April 2023 Southeast Edition

IIHS Research Scientist: ‘It Seems Calibration is the Weakest Link’

By Abby Andrews Autobody News

A first-of-its-kind consumer survey conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) showed the majority of people who own a vehicle with increasingly popular ADAS features are reporting issues with those features after a repair for any reason—but especially when the repair was the result of crash damage, or a windshield replacement.

While the self-reported survey of a sample of about 500 owners in the U.S. cannot say exactly how widespread the problem really is in the entire registered fleet, it’s a clear sign repairers need to invest in the tools and training to perform calibrations, and automakers need to make that information more accessible, said Alexandra Mueller, senior research scientist at IIHS and the study’s designer.

“Changes need to be made, and

there are definitely solutions that can be implemented,” Mueller said.

The survey, conducted in 2021, sought out owners of vehicles model year 2011 and newer, that had certain popular ADAS features: front crash prevention, which includes automatic emergency braking and front collision warning; blind spot monitoring; and cameras, including those providing rear and 360-degree views.

Of the 3,000 owners contacted, about 500 had taken in their vehicles for repairs and participated in the survey; 40% of those said their vehicles were a model year 2019 or newer.

Post-repair problems with ADAS were substantially more common among people who had features repaired because of crash damage or in connection with a windshield replacement. About two-thirds of owners whose ADAS feature repairs involved windshield replacement and l CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

Florida Senator Aims To Ban EVs from Evacuating State Amid Hurricanes

By Steven Loveday InsideEVs

Republican Florida State Sen. Jonathon Martin believes the state should not allow electric cars to evacuate during a hurricane. His reasoning is based in part on misinformation already debunked when others have made similar suggestions in the past.

According to a recent article published by Electrek, Martin, of Fort Myers, serves on the Florida Senate’s Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and the Select Committee on Resiliency. He reportedly asked the state’s Department of Transportation to consider banning EV evacuations, since the cars could run out of charge and get stranded, thereby blocking other (gas-powered) traffic from evacuating.

During some recent storms in the Midwest, people posted similar suggestions on social media with claims that a bunch of EVs were expected to end up stranded in the snow while gas car owners made it

l CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Mississippi Bill Aiming To Restrict EV Direct Sales Passes Senate

By Simon Alvarez Teslarati

Electric vehicle makers may find it harder to open new companyowned stores in Mississippi in the future.

Following a nearly two-hour debate among lawmakers, House Bill 401 passed through the Senate by a vote of 38-14. The bill is now on its way to Gov. Tate Reeves’ desk.  House Bill 401 is controversial. If

l CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

it does get signed into law, electric vehicle makers like Tesla, Rivian and Lucid would be mandated to sell their vehicles through a franchised dealership. EV makers today typically

Columnist Mike Anderson: My ‘Wish

Credit: Shutterstock

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Auto Body Shop Veteran Starts Azimuth, a Specialized ADAS Calibration Center

By Ed Attanasio Autobody News

Charlie Rich has more than 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur and executive in the automotive aftermarket, in the technology, insurance, OEM and collision repair segments.

Rich began his career in the automotive aftermarket when he joined CCC Intelligent Solutions in 1989. During his eight-year tenure, he played a major role in the company’s explosive growth and the introduction of several industry innovations— including the DRP concept and PCbased estimating. His other career highlights include co-founding ProcessClaims in 2000, where he served as president and board member. In just six years, the company grew from start-up to more than $11 million in sales before it was acquired by CCC in 2006. Rich went on to serve as vice president of business development at Fix Auto USA before founding Azimuth Calibration in 2022.

Q: What inspired you to start Azimuth?

Q: What types of tricky calibrations are shops encountering problems with?

A: High-end European vehicles and exotics, including calibrations involving any cameras, radar and blind spots that require OEM tooling and service information and appropriate space, lighting, clutterfree, level floors, etc.

Q: More and more shops are outsourcing their ADAS diagnostics. Why?

A: The leading reasons are liability, expense to start and operate, finding and training qualified

if it detects an object in the blind spot while executing a lane-change.

Intelligent Systems: The most recent technological advances involve combining the signals from multiple sensors and modules to create a connected system that can control the vehicle with great precision. One

Q: What does your company name stand for?

A: Azimuth is an angular measurement in a spherical coordinate system. In a celestial context, it is the horizontal direction of a star. The reference plane for an azimuth is true north, measured at 0-degree azimuth—the horizontal angle or direction of a compass bearing. In land navigation, azimuth is denoted with the alpha symbol. It plays to the technicality of calibration with a simple one-word name.

Q: How hard is to train a tech into an ADAS expert/diagnostician? How long does it normally take?

A:

The overall focus is on keeping people, families and communities safe. That includes repairing vehicles to OEM standard by performing quality repairs. We pride ourselves on protecting our clients’ liability by helping them identify calibrations and completing necessary calibration to OEM standards and procedures. We do that in a costeffective and efficient manner that supports our clients’ mission and goals.

Q: Who are your main clients and what markets are you targeting? A: Collision repair shops, dealerships, insurance companies and OEMs. Any company that needs to outsource their auto diagnostics for tougher recalibrations and everything else where they need help.

Q: Many shops are not embracing ADAS and see it as an impediment to their businesses. What would you tell them? A: ADAS is not going away but growing by the day. Liability increases by the day as ADAS proliferates. The larger picture shows that complete calibrations need to be performed in order to keep your customers and communities safe. More regulations and enforcement are coming soon to make calibrations more and more vital.

technicians and staff, proper space and facilities to OEM specifications, cycle time and final safety inspections.

Q: Many people don’t understand the difference between active, passive and intelligent ADAS. Can you explain?

A: Passive Systems: Early ADAS and today’s aftermarket ADAS are passive systems. This means that they only serve to alert the driver of possible collisions or assist the driver with maneuverability by providing visual and/or auditory feedback. These include parking sensors, rearview cameras, panoramic cameras, blind-spot monitors and forward collision warning.

Active Systems: As ADAS modules became more advanced and reliable, they were given the ability to request operations from the other vehicle control units, apply brakes, increase or decrease engine torque, steer, adjust headlights, etc. These active systems allowed the windshield camera and forward radar modules to keep the vehicle at a safe distance from the vehicle it is following, as well as keep the car centered between visible lane markings. Advanced blind spot radar modules can even request that the vehicle steer back into a lane

example is the Intelligent Park Assist System, or IPAS. It combines the signals from the ultrasonic sensors, the cameras and mid-range radar to detect a parking spot and automatically park the vehicle. A system of this nature not only requires precise sensors, but will require those sensors to crate an accurate representation of the world around it.

A: It will typically take one to two years with continual learning and ongoing training. The market segment is in its early evolution, with systems, tools, information and software changing almost day to day, in some cases. We devised best practices, evaluated systems, created tooling, customized software and developed SOPs and training to get where we are, and we believe we have a great program. We designed it to be easy to absorb and practice quickly.

Charlie Rich founded Azimuth Calibration in 2022

“The larger picture shows that complete calibrations need to be performed in order to keep your customers and communities safe. More regulations and enforcement are coming soon to make calibrations more and more vital.”

CHARLIE RICH FOUNDER OF AZIMUTH CALIBRATION

Huber Collision Center Becomes 1st Virginia Shop To Join 1Collision

1Collision is excited to announce the addition of its first location in Virginia, Huber Collision Center in Fredericksburg.

Opened in 2000, the independent collision repair facility is part of a dealer group owned by Clay Huber and includes Mercedes-Benz of Fredericksburg and Volvo Cars Fredericksburg. Phil Rice is the general manager. “We are excited to add our first dealership location that operates as a standalone shop,” said John Hollingworth, 1Collision’s director of new location development. “Phil Rice is an excellent operator and we look forward to working with him and his team to take their business to the next level.”

“The industry is changing at such a rapid rate,” said Rice, who has worked at Huber Collision Center for three years. “We are not interested in becoming consolidated or selling, so we felt the best way to move forward is to partner with like-minded people we can grow with like 1Collision.”

Rice said the partnership with 1Collision will allow Huber Collision to connect with a group of people from across the country who have similar goals and aspirations without selling

sell their cars through companyowned stores.

In a statement to WJTV 21 News, State Sen. Jeremy England, R-51, said the bill is simply bad policy. He also said with the bill in place, Mississippi is sending the wrong message. This could result in the state losing out on what could be lucrative investments.

“We’re telling the electric vehicle (makers) who use a different sales model that their sales model is not acceptable in Mississippi,” England said. “If you have to go to a middle man and go to a dealership, you can already count on a 5% increase in cost tacked on just for the middle man on that.

“I believe we’re sending the wrong message. I think we’re telling them,

the organization to a consolidator.

“While other auto body shops have been taken over by large corporations with headquarters thousands of miles away, we have been locally owned from the beginning and plan to stay that way,” said Rice.

The Huber Collision team is looking forward to growing its business with 1Collision. “1Collision has a great track record with processes both on the front and back end,” said Rice. “They also have a great network with different vendors.”

Rice said they also hope to learn from other shops in the network.

“If someone has already encountered a barrier or obstacle and they have already worked through the problem, it’s great to hear about the experience and learn from it,” he said.

The family-owned company includes a team of 25 employees who range from those who are brand new to the industry to others who have worked there for 17 years.

“Local ownership enables us to be actively involved in day-today operations, decision-making and quality control and to make investments that are best for our customers,” said Rice.

‘Look, we’re going to do things the old way here in Mississippi. Good luck in the other states.’ They’re going to start selling their vehicles there, and we’re going to miss out on it.”

Supporters of the bill said it would ensure all carmakers play by the same rules, regardless of their respective business models. England, however, argued states like Nevada, which allow companies like Tesla to sell their cars through company-owned stores, recently saw a massive investment worth billions of dollars.

“I think we took a step backwards with this legislation today… In Nevada, they’re an open model state. They allow direct sales from electric vehicle manufacturers. They just saw a $3.4 billion investment by a battery company in the state of Nevada,” England said.

Tesla’s lone store in Brandon, MS, will be allowed to operate even if House Bill 401 is passed into law.

One of these investments was the shop’s decision to become certified by Mercedes-Benz and Volvo. Huber Collision is also a AAA Approved Auto Repair Center and staffed with I-CAR Gold Class professionals.

The team prides itself on providing excellent customer service and repairing cars correctly.

“We work diligently every day to do the best that we can to keep our customers, vendors and staff informed throughout the repair process,” he said. “I want everybody to understand the reason we come here each day is to serve our customers and make a living. We can go home in the evening to what’s most important, which is our families.”

One of the ways Rice keeps his team connected is through daily production meetings. “We are able to identify the customers and veh icles that need priority attention and develop a plan as to what is going to take place,” he said. “Sometimes, those plans change and if you aren’t willing to effectively communicate that on a floor level, then it creates confusion or dissension within the organization.”

Huber Collision Center also

believes it’s important to support the local community and demonstrates its involvement in a variety of ways.

“We are invested in this region and its people and consider it an honor to be able to serve our neighbors, friends and the many newcomers who find their way to this beautiful region of our state and nation,” said Rice. “We have an ongoing commitment to reach out—alone and in partnership with local nonprofit organizations— to help people in our community receive the basic necessities of food, clothing, safe shelter, health care and the right to life.”

In addition to sponsoring the annual Fredericksburg Christmas Parade, some of the organizations the company assists include Choices Women’s Center, Christian Youth Theater, the Fairy Godmother Project, the Mary Washington Hospital Foundation and the Rotary Club of Rappahannock-Fredericksburg.

“Our goal is to gain our customers’ trust by always seeking to do what is fair and right, to build our employees by empowering them to succeed, and to strive for excellence in everything we do,” said Rice.

Source: 1Collision

Tesla Owners Club of LA Gets Up-Close Look at Repair Experience at Bistagne Bros.

By Ed Attanasio Autobody News

On Feb. 19, Bistagne Bros. Body Shop in Glendale, CA, hosted a meeting of the Tesla Owners Club of Los Angeles, so Tesla owners could witness a certified shop in action.

is one of 80-plus chapters in the Tesla Owners Club Program. As friends and fans, the LA chapter members drive their EVs to unique Southern California locations, share Tesla tips and tricks, and support green and community outreach events. They participate in an annual statewide

membership of his chapter will expand based on Tesla’s growing popularity, especially in the Los Angeles area. “We are no longer early adopters, but we are still as

passionate about these cars as we’ve ever been. EVs are here to stay and we are getting more fans all the time. There is a real synergy here with Tesla owners and their cars.”

Members came to Glendale for two hours on a Sunday morning for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of a shop. They were able to mix and mingle with other club members, grab snacks and drinks, and find out what it takes to bring a damaged Tesla back to its pre-accident condition.

Bistagen Bros. Body Shop coowner Robert Bistagne was delighted to sponsor the event.

“This is a great group, and they were very enthusiastic, which was nice,” he said. “They were able to see a quarter panel of a Model 3 painted, and an installation of paint protection film on several panels. Tesla engineers were here to show the inner structure of a Tesla Model 3, and we also set up a table illustrating the rivet bonding process and riveting tools, where people were able to get hands-on.”

Bistagne tried to create some fun activities for the club members, and based on their reactions, he succeeded.

“We wanted to keep them engaged,” he said. “At first I thought, how are we going to occupy these Tesla owners for two hours, and the time just flew by! They know a lot about their cars and are willing to learn more about them, which is great.”

The Tesla Owners Club of Los Angeles is a community of more than 500 owners who enjoy sharing the exciting world of Tesla. The LA club

conference and are made up of volunteers who just love their vehicles and the lifestyle surrounding them.

LA Chapter President Jason Fudenberg, an IT director who lives in Sherman Oaks, CA, has two Teslas. Six years ago, the chapter became an official club after communicating with other owners via social media.

“We are a not-for profit group and we just love talking Tesla,” Fudenberg said. “We have monthly events, and anyone with a Tesla is welcome to join via teslaclubla.com. The annual membership fees are $40 and once you’re on the organization’s mailing list, you are invited to a wide range of events held throughout Southern California.”

The organization’s members are from all segments of the population, Fudenberg said. “We have drag racers, moms and techies who love these amazing vehicles. We have at least one event scheduled every month, and we often add flash events to our calendar all the time.”

Fudenberg is hopeful the

“We are no longer early adopters, but we are still as passionate about these cars as we’ve ever been.”

JASON FUDENBERG LA CHAPTER PRESIDENT

Tesla engineers were on hand to show the inner structure of a Model 3. Photo credit: Barbara Davies

Pictured, left to right, is Jason Fudenberg, president of the Tesla Owners Club of Los Angeles; Robert Bistagne, co-owner of Bistagne Bros. Body Shop; and Nancy Knupfer, Tesla Owners Club of Los Angeles event organizer. Photo credit: Barbara Davies

Bistagne Bros. enjoyed seeing LA Tesla owners in their shop and learning about the collision repair process. Photo credit: Barbara Davies

Bistagne Bros. Auto Body in Glendale, CA, hosted a meeting of the Tesla Owners Club of Los Angeles, so members could learn more about the repair process. Photo credit: Barbara Davies

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Ban EVs from Evacuating

safely home. However, the opposite proved true in at least some cases.

EV owners made it home and plugged in or sat warm in their cars on the side of the road while gas cars ran out of fuel and some gas stations had long lines, were offline or out of fuel. EVs also aren’t impacted by flooding nearly to the level of gas cars, which can be quickly rendered inoperable if they take in water.

The lawmaker’s fear here is public EV charging infrastructure is limited, and if the power goes out, electric cars won’t be able to charge. However, when the power is out, gas stations are typically closed, and gas car owners don’t have gas pumps in their garages at home.

EVs can charge at home or in another area that has power, and can be charged with a gas generator. Since these future powertrains are much more efficient than gas engines, the “full tank” stands to last longer, especially when the vehicle is “idling” in evacuation traffic or sitting on the side of the road “running.”

To be clear, EVs don’t idle, and they don’t really run like a gas car when they’re not moving. Instead, they remain quiet and emissions-

free while using as little energy as possible to keep the electronics and climate control working. A gas car would need to be running the whole time, cranking out exhaust fumes, and likely using much more gas in the stop-and-go traffic than at speed.

