s annual competition of automotive entrepreneurs.

Feature Vehicle Displays

Various Locations

The SEMA Show is renowned for the innovative parts and accessories displayed on show vehicles representing every industry niche, from cars and trucks to powersports. Much more than rolling works of art, the vehicles offer an inperson look at real-life applications

of the aftermarket’s latest and most impressive products.

Located throughout the Las Vegas Convention Center, inside and out, the displays connect with Showgoers as an extension to the exhibit booths of the product creators. The SEMA Show app features a scanning function that allows attendees to quickly capture product and exhibitor information from feature vehicles on display throughout the Show.

SEMA Overland Experience West Hall, Booth #62236

With many similarities and connections to off-roading, adventure travel, aka overlanding, has strong roots in Australia and South Africa, and in the U.S., its popularity has exploded over the past decade. Buyers at the 2022 SEMA Show will be able to see products and vehicles specifically for overlanding in the expanded SEMA Overland Experience area. This special exhibit will include dozens of customized vehicles with fully popped-out tents, survival accessories and portable kitchen systems all displayed among

exhibitors supporting the growing overlanding market.

SEMA Electrified

North Hall, Booth #11268

As a trade association, SEMA looks down the road for emerging trends in performance and hot rodding, and it views vehicle electrification as a modern-day expression of those enthusiast pursuits. Now SEMA Electrified offers the industry an opportunity to see where this growing segment might take us in the next five to 10 years and beyond.

Experience for yourself the surprising technologies that are advancing and redefining the performance aftermarket. At SEMA Electrified, you’ll encounter some incredible custom electric-vehicle conversions and noteworthy parts and products that are currently driving the market.

SEMA Launch Pad

Central Hall, Booth #22970

Fifteen executive-level innovators compete in a “Shark Tank”-like business competition for automotive entrepreneurs. The Top

5 are then selected for an elimination competition to be held Nov. 2 at SEMA Central, with the final two candidates presenting their pitches at the SEMA Industry Awards Banquet on Nov. 3. The ultimate winner will then receive a prize package of nearly $100,000.

Throughout Show Week, each of the 15 competitors will have their new products on display in the Launch Pad Corral and the Featured Products Showcase. Visit the Corral to learn about the products and businesses.

SEMA Battle of The Builders North Hall, Booth #10139

Since its debut in 2014, SEMA’s premier showcase of the builder’s art has become one of the Show’s biggest attractions. It returns for 2022 and runs all during Show week before culminating Nov. 4 in North Hall.

Forty of the world’s most creative builds will be judged by a panel of industry experts, with the Top 12 vehicles advancing to the finals in four distinct categories that are new for 2022: Hot Rod/Hot Rod Truck, 4-Wheel Drive & Off-Road, Sport/ Compact, Import Performance, Luxury

The SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund issued a total of $297,250 in scholarships and loan forgiveness awards to help 119 individuals who currently work for, or are planning to pursue careers in, the automotive aftermarket industry.

The winners include 103 stu dents who received scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, and 16 employees of SEMA-mem ber companies who received loan forgiveness awards to help pay off student loans.

The SEMA Memorial Schol arship Program was established in 1984 to help support the future of the automotive aftermarket indus try. Since its inception, more than $3 million has been awarded to de serving students. One of the prima ry criteria for scholarship recipients is that the winner must have clearly demonstrated a passion for the au tomotive industry.

The online application for next year’s program will open in January at www.sema.org/scholar ships.

Source: SEMA Fund

& Exotic and Young Guns (builders under age 29). The winning vehicles will lead the procession at SEMA Cruise, which takes place immediately after the winners are announced.

SEMA Cruise

Silver Drive

Vehicles from the 2022 SEMA Show begin parading out of the Convention Center at Show close 4 p.m. Nov. 4 to the delight of thousands of fans in grandstands along the route.

More than 1,000 vehicles will take part in the SEMA Cruise, which proceeds toward the West Hall parking lot and SEMA Ignited, the Show’s official after-party that’s open the public. Spectators have a ringside seat to view the coolest cars on the planet, and the Cruise has become one of the Show’s most anticipated events.

SEMA Ignited

West Hall Parking Lot

The 2022 SEMA Show culminates at SEMA Ignited, the official after-party that launches immediately after the Show ends Nov. 4. The event takes place in the West

Hall Parking Lot just a short walk away and is free to all credentialed Show attendees.

Introduced in 2014, the annual event is also open to the public, giving consumers the chance to glimpse some of the vehicles and excitement from the world-famous, trade-only SEMA Show. The party is a great way for Showgoers to unwind from the week while enjoying a night of food, entertainment, drifting demonstrations and more.

Gates open at 3 p.m., and your SEMA Show badge serves as your free ticket. For more information, visit www.SEMAignited.com.

SEMA Gear Various Locations

For your shopping convenience, SEMA Gear stores are located throughout the Show in the Bronze Lot, the East Lobby, SEMA Central, the Grand Lobby, the Grand Plaza, the Central Hall, the Skybridge and the West Hall. Don’t forget to stop by and pick up gifts and SEMA Show memorabilia for friends and business associates back home. You’ll find T-shirts, hats, bags and more at each

store. A portion of the proceeds from every sale is donated to SEMA Cares charities.

LVCC Loop West Hall, Central Hall, Lower South Hall

Walking the SEMA Show floor can eat into valuable time, so Showgoers looking to maximize their efficiency during Show Week can take advantage of the new LVCC Loop. A 1.7-mi. subway tunnel that connects West, Central and South Halls at three dedicated stations, the Boring Company-built Loop can save time by transporting attendees from one end of the Convention Center to another in roughly four minutes, and the system can transport more than 4,000 passengers per hour.

While all of the information contained in this article was accurate at the time this issue went to press, be sure to visit www.SEMAShow. com or the SEMA Show app for the latest updates and schedules.

Source: SEMA

www.autobodynews.com

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AAPEX Ranked Among Top Trade Shows

The Automotive Aftermar ket Products Expo (AAPEX) is among the winners of Trade Show Executive’s Gold 100 awards that recognize U.S. trade shows in 2021 that set the gold standard during a tumultuous year.

AAPEX is co-owned by the Auto Care Association and the Automotive Aftermarket Suppli ers Association (AASA) and is organized by trade show man agement specialist W.T. Glasgow Inc.

The Gold 100 awards recog nize trade shows for their accom plishments during the ups and downs of the pandemic, and for prevailing even with the many challenges and new protocols put before them.

AAPEX and its show or ganizer will be honored at this year’s Trade Show Executive’s Gold 100 Awards & Summit, Sept. 21-23 at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, CA.

Source: AAPEX

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The average price paid for a new vehicle in the U.S. in August topped July’s record and kept the average transaction price (ATP) solidly above the $48,000 mark, according to new data released Sept. 12 by Kelley Blue Book, a Cox Automotive company.

The Kelley Blue Book new-ve hicle ATP increased to $48,301 in August, beating the previous high of $48,080 set in the prior month. Au gust prices rose 0.5% ($222) month over month from July, and 10.8% ($4,712) year over year from August 2021.

New-vehicle inventory days’ supply held steady in the mid-to-high 30s during the summer and is show ing signs of increasing. In August, days’ supply was 43% higher than it was in the same timeframe of 2021, when inventory shortages first start ed to impact the market. Still, with roughly 1.2 million units in invento ry in the U.S., new-vehicle inventory remains significantly below levels seen in 2020 and 2019.

In the face of tight inventory and high prices, new-vehicle sales remain depressed, averaging just 1.1 million units per month in 2022. For

comparison, sales in the first eight months of 2019 averaged 1.4 million per month.

Hyundai, Land Rover, Honda and Kia continue to show the most price strength in the market, transact ing between 5% and 9% over sticker in August.