While many EV owners tend to have some range anxiety and pay close attention to things like range, charging time, efficiency, etc., this isn’t necessarily true of gas car owners. Since gas stations are plentiful and gas car owners don’t tend to have range anxiety, it wouldn’t be uncommon for them to set out on the road with a small amount of gas. There’s really no immediate need to pull into a gas station and “top up” every day. However, many EV owners wake to a fully charged car every morning.

“With a couple of guys behind you, you can’t get out of the car and push it to the side of the road,” Martin said, according to the Tampa Bay Times. “Traffic backs up. And what might look like a two-hour trip might turn into an eight-hour trip once you’re on the road.

“My concern is there’s not an infrastructure currently available in the state of Florida for the amount of EVs that might be used to evacuate, on evacuation routes, during a time

of emergency.”

Florida Department of Transportation Executive Director of Transportation Technologies Trey Tillander didn’t seem to agree with Martin’s suggested ban. He noted lawmakers are looking into portable EV chargers. He also said it’s the state’s responsibility to offer the same level of assistance to electric cars as it does for gas cars.

“So, if an electrical vehicle runs out of charge, there are technologies,” Tillander said. “We have our Road Rangers. We have our emergency assistance vehicles that we deploy during a hurricane evacuation that have gas.”

To restrict a Florida resident from getting out of harm’s way based on the type of car they drive would arguably be outright crazy. Moreover, to help owners of stalled gas cars while leaving EVs behind would be just as insane.

More charging infrastructure is coming via the Biden administration’s efforts, as well as progress by many related companies. In the meantime, most EV owners are enjoying charging at home and not having to worry about dealing with gas stations, especially those that may be lined up or out of fuel during an emergency that requires evacuation.

The winter registration deadline for the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) testing and recertification is March 31.

Those service professionals registering by the deadline will have 90 days to schedule an appointment to take their selected ASE tests.

ASE now offers three options for taking certification or recertification tests.

In-person testing is available throughout the year and is conducted days, nights and weekends at more than 450 secured, proctored Prometric test centers. Those with unexpired automobile certifications (A1-A9) can use the ASE renewal app for recertification. ASE also offers ProProctor remote testing as an online recertification solution for all ASE recertifications tests, excluding L1 and L2 tests.

To register and select an available option to take selected ASE certification tests, visit ASE. com by March 31.

Source: ASE

ASE Instructor

Conference Set For July

The 2023 ASE Instructor Training Conference is scheduled for July 17-20 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Concord, NC, just outside of Charlotte.

Hosted by the ASE Education Foundation, the conference will host hundreds of high school and college instructors from auto, truck and collision repair programs nationwide at the premier national training event of the year.

Offering more than 20 hours of technical update training, the in-person conference will provide separate tracks for auto, medium/heavy truck and collision repair instructors. The cost for instructors from ASEaccredited programs is $600 per person while the cost for instructors from non-accredited programs is $700 each.

For more information or to register, visit aseeducationfoundation.org/ events/ase-instructor-trainingconference.

Source: ASE

Alabama Auto Parts Supplier To Pay $1.3M After 20-Year-Old

Worker’s 2016 Death

The independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission has affirmed citations issued by the U.S. Department of Labor’s OSHA to a global auto parts supplier after the 2016 death of a 20-year-old machine operator at an Alabama manufacturing facility.

The decision comes after Joon LLC—operating as AJIN USA— contested OSHA citations after an investigation of how an employee at its Cusseta, AL, facility suffered fatal crushing injuries in June 2016 in a robotic machine. OSHA inspectors learned the machine operator and three co-workers entered a robotic cell on the assembly line to clear a sensor fault when a robot inside the cell restarted abruptly, crushing a young woman inside.

Its inspection led OSHA to cite

penalties to address the violations.

“No violation or penalty can recover a life lost needlessly. This case’s resolution serves as a stark reminder to all employers that the U.S. Department of Labor will

Regional Solicitor Tremelle Howard in Atlanta.

In a September 2020 criminal case, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, Eastern Division, ordered AJIN USA to pay a $500,000 fine and $1 million in restitution to the deceased woman’s estate after the company pled guilty to a charge of a willful violation of an OSHA standard.

“Failing to lock out equipment causes far too many serious injuries and deaths,” explained OSHA Regional Administrator Kurt Petermeyer in Atlanta. “In this case, a young woman lost her life because her employer took shortcuts to minimize downtime and maintain production.”

Based in Korea, AJIN USA is a global supplier of parts to Hyundai and Kia with manufacturing plants in the U.S., South Korea, China

“Failing to lock out equipment causes far too many serious injuries and deaths. In this case, a young woman lost her life because her employer took shortcuts to minimize downtime and maintain production.”

KURT PETERMEYER OSHA REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR

with Cole Strandberg

‘Who Pays’ Survey Offers Insights into Billing, Payment Practices for Vehicle Scanning, Battery Support

By John Yoswick Autobody News

Although a higher percentage of shops are now seeking to be paid for the labor involved in applying battery support during a vehicle scan, fewer of those shops say they are regularly being paid for the procedure.

“That is unfortunate,” said shop trainer and consultant Mike Anderson of Collision Advice of the finding from a recent “Who Pays for What?” survey. “When we first asked about this procedure back in 2018, nearly 70% of shops said they never negotiated to be paid for this. Today that is down to 54%, which is great. But only 40% of those shops said they are regularly reimbursed for the time involved by the eight largest insurers. That’s the lowest percentage we have seen in five years. I honestly don’t have an explanation for that.”

Anderson said hooking up battery support is important because it ensures proper system voltage throughout the diagnostic scanning process. When vehicle voltage falls below normal levels, scan results can be unreliable, or re-programming of

This “not-included” operation can sometimes require a significant amount of labor time, Anderson said.

“It can require removing components to access the battery, and requires the use of a special battery maintainer—a jump box, a trickle charger or a battery charger is not considered proper battery support,” he said. “And one of the things that I have learned is that battery support should be connected for at least 10 minutes before a scan operation is performed. There is no reason this procedure should not be paid for when it is necessary.”

features may be turned off or placed in fail-safe mode after the removal and reinstallation of a related component, or due to “lost communication” trouble codes that are set.

“most” of the time by the eight largest national insurers, with about another one-third saying they are paid at least “some of the time.”

The survey also asked for the first time about in-process vehicle scanning.

“I’ve learned that this is often an absolutely necessary procedure, so we added it to the survey,” Anderson said.

“If you don’t scan the vehicle and address that prior to a test drive, it could generate another trouble code, or you may not be able to do a proper calibration,” Anderson said.

The survey found about 21% of shops reported conducting inprocess scans on all or most vehicles--in comparison, more than 90% of shops now say they conduct preand post-repair scans on all or most vehicles.

“I expect that 21% to grow in the future,” Anderson said.

More than one-third of shops (36%) billing for in-process scans

The surveys over time have found some differences in the payment practices of the eight insurers. In 2017, State Farm and USAA were more likely than the other six large national insurers to pay the charges for a pre-repair scan. For example, 57% of shops reported State Farm regularly paid for pre-repair scans, while only 46% of shops said that about Allstate and Progressive.

But over the next couple of years, most of the insurers began to pay for the procedure more regularly than State Farm. By 2019, as many as 79% of shops reported State Farm was regularly paying for pre-repairs scans, but on average 86% of shops said that about the other six insurers. State Farm remains at the bottom of the pack in the latest survey.

The latest “Who Pays for What?” survey, focused on not-include body labor procedures, is open throughout April. Shops can visit www. crashnetwork.com/collisionadvice to

“There is no reason this procedure should not be paid for when it is necessary.”

MIKE ANDERSON COLLISION ADVICE

Vehicle Technology Highlighted During 2023 CES Show

By Stacey Phillips Autobody News

Technological innovations, new product debuts and a wide range of company announcements were all part of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), held Jan. 5-8 in Las Vegas, NV. Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)®, CES features all aspects of the tech sector, including automotive.

embracing the electric vehicle (EV) experience.

“Vehicle OEMs are investing billions in EV tech, charging stations are showing up in cities and across highways virtually worldwide, and consumers are procuring the latest line of EVs,” said Prabhat Agarwal, CTA senior director of research and trends, in his article, “EVs Drive the New Car Revolution.” “All these factors are leading indicators and encouraging signs for an industry that is early in its lifecycle. EVs are clearly on a growth trajectory, as will be on clear display at CES 2023.”

One of the keynotes was delivered by Oliver Zipse, chairman of the Board of Management for BMW. Zipse introduced the “perfect digital car of the future”—the NEAU KLASSE generation of vehicles—and unveiled the i Vision Dee, a BMW concept EV equipped with adaptive artificial intelligence (AI). The vehicles are expected to be produced in 2025.

comfortable and customizable mobile environment for passengers. This year’s show featured several LiDAR (light detection and ranging) companies showcasing their products for autonomous vehicles.

(IAC), which returned this year at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Jan. 7. The autonomous racing competition featured nine fully autonomous racecars that reached speeds of more than 190 mph. Team PoliMove from

Considered one of the most influential tech events in the world, some of the largest brands— including Google, Amazon and Microsoft—showcased their products and services at the event. This year’s theme, “Human Security for All,” highlighted sustainability and solving global challenges.

More than 115,000 industry professionals attended the January show, which was 70% larger than in 2021 and featured more than 3,200 exhibitors from more than 173 countries, territories and regions, including 1,000 startup companies.

Show organizers said the automotive section was “bigger than ever,” with nearly 300 exhibitors in the Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall. Attendees had the opportunity to see concept cars, connected vehicles, autonomous mobility and other vehicle technology firsthand from companies such as GM, Waymo and Mobileye.

“At CES 2023, new innovations promise to change our world for the better,” noted CTA President and CEO Gary Shapiro during CTA’s State of the Industry address. “Companies big and small are showcasing innovations in mobility, digital health, artificial intelligence, robotics, food tech, smart home, digital assets and more.”

Shapiro said new technologies keep drivers and passengers safer and more comfortable on the road, and carmakers are leading efforts to build a greener and more sustainable future.

According to CTA research, consumers are increasingly

“We are able to explore the full potential of digitalization to transform the car into an intelligent companion,” said Zipse.

Each year, the CES Innovation Awards competition honors outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products. This year, more than 50 products received an award in the category of Vehicle Tech and Advanced Mobility.

Another highlight during the show was the Indy Autonomous Challenge

Politecnico di Milano in Italy and the University of Alabama won the second annual event.

At the conclusion of CES, Shapiro said, “The innovation unveiled this week will drive economic growth and change in meaningful ways to improve our lives and create a better future for the next generation.”

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares also delivered a keynote address, which included the company’s vision for making mobility clean, safe and affordable for all. Tavares unveiled the Ram 1500 Revolution Battery Electric Vehicle Concept and the Peugeot Inception Concept.

“We want to improve how people move, socialize, shop and entertain themselves,” said Tavares. “We are enabling human connections, maintaining access to clean, safe and affordable mobility, and working sideby-side with our partners to provide freedom of movement.”

Some of the new products unveiled during the week included Sony Honda Mobility’s EV concept car, Afeela; Holon’s autonomous and fully electric mover vehicle that can fit 15 people; Bosch’s RideCare Companion, a smart sensor-based solution to enhance vehicle safety; and new vehicle technology from FORVIA, designed to create a more

At CES, Faraday Future showcased its FF91, which uses Innovusion’s LiDAR to power the autonomous driving system.

“Vehicle OEMs are investing billions in EV tech, charging stations are showing up in cities and across highways virtually worldwide, and consumers are procuring the latest line of EVs.”

— PRABHAT AGARWAL

CTA SENIOR DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AND TRENDS

During CES, Mobileye founder and CEO Professor Amnon Shashua discussed the company’s initiatives in regard to autonomous vehicle and advanced driver-assistance technology, which includes Mobileye SuperVision™.

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Association Announces Director of Digital Products

The Auto Care Association on Feb. 22 announced the addition of David Logan as its new director of digital products.

Logan will lead Auto Care’s ongoing development and maintenance of the product suite. In addition, he will collaborate with stakeholders to develop product roadmaps and determine which technology is needed to achieve the vision.

Logan is a seasoned professional with more than two decades of experience in the automotive aftermarket industry. Throughout his career, he has held a variety of leadership positions in product management and catalog direction. He has a proven track record of success working with top brands in the industry, including FEL-PRO, Sealed Power, Raybestos, TRICO, Carter, FRAM and Victor-Reinz.

Logan has worked for renowned organizations such as DANA Corp., Federal-Mogul and First Brands Group, serving automotive retailers, wholesalers and independent customers throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Source: Auto Care Association

Scout Motors To Build Electric Trucks, SUVs in South Carolina

By Dan Mihalascu InsideEVs

Volkswagen Group-backed Scout Motors has picked Columbia, SC, as the site of its first manufacturing plant.

The company will invest $2 billion and create 4,000 or more

said in a press release. Groundbreaking is planned for mid2023 and production is projected to begin by the end of 2026.

The site spans approximately 1,600 acres, including 1,100 acres occupied by the plant itself. The location is described by the automaker as “strategic,” bordering the I-77 and Blythewood Road, and being less than 20 miles north of Columbia.

It’s also near major cities and talent hubs such as Charleston, Charlotte, Greenville and Atlanta.

an SUV in 1960. It’s the vehicle that took your family on a camping trip, that gave access to the great outdoors, and that showed up on the job site every morning. Today, we’re reimagining Scout’s original ingenuity and electrifying its future. We’re bringing the Scout spirit to South Carolina and it’s going to be a hell of a ride.”

permanent jobs at the future factory, where it will build nextgeneration electric trucks and rugged SUVs inspired by the iconic Scout vehicles made from 1960 to 1980.

At full capacity, the facility will produce more than 200,000 Scout vehicles per year, the automaker

According to Scout, this proximity gives it unrivaled access to major highways, ports of Charleston and Savannah, and universities focused on automotive engineering.

“We’re honored to partner with South Carolina to usher in this new era for Scout,” said Scott Keogh, president and CEO of Scout Motors. “Scout has been an American icon since introducing

Scout will build its electric trucks and SUVs on a newly designed allelectric platform that will deliver “credible capability and off-road prowess.” Internal engineering will focus on attributes such as ground clearance, approach angles, robust axles, payload capacity, all-electric range and new digital features—all while honoring the brand heritage.

South Carolina is home to more than 500 automotive-related companies and 75,000 automotive industry employees. It’s also No. 1 in the U.S. for export sales of both completed passenger vehicles and tires.

This official rendering pictures the future Scout Motors manufacturing site in South Carolina

nearly three-quarters of those whose repairs were required due to crash damage said they had issues with the technology after repair.

In contrast, fewer than half of owners who had repairs done for other reasons—like a recall or service bulletin from the automaker—faced problems afterward.

Mueller said since the survey is self-reported, the results only point to where issues might be.

“We don’t really know how big this problem is in the registered fleet as a whole,” she said.

Dealership vs. Independent Repairer

People who had taken their vehicle to an independent repairer reported more problems than those who had gone to a dealership service center. For example, among people whose vehicles had front crash prevention features repaired, 46% who went to a dealership reported issues, compared to 70% of people who had gone to an independent repairer.

spot monitoring and cameras reported similar rates of problems

after going to a dealership or an independent repairer.

Mueller said this result was not surprising.

“A dealership service center specializes in their automaker; they have specific training and tools and the space required to do calibrations properly,” Mueller said. “A lot of independent repair shops are just not that large.”

Even people who went to dealerships for repairs still had issues, Mueller said.

“It’s a concern that many said recalibration was performed, if they had the repair done for damage,” she said. “It seems calibration is the weakest link here. We are seeing repairers having difficulty implementing the instructions and specifications set by automaker to calibrate these systems.”

Some people reported the original ADAS issue was resolved, but a new one started. However, the survey didn’t go into detail about what those issues are, Mueller said. The survey also did not ask what issues exactly people were experiencing postrepair—they may be safety related, or they may just be an annoyance, like

study was to highlight if there are areas of concern that we need to start paying attention to, and the study results show that yes, there are.”

One reassuring finding, Mueller said, was that survey respondents said despite the post-repair issues, the overwhelming majority said they would still buy another car with the same ADAS features.

“These features have safety benefits,” Mueller said. “The data are unequivocal, and show these systems help prevent crashes and reduce the severity if they do get in one. Even though many were complaining about issues after repairs, they still want the technology, they still see the value of the technology.