Ram, Volvo, Lincoln, Buick and the smaller Italian brands Alfa Ro meo and Fiat showed the least price strength, selling 1% or more below MSRP in August. Understandably, the brands with the lowest price strength also have the highest days’ supply of vehicles.

“Prices are still high and climb ing incrementally every month,” said Rebecca Rydzewski, research manager of economic and indus try insights for Cox Automotive.

“New-vehicle inventory levels have been rising through August, now reaching the highest level since June 2021. However, supply of pop ular segments like subcompacts, hybrids and EVs still remain very low. Automakers are focusing on building and selling high-margin vehicles. Essentially, the product mix is the primary factor keeping

prices high.”

The average price paid for a new non-luxury vehicle in August was $44,559, up $132 month-overmonth and a record for non-luxury vehicles, beating out the high set the prior month. Car shoppers in the non-luxury segment paid on av erage $1,102 above sticker price, an increase from the prior month. Non-luxury shoppers paid nearly 2% above MSRP in August, compared to 1% above MSRP a year ago.

One bright spot for buyers: truck shoppers paid $142 below sticker in August.

In August, the average luxury buyer paid $65,935 for a new vehicle, up $878 from the prior month, when luxury ATPs hit a record $65,057. Luxury buyers continue to pay more than MSRP for new vehicles, al though prices are trending closer to sticker prices. Luxury vehicle share remains historically high as well, al though share decreased to 17.5% of total sales in August from 17.7% in July. The high share of luxury sales is helping to push the overall industry ATP higher.

The average price paid for a

new electric vehicle (EV) rose in Au gust by 1.7% compared to July and increased by 15.6% versus a year ago. The average price for a new electric vehicle more than $66,000, according to Kelley Blue Book esti mates remains well above the in dustry average, aligning more with luxury prices versus mainstream prices.

Incentives decreased slightly in August versus July, remaining historically low at only 2.3% of the average transaction price. A year ago, incentives averaged 5.5% of ATP. Full-size cars and luxury cars had the highest incentives in August, while high-performance cars, vans and electric vehicles had the lowest incentives.

Brands with higher inventory levels offered higher incentives in August. The Stellantis brands, for example, generally had higher than average inventory in August and also higher than average incentives. While still low from a historical per spective, Stellantis’ incentives in Au gust averaged 4.4% of ATP, up from 4.1% in July.

Source: Kelley Blue Book

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Order Audi Genuine Parts from these select dealers.

Audi components and mechanical items.

by Steven Loveday , InsideEVs

Automakers already made it clear the rules that will be put into law thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act will likely cripple EV produc ers long before promoting them.

This is because the U.S. sim ply doesn’t have the battery ma terial mining operations in place needed for the growing number of EVs on the road today. Now, the CEO of Piedmont Lithium is chim ing in.

For background, the new U.S. federal electric vehicle tax cred it has strict requirements related not only to the EVs being manu factured in North America, but also to where the materials are sourced from. More specifically, the EVs’ batteries must be made with ma terials sourced domestically, or from a country that has a free trade agreement with the U.S.

The rules aren’t as strict ini tially, but by 2026, vehicles will need 80% of critical materials to be sourced based on the rules.

Having rules that help make the U.S. less reliant on other coun

tries is arguably a positive. How ever, it’s going to take some time for the country to catch up when it comes to lithium extraction and

Lithium probably has a pretty sol id grasp of the supply and demand issues related to battery materials. Moreover, as we continue to add more electric cars to the mix, the materials will become more scarce. In the meantime, companies are trying to do what they can to find solutions, but there simply ar en’t enough facilities or workers to make anything happen immedi ately. This is all contributing to the fact that lack of supply and grow ing demand are causing battery material prices to rise when we have been repeatedly promised EV batteries are going to get cheaper over time.

Piedmont Lithium is one of only a few lithium mining compa nies in the U.S. It has already an nounced plans to begin construc tion on a new lithium processing facility in Tennessee in 2023. It also has another similar project planned for North Carolina.

“The world has changed,” Phillips said. “We’re now in an era where everyone’s going to want an electric car. The car companies can’t make them fast enough, and people are now looking for the lith ium they need for the batteries to go in those electric cars.”

processing. “Yes, we’ll [eventually] have enough, but not by that time,” Pied mont Lithium CEO Keith Phillips told Yahoo Finance Live in a recent interview. “There’s going to be a real crunch to get the material. We don’t have enough in the world to turn that much [lithium] produc tion in the world by 2035.”

While we never suggest rely ing on one single individual to tell it how it is, the CEO of Piedmont

Despite the challenges that lie ahead, President Joe Biden has set a goal that all new cars sold in the U.S. by 2030 must be electric cars. To encourage people to make the switch, they’ll be afforded a credit of up to $7,500. However, once the new rules officially kick in, most EVs sold in the U.S. will no longer be eligible for a credit. It will take time for automakers to put the right pieces in place to ensure their elec tric vehicles are eligible.

Phillips is looking at a very long road ahead. He told Yahoo the U.S. has a very slow permitting process, which makes matters even worse. China continues to domi nate the industry, and Australia and Chile are the largest lithium pro ducers in the world.

Phillips noted lithium-related projects get permitted in Austra lia in less than a year, while it has taken as many as eight years in the U.S., though some permits only took two years, which is still way too long.

Coming in hot: Your next parts order

CONNECTICUT

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

MASSACHUSETTS

Volkswagen of North Attleboro North Attleboro 508-695-7131

Fax: 508-695-0321

M-F 8am-5pm; Sat 8am-2pm kenr@driveavw.com www.driveavw.com

NEW JERSEY

Flemington Volkswagen Flemington 877-NJPARTS 877-657-2787

Fax: 908-782-1795

M-F 7:30am-5pm www.njparts.com

Open Road Volkswagen of Bridgewater Bridgewater 908-685-1068

Fax: 908-685-1547

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

Paul Miller Volkswagen Bernardsville 908-360-1162

Fax: 908-766-6171

M-F 8am-5pm; Sat 8am-4pm aaitchison@paulmiller.com www.paulmillervw.com

NEW YORK

Hudson Valley Volkswagen Wappingers Falls 845-298-2365

Fax: 845-224-3686

M-F 7:30am-5pm; Sat 8am-5pm billsantoro@thepremiercollection.com

Platinum Volkswagen Hicksville 516-822-4800

Fax: 516-822-4831

M-F 7:30am-5:30pm parts@platinumvw.com www.platinumvw.com

PENNSYLVANIA

Ciocca Volkswagen Allentown 610-791-4177

Fax: 610-289-7016

M-F 8am-5pm; Sat 8am-4pm cioccavwparts@cioccadealerships.com

Find an authorized Volkswagen dealership near you at vwwholesaledealers.com

Mitchell on Sept. 13 announced en hancements to Mitchell Cloud Esti mating that can simplify the collision damage appraisal process for battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

and appraiser efficiency.

The enhancements to Mitchell Cloud Estimating will address these challenges by incorporating new functionality not available in other appraisal platforms. This includes tools designed to simplify the esti mating process and support proper, safe repair.

Among those new tools are EV-specific:

industry-standard definitions for EV battery capacity and motor size that appear on the vehicle selection screen and under the vehicle descrip tion detail on the printed estimate.

for damage appraisals on all vehicle types passenger, commercial and specialty is a real game changer.”

These enhancements which come as the electric vehicle (EV) sector is bracing for unprecedented growth establish Mitchell’s position as a trailblazer in the development of advanced appraisal and claims man agement solutions for automotive in surance carriers and collision repairers.