“This is so important—we need to see this technology rolled out to reduce a very serious public health issue with respect to traffic safety,” she said.

Takeaways

Mueller said the survey’s main conclusion is the general repair process is becoming more complicated, and it is affecting consumers and their vehicles once

inconvenience that could undermine consumer confidence in the technology.

“We have to get the repair process more refined to start resolving these issues, again because of the safety potential of these technologies,” Mueller said.

The IIHS is planning future studies to fully understand the scale and severity of the issues reported in this first study.

Meanwhile, Mueller said, automakers can help by making vehicles easier to repair, and by simplifying and establishing centralized databases that contain repair and calibration information so technicians can access it, whether they are in a dealership service center or an independent shop.

Self-diagnostic communication strategies—like those used by the tire pressure monitoring systems common in vehicles— could be used for ADAS features, to tell a repairer or driver something is not right.

“We need to help facilitate the repair process and support consumer confidence in these technologies, because most people get a vehicle repaired at some point in their life,

My ‘Wish List’ of Changes to Improve the Collision Repair Industry

Once a year or so, I compile my “wish list” for the industry, the changes—in some cases, long-awaited changes— I’d like to see happen to help our industry. As always, I challenge you— whether you represent a collision repair business, an insurance company, an automaker, an association or an industry vendor—to find a way to contribute to making these 10 wishes become reality.

Wish No. 1: Automakers should change the antiquated way they require dealership collision centers to report their financials.

Most independent body shops actually have a competitive advantage over dealership body shops when it

Wish No. 2: Some entity in the industry needs to take the lead in developing a clear technician career path and apprenticeship training.

The technician shortage isn’t going to get solved until there’s an easier and better way for every shop to grow its own new technicians. We need some organization—I-CAR or an automaker, for example—to put together a program that does that.

Wish No. 3: All collision repair shops should inspect the seat belts in every vehicle they repair, every single time.

OK, body shops, so far on this list, I’ve left you off in terms of

in the mirror and start holding people accountable for doing the right thing. Automakers need to make this part of their auditing of certified body shops.

Wish No. 5: Insurers and the automakers need to stop leaving shops in the middle of the friction related to vehicle safety inspections.

Most automakers have clear requirements for the safety inspections, in addition to checking seat belts, that must be performed on their vehicles after a crash. These requirements—which can include measuring the steering column, checking SRS connectors, etc.—are the single biggest friction point in the collision repair industry today.

Insurers say they don’t want to pay for this work. Uneducated dealerships and even some certified shops are saying it doesn’t need to be done. That leaves the shops trying to do the right thing stuck in the middle.

My wish is that insurers and the automakers would sit down and get this figured out, and take shops out of the middle. It’s wrong on all accounts.

Wish No. 6: All automakers need to make one-time-use parts more easily identified.

and I can tell you the No. 1 issue we see is that parts don’t get coded properly. There has to be a better way.

Wish No. 8: Dealership wholesale parts departments need to “play nice in the sandbox” with one another.

I can’t tell you the number of times I hear about a body shop needing a part being told it’s on backorder— only for the shop to find out a dealership in another market has it, but won’t sell it to a customer outside their market. I recently heard about

comes to examining and analyzing their financials to determine where there are areas for profitability improvement. That’s because independent body shops generally use QuickBooks or BusinessWorks or a shop management system from which they can get very detailed accounting with sub-accounts.

Unfortunately, a lot of dealership shops have to rely on the more limited financial data they get from the dealership’s management system, or are required by the auto manufacturer to report their financials in a certain way. That can make it harder for shop managers to compare their financial performance against collision repair industry benchmarks. I’d like to see this change.

I also believe dealership body shops also should get credit for the parts sales they contribute to the dealership’s overall business. When they don’t, it negatively skews the true financial performance of the shop.

responsibility for making this stuff happen. But this one is totally on you. I don’t see the post-crash seat belt inspections that are called for in the OEM procedures—and even in most vehicle owner’s manuals—being done consistently enough.

Don’t tell me the insurers won’t pay for it. Our “Who Pays for What?” surveys prove that’s not true. But even if you’re not paid for it, it’s your moral obligation to do the right thing and perform those seat belt inspections every time. You owe it to your customers.

Wish No. 4: Every technician should perform weld destructive testing prior to welding on any vehicle.

Again, I’ve seen first-hand the improper welds that can be made when this mandatory step is skipped. It disheartens me when I travel 300 days a year and see how many technicians and shops aren’t doing this every time. Shops needs to look

Some OEMs have symbols in their documentation—which then gets into the estimating systems—identifying which parts must be replaced as part of the collision repair process. Toyota uses a black dot, for example, and Nissan a black dot with a white X. My wish is that every automaker would use a symbol for one-time-use parts in order to be make them easily identifiable.

Wish No. 7: All shop management systems need to make it easy to ensure proper coding from an accounting perspective for parts that are price-matched.

This one has been on my list for a number of years. If a shop uses an OEM part instead of a non-OEM part, it doesn’t always get coded properly, sometimes because of an insurer requirement as part of a direct repair program. This creates an accounting nightmare, with OEM parts gross profit being understated, and aftermarket part gross profit being overstated.

Our team works with the financials for more than 400 collision repairers,

a shop’s customer actually locating a part at another dealership, and finding it unfathomable the shop, dealerships and automaker couldn’t keep this problem from happening. It makes all of us look stupid. Parts departments need to work better with one another.

Wish No. 9: The industry as a whole needs to understand inprocess scans are also needed on every vehicle.

I think the industry has pretty much caught up on the need for preand post-repair scans, but less so on the importance of in-process scans. Many diagnostic trouble codes need to be cleared after reassembly but before you test drive the vehicle or perform calibrations. More of the industry need to get better educated about this.

Wish No. 10: Insurers need to stop hiding behind remote claims handling and get back to negotiating fairly.

Shops say insurance companies are increasingly sending back supplements saying it’s all they will pay and hiding behind the computer. They never call the shop and have a discussion. It’s frustrating and not fair to the shops. Insurance companies need to get back to having dialogue with shops in regards to items they don’t want to pay for, versus just saying they’re not paying for it.

That’s my list for this year. Will any of these things happen before next year’s list?

“But even if you’re not paid for it, it’s your moral obligation to do the right thing and perform those seat belt inspections every time.”

MIKE ANDERSON COLLISION ADVICE

APRIL 13-15 DOSWELL VIRGINIA

Meadow Event Center

8:30am – 10:00am | Be Extraordinary!

Presented by: Mike Anderson, Collision Advice

11:00am – 12:30pm | Preparing your Shop for Electric Vehicles: Repair Strategies and Vehicle Management [PANEL DISCUSSION]

2:00pm – 3:00pm | Option 1 Properly Identifying

Labor Types and Rates

Presented by: John Shoemaker, BASF

2:00pm – 3:00pm | Option 2, How to Open and Operate a Successful ADAS Services and Calibration Business

Presented by: Frank M Terlep, VP ADAS Services, OPUS IVS

4:30pm – 5:30pm | Option 1, Repair Planning

Resources: Write Your Strongest Sheet

Presented by: Danny Gredinberg, the DEG

4:30pm – 5:30pm | Option 2, Keeping ADAS Calibrations in House

Presented by: Josh McFarlin, Executive VP of Operations, AirPro Diagnostics

8:30am – 9:30am | Option 1, From an Auditors’ Perspective, where Repairers are Hitting and Missing the Objectives

Presented by: Dennis Smoyer and Rick Miller, Wadsworth International / Subaru and Jaguar Land Rover

8:30am – 9:30am | Option 2, Organization and process = profitability

Presented by: Mark Olson, VECO Experts

11:00am – 12:30pm | Repairer to Repairer: Open Discussions on Shop Trends and more! [PANEL DISCUSSION]

2:00pm – 3:30pm | Repairer to Repairer: Stop Estimating and Start Repair Planning

Presented by: Michael Bradshaw, Vice President – K & M Collision; Secretary – Society of Collision Repair Specialists

www.SoutheastCollisionConference.com www.SoutheastCollisionConference.com

Florida Audit Finds Issues With Road Ranger Program

By Andrew Powell The Center Square

A recent audit from the Florida Auditor General’s office showed uncorrected discrepancies with a program designed to assist stranded motorists.

The Road Ranger Service Patrol Program provides highway assistance services to improve safety for the public and first responders and to reduce delays on the highways.

Primary services include coordinating with the Florida Highway Patrol and other law enforcement, assisting in clearing the roadways and controlling traffic during major incidents.

Road Ranger patrol vehicles also assist motorists and are able to help with minor mechanical repairs, tire changes and provide

The Auditor General’s report showed four issues with the Road Rangers Program, which is managed independently from the state Department of Transportation and is instead managed by the department’s seven districts and

the Florida Turnpike. The turnpike hires contractors to carry out the services.

The first issue was that the turnpike and districts failed to come up with processes and procedures for monitoring contractor performance. Each district, as well as the turnpike, must have their own quality assurance process to ensure Road Ranger equipment is up to safety standards.

The audit report recommended that monitoring systems be set up for better accountability.

The second issue the audit found was there were instances where contracts over $35,000 were not done in compliance with state procurement law, which requires detail sufficient for audits before the contract is awarded and after it has been executed.

The report states there was “no documentation available to demonstrate that the contract manager corroborated invoiced hours and amounts to original source documents such as SunGuide reports and daily operating logs showing actual hours worked for 19 contract

payments totaling $2,575,822.”

It was recommended department management ensure district and turnpike records show evidence they had followed the proper procedures regarding payments made to contractors and the services have actually been received.

The third issue found was the department had not deactivated employee access to the SunGuide software upon the termination of their employment, nor did they conduct any reviews into user access privileges. According to the FDOT website, SunGuide is an advanced traffic management system software that is used at all regional traffic management centers within the state.

This was prevalent throughout all of the seven districts from July 2018 through November 2020.

Following the audit’s finding, the report recommended reviews be carried out in an appropriate timeframe to verify user access privileges are justified.

According to the report, the fourth issue related to purchasing card controls. Records showed

it took an average of 10 days to remove an employee’s access to purchasing cards after they no longer worked at the department.

A total of 217 purchasing cards of ex-employees were examined, 43 of which were canceled between one and 215 days. The recommendation is for stricter controls on purchasing cards, including promptly canceling the cards once employment has ceased.

In response, DOT agreed with the findings and will implement specific methods for documentation to be collected for contractor reviews.

Further, the response stated documentation will also be properly gathered to evidence services paid for are services received.

SunGuide and payment cards will also be monitored more closely, according to DOT, and these changes have an estimated corrective action date of June 30.

Ford Confirms F-150 Lightning Production Resumes Following Battery Fire

By Joey Klender Teslarati

Ford confirmed March 13 that production of the F-150 Lightning all-electric pickup restarted that morning at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center (REVC) following a shutdown due to a battery fire.

Tesla Direct Sales Under Threat from Dealer-Backed Bills in Florida

inspection. Ford said the root cause of the fire was identified soon after.

Ford worked with battery supplier SK On to refine the engineering of battery cells, where the fire’s cause was pinpointed. SK On recommended a series of changes to its battery cells, and Ford agreed, which then allowed the supplier to restart production at its plant in Commerce, GA.

Ford F-150 Lightning units already at dealerships were unaffected and were allowed to be sold to consumers, the company confirmed.

By William Johnson Teslarati

Two bills introduced in the Florida Senate and House may disrupt how Tesla and other companies sell their vehicles.

Currently, there are no restrictions on direct-to-consumer sales in Florida. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Florida statute says “manufacturers may engage in direct-sales of motor vehicles provided there are no franchised dealerships selling such vehicles within the state.”

However, this could change.

Florida State Legislature website, both bills have received sizable backing from dealers and dealership groups, including the AutoNation dealership chain, the Florida Association of Automotive Dealers and the South Florida Association of Automotive Dealers. Neither state legislator was immediately available for comment on the bills.

Ford CEO Jim Farley shared images of F-150 Lightning production lines, stating, “This is the engineering standard we aim to deliver consistently.”

In February, Ford shut down production and shipment of the F-150 Lightning after a battery fire occurred in one unit during a quality

In early March, the company recalled 18 units of the pickup, which stemmed from the battery cell issue. Ford said it recalled the units due to “a battery cell manufacturing defect” that occurred over a four-week period at the end of 2022.

No injuries or accidents occurred that Ford was aware of, and the automaker said it had “a clean stock of battery packs” for the March 13 restart of production.

As initially reported by Seeking Rents, House Bill 637, sponsored by Rep. Jason Shoaf, R-7, and Senate Bill 712, sponsored by Sen. Bryan Avila, R-111, would prohibit automakers from selling vehicles directly, reserving vehicles for customers, and incentivizing or forcing dealers to sell certain types of vehicles, including EVs.

Neither bill has made its way to voting, and both have received substantial amounts of editing thus far.

According to the lobbyists listed in association with the bills on the

It is essential to recognize Tesla would not be the only automaker affected by these bills. As seen in the second section of SB712, the bill would prohibit “applicants and licensees” from requiring or incentivizing the sales of electric vehicles, which is precisely what brands like Ford, Hyundai and General Motors have been doing nationally.

Furthermore, the bill would prohibit automakers from intervening in the pricing of their vehicles, allowing dealers to dramatically mark up vehicles, a problem that has plagued numerous legacy automakers.

Considering how early in the lifecycle both bills are, there is a good chance they will look very different by the time they reach the voting stage.

Ford CEO Jim Farley shared on Twitter images of Ford F-150 Lightning production lines up and running again March 13.

Mitchell Report Provides Insight into EV Vehicle Claims, Market Data

By Stacey Phillips Autobody News

As vehicle manufacturers announce plans to go all-electric by 2030, repairers and insurers are keeping a close eye on the changes taking place and adapting as necessary.

Mitchell International, Inc., an Enlyte company, recently released its inaugural quarterly trends report: “Plugged-In: EV Collision Insights,” which provides insight into the

Q:What prompted the development of the quarterly EV report?

A:Mitchell’s previous trends report transitioned into an annual report when Enlyte, our parent brand, was formed in October 2021. We looked at opportunities to share insightful data that would be helpful for the greatest number of stakeholders— information different than they could find anywhere else.

important to get prepared.

Our goal is to get information to carriers and shops, explain the market differences with EVs, and what to expect. The data shared is based on repairable estimates uploaded to Mitchell and we’ll continue to evolve the report.

Q:Who is your main target audience?

A:It’s both insurers and repairers. Repairers are more on the front lines understanding some of the differences with these vehicles because they’re living it firsthand. However, that’s only in certain markets.

I work with many insurance carriers and the goal is to get them thinking about the EV business and how they will need to adapt their claims organization. An EV is a very different vehicle. They will need to think about the safety of appraisers in the field. They must understand how shops manage high-voltage batteries to ensure the safety of their teams.

Q:What highlights can you share?

A: It’s important for insurers to look at the original estimate and forecast what the likely reserves will be for that claim and understand that it’s probably going to be greater. When it comes to estimate writing, carriers and shops must be able to produce a collision damage appraisal that accounts for the differences between EVs and ICE vehicles. Once the estimate is written, there has to be a way for repairers to prioritize these vehicles and identify the damage quickly because there will be a more significant amount associated with them. The longer the claims process gets drawn out, the worse the customer experience is, which means CSI scores go down for the shop, the insurer and other stakeholders.

If there is a way to pre-scan during the initial estimate and focus on writing the most accurate estimate possible, it is a great way to add additional value to the process and get a better understanding of the systems that have been impacted.

Q: The report states that 90.11% of U.S. and Canadian shops are using OEM parts. What do you attribute this to?

electric vehicle (EV) claims and market data and analyzes industry trends. EV sales in 2022 represented 5.6% of the market, according to Kelley Blue Book.

Ryan Mandell, director of claims performance at Mitchell, said the report will help carriers and collision repairers prepare as EV market growth continues and more EVs enter auto body shops.

“For the repair industry, additional training, tooling and equipment will be necessary considerations to meet the needs of these complex and interconnected vehicles,” the report said. “Automotive insurers, on the other hand, should be ready to examine underwriting practices so that they can meet the demands of a growing segment of the car parc with higher average repair costs and more complex repair procedures that must be performed to successfully deliver a proper and safe repair.”

As of Q4 2022, EV repairable claims frequency was 1.1% in the U.S. and 2.26% in Canada, according to the report. The top North American EV markets based on repairable claims frequency were British Columbia (4.47%), California (3.37%) and Quebec (2.75%).

Autobody News reached out to Mandell to learn about the quarterly trends report, the data it includes and what it means for the industry moving forward.

The transition to EVs is a big disruptor, probably more so than anything we’ve seen in some time. We are seeing EV adoption numbers increasing and more coming into repair facilities.

It made sense to put out focused information about electrification and what it means for the industry. Insurers are asking how this transition will likely impact severity. That was something we knew we had to include.

A: It was interesting to see how big of an impact Tesla has on the overall EV industry, with a 76.21% market share in the U.S. and 70.21% in Canada. When you look at that delta in terms of repair cost, it can be startling at first. But when you take Tesla out of that mix, it normalizes it a little more.

Teslas are complex and more expensive to repair. However, it’s not just the Tesla effect. Even without Tesla, you still have a significant delta in the repair cost for EVs because there’s more involved.

The number of mechanical labor hours on EV estimates still outpaces ICE vehicles with 1.7 additional mechanical labor hours, which was also interesting. That speaks to how you manage the high-voltage battery during the process. You have to isolate it in many instances, which often requires additional mechanical labor hours.

A: It’s the lack of availability of alternative EV parts. With ICE vehicles, OEM utilization is roughly 68% to 70%. That’s a big difference. There is a lack of cars in the salvage pool that are making it to auto recyclers and I think many are going overseas.

I believe the percentage of OEM parts utilization will change as the salvage pool increases and aftermarket manufacturers produce parts.

We also wanted to demystify EVs and provide insights into what it means when these vehicles come into repair facilities. If you live in Southern California, you probably see EVs all the time, but if you are in another area of the country, you might not. A large section of the industry isn’t sure when they need to prepare for electrification, if they even need to, and if there is anything different with EVs. Whether or not people agree with the EV trend, people are buying them and it’s

The other piece that stood out to me in the report was looking at the 27.45% average supplement delta for EVs and how much of a role that plays in the final cost of the repair compared to the original estimate. When you look at internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, that number is around 17%, so you’re talking about 10 percentage points higher for an EV. That speaks to how critical OEM repair procedures are with these cars.

Q: What is the main takeaway for repairers and insurers?

Q: Can you share information about the percentage of parts repaired? A: We found that the average percentage of parts repaired on EVs increased from 11.05% in Q3 2022 to 12.16% in Q4 2022. This suggests that repair facilities may be improving their capabilities to repair lighter-weight substrates. However, some of this increase may also have to do with ongoing supply chain disruptions and the lack of availability of replacement parts.

Shops are investing in technology, tools and equipment to repair some of these materials more effectively. Some of this is being driven by necessity because of the supply chain issue we’re facing and the lack of availability of parts. Some shops are simply just repairing parts because they can’t get a replacement.

To read a copy of the report, visit www.mitchell.com/plugged-in.

Source: Mitchell International, Inc.

Credit: Shutterstock

ARA Updates Strategic Plan

The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) on March 13 announced an update to its strategic plan, representing a direction that will guide current and future work. The plan was adopted by the ARA Board of Directors on March 8.

ARA’s strategic plan is grounded in the association’s mission to advance the automotive recycling industry and promote its beneficial effects on society. The plan identifies four strategic initiatives that are the means through which ARA plans to translate its vision into practice. The initiatives focus on partnerships and branding, data, advocacy and education/ certification/compliance. Each of the four initiatives outlines a series of objectives which describe how ARA plans to commit its resources and how future success will be measured.

“This plan is a representation of ARA as the eyes, ears and voice of the professional automotive recycling industry,” said ARA Executive Director Sandy Blalock Source: ARA

Florida Governor, Legislative Leaders Push For Reforms Against Frivolous Lawsuits

By Andrew Powell The Center Square

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and legislative leaders want reforms to take on frivolous lawsuits and put a stop to what the governor calls “predatory” practices by trial lawyers.

DeSantis held a news conference in Jacksonville on Feb. 14 with House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, and Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, about the proposals, which would eliminate one-way attorney fees and fee multipliers for all lines of insurance, modernize Florida’s “bad faith” law, and put caps on damage claims to protect small businesses.

“There are things in the law that are trying to create opportunities to bring cases,” DeSantis said. “One of the reasons our auto insurance rates are higher here is because there’s a lot of cost of litigation embedded in these auto insurance premiums.”

DeSantis noted the stark difference between what the client receives, and what their lawyer

receives.

“So, there was one case where the client was awarded $216.67, and the lawyer got over $100,000 in fees,” DeSantis said. “There was one case with $2,114.55 awarded to the client and the attorney was able to recover almost eight times the amount that the client did.”

Renner supported the changes and said the new proposals will level the playing field for legitimate claimants.

“This is really about bringing things into balance,” Renner said. “We want people with legitimate claims to bring those claims, but you should never have a situation where a client gets 200 bucks, and the lawyer gets a hundred thousand bucks.”

Passidomo spoke about rising property insurance costs and the legislation passed in December’s special session to combat it. She said a large part of the reason why costs are becoming unmanageable is the cost of litigation and lawyers using the system for their own gain.

Passidomo noted most lawyers in Florida perform their jobs well, but a small number chase

fees through suing insurance companies. She also pointed out those types of lawyers do not mention their clients’ needs once, nor do they properly represent them.

“We have to stop that practice,” Passidomo said. “The Florida Bar regulates them and has done nothing to stop the practices that they have employed. If the Florida Bar doesn’t do it, then we’ll have to.”

Passidomo further said the changes put in place will be to protect Floridians and their interests.

“We are going to work through these issues and we’re going to come up with some legislation to protect you, to protect your businesses and to protect those people that actually have cases… from the lawyers that are just doing it to raise fees,” Passidomo said.

AAA: Fear of Self-Driving Cars on the Rise

By Brittany Moye AAA

The results of AAA’s annual automated vehicle survey show that while there is still a high level of interest in partially-automated vehicle technology, attitudes toward fully self-driving vehicles have become increasingly apprehensive.

This year there was a major increase in drivers who are afraid, rising to 68%, compared to 55% in 2022. This is a 13% jump from last year’s survey and the biggest increase since 2020*.

AAA believes automakers must be diligent in creating an environment that promotes the use of more advanced vehicle technologies in a secure, reliable and educational manner. This includes the consistent naming of vehicle systems available to consumers today.

“We were not expecting such a dramatic decline in trust from previous years,” said Greg Brannon, director of automotive research for AAA. “Although with the number of high-profile crashes that have occurred from over-reliance on current vehicle technologies, this

isn’t entirely surprising.”

Even with advancements made in recent years, these findings suggest improvements are still needed to build public trust and knowledge surrounding emerging vehicle technology. There is also a need to dispel confusion around automated vehicles.

AAA’s survey found nearly one in 10 drivers believe they can buy a vehicle that drives itself while they sleep. Currently, there is no such vehicle available for purchase by the public that would allow someone to fully disengage from the task of driving.

This perception could stem from misleading or confusing names of vehicle systems that are on the market. AAA found 22% of Americans expect driver support systems, with names like Autopilot, ProPILOT or Pilot Assist, to have the ability to drive the car by itself without any supervision, indicating a gap in consumer understanding.

What are Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)? Consumers aren’t entirely opposed to advanced vehicle technology. In fact, six in 10

U.S. drivers would “definitely” or “probably” want these systems in their next car purchase.

Examples of ADAS include blind spot warning, adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking.

is also the only ADAS classified as Level 2 automation as defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers.

A fully self-driving vehicle is one capable of operating without human involvement. A human driver is not required to control the vehicle at any time, nor required to be present in the vehicle while moving. These vehicles are not available for purchase by consumers and are classified as Level 5 automation as defined by the SAE.

Active driving assistance (ADA) is also considered ADAS; however, it differs in functionality from other systems. ADA combines braking, accelerating and steering through a combined use of adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assistance. This technology actively assists the driver versus other ADAS that only turns on when needed. ADA

“AAA seeks to partner with automakers to create greater consistency across the industry. Together, we can help consumers understand the type of technology their vehicle has along with how, when and where to use these systems, which will ultimately build trust in the vehicles of the future,” said Brannon.

*AAA has conducted its annual Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Survey since 2016; data not comparable to years prior to 2021 due to change in methodology.

Source: AAA

Credit: Shutterstock.

Attorneys Say Consumer Data Privacy Concerns for Collision Repair

Shops are Real

By John Yoswick Autobody News

A pair of attorneys speaking at the most recent Collision Industry Conference (CIC) earlier this year cautioned that collision repairers need to take the issue of release or misuse of customer personal identifiable information (PII)—such as that included on estimates—seriously.

“The unauthorized disclosure of a customer’s PII, whether intentional or not—intent doesn’t factor into the analysis here—creates a significant liability risk for repair shops,” said Pennsylvania attorney Larry Pockers

Shops should consider whether those documents address how any partner with which they are sharing information may be using that information.

“What have you opened yourself up to as far as the use of that customer information down the chain,” Bloch said.

Put together a list of standard operating procedures and best practices that comply with state law, he suggested.

“Prepare standard customer disclosures and notifications, and most importantly, obtain customer consent so they understand and have given you permission to use that data at least for the purposes for which it was intended, so you can perform your repair services,” Bloch said.

Pockers agreed looking at a shop’s existing agreements is important.

foremost to think about, and should be your first line of defense in terms of protecting that information.”

An Industry Spokesperson?

Other speakers at CIC addressed a variety of subjects, including the technician shortage. Industry consultant Petra Schroeder, vice chair of the CIC Talent Pool and Education Committee, suggested that while many organizations within the industry are working on various efforts to attract, train and retain new technicians, she believes it’s time to “combine forces and collaborate.”

you may look at this and think, ‘I had no idea of those considerations.’”

Jason Scharton, senior manager of global expertise delivery for 3M, said those considerations include OEM repair procedures.

“We’ve got to be checking that OEM repair documentation and understand what product is specified,” he said. “And there’s the supply chain: Can I get that material if I don’t have it? If it’s three months out, it’s going to change some of the decisions I need to make.”

He said repair planners need to consider the labor time associated with the material: What type of preparation is needed? What type of conditions are needed for application? What are the clean-up requirements?

“And are any of these included or not included in the repair procedures when we’re calculating the time,” Scharton said.

He noted five states—California, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah and Vermont—have specific consumer data privacy laws in place, and others are expected to be added to that list this year.

Connecticut attorney Steven Bloch concurred.

“Once that information has been breached or disclosed improperly, without customer disclosure and authorization and consent, there is liability and exposure for the shops. It’s as simple as that,” Bloch said.

If that information gets used down the supply chain after being disclosed by a shop, “You’re going to be held responsible in many circumstances for that use, whether you agreed to it or not,” he said. “Simply because you did not intentionally disclose customer PII, or you don’t have a full understanding of what your license agreements provide as far as that data use is concerned, or what your partners are using that data for down the chain, and how they are transacting it, doesn’t absolve you of the liability that you can face here.”

What can shops do to limit their liability in terms of customer data privacy issues? Bloch suggested shops work with legal counsel to review current contracts and licensing agreements “to determine what it is you’ve provided in terms of permission to industry partners and vendors.”

“You could try to renegotiate these agreements, but let’s be realistic. That’s not going to happen,” he said. “So the mitigation strategy is: What about future agreements with others in the supply chain that you’re going to enter into?”

Part of the challenge, she said, is that outside the industry, the general public has little awareness of how vehicle technology and other changes over the past decade have impacted the work and career opportunities within the industry.

She offered a two-part idea. First, she suggested the industry craft and adopt a common position statement relative to working together to “draw awareness and appeal of the exciting and rewarding career opportunities within our industry.”

How much of the material is needed is particularly important, as is considering the work time.

Both attorneys said such reviews and customer notification and authorization forms are among the services their firms offer. They said there may be some technology solutions that can help shops control access to their data.

“But given the landscape in which everybody is operating, and how the sharing and flow of information is being transacted, I don’t know you can necessarily do one thing and achieve complete peace in terms of thinking you’ve protected your customers’ data in a foolproof [way] and you have nothing to worry about going forward,” Bloch said. “That’s why the customer disclosure and consent are first and

Second, she asked rhetorically whether industry organizations could work together to jointly finance a spokesperson who could help bring the industry’s message to a wide audience. She said two possible spokespersons she could think of were Mike Rowe, who currently promotes other skilled trades including diesel repair, or Jay Leno, who has some connection with the industry given his “Jay Leno’s Garage” television series.

Repair Planning Considerations Regarding Materials, EVs

Also at CIC, the Parts and Materials Committee discussed the role of materials in repair decisions.

“The materials in or on the vehicle, the materials used to construct it, the materials used to put it back together, all make a difference in how we approach it,” said Aaron Schulenburg, who chairs the committee. “For many of the repairers in the room, that may feel like common sense. For non-repairers,

“If you’ve got a big job, you may need two or three technicians to make sure you’ve applied all the adhesive in the work time,” Scharton said. “Materials may change how you staff a job.”

During another committee presentation, I-CAR’s Scott VanHulle said the training organization is working to develop a searchable database of OEM refinishing guidelines for electric vehicles. He said the maximum temperature thresholds for electric vehicles varies by automaker.

“And one of the things that a lot of these [OEM] statements don’t make clear is whether the threshold is for the actual surface temperature of the vehicle, or the ambient temperature of the booth,” VanHulle said.

The limitations, designed to avoid overheating of the battery pack which can impact its range over time, have ramifications for the repair plan, he said, because the limits may require the use of a different paint product, may require air drying the vehicle which extends the time in the booth, or may require removal of the high-voltage battery.

A CIC panel discussion on data privacy concerns for shops included, from left, Dan Risley, Larry Pockers, Steven Bloch and Trent Tinsley.

“The unauthorized disclosure of a customer’s PII, whether intentional or not—intent doesn’t factor into the analysis here—creates a significant liability risk for repair shops.”

LARRY POCKERS PENNSYLVANIA ATTORNEY

3M’s Jason Scharton said estimators need to consider OEM requirements related to materials when creating repair plans.

Scott VanHulle of I-CAR said the training organization is working to develop a searchable database of OEM refinishing guidelines for electric vehicles.

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Wake Tech Gears Up For More Electric Vehicles on the Road

By Dan Barkin Business North Carolina

Recently, I was in North Raleigh, NC, in what looked like the service area of a big car dealership, but was actually a big community college lab, the Capital Automotive Group laboratory.

It has been nearly a year since Wake Tech dedicated the new $42 million Hendrick Center for Automotive Excellence. The center is located at the college’s Scott Northern Wake Campus, right off Interstate 540, aka the Outer Loop. Its opening allowed Wake Tech to triple the number of students in its automotive systems technology program and add a new degree program in collision repair.

The recent occasion was the presentation of one of those oversized checks on an easel that politicians like to bring home. The politician was U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross, who represents a big chunk of Wake County in Congress, and the check represented a $939,041 federal grant to help jump start the Hendrick Center’s electric vehicle training program, helping to pay for specialized equipment. It was part of $26.9 million for 15 Wake County projects in a $1.7 trillion spending bill signed by President Joe Biden in December.

We are in the middle of what may be a transformation of our economy as we move—gradually, fast, no one knows—from gas-powered cars and trucks to electric vehicles. The checkpassing ceremony was part of that. Electric cars have gone from being something exotic to something you need to train technicians to service. The electric economy is evolving in places like the northern campus and throughout North Carolina. If the shift to electrics goes fast, a lot of work needs to be done fast.

Louis Martin-Vega has a good vantage point to see what needs to be done. A member of  the Wake Tech Board of Trustees, he has been dean of engineering at N.C. State since 2006.

At the ceremony, Martin-Vega noted many in attendance had probably watched the recent Super Bowl. “I want to think that many of you have noticed that electric vehicles got a lot of air time in those commercials,” he said. He said automakers are talking about “supporting what they called an electric future.”

“Let’s be honest about it. That future’s already here, and that’s what this place is all about.”

The federal government’s target is for half of all vehicles sold in 2030 to be battery electric, plug-

in hybrids or fuel-cell electrics. The goal set by Gov. Roy Cooper is to have 1.25 million zero-emission vehicles in North Carolina by 2030. The old goal was 80,000 by 2025.