Historically, estimating plat forms have not accounted for the design differences between EVs and their internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts. This can create challenges for insurance apprais ers and collision repairers. Without EV-specific parts and categories, they have to write BEV damage as sessments using ICE alternatives, which can impact estimate accuracy

Vehicle Types: Once the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is de coded, Mitchell Cloud Estimating automatically updates the user in terface, making it specific to BEVs instead of ICE-powered passenger, commercial and specialty vehicles.

Part Categories: New part catego ries dynamically surface the relevant parts data in a way that specifically relates to EVs.

Data Organization: EV data is now consistently organized, helping ap praisers easily locate the information needed to complete the estimate.

Qualifiers: Mitchell has established

According to Bloomberg, the U.S. surpassed 5% of new car sales pow ered only by electricity this summer, a critical tipping point that signals the start of mass EV adoption. In Canada, IHS Markit reported one in 20 new vehicle registrations in 2021 were for BEVs and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), a jump of nearly 6% from 2020.

With some car manufactur ers shifting to all-electric fleets, EVs will inevitably appear in a greater number of collision claims going forward.

“We’re seeing more EVs in the shop than ever before,” said Jeff Baggett, owner of Classic Car Mo toring, Inc., an EV-certified collision repair facility for Mercedes, Tesla and Rivian. “Having an estimating platform that accounts for the differ ences in EV design and construction is really going to save us time. And being able to use that same platform

“Gas prices are accelerating EV adoption and driving one in four Americans to say that they will likely buy an EV the next time they purchase an automobile. This makes having a damage appraisal platform that can support these vehicles crit ical,” said Debbie Day, executive vice president and general manager of Mitchell’s Auto Physical Dam age division. “Mitchell continues to lead the industry in the development of ground-breaking technology that streamlines the automotive claims process and supports the safe return of both EV and ICE vehicle owners to the road.”

The patent-pending EV en hancements to Mitchell Cloud Es timating will be available later this year.

For more information on the company’s cloud-based appraisal solution, visit www.mitchell.com/ solutions/auto-physical-damage/esti mating/cloud

Source: Mitchell

MARYLAND

Porsche

Flemington

NEW YORK

Porsche Huntington Huntington Station, NY 631-424-1310 631-272-1805 8-5; 8-4

MASSACHUSETTS

Porsche Norwell Norwell,

Porsche Monmouth West Long Branch,

Porsche Manhattan New York, NY 347-226-3913 212-208-0916

Porsche of Southampton Southampton, NY 631-204-2565 631-204-2559 gspano@porscheofsouthampton.com

Porsche South Shore Freeport, NY 516-277-0542 516-277-0543 8-5:30

CONNECTICUT

Napoli Indoor Kia Milford 203-876-3331 (203) 876-3325 Fax 8am-6pm Mon-Fri paulc@napolimotors.com

Gary Rome Kia Enfield 860-253-5095 (860) 265-2674 Fax 8am-7pm Mon-Thu 8am-5pm Fri; 8am-4pm Sat parts@garyromekia.com

MASSACHUSETTS

Kia of Attleboro South Attleboro 508-761-9300 (508) 761-0768 Fax

8am-8pm Mon, Wed; 8am-5pm Tue, Thu, Fri 8am-4pm Sat frank@courtesyma.com www.courtesyma.com

Lev Kia of Framingham Framingham 800-462-1014 (508) 626-1585 Fax 7:30am-6pm Mon-Fri parts@levkia.com

MARYLAND

Bob Bell Kia Baltimore 800-638-4967 (410) 285-1376 Fax 7am-7pm Mon-Fri 7am-5pm Sat smelson@bobbell.com

NEW JERSEY

Liberty Kia Ramsey 201-818-8995 (201) 783-8848 Fax 8am-5pm Mon-Sat joel@libertykiaofnj.com www.libertykiaofnj.com

NEW YORK

Kia of Middletown

New Hampton 845-374-6575 (845) 374-4718 Fax 8am-5pm Mon-Fri 8am-3pm Sat nissankiaofmiddletownparts@yahoo.com www.kiaofmiddletown.com