At the end of December, according to state registration figures, there were some 54,000 zero-emission vehicles, including 38,400 electrics and around 15,600 plug-in hybrids. Something big and noticeable is going to need to happen on car lots around the state for us to hit the target in seven years.

But inventories are coming up as car manufacturers scramble to roll out EVs as more Millennials hit peak earning and family-formation years, with Gen Z’s coming right behind. A lot of young folks may be driving their last gasoline car right now. That possibility has everyone’s attention in car factories, dealerships, oil-change shops, convenience store chains and state highway departments fueled by gas taxes.

North Carolina has emerged as a center of electric-vehicle technology. Toyota is building a $3.8 billion batteryplant near Greensboro. VinFast is planning to build an electric car plant in Chatham County. Siemens is building charging stations for electric buses and other large vehicles in Wendell, in Eastern Wake County. And Kempower, a Finland-based company, will build a fast-charger manufacturing facility in Durham.

Martin-Vega noted North Carolina is also a source of lithium, “a metal that has been referred to as the new white gold” because of its use in EV batteries. “And that’s one of the reasons that Albemarle Corp. is building a new research and technology park in Charlotte,” he said.

“So North Carolina’s on the leading edge of this. As it should be.

“There’s a tremendous demand for highly trained technicians to service this industry, the electric vehicle industry. And that’s really why we’re here today.”

Looking at the Battery

After the ceremony and the speeches, I talked with Mark Smith, one of the Hendrick Center instructors, an electrical engineer who spent 35 years with IBM.

He was showing me around the electric cars. It gave me some insight into what it must have been like 100 years ago, when folks walked into the new automobile showrooms opening in North Carolina. Registrations in the state jumped from 109,000 in 1919 to more than 473,000 by 1928. It was during the ’20s that North Carolina

floated $115 million in highway bonds, imposed a gas tax and started taking over thousands of miles of county roads to support this new technology.

We were looking at a case that held batteries.

“Look inside,” he said. “Here we’ve got a plexiglass grid. You see the little wires? The battery’s really on the other side of that plate. They sit like this and there are cylindrical batteries all throughout this with spaces for air to pass through. They’re a bunch of individual batteries.”

Some of the Tesla battery packs, which he called “really high-quality batteries,” have lasted since the original, for 15 years. But his own car, a newer electric, “has a battery pack that’s equivalent to the original Tesla, 15 years later.” The global EV battery market could top a half-trillion dollars by 2040. There is a lot of R&D going on in the competition to boost performance and lower costs.

“There’s going to be some jump in lowering of cost and raising of capacity with the next generation of batteries in a few years,” said Smith.

Hard to Predict

It is hard to predict the uptake of electrics. There needs to be more

inventory, better and cheaper batteries, and more charging stations. But some homebuilders are already including more robust charging stations in new construction, reasoning folks will want faster charges than the wall-socket will provide.

From there, it is also possible folks will see rooftop solar as a way to lower their home charging bills. So to a certain extent, the homebuilding, remodeling and solar industries are now part of the electric vehicle industry. Electricians will be part of this industry, because they’ll install chargers in a lot of garages. Utilities will need to improve the infrastructure in subdivisions, if every garage is charging cars.

Our economy has been based on internal-combustion engines for over a century. If, over the next 10 to 15 years, it changes to an electricvehicle economy, there will be a lot of business opportunities and a lot of businesses disrupted.

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NC Democrats Push New Home Construction Building Code To Accommodate EVs

By Victor Skinner The Center Square

North Carolina’s forced transition to electric vehicles helped boost registrations by 54% in 2022, and even still, the transportation mode is still less than 1% of total registrations.

The Old North State has a long road ahead to meet Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s goal of 1.25 million EVs by 2030. House Democrats nonetheless want to require new homes to accommodate the trend.

For context, North Carolina would need to add more than 170,000 electric vehicle registrations per year over the next seven years to meet the 1.25 million registration goal. Last year’s jump of 13,377 lifted the total to 38,374 on Dec. 31, according to North Carolina Department of Transportation data.

There are roughly 8 million gasoline and diesel vehicles registered for North Carolina’s roads.

Democrats on March 13 introduced House Bill 318 to

amend the state residential, energy and electrical codes to require all new one- and two-family dwellings to include at least one EV-ready parking space.

HB318 states the codes “shall provide that all new one- and twofamily dwellings shall include at least one electric vehicle-ready parking space, except where no parking spaces are provided for the dwelling unit.

“For the purposes of this act, an ‘electric vehicle-ready parking space’ means a designated parking space which is provided with one 40-ampere, 208/240-volt dedicated branch circuit for electric vehicle supply equipment,” the bill reads. “The circuit shall terminate in a suitable termination point such as a receptacle, junction box or electric vehicle supply equipment and shall be in close proximity to the proposed location of the electric vehicle-ready parking space.”

HB318, which would change the codes effective Jan. 1, is sponsored by Democratic Reps. Deb Butler of New Hanover County, Terry Brown of Mecklenburg County,

and Maria Cervania and Julie von Haefen, both of Wake County. The bill also has 11 Democratic cosponsors.

Cooper in 2018 signed Executive Order No. 80 to set a goal of at least 80,000 registered zero emission vehicles in North Carolina by 2025, and to develop a Zero Emission Vehicle Plan for the state.

Cooper issued Executive Order No. 246 in January 2022 to add two other primary goals: to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to at least 50% below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions no later than 2050; and to increase the total number of registered zero-emission vehicles to at least 1.25 million by 2030, with the goal of zero-emission vehicles comprising half of all instate vehicle sales.

The latter order further tasked the state Department of Transportation with developing a Clean Transportation Plan within 15 months of the order. The Transportation Department published a draft report of the plan March 1, and officials

collected public feedback on the plan through March 15.

The Cooper administration has offered up at least $632.4 million in taxpayer-funded incentives to the electric vehicle industry in North Carolina over the last two years. Those incentives include a $316.1 million subsidy for the Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast; up to $315 million for a Toyota battery plant; and $1.3 million for the electric boat manufacturer Forza X1.

The VinFast deal has run into trouble. The Vietnamese company did a realignment of North American operations in February, resulting in about 80 layoffs, and the exit of the financial leader for VinFast U.S. Then on March 10, VinFast said production for the Chatham County plant is pushed back to 2025.

Tesla Accused of Monopolizing Repairs, Parts in Consumer Lawsuit

By Simon Alvarez Teslarati

Tesla is facing a lawsuit from customers who allege the company’s monopoly in maintenance, repair services and replacement parts has led to high prices and long waiting times.

On March 14, a class action antitrust lawsuit was filed in San Francisco federal court on behalf of Virginia M. Lambrix, the owner of a Tesla Model S. In the lawsuit, Lambrix said owners of conventional cars have several options for maintenance and repairs. They can even perform repairs and maintenance themselves. The complaint said

limitation is due to Tesla using its market power to restrict services for maintenance and repair, as reported by Bloomberg News. As noted in the complaint, Tesla’s practices when it comes to repairs and maintenance have resulted in Tesla owners suffering from “lengthy delays in repairing or maintaining their electric vehicles.” The complaint also said owners “pay supracompetitive prices for those parts and repairs once they are finally provided.” Tesla has not issued a comment as of writing.

Tesla’s areas for improvement when it comes to its vehicles’ repairs have been known for some time. And while the company has initiated a number of

Incentives Unknown For Auto Parts Manufacturer’s Georgia Facility

By T.A. DeFeo The Center Square

A global auto parts manufacturer plans to build a new facility in Chatham County in Georgia.

According to a news release, PHA, a Korea-based company, will spend $67 million to build a facility at the Savannah Chatham Manufacturing Center. It plans to create 402 jobs, state officials said. The company plans to produce door modules and hood and tailgate latches for original equipment manufacturers. The company will serve the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Bryan County. A Georgia Department of Economic Development rep told

gratitude to Chatham County and the State of Georgia for their support in making this happen and launching a successful partnership that will bring new jobs and contribute to advancing the economic development of the entire region.”

In May 2022, Hyundai Motor Group announced it had selected Georgia for Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, its “first dedicated EV plant in the U.S.” The company said it plans to invest more than $5.5 billion to build the facility. Georgia officials are going all out on electric vehicle manufacturers. The amended fiscal 2023 budget lawmakers passed in early March included $95.6 million

Mercedes-Benz Executive Shares EV Considerations with Collision Repairers

By Stacey Phillips Autobody News

With the transition to electric vehicles (EVs), collision repair facilities need to prepare for the changes now and in the future, according to Benito Cid, collision business development manager for Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA).

“In different parts of the world, different markets are going to react differently,” said Cid. “You have some countries where they’ve adopted EVs and they have a very high percentage of vehicles sold already, and then you have others that EVs still have some ramping up to do. EVs are coming and we have to be ready.”

During a recent Guild 21 webinar, sponsored by OEC and hosted by George Avery, Holly SwitzerPitts and Micki Woods, Cid shared information about EVs and some of the differences in handling and repairing them. With more than 30 years of experience in the collision industry, Cid has worked for MBUSA for more than a decade, and previously focused on the insurance claims side of the business for 17 years.

Mercedes-Benz Path to Electric Cid said Mercedes-Benz has aggressive EV development goals in the U.S. and plans to go fully electric by 2030 where market conditions allow. In preparation, all vehicle lines moving forward will have an electric option.

“Historically, our EVs have been based off internal combustion engines (ICE) and both vehicle types use similar platforms,” he explained. “Going forward, new vehicles will be designed as EVs with the ability to add an internal combustion engine if needed, depending on the market.”

The EQ brand was the auto manufacturer’s entry into the EV market, launched in Europe in 2018. The EQS sedan was first offered in the U.S. in 2021. Since then, MBUSA has introduced the EQB and EQS SUVs and the EQE sedan. By yearend, the company plans to have six EVs on the market.

Unlike other OEMs, MBUSA offers shops different levels of its Certified Collision Program. With base certification, Cid said repairers can perform collision repair work on all passenger cars except those requiring aluminum welding. With Elite, repairers can also work on aluminum structural repairs. Mercedes EQ authorizes work on EVs, and Mercedes Vans authorizes

facilities to perform structural and cosmetic repairs on Sprinter and Metris vehicles.

“Once you’re Elite, there is no additional fee to become EQ certified,” explained Cid. “The goal was to make sure that facilities across the country have the right training.”

This includes hands-on education at one of the MBUSA centers across the country, as well as online and virtual training options. For information, visit www. mbcollisioncenters.com/becomecollision-center

appraisers writing estimates and body shops doing the repairs.

“These are all touchpoints and potential hazards when dealing with an EV, not because they are more dangerous but because they are different than ICE vehicles,” Cid noted.

Typically, EVs require less maintenance than ICE vehicles due to fewer moving parts, but Cid said there are potential issues that need to be addressed due to the batteries and motors. He used the example of dragging a vehicle onto a wrecker rather than finding the best way to move it safely.

An EV tends to be heavy due to the weight of its battery, which can play into concerns about lifting, moving and working on it. As a result, Cid recommends shops learn how to handle EVs safely.

Cid stressed the importance of always checking the OEM repair procedures on the auto manufacturer’s website. OEM procedures can also be accessed on OEM1Stop.com.

“I don’t think I can stress that enough on every single vehicle you’re touching,” said Cid. “The excuse of ‘I didn’t know’ isn’t going to save you from what happens when the car goes out on the road with the customer if it has been improperly repaired.”

He said the safety aspect is not just about the liability after the repair; it’s also the liability of everyone involved.

To power its vehicles, MercedesBenz is opening battery production locations worldwide. This includes the Mercedes-Benz eCampus in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim and facilities in Hungary, Poland, Thailand and Alabama in the U.S.

Mercedes-Benz is also establishing an open charger network with ChargePoint Holdings, an EV charging provider, and MN8 Energy, a solar, stationary power and renewable energy provider. More than 400 hubs across North America are expected to be set up with more than 2,500 ChargePoint DC fast charging ports.

Another development announced in March is a new battery recycling factory in Kuppenheim, Germany, to recycle battery raw materials.

EV Repair Considerations

Although the repair process is similar with ICE vehicles and EVs—minus the drivetrain and battery—Cid said there are unique considerations to keep in mind with EVs.

He said repairers are already familiar with the potential dangers with ICE vehicles; however, there will be a learning curve when hearing some of the precautions that need to be taken with EVs.

One of the biggest concerns is the safety aspect of the battery and ensuring repairers and others know what to do and what not to do. This includes tow truck companies transporting vehicles, insurance

Mercedes-Benz is addressing safety considerations through its free Rescue Assist app, accessed using a QR code inside the vehicle. It contains details with safety-relevant components such as airbags, batteries, power and high-current fuel lines, plus the tanks for fuel, oil and gas. It also includes information about the high-voltage components in electric and hybrid vehicles and where to locate the emergency power down.

Another change Cid pointed out with EVs is the amount of charge the battery has when it leaves the shop. Previously, there wasn’t a major concern with ICE vehicles having a low fuel tank; however, this isn’t the case if an EV has a low battery and might not make it to the next charging station.

One of the standard requirements for Mercedes-Benz EV certification is having at least an 80% charge when delivered to the customer.

The EV Customer

During the company’s EV journey, Cid said the car manufacturer is finding customers have very different expectations with EVs and the reason for buying them.

“Customers tend to be more techsavvy,” he said. “A lot of them weren’t really interested in cars beforehand but now they’re buying EVs for all of the technology available in these cars.”

Cid said this is helpful for first responders who need this information quickly following an accident and for insurance appraisers and body shops who may have never seen these vehicles before.

Many of Mercedes-Benz’s patents regarding occupant safety are open and available for other auto manufacturers.

“It has always been impressive to me to have a company to be able to provide that, especially when it comes to the safety of the occupants in the vehicle,” said Cid.

In addition to the safety aspects of an EV, another consideration is the process of painting an EV after a repair. “Sometimes, there are limitations on how hot the vehicle can get,” he said.

Talking to collision centers nationwide, Cid said many people who have adopted EVs early on tend to be very in tune with their cars. This may result in them calling the shop after noticing the battery is below a certain percentage or asking why their car was moved during the repair. In response, he recommends shops always put EVs in service mode.

“This is something that collision centers probably aren’t used to,” said Cid.

Looking ahead, Cid recommends shop owners and managers begin thinking about the types of vehicles they want to specialize in and invest in the tooling, equipment and training required to be successful.

To access Mercedes-Benz service and technical repair subscription information, visit www.startekinfo. com/home

Learn more about Guild 21 at go.oeconnection.com/guild21

By year-end, Mercedes-Benz plans to have six EVs on the market

“One of the biggest concerns is the safety aspect of the battery and ensuring repairers and others know what to do and what not to do.”

BENITO CID COLLISION BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER FOR MERCEDES-BENZ USA

Opus IVS Gives Auto Body Shops Confidence To Diagnose the Most Complex Vehicles

By Ed Attanasio Autobody News

When diagnostics became a daily part of every collision repairer’s life less than a decade ago, many owners were hoping calibrations would be an option. Those days are long gone, and with cars getting more complex every day, auto body shops are turning techs into diagnosticians and creating full-fledged departments to do calibrations, with training, accuracy and knowledge at the forefront.

Opus IVS (Intelligent Vehicle Services) has established itself as a leader in its solution offerings, and has grown considerably, signing up MSOs and small independent shops at a consistent and rapid rate. It is also experiencing overwhelming interest and inquiries for new business with fleets, car rental and vehicle auction companies.

CEO Brian Herron and Global Sales Leader Bill O’Brien sat down recently with Autobody News to talk about the company’s capabilities and why it is expanding its footprint in the collision repair industry.

Autologic, Farsight, BlueLink and AutoEnginuity. It focuses on addressing the evolving needs of auto body repair shops, giving them the confidence to get the most complex vehicles back on the road safely and quickly without having to sublet work out to the local dealership—an overwhelming occurrence still adversely impacting the repair industry.

The journey began in 2005, focusing solely on mechanical repair. In 2020, Opus IVS entered the collision repair industry, and today it performs approximately 9,000 services every day, including scans and calibrations. With locations throughout the U.S., UK and Australia, Opus IVS is growing quickly and becoming the go-to diagnostics company for many of the country’s largest MSOs. Its DriveSafe with IVSTrio is backed by IVS 360™ Live Expert Support and fully integrated with CCC ONE® software.