Northstar Kia

Long Island City (718) 683-5300 (718) 489-9889 Fax M-F 7:30am-5pm; Sat 8am-2pm www.northstarkiany.com

Yonkers Kia Yonkers 914-268-0279 (914) 652-7665 Fax 7:30am-8pm Mon-Thu 7:30am-7pm Fri; 8am-5pm Sat

PENNSYLVANIA

Brown Daub Kia Easton 610-829-3020 (484) 546-0292 Fax 7am-5pm Mon-Fri 7am-3pm Sat parts@browndaubkia.com www.browndaubkia.com

Kia of Coatesville Coatesville 610-384-7700 (610) 384-2171 Fax 7:30am-5pm Mon-Fri 7:30am-4pm Sat jkiernan@jimsipalakia.com www.kiaofcoatesville.com

Kia of West Chester West Chester 610-429-3500 (610) 429-0164 Fax 7:30am-5pm Mon-Fri 7:30am-4pm Sat jkiernan@jimsipalakia.com www.kiaofwestchester.com

Outten Kia Hamburg 610-562-4166 (610) 562-9436 Fax

7:30am-5pm Mon-Fri 8am-12pm Sat jhenne@outtencars.com www.outtenkia.com

VERMONT

Berlin City Kia Williston 800-684-5779 (303) 928-6905 Fax 6am-6pm Mon, Wed, Fri 6am-7pm Tue, Thu 7am-3pm Sat ableau@berlincity.com

*Kia

Consistently voted as the No. 1 destination by SEMA Show buyers and media, the 2022 New Products Showcase will expand to include two new product categories.

Showgoers will find products related to electric vehicles (EV) and Advanced Driver Assistance Sys tems (ADAS) along with products in 16 other categories, in what is the world’s largest display of new auto motive aftermarket products.

Accessible exclusively to SEMA Showgoers on Nov. 1-4, the New Products Showcase is the auto motive aftermarket industry’s most comprehensive collection of new and trending products. SEMA Show attendees visit the area to discover and see parts and accessories before they hit the market.

A Featured Products component includes items that may not qualify as new; the product may have been on the market for more than a year but is amongst an exhibitor’s top products.

“Through the SEMA Show New Products Showcase, buyers, retailers and distributors can easily discover and learn about all the hot products

that they may want to carry,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “They will find details about the products, including the exhibitor’s booth number. They can then connect directly with the man ufacturer on the Show floor to learn more. It’s no surprise that SEMA Show buyers rely on the New Prod ucts Showcase to help them stock their shelves.”

Details on all the products from the Showcase are also included in the SEMA Show mobile app, giving attendees a year-round resource to help them after the Show. The mo bile app’s product scanning feature enables attendees to flag items of in terest and create custom lists of note worthy products. Only at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas will attendees be able to connect with all product ex perts from the exhibiting companies for quality one-on-one discussions, demos and presentations.

Participation in the New Prod ucts Showcase, available as a ben efit to SEMA Show exhibitors, is easy and affordable. All exhibitors qualify to submit one product entry at no cost. Subsequent entries range

from $75-$150 each, depending on the submission date, and there is no limit to the number of entries. New this year is an on-site freight delivery service to make it easier than ever for exhibitors in West, North and Central Halls to participate.

Through the new service, exhib itors drop off their products at a near by designated area in their respective hall, and then coordinate to meet the product at the New Products CheckIn area in South Hall.

Qualifying products may also be recognized as a Best New Prod uct. Winners and runner-ups in 18 categories including the new EV and ADAS categories will be an nounced and presented at the Kickoff Breakfast on Nov. 1, just before the official opening of the SEMA Show. Additionally, all products in the Showcase are professionally photo graphed. The photos are often used by outside media and helps brand awareness.

“Exhibitors that participate in the New Products Showcase report much higher success than those that do not participate,” said Gattuso. “Research tells us that exhibitors

with products in the Showcase see more buyers in their booths and re ceive more media coverage than those who do not participate in the Showcase.”