Herron and his company started out serving the mechanical side of the industry by helping to create legislation that set the table for where we are today with ADAS and diagnostics.

“Back in 2013, the company played an integral role in the Right to Repair movement,” Herron said.

“Some of the language in there came from our direct work with the OEMs and Right to Repair Coalition to find a solution. We helped support both sides during the Massachusetts Right to Repair battles, both the 2013 battle and most recently in 2020.

factors,” Herron said. “So that’s where the remote service business picked up the slack.

path instead of searching via Google or other third party providers. This knowledge is more important than ever, especially with the shortage of technicians that we are experiencing right now,” Herron concluded. “A shop may be adept at working on Fords or Chevys, but what do they know when they have a complex issue with a Tesla, Mercedes or BMW?”

Opus IVS is filling the gaps and stepping up with the especially tricky and complex issues associated with many of the luxury brands, O’Brien said.

Opus IVS helps shops repair complex vehicles quickly with its diagnostics, programming and live repair guidance. The company is committed to helping mechanical and collision shops to complete repairs with intelligent vehicle support, and an emphasis on accountability and safety. Opus IVS uses its extensive expertise in vehicle communications combined with a world-class cloudbased architecture and hundreds of ASE-certified technicians and OEM Dealer Master Technicians to deliver solutions for its customers.

The company is the Intelligent Vehicle Support division of Opus Group, formed through the industryleading acquisitions of DrewTech,

“This legislation really was a bridge between the OEM diagnostics and the ability for third parties to be able to use it for items like OEM scanning and calibration,” Herron said. “So that was one of the building blocks that we helped to pull together. We supported the OEs, but then Right to Repair was the bridge to get that technology into the aftermarket delivering OE software and tools.”

The Right to Repair laws helped shops to access valuable OE information, but it wasn’t the complete recipe for success, Herron said.

“Eventually what we all found is that just providing the repair industry the aftermarket OEM tools wasn’t enough because of the need for training, lack of experience in shops, other priorities and many other

“It’s all about accessibility, because let’s say that you are a tech at your local repair shop and regularly repair General Motors, Ford and Toyota vehicles, and you’re confident with understanding the technology on those repairs, but now, BMW or Mercedes rolls into your shop,” Herron continued. “You want to help that customer, repair the vehicle according to procedures, but you don’t have the experience with that brand. That’s why we currently have experienced certified

“Our ability to go from the UK, Canada, Australia and perform a review of the mechanical and collision repair-related programming in Dexter, MI, is a huge plus for the industry,” O’Brien said. “Our strong support network coupled with our industry awarded solutions can guide our customers through every aspect of that repair and ensure the programming and calibration is done right the first time.”

Part of the company’s success is from providing options.

“Our shop clients can use our tools all day long without contacting us, because we allow them to do their own scanning in-house,” Herron said. “They can perform a quick scan for a pre- and post-scan, but if they want to do an OEM scan, they can reach out to us for assistance with that or reach out for help with a complex problem. We try to give them the ability to do things without needing to reach out to us but at the same time, we’re there to be able to support them with maybe additional functionality or extra brand support.

“We have support groups at five locations worldwide, partially based on time zones,” Herron said. “Plus, every region has a predominance of particular brands. You see different cars in Detroit than you do in California, for example. So, it’s important for us to pull technicians from different markets to accommodate our shops in those areas. You can take care of it locally and do an OEM diagnostic without help if you choose.”

technicians at our call centers, that are accessible and ready to assist you and your shop with explanations of the codes presented and the requirements needed to address the repair and what’s going to need to be calibrated.

“We help guide them down a

ADAS isn’t slowing down any time soon and OPUS IVS plans to be there every step of the way. MSOs and independents all over the world are embracing this company’s way of diagnosing today’s vehicles and as a result, Opus IVS will undoubtedly continue to grow.

CEO Brian Herron, left, and Global Sales Leader Bill O’Brien, right, at Opus IVS help shops repair complex vehicles fast with their diagnostics, programming and live repair guidance from OEM brand-specific master technicians

Opus IVS is performing 9,000 scans every day

“Our ability to go from the UK, Canada, Australia and perform a review of the mechanical and collision repair-related programming in Dexter, MI, is a huge plus for the industry. Our strong support network coupled with our industry awarded solutions can guide our customers through every aspect of that repair and ensure the programming and calibration is done right the first time.”

BILL O’BRIEN OPUS IVS GLOBAL SALES LEADER

New-Vehicle Prices Trend Downward As Incentives Rise

The average transaction price (ATPs) of a new vehicle in the U.S. declined in February to $48,763, a decrease of 1.4% ($705) from an upwardly revised January reading of $49,468.

Transaction prices in February were up 5.3% ($2,466) from year-ago levels, according to data released March 8 by Kelley Blue Book, a Cox Automotive company. Meanwhile, incentive spend rose to 3.0%, averaging $1,474, a level not seen since March 2022.

According to Kelley Blue Book calculations, new-vehicle ATPs have been above the average manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP), also known as the sticker price, for more than a year. In February, the average price paid was just $95 more than the average sticker, as prices continued to trend downward relative to sticker price. A year ago, the average ATP was nearly $1,000 over MSRP.

In February, sales volumes were up month over month by 9% and up 9% year over year, thanks in part to improved supply and added fleet sales. A tougher economy and high loan rates are putting downward pressure on retail demand.

“The transaction data from February indicates that prices continue a downward trend at the beginning of 2023,” said  Rebecca Rydzewski,

research manager of economic and industry insights for Cox Automotive.

“Both luxury and non-luxury prices were down month over month, but new models, richer product mix and limited discounting are contributing to elevated prices.”

This correlates with higher incentives helping to push prices down. Kia and Honda showed the most price strength in the non-luxury market, transacting between 4% and 6% over sticker price in February.

Luxury Share Stays High, While Average Prices

Fall in February

Strong luxury vehicle sales have been a primary reason for overall elevated newvehicle prices. This trend continued in February, when luxury vehicle share hit 19.5% of total sales, down slightly from the record high 19.7% in January.

were a mixed bag in February, with luxury cars, luxury full-size SUVs and luxury mid-size SUVs showing price declines between 0.3% and 4.1%. Entry-level luxury cars prices remained stable, while luxury compact SUVs and luxury subcompact SUVs saw price increases between 0.6% and 1.4%.

Mercedes-Benz and Land Rover showed the most price strength in the luxury market, transacting between 5% to 7% over sticker price. Luxury brands Alfa Romeo, Audi, BMW, Infiniti, Lincoln and Volvo showed the least price strength, selling 1% or more below MSRP in February.

Led by Tesla, EV Prices Decreased Notably in February, Continuing a Downward Trend

Average Prices for Non-Luxury Cars

Decline

The average price paid for a new nonluxuryvehicle in February was $44,697— a decline of $681 compared to January. Most non-luxury brands—including Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Hyundai, Mazda, Subaru and Volkswagen— saw ATP declines between 0.2% to 3.9% month over month in February.

The high share of luxury sales pushes the overall industry ATP higher, even though the luxury ATP declined month over month. For comparison, in February 2018, luxury share was 13.2% of the market.

In February, the average luxury buyer paid $65,534 for a new vehicle, down $644 from January. Buyers continue to pay over MSRP for new luxury vehicles. Luxury vehicle ATPs

The average price paid for a new EV decreased by $1,050 (down 1.8%) in February compared to January. The average new EV sold for $58,385, according to Kelley Blue Book estimates, still well above the industry average.

The drop in pricing was driven by significant price cuts from Tesla, which commands roughly two-thirds of the EV market. Tesla’s average transaction prices decreased by $977, down 1.6% month over month and down 5.9% year over year. Lower prices

likely helped Tesla deliver higher sales volumes. According to Kelley Blue Book estimates, Tesla sales in February increased year over year by more than 44%.

Auto Incentives Offered by Manufacturers Remain at Historically Low Level but Trending Upward

Incentives reached a 10-month high in February, increasing to 3.0% of the average transaction price compared to 2.8% in January. However, incentive spend remains at a historically low level. For comparison, in February 2021, Kelley Blue Book estimates incentives averaged 8.3% of ATP. Luxury cars had the highest incentives in February at 6.5% of ATP. Meanwhile, vans had the lowest incentives, with less than 1% of ATP.

“After nearly a year of incentives below 3% of ATP, it will be interesting to see if this upward trend continues as inventory improves,” said Rydzewski. “The most affordable vehicles— compact cars, compact SUVs and subcompact cars—had incentives on par or above the industry average. High loan rates and continued inflationary pressures appear to be hurting the lower part of the market, so automakers are more focused on luxury and higherend models.”

Source: Kelley Blue Book

VA, NC Insurance Commissioners To Address SCRS Open Meeting

The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) will hold a special open board meeting 8-11:30 a.m. April 12 in the Potomac Room at the Omni Richmond in Richmond, VA.

The open board meeting will include a special educational session from 10:15–11:30, in collaboration with the Virginia Bureau of Insurance (BOI) and the North Carolina Department of Insurance (DOI).

SCRS invites industry members to learn about the newly elected members of the board, the current state of the association and industry and to receive updates on programs and initiatives the association has been working on for the collision repair industry.

The special session will feature Virginia Commissioner of Insurance Scott White and North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance Mike Causey , who will present about the activities their offices engage in to serve auto insurance consumers.

In addition to his role as commissioner of insurance

of the VA BOI, White was also elected secretary-treasurer of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) in December 2022. Causey served the collision repair industry and consumers as an advocate and lobbyist for

and limitations in fielding and addressing consumer complaints.

Ideally, the exchange will identify what role the departments can play in effectively remedying any of the challenges experienced by collision repair customers navigating the auto claims process.

RSVP is not needed. Seating will be first come first served, and we anticipate this event will fill up quickly.

state auto glass and auto body associations in the Southeast region prior to taking his office.

The meeting will focus on both regulatory entities elaborating on the mission and objectives of their departments, to help create a better understanding of the tools and resources available to help consumers and businesses when they encounter challenges in the insurance claims process.

This may include discussing tasks such as policy language approval, and capabilities

The Collision Industry Conference (CIC) will immediately follow the open board meeting, from 12:30–5:30 p.m. in the James River Ballroom, continuing into April 13.

Later in the week, the industry will continue to gather at the Southeast Collision Conference, at the Meadow Event Park, in Doswell, VA.

For more information about SCRS, or to join as a member, visit www.scrs.com, call 1-877841-0660 or email info@scrs. com.

Source: SCRS

General Motors announced March 7 that Ultra Cruise, the company’s next-generation advanced driver assistance system designed to ultimately enable hands-free driving in 95% of all driving scenarios, will have a 360-degree view of the vehicle through a unique sensor suite when it launches on the Cadillac CELESTIQ.

GM’s Ultra Cruise sensor strategy is directly guided by the company’s philosophy of safely deploying advanced driver assistance (ADAS) technologies.

The destination-to-destination hands-free system will use more than just cameras to “see” the world. Ultra Cruise uses a blend of cameras, short- and long-range radars, LiDAR behind the windshield, an all-new computing system and a driver attention system to monitor the driver’s head position and/or eyes in relation to the road to help ensure driver attention. These systems work together through “sensor fusion” to provide Ultra Cruise with a confident, 360-degree, threedimensional representation of the vehicle’s surroundings.

“GM’s fundamental strategy for

all ADAS features, including Ultra Cruise, is safely deploying these technologies,” said Jason Ditman, GM chief engineer, Ultra Cruise. “A deep knowledge of what Ultra Cruise is capable of, along with the detailed picture provided by its sensors, will help us understand when Ultra Cruise can be engaged and when to hand control back to the driver. We believe consistent, clear operation can help build drivers’ confidence in Ultra Cruise.”

Over time, GM expects customers will be able to travel truly handsfree with Ultra Cruise across nearly every paved public road in the U.S. and Canada, including city streets, subdivision streets and rural roads, in addition to highways.

Vehicles equipped with Ultra Cruise hardware will experience incremental enhancements through over-the-air software updates. GM is focused on expanding ADAS accessibility with the combination of currently available Super Cruise driver assistance technology and soon, Ultra Cruise, bringing these technologies to more customers on more vehicles, in more regions at more price points.

Tesla Shuttles Offer Free Rides in Florida City

By Joey Klender Teslarati

Tesla shuttles are being used by a town in Florida to help residents get around—completely free of charge.

Residents of Kissimmee, FL, will have access to four Tesla electric vehicles and a van for disabled riders completely free for one year through the city’s partnership with South Florida-based company Freebee.

area.

“With just pulling out your phone or just making a phone call, you can connect with a driver easily to get you exactly where you’re going, very easily,” Chris Walker of Freebee said.

It’s as simple as calling for a ride or downloading the Freebee app, and it will take riders anywhere that is outlined in the service area.

It is just the latest application in a long string of public entities adopting electric vehicles for public service. More frequently than not, electric vehicles are being utilized as police cruisers in various locations across the United States, Europe, and other territories.

How Ultra Cruise’s sensor suite works: GM is developing Ultra Cruise software in-house with a team of highly skilled software engineers around the world. The company also works with suppliers who are experts in their relative spaces and integrates their sensing technologies with its homegrown software to bring Ultra Cruise to life.

Driver attention system: This small camera, located on the top of the steering column, uses infrared light to help monitor the driver’s head position and/or eyes in relation to the road to help ensure driver attention.

Compute platform: This is the physical hardware that enables Ultra Cruise. The system will be powered by a scalable compute architecture featuring system-on-chips (SoCs) developed by U.S. semiconductor company Qualcomm Technologies.

Long-range cameras: These seven 8-megapixel cameras are located on the front, corners, back and sides of the vehicle, providing expanded fields of view for Ultra Cruise. They help enable the system to detect objects such as traffic signs, traffic lights, other vehicles

and pedestrians.

Short-range radars: Placed on the four corners of the vehicle, these radars are used to help sense a radius of up to 90 meters, like pedestrians crossing the street or vehicles in surrounding lanes.

Long-range radars: The three 4D long-range radars on the front and back of the vehicle allow for Adaptive Cruise Control speeds as well as lane change maneuvers at highway speeds by helping to detect an object’s location, direction and elevation relative to the speed of the vehicle. They also help the system determine safe stopping distances.

LiDAR: The LiDAR, located behind the windshield, helps produce an accurate three-dimensional view of the scene, enabling more precise detection of objects and road features such as vehicles and lane markings, even in inclement weather conditions. Combined with other sensors, it can help create a robust perception of the environment around the vehicle for Ultra Cruise, increasing the system’s functional domain and performance.

Source: GM

The city of Kissimmee invested $402,390 in electric vehicles, according to News13, in an effort to give people sustainable rides who are unable to drive.

The public transportation initiative has been widely effective thus far and has helped people travel from Valencia College to the Osceola County Courthouse and other administrative buildings, as well as the rest of the downtown

The use of electric vehicles by shuttle has been implemented in several locations around Florida. In fact, Freebee has been utilizing Tesla Model X vehicles at Florida International University since last year, helping students get across campus quickly and safely.

Freebee has expanded to over 30 cities in Florida and started operation in Kissimmee on March 13. The program will be free for one year for residents.

Collision Repair?

All the Answers are Here …

Whether you’re a collision repair technician or a post-crash vehicle owner in need, all the information required to enable a complete, safe and proper repair is accessible via a click of the mouse.

For Collision Repair Technicians

OEM1Stop provides vehicle repair technicians with easy access to the most up-to-date repair information available by each of its participating automakers (nearly 40).

For Collision Repair Consumers

Crash Repair Info educates post-crash vehicle owners on the benefits of OE crash parts, consumer rights, choosing the right body shop and more.

For Information About Counterfeit Parts

A2C2.com details the growing problem of counterfeit auto parts and automakers’ efforts to eliminate this threat to the health and safety of U.S. motorists.

Ford Applies For Patent That Allows It To Repossess Cars Remotely

By Phoebe Wall Howard Detroit Free Press

Ford Motor Company has applied for a patent on a system designed to try and get people to clear up late car payments that, when all else fails, could lead to cars driving themselves to repo lots. A patent application from Ford Global Technologies was filed with the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office on Aug. 20, 2021, and formally published Feb. 23 for public review as part of the official process.

The patent is pending, not yet granted, Ford spokesman Wes Sherwood confirmed to the Detroit Free Press on March 1.