A nearby transportation hub that includes taxi and shuttle drop-off, as well as an entry point for the Las Ve gas Convention Center underground tunnel, makes it easy for attendees to visit the Showcase. More than 2,000 product entries are expected to be in cluded in this year’s Showcase.

Exhibitors can enter the SEMA Show New Products Showcase by visiting www.semashow.com/newproducts-rules. To register to attend the SEMA Show, visit www.sema show.com/register.

The four-day SEMA Show is a trade-only event that connects man ufacturers of automotive specialty products with buyers from all over the world. Taking place in Las Ve gas, NV, exhibitors come to the an nual event to debut new products that enhance the performance, styling and functionality of cars, trucks and SUVs.

Source: SEMA

TRUST FORD PARTS

CERTIFIED PARTS WHOLESALING DEALERS

Hoffman Ford Lincoln EAST HARTFORD 860-282-0861 860-290-6336 Fax

Hours: M-F 7-5:30 Sat 7:30am-3:30pm fordparts@hoffmanauto.com

Packer Norris Parts BALTIMORE 855-767-7278 410-574-8305 410-574-8389 Fax

Hours: M-F 7-5:30; Sat 8-3 www.packernorrisparts.com

Colonial Ford of Plymouth PLYMOUTH 888-754-3380 508-830-1650 508-830-1658 Fax

Hours: M-F 7:30-5; Sat 7:30-4 www.buycolonialford.com

Sarat Ford Lincoln AGAWAM 413-786-4474 413-789-3715 Fax

Hours: M-W 7-6; Th 7-8; F 7-5; Sat 8-4 www.saratford.net

Malouf Ford Lincoln Mercury NORTH BRUNSWICK 800-959-6256 732-951-1429 Fax

Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-1 fordparts@malouf.com www.maloufparts.com

Nielsen Ford SUSSEX 973-702-8000 973-875-7016 Fax

Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-3:30 gbraden@nielsenford.com

Biener Ford GREAT NECK 516-466-6406 516-407-3537 Fax

Hours: M-F 8-5 kshakur@bienerford.com www.bienerford.com

Schultz Ford Lincoln NANUET 845-623-5111 845-624-0075 Fax

Hours: M-F 7-12, 12:45-5:30; Sat 8-12 parts@schultzflm.com

Ditschman/Flemington Ford FLEMINGTON 800-221-1256 908-782-1795 Fax

Hours: M-F 7:30-5; Sat 8-3 www.njparts.com

New Holland Ford NEW HOLLAND 800-367-3232 717-354-9633 Fax

Hours: M-F 7-5:30

Driven Brands Holdings Inc. on Sept. 8 reported the acquisition of Auto Glass Fitters, making it the second largest player in the U.S. auto glass repair, replacement and calibration category after entering the U.S. market in early fiscal 2022. This further densifies the com pany’s East Coast presence in auto glass services and significantly adds to its mobile capabilities.

The $5 billion and growing auto glass services market has been a strategic growth focus for Driven Brands, and this acquisition en hances its presence in this highly fragmented, needs-based category.

Leveraging operational exper tise from its Canadian auto glass servicing business and its existing blueprint for growth across seg ments like Quick Lube and Car Wash, the company has used its deep expertise in M&A to kickstart growth in the U.S. auto glass ser vicing market. At the same time, Driven Brands has built a robust pipeline of greenfield glass loca tions, using its proven playbook in real estate and development.

With the addition of Auto

Glass Fitters, the company now serves customers across more than 150 locations and more than 600 mobile units across 41 states after entering the U.S. market less than a year ago.

become one of the dominant players in the category. Auto Glass Fitters has been on an incredible growth trajectory growing sales 25% yearover-year with over 100% growth in glass calibration and we’re thrilled to add another phenomenal team to our growing Driven Glass family,” said Michael Macaluso, EVP and group president of paint, collision and glass.

than 35 states through a combina tion of service locations and mobile units.

Now part of the broader Driv en Brands glass portfolio, the Auto Glass Fitters business will have access to robust shared service capabilities like data analytics, di rect-to-consumer marketing, pro curement and commercial customer relationship management, includ ing the company’s insurance and fleet relationships.

“We have significant momen tum across our auto glass service business, propelling us to quickly

“Glass continues to be one of our focus areas of growth given its highly compelling economics including sales, 4-Wall EBITDA margins and cash-on-cash returns,” Macaluso said. “As we scale our already rapidly growing national presence, we have a massive oppor tunity to unlock the B2B potential by extending our glass services to our existing insurance, fleet and other commercial relationships furthering the already compelling economics of this business.”

Auto Glass Fitters has been in business for more than a decade and through its commitment to profes sional and efficient repairs, estab lished a strong East Coast presence, along with service coverage in more

“I’m deeply grateful for all the support our Auto Glass Fitters fam ily has provided to the many com munities we serve and for helping grow the business to become what it is today. I am humbled to see how much we have accomplished,” said Auto Glass Fitters founder Richard Rutta “I’m excited to see what our amazing team can achieve with the resources and capabilities that Driven Brands will bring to the business.”

“We’ve demonstrated our ability to build and scale the glass business, becoming a leader in the category in such a short period, fol lowing our playbook for growth,” said Macaluso. “Once we further scale our glass business, we will be the only player in the category to provide a nationwide footprint for paint, collision and glass services together.”

Visit DrivenBrands.com for more information.

Source: Driven Brands

Finish It Like a with PA RT S

DELAWARE

Mercedes-Benz of Wilmington Wilmington 302-995-5030 302-995-5033 Fax

M-F 7:30am - 5pm Sat 8am - 2pm parts@mbofwilmington.com www.mbofwilmington.com

MASSACHUSETTS

Mercedes-Benz of Burlington Burlington 833-768-5924 617-275-2182 Direct 781-229-1600 Main

M-F 7am-6pm Sat 8am-5pm parts@mbob.com www.mbob.com

NEW YORK

Mercedes-Benz of Goldens Bridge Goldens Bridge 914-232-8146 914-232-4770 Fax

M-F 8am - 5:30pm

Sat 8am - 2pm achristiano@mercedesbenzgb.com www.mercedesbenzgb.com

Mercedes-Benz of Smithtown St. James 631-265-5339 631-265-8146 Fax

M-F 8am - 5pm

Sat 8am - 4:30pm mlevantino@mbofsmithtown.com www.mbofsmithtown.com

NEW JERSEY

Mercedes-Benz of Atlantic City Egg Harbor Township 609-645-9310 201-765-9760 Fax

M-F 7:30am - 6pm Sat 7:30am - 5pm mbpartswholesale@yourmercedes.com

Mercedes-Benz of Newton Newton 800-842-0557 888-302-2369 973-383-1284 Fax

M-F 8am - 5pm realmercedesparts@mbofnewton.com

Mercedes-Benz of Paramus Paramus 888-30-PARTS 201-265-7808 201-483-2782 Fax

M-Th 7:30am - 7:30pm

F 7:30am - 5pm Sat 8am - 5pm parts@prestigemb.com

PENNSYLVANIA

Mercedes-Benz of Fort Washington Fort Washington 267-419-1414 201-765-9760 Fax

M-F 7:30am - 6pm

Sat 7:30am - 5pm mbpartswholesale@yourmercedes.com

Mercedes-Benz of West Chester West Chester 484-313-1110 484-313-1002 Fax

M-F 7:30am - 6pm

Sat 7:30am - 5pm parts@mbofwestchester.com

RHODE ISLAND

Viti Mercedes-Benz Tiverton 800-544-5580 401-624-6181 401-624-4817 Fax

M-F 7:30am - 5:30pm

Sat 9am - 5pm eric@viti.com www.viti.com