The patent application describes new “systems and methods to repossess a vehicle.” Inventors are listed as Anthony Maraldo of Southgate, Brendan Diamond of Grosse Pointe, Keith Weston of Canton and Michael Alan Mcnees of Flat Rock, all Ford engineers. They describe in the patent application a range of possibilities that include the car driving itself off private property to be picked up by

a tow truck or taking it to a junkyard if the value is too low based on mileage and other factors.

Avoid ‘Confrontation’

The patent application reviewed by the Free Press outlines a series of strategies to resolve nonpayment, which include sending reminder messages and a warning from banks or other lending institutions to the owner’s smart phone or vehicle display screen. After a period of days or weeks, the process may evolve to include audio that makes an “unpleasant” sound with tone, pitch, cadence, beat or volume to get the owner to contact the lender about arranging payment. Then the car may disable features such as window or seat controls, GPS or radio dials to “cause discomfort,” the patent said. The pages of the patent application spelled out in great detail how the design and embedded software may be used and noted that it’s “preferable not to provoke an undesirable confrontation.”

Will It or Won’t It Be Used?

The patent also spells out ways

that delinquent owners can keep their vehicle while working toward payment, such as locking the vehicle on weekends only so that the driver can still access a job or geofencing the vehicle’s range.

“The first thing to know is that if your vehicle is connected to the internet in any way, this system could theoretically work on it. The application likewise describes a ‘repossession computer’ that could be installed on future cars to make this system function smoothly, but it also states no extra hardware necessarily needs to be installed on the vehicle for it to function,” said thedrive.com, which first reported the story Feb. 27. “Basically, if your car has an infotainment system already set up to receive something like over-the-air updates, this could probably work without physical modifications.”

The Dearborn, MI, automaker declined to comment on whether the company plans to implement the idea for a new software system in any of its vehicles through factory installation or over-the-air updates.

Auto Repossessions Climbing Nationally

The new system has not been installed in current Ford products, and the company cannot discuss future plans, Sherwood told the Free Press on March 1.

“We submit patents on new inventions as a normal course of business but they aren’t necessarily an indication of new business or product plans,” he said. While Ford owns a financing entity known as Ford Credit, the 2022 Ford corporate earnings presentation actually showed a steady decline in repossessions from 2018 through 2022. However, consumer trends show banks and other lending institutions may be looking to get more aggressive.

In December, NBC News reported consumers were falling behind on car payments. A month later, Bloomberg reported, “Americans fell behind on car payments at a higher rate than in 2009. Automobile repossessions climbing...”

Years ago, Mel Farr, a Detroit Lions running back who retired in 1974 and bought his first Ford dealership in 1975 and went on to

run an automotive empire, made headlines for using a device to disable vehicles he leased out when customers failed to make timely payments. According to a Free Press story in 2000, lawyers for 1,550 customers agreed to drop a class-action lawsuit against Mel Farr Automotive Group over the engine disabling device in exchange for $200 in coupons for car services at the dealership.

Farr was willing to work with customers with bad credit and did so with high interest rates, but some customers alleged their cars shut down while they were driving. He died at age 70 in 2015.

Announce Agreement For Remote Diagnostics,

and

Repairify™, Inc., a portfolio company of Kinderhook Industries, LLC, and Autel U.S., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Autel Intelligent Technology Corp., Ltd., on March 1 announced an exclusive long-term collaboration agreement for the delivery of Repairify’s patented global OEM remote solutions for diagnostics, calibrations and programming through Autel’s remote capable products across North America.

As part of the agreement, Repairify will integrate its leading patented global remote diagnostic, calibration and programming solutions as a new service offering into a revised version of Autel’s Remote Expert platform. Repairify and Autel will jointly manage the platform that will now offer customers the choice of using the certified and warrantied OEM remote solutions from Repairify, along with the independent Remote Experts, vetted for their experience, who are already serving the platform.

Autel’s Remote Expert,

launched in 2022, provides customers onsite aftermarket scanning and access to remote OEM tools supported by experienced professionals. Remote Expert is available through the Autel MaxiSYS Ultra, Ultra EV, MS919, MS909 and MS909 EV diagnostics tablets. Remote Expert will also be expanded into Autel’s ADAS calibration systems.

“We are excited to enter into this collaboration with Repairify,” said Autel U.S. CEO Chloe Hung. “Autel developed the Remote Expert platform to provide our users remote access to specialized and experienced module programmers and diagnosticians. We are very proud that its success drew the attention of a company of such quality and industry success as Repairify. We are confident that this partnership will benefit both companies and, most importantly, be of immense value to our users.”

Repairify and Autel are

industry leaders in their respective markets. Combining the Repairify remote services solutions program with the Autel Remote Expert Platform delivers what automotive repair professionals have requested for years, a seamless experience that delivers fast, accurate, certified and safe vehicle repairs with the choice of aftermarket or OEM tool support.

“Since its launch into the North American market in 2005, Autel has been known for their consistent delivery of leading innovative solutions across the mechanical and collision markets,” said Cris Hollingsworth, president of Repairify Global Holdings. “Repairify is honored to embark on this partnership and to broaden the reach of our solutions through the new and existing Autel network of customers.”

For additional information, visit Repairify online at www.repairify. com.

Source: Repairify, Inc.

Collision Repairers Place 29 Carriers on Insurer Report Card

Honor Roll

Among more than 87 auto insurance companies graded by collision repairers in terms of how well they work to ensure quality repairs and customer service, 29 received a “B” or higher to earn a spot on the Honor Roll in the 2023 CRASH Network Insurer Report Card.

Ten companies, including four of the largest U.S. auto insurers, received a grade of “C-” or lower. In fact, none of the Top 10 largest, best-known auto insurers received an overall grade higher than a “C+,” with more than 50 insurers scoring higher.

Body shops were asked to evaluate how well each insurer’s “policies, attitude and payment practices ensure quality repairs and customer service for motorists.” North Carolina Farm Bureau (“A+”), Chubb (“A-”) and Erie Insurance (“A-”) finished with the top grades among all insurers, just as they have since 2020. While many of the highestgraded insurers—including Acuity Insurance (“B+”), Grinnell Mutual

(“B+”) and Pemco Mutual (“B+”)— do not sell policies in all 50 states, consumers are likely to find one or more of the Honor Roll insurers offering coverage where they live.

More than 1,000 individual body shops around the country each graded as many as 30 different insurance companies in their state.

“Unlike most consumers, who typically have an auto claim only once a decade, collision repairers interact with the claims departments at these companies on a daily basis,” CRASH Network’s John Yoswick said. “That gives them an opportunity to see which companies are better at taking care of policyholders when they have a claim—and which ones have room for improvement. That’s why we see the Insurer Report Card providing helpful information for consumers as they consider which insurer to choose. They might see companies here they otherwise might not have considered.”

Shops participating in the Insurer Report Card said the

highest-graded insurers put “customer safety first and foremost,” “are fast and efficient” about claims handling, “employ people who care about what they do” and “actually care about their customers.”

They criticized the insurers to which they gave lower grades, saying those companies have “disorganized claims processes,” “don’t seem to care about the repair procedures designated by the automakers,” and “have us ordering parts all over the country just because of cost, even though they don’t arrive in a timely manner and are not quality parts.”

The list of highest-graded insurers in 2023 was remarkably consistent with prior years’ findings; among the 10 highestgraded insurers in this year’s Insurance Report Card, eight were in the Top 10 last year as well.

A free report with the 2023 Insurer Report Card findings can be downloaded at https://www. crashnetwork.com/irc

Source: CRASH Network

2023 World Class Technicians Announced

The Auto Care Association announced the latest recipients of the World Class Technician Award in partnership with the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).

The two organizations provide this annual recognition to professional technicians who have attained ASE certification in 22 specific areas during the previous calendar year.

There are an estimated 887,000 technicians in the U.S., with approximately 250,000 holding ASE certification. As of now, there are 2,224 technicians who have earned the respected status of “World Class Technician” since its inception more than 30 years ago.

For more information about the Auto Care Association’s World Class Technician certification qualifications, timing and recognition, visit www. autocare.org/networkingand-development/awardsand-scholarships/world-classtechnician

Source: Auto Care Association

Vehicle Thefts Nationwide Surpassed 1 Million in 2022

Law enforcement agencies and communities across the U.S. continue to be plagued by record and near-record levels of vehicular crime as monthly theft totals nationwide consistently exceeded 75,000 in 2022.

According to new analysis conducted by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the insurance industry’s association dedicated to predicting, preventing and prosecuting insurance crime, more than 1 million vehicles were stolen last year, marking a 7% increase over 2021.

Vehicle theft data, provided by the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and analyzed by NICB, indicates more than 250,000 thefts were reported in the fourth quarter of 2022 alone.

California and Texas led the nation with the most reported stolen vehicles in 2022, and Illinois had the largest increase of any top 10 state with thefts increasing by an estimated 35% between 2021 and 2022. Similarly, vehicle thefts increased by 31% in Washington state over the same period.

“We are seeing vehicle theft

numbers that we haven’t seen in nearly 15 years, and there is very little deterrent to stop criminals from committing these acts as they are just property crimes, like shoplifting,” said David J. Glawe, president and CEO of the NICB.

“We must reinvest in local law enforcement, provide the necessary resources for prosecution and community policing programs, and implement early intervention programs given the high incidence of juvenile offenders involved in vehicle thefts.”

According to NICB analysis, the U.S. is seeing the highest vehicle theft numbers since 2008, when 1.05 million vehicles were reported stolen. “NICB, along with our partners in law enforcement, are proactively working to prevent and deter vehicle theft, but vehicle owners should stay vigilant,” said Glawe. “Remember, practicing good personal security hygiene is an easy and effective first step all of us can take to protect ourselves and our vehicles. Don’t leave your car running and unattended. Always take your keys with you and most

importantly, make sure your auto policy is up to date. It is that simple.”

NICB Tips to Avoid Becoming a Victim of Vehicle Theft:

1. Always practice good security hygiene.

2. Make sure your auto policy is up to date.

3. Roll up your windows, lock your doors, and take the keys or fob.

4. Park in well-lit areas and, when possible, areas staffed by security

5. Park personal vehicles in a garage. If not possible, and vehicles must be parked in a driveway, consider installing motion sensor security lights. While lights may not provide complete security, it may make some thieves think twice, making them leave the area and your vehicle untouched.

Should your vehicle be stolen, call law enforcement and your insurer immediately. Reporting a vehicle as soon as possible after it is stolen increases the chance of recovery.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud, call the NICB at 1-800-TEL-NICB.

S ource: NICB

CIECA Welcomes Classic Collision

Classic Collision has joined CIECA as a corporate member. Based in Atlanta, GA, the company was established in 1983 with a single goal: to offer quality service to its customers with integrity and honesty.

Kayla Clark , Classic Collision’s vice president of business development, said the company is one of the largest privately held national providers of auto body repair services, with 213 repair facilities in 15 states across the U.S. Classic Collision holds numerous manufacturer certifications and factorydirect training.

“For almost 40 years, the company has put customer satisfaction first in all we do,” said Clark. “We are proud to provide high-quality auto body repairs with properly trained technicians and the appropriate equipment.”

Source: CIECA

Up To 153,000 Catalytic Converters Stolen in 2022

Recent media reports vastly undercounted catalytic converter thefts in the U.S., new CARFAX data shows. Thieves removed the devices from as many as 153,000 vehicles in the U.S. in 2022, far more than earlier estimates.

CARFAX data scientists reviewed catalytic converter replacements from millions of service and maintenance records to arrive at this number.

Thieves are committing “opportunistic crimes,” said Sgt. Matt Casavant with the Maine State Police. “Parking lots—even ones that were well lit—were getting hit. Car dealerships are getting hit on a regular basis, too. The thieves were so brazen that it didn’t matter. My kid drives a Subaru and I won’t let her leave her car overnight at the school or other places because it’s a highvalue target.”

Criminals steal catalytic converters because of the precious metals—platinum, palladium and rhodium—contained inside each device. Thieves can cut them from beneath vehicles in a matter of seconds, leading to a rude

awakening for vehicle owners. Once the converter is removed, not only will the car make a loud noise when started, but it can cost owners thousands of dollars to replace that missing catalytic converter—especially if consumers don’t have the right type of car insurance.

9. Toyota Tacoma

10. Chevrolet Cruze

Depending on where you’re located in the country, certain vehicles are targeted more heavily. Car owners looking to prevent catalytic converter theft should:

• Park in a well-lit area.

• Park in your garage if possible, instead of in the driveway or on the street.

• If you must park in a driveway, consider installing motion sensor security lights.

• Install a catalytic converter antitheft device.

Opus IVS (Intelligent Vehicle Support) has joined CIECA as a corporate member. Established in 2020, the company focuses on helping the vehicle maintenance and collision industry safely repair and maintain complex vehicles through OEM-approved diagnostic tools, remote services and live repair assistance.

CARFAX has compiled a nationwide list of the top 2022 targets for these precious-metal thieves:

1. Ford F-Series pickup trucks

2. Honda Accord

3. Toyota Prius

4. Honda CR-V

5. Ford Explorer

6. Ford Econoline vans

7. Chevrolet Equinox

8. Chevrolet Silverado

• Have a muffler shop etch your vehicle’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the converter and spray it with a highly visible, high-heat paint. Doing so enables law enforcement to track converters, which in turn could lead police to the thieves.

Gone in 66 seconds: See video of a catalytic converter being removed from a vehicle: https:// www.carfax.com/press/videogallery

Source: CARFAX

Opus IVS was formed from a consortium of companies, including Drew Technologies, Autologic, AutoEnginuity, Farsight, Bluelink and Auto Techcelerators. The earliest, Drew Technologies, was established in 1996.

Approximately 400 employees work for Opus IVS in seven offices spread over three continents. The company is a part of Opus Group, a global inspection company with more than 2,700 employees worldwide. Opus Group’s largest owner is Searchlight Capital.

Opus IVS learned about CIECA through the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) and other organizations and personnel.

Source: CIECA

Driven Brands Holdings Inc. Reports Record Year of Revenue and Profitability in 2022

Driven Brands Holdings Inc. on Feb. 22 reported financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2022. For the fiscal year, Driven Brands delivered revenue of $2.0 billion, up 39% versus the prior year. System-wide sales were $5.6 billion, up 24% versus the prior year with 14% same-store sales growth and 9% net store growth.

Net income increased $33.6 million versus the prior year to $43.2 million or $0.25 per diluted share inclusive of a $125.5 million one-time non-cash impairment charge related to intangible assets in the second quarter as a result of the company’s decision to rebrand its U.S. car wash business. Adjusted net income increased 41% to $207.9 million or $1.22 per diluted share, while adjusted EBITDA increased 42% from the prior year to $513.8 million. “2022 was a year of record performance and significant strategic progress for Driven Brands.  We deepened our competitive moat as our differentiated offering resonated with our customers,” said Jonathan

Fitzpatrick, president and CEO. “We gained significant market share in this large and growing $350 billion needs-based automotive services category, and we are leveraging our proven playbook to drive long-term, sustainable growth.

“Building on our strong performance last year, we entered the first quarter of 2023 with momentum, excellent visibility into our expensea base and a robust development pipeline that provides us with strong line of sight to multiyear growth. Our guidance reflects that momentum, our continued confidence in our business model, the resilience of the category and a track record of execution.”

For the fourth quarter, Driven Brands delivered revenue of $539.7 million, up 38% versus the prior year. System-wide sales were $1.5 billion, up 24% versus the prior year with 11% same-store sales growth and 9% net store growth.

Net income increased $66.2 million versus the prior year to $27.4 million or $0.16 per diluted share. Adjusted net income increased

35% to $42.2 million or $0.25 per diluted share, while adjusted EBITDA increased 54% from the prior year to $130.5 million.

Fiscal Year 2022 Highlights

Comparisons are fiscal year 2022 ended Dec. 31, 2022, versus fiscal year 2021 ended Dec. 25, 2021, unless otherwise noted.

• Revenue increased 39% to $2.0 billion, driven by same-store sales and net store growth.

• Consolidated same-store sales increased 14%.

• The company added 393 net new stores during the year.

• Net income increased $33.6 million to $43.2 million or $0.25 per diluted share.

• Adjusted net income increased 41% to $207.9 million or $1.22 per diluted share.

• Adjusted EBITDA increased 42% to $513.8 million.

Fourth Quarter 2022 Highlights

Comparisons are fourth quarter 2022 ended Dec. 31, 2022, versus fourth quarter 2021 ended Dec. 25, 2021,

unless otherwise noted.

• Revenue increased 38% to $539.7 million, driven by same-store sales and net store growth.

• Consolidated same-store sales increased 11%.

• The company added 98 net new stores during the quarter.

• Net income increased $66.2 million to $27.4 million or $0.16 per diluted share.

• Adjusted net income increased 35% to $42.2 million or $0.25 per diluted share.

• Adjusted EBITDA increased 54% to $130.5 million.

Fiscal Year 2023 Guidance

The following guidance reflects the company’s expectations for fiscal year 2023 ending Dec. 30, 2023:

• Revenue of approximately $2.35 billion.

• Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $590 million.

• Adjusted earnings per share of approximately $1.21.

The company also expects:

• Same-store sales growth of 5%

to7%.

• Net store growth of approximately 365:

• Maintenance: approximately 170 stores of which 70% will be franchised and 30% will be company-operated

• Car Wash: approximately 65 stores which will be company-operated

• Paint, Collision & Glass: approximately 130 stores of which 25% will be franchised and 75% will be company-operated.

The company has not included future M&A in its guidance for fiscal year 2023.

Source: Driven Brands Holdings Inc.

Auto Insurers Taking AI Broader, Deeper Across Claims in 2022

CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc. on Feb. 21 announced an update to its insurer AI adoption report, which for the third straight year shows significant growth in the adoption of AI in auto claims. The company reported the application of advanced computer vision AI for claims processing increased 60% year-over-year. The company also reported more than 14 million unique claims have now been processed using a CCC AI solution, tripling since before the pandemic in 2019.

In addition to more claims using AI, the data show a deepening penetration of multiple different AI solutions being applied per claim. In fact, CCC reports the number of claims using four or more of its advanced AI applications also doubled year-over-year.

The tech leader also reported the adoption of its industry-first AI-powered touchless estimating solution, CCC® Estimate–STP, has grown to 15 insurers, including seven of the top 10 carriers based on direct written premium, representing 50% of U.S. auto claims volume. Today, more than

100 insurers are actively using CCC’s AI-powered applications.

“The industry has achieved more with advanced AI than many thought was possible a few short years ago,” said Jason Verlen, vice president, product marketing,

27% of claims processed through CCC’s system were initiated by digital photos.

Added Verlen, “This progress is compelling, but it’s not mission accomplished. Market dynamics are necessitating more. While some macro trends, including supply chain issues are likely to subside with time, other factors, including labor shortages and increasing vehicle complexity, will require more AI and deeper connections across the ecosystem to meet the demands of today’s consumer and enable insurers and repairers to realize better business outcomes.”

CCC. “AI is now applied at key stages across the claims process and is capable of auto-generating a complete repair estimate with line level detail in seconds without human intervention.” The growth in AI-powered claims is driven by a number of factors, including an increase in the number of insurers using AI solutions, the expansion of applications of AI across their business, and an increase in AI-eligible claims, driven by an increase in the use of photos to initiate a claim. In 2022, more than

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Source: CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc.

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WIN Announces 2023 Most Influential Women Award Recipients

In celebration of 2023 International Women’s Day on March 8, The Women’s Industry Network (WIN) announced the recipients of its 2023 Most Influential Women (MIW) awards, honoring women whose career achievements have enhanced the collision repair industry. Six remarkable women will be recognized as new MIWs this year at a gala held during WIN’s 2023 Annual Conference May 1-3 in San Antonio, TX. The Most Influential Women award was established in 1999 to recognize women whose leadership, vision and commitment to excellence have enriched the collision repair industry. With the addition of this year’s MIWs, more than 100 women have been recognized by WIN for their contributions to the collision repair industry. Winners are chosen by an independent selection committee comprised of industry professionals, which reviews nominees and selects award recipients based on established criteria, such as industry influence, professional accomplishments, mentorship and community service.

The winners of the 2023 MIW

• Traci Calkins, regional sales manager, PPG

• April Lausch, collision center manager, Faulkner Collision Center of Lancaster

• Lakeitria Luter, director, Service King/Crash Champions

• Yohanna Peet, training program manager, Caliber

• Jaime Shewbridge, welding instructor, I-CAR

• Sabrina Thring, chief operation officer, Driven Brands

“Through their dedication to excellence, commitment to community and investment in the future through their willingness to mentor other women, these six extraordinary ladies have made a huge impact on the collision repair industry,” said Jenny Anderson, WIN immediate past chairperson and 2023 committee chair of MIW. “Their exemplary journeys show all women that anything is possible when you put in the work.”

“These industry professionals serve as shining examples of the array of opportunities that are available in collision repair, as well as testaments to the positive impact

other fields,” added Rachel Hinson, MIW committee co-chair. “WIN is excited to recognize six amazing women with MIW awards this year. We can’t wait to celebrate you at this year’s conference!”

Registration is now open for the Women’s Industry Network (WIN) 2023 Educational Conference. This year’s conference, under the theme of “Reimagining Tomorrow,” will be held May 1-3 at the WESTIN San Antonio Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX.

Conference attendees will experience three days of industry learning, mentorship, celebration and community giveback. They will celebrate women in collision repair by acknowledging new scholarships, take part in scholarship fundraising, and honoring this year’s Most Influential Women recipients. For those not able to attend in person, there is also a hybrid online version available. To register for the conference and view the agenda, visit thewomensindustrynetwork. site-ym.com/page/Conference

For more information on WIN, visit

Crash Champions Appoints Board Member

Crash Champions, LLC, announced Feb. 27 the appointment of Tom Feeney to its Board of Directors.

Feeney has more than 45 years of leadership experience primarily in the automotive services industry, having most recently served as the president and CEO of Safelite Group®, a multi-faceted vehicle glass and claims management service. During his 14-year tenure as president and CEO, he was responsible for significant growth of the business and a threefold increase in the number of associates.

In recognition of his 35 years of service and contributions to establishing the company’s vision and brand, Feeney was named chairman emeritus.

Today, Crash Champions operates a leading network of high-quality collision repair centers serving customers and business partners in 36 states

CCC Releases 2023 ‘Crash Course’ Report

CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc. announced March 14 the availability of its annual Crash Course report, which identifies trends impacting the P&C insurance economy, a multifaceted industry advancing the future of personal mobility and safer roadways. The report delivers insights on the convergence of economic, social and technological shifts reshaping driving behaviors, vehicle ownership, automotive insurance and claims handling, collision repair and more.

Crash Course 2023 is the 28th edition of CCC’s industry-leading report, which draws insights from the more than $100 billion in transactions processed annually through CCC’s solutions by its 30,000 customers, which include automakers, insurers, collision repairers, lenders, parts suppliers and more. The report draws from the company’s decades of experience and information derived from more than 280 million claims-related transactions, 50 billion driving miles

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(PIP)/medical payments (MedPay) casualty claims.

“Macroeconomic trends like inflation, supply chain constraints and labor shortages are putting

pressure on an industry that is simultaneously managing through major advancements in vehicle technology, including the growing popularity of advanced driver safety systems (ADAS) and EVs,” said Jason Verlen , CCC’s vice president, product marketing. “Together these factors are shifting insurability and repairability models and related cost and service dynamics. To

advance, participants across the ecosystem are unifying around the consumer and leveraging technology with the shared aim of getting drivers back on the road safely, efficiently and affordably.” Verlen continued, “This year’s Crash Course explores these factors and more, providing data and analysis on the industry’s path forward. We’ve subtitled our report ‘The Era of Experience’ as businesses across the industry navigate the balance between automation, AI and the human touch, to facilitate richer, more personalized consumer experiences with their customers.”

Key topics covered in Crash Course 2023 include:

• Shifts in consumer driving behaviors and the changing nature of auto accidents, resulting in more severe vehicle damage and bodily injury.

• The impact of labor shortages on vehicle repair and medical

treatment costs, claim and repair resolution times, and consumers’ experiences with the overall claims process.

• Growing consumer interest in new vehicle technology—ADAS and EVs—and the benefits and subsequent increases in repair complexity.

• Increasing proliferation of advanced technology—AI, mobile, cloud and the Internet of Things—embedded in claims and repair processes to temper the effects of macro trends and user experiences.

• A view into what’s next for the operational future of automakers, insurers, repairers and other ecosystem providers.

In addition to macro trends and topics, CCC Crash Course 2023 also includes industry-level detail on claims frequency and severity, parts costs and utilization, total loss trends and more.

Download the full report at cccis.com/crash-course/

Source: CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc.

Credit: Shutterstock.

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Increase in EVs Being Serviced Leads To First Customer Satisfaction Decline in Nearly 30 Years

The increasing volume of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) being serviced at dealerships is contributing to a negative effect on overall customer service satisfaction, resulting in a year-over-year decline in score for the first time in 28 years.

According to the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Customer Service Index (CSI) Study, released March 9, satisfaction with the service experience declines 2 points to 846 (on a 1,000-point scale) in this year’s study.

Customer service satisfaction among owners of BEVs is 42 points lower than among owners of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. A leading factor is that recall rates are more than double for BEVs than their gas/diesel counterparts. Additionally, service advisor knowledge continues to be a major satisfaction issue among BEV owners who provide a rating of 8.01 (on a 10-point scale) compared with 8.59 among owners of ICE vehicles.

“As the electric vehicle segment grows, service is going to be a ‘make or break’ part of the ownership experience,” said  Chris Sutton, vice president of automotive retail at J.D. Power. “The industry has been hyper-focused on launches and now

these customers are bringing their electric vehicles in for maintenance and repairs. As training programs for service advisors and technicians evolve, EV service quality and customer experience must address both the vehicle and the unique customer needs. The EV segment has the potential to spur massive convenience improvements in how customers service their vehicles—but we’re not seeing the benefits yet.”

The study, now in its 43rd year, includes emerging features such as valet service, mobile vehicle servicing and online/smartphone app payment options to gauge the effect these processes have on the service experience.

The study measures satisfaction with service at franchised dealer or aftermarket service facilities for maintenance or repair work among owners and lessees of one- to threeyear-old vehicles. It also provides a numerical index ranking of the highest-performing automotive brands sold in the U.S., based on the combined scores of five measures that comprise the vehicle owner service experience.

These measures are (in order of importance): service quality (32%);

service advisor (19%); vehicle pickup (19%); service facility (15%); and service initiation (15%).

Key Findings of the 2023 Study Vehicle recalls drive satisfaction declines: Satisfaction declines 23 points when an owner must bring their vehicle in for a recall repair rather than for traditional maintenance or repair. Recall repair visits also have a negative effect on Net Promoter Score® (NPS) ratings, a vital metric for owners who share positive recommendations about a business. This is most evident with premium brands as the servicing dealership NPS declines 13 points when customers experience a recall.

Service departments getting the (text) message: In the 2019 CSI Study, 34% of owners expressed the desire to receive updates through simple text messages rather than phone calls, but only 9% actually did receive texts from dealerships. Now, dealerships have gotten the figurative message, and, as measured in the 2023 study, are now sending simple text messages 21% of the time to update customers vs. making a phone call (17%). The go-to communication

method for service departments is now text messaging, as more than half (54%) of Generation X, Y and Z customers say they prefer it.

Owners wait even longer for an appointment: Since the 2021 study, the number of days owners wait for an appointment has increased 1.9 days for premium vehicles and 1.3 days for mass market vehicles. Appointment wait times are now 5.6 days for premium vehicles and 4.8 days for mass market vehicles. Labor, loaner vehicle availability and parts shortages continue to be the catalyst for the increasing amount of time it takes to get a vehicle serviced.

Owners’ service preferences differ: Owners provide higher trust ratings for franchise dealerships than for aftermarket service facilities for complex repairs (6.14 on a 7-point scale) vs. 5.75 for aftermarket fullservice maintenance and repair facilities. When ease of doing business is the primary driver, trust preference swings to aftermarket facilities for maintenance (6.18 vs. 6.11 for dealerships). These findings are based on a battery of similar questions asked both in the CSI Study and in the J.D. Power

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M-F 7:30am-6pm; Sat 7:30am-5pm rwright01@vtaig.com

Orlando Volkswagen North Orlando

321-214-3169

Fax: 407-644-9408

M-F 7:30am-6pm; Sat 7:30am-5pm spearce@vtaig.com

GEORGIA

Jim Ellis Volkswagen Atlanta

800-653-5547

770-454-7711

Fax: 770-986-0001

M-Sat 7:30am-7pm vwwholesaleparts@jimellis.com

VIRGINIA

Checkered Flag Volkswagen Virginia Beach

757-687-3465

Fax: 757-687-3514

M-F 8am-5pm volkswagenparts@checkeredflag.com

Volkswagen Collision Parts to order from, we’d love to help you find the ones you need.

Aftermarket Service Index (ASI) Study.

Climbing the chart: The top three brands with the greatest improvement in year-over-year satisfaction rankings are Alfa Romeo (+59 points), Mitsubishi (+30) and Infiniti (+16).

Highest-Ranking Brands and Segments

Lexus ranks highest in satisfaction with dealer service among all brands for a second consecutive year, with a score of 900. Porsche (880) ranks second in the premium segment, followed by Cadillac (879) and Infiniti (878).

Mitsubishi ranks highest in satisfaction with dealer service among mass market brands for the first time, with a score of 884. Mazda (870) ranks second and Buick (867) ranks third.

For the first time in the study’s history, model segment rankings are now available to provide even more granularity. “A truck is not a car, and the vehicle needs are going to be different,” Sutton said. “Each vehicle segment has a unique service experience based on customer preferences, demographics and vehicle use, wear and tear, so

different journeys that car, SUV and truck customers have in the service experience.”

Among premium cars, Lexus ranks highest (902), followed by Porsche (880) and Infiniti (878).

Among premium SUVs, Lexus (900) ranks highest. Cadillac and Porsche rank second in a tie, each with a score of 880.

Nissan (886) ranks highest in satisfaction among truck brands with a score of 886. Chevrolet (851) ranks second and GMC (843) ranks third.

In the mass market car segment, Subaru ranks highest (866). Mazda (863) ranks second and Honda (855) ranks third.

Mitsubishi ranks highest among mass market SUVs/minivans with a score of 884. Mazda (872) ranks second and Buick (867) ranks third.

The 2023 U.S. Customer Service Index (CSI) Study is based on responses from 64,248 verified registered owners and lessees of 2020 to 2022 model-year vehicles. J.D. Power goes to great lengths to ensure that survey respondents are true owners of the brand they are representing. The study was fielded from August through December 2022.

Honda May Continue Producing Gas Engines Through 2040

By Sebastien Bell CarScoops

As Europe, a number of U.S. states and others plan to ban the sale of new vehicles powered by internal combustion engines by 2035, Honda said its own studies show the technology could stick around until 2040.

Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe said the company is currently in the midst of running feasibility studies on future technologies, in a recent interview with Reuters. This research is looking at, among other things, low-carbon synthetic fuels that could help keep combustion engines around for longer, especially in highperformance car, trucks and airplanes. Despite keeping its options open, the executive said  Honda is focused on electrification and fuel cell technology. “I’ve been in the engine development business for more than 30 years, so personally it’s a little threatening,” admitted Mibe. “But I have to separate my own feelings from what is best for

Stivers Decatur

Subaru

Decatur

(404) 248-1888

Fax (404) 425-5800

Mon.-Fri. 7:30-6; Sat. 9-5 dway@stiversonline.com

www.stiverssubaru.com

Troncalli Subaru

Cumming

(770) 889-8951

Direct (678) 341-4220

Fax (678) 341-4221

www.troncallisubaru.com

Flow Subaru

Winston-Salem

(800) 489-3534

(336) 725-3554 Fax

Mon.-Fri. 8-5; Sat. 8-1 subarupartsws@flowauto.com www.flowsubaru.com

the business.” The chief executive further confirmed EVs based on its own dedicated platform would start arriving in the U.S. in 2026, after a pair of electric crossovers based on GM’s Ultium platform debut in 2024. Honda is committing $40 billion to developing hybrid and fullyelectric technologies so they make up 40% of its sales by 2030. That includes a $3.5 billion joint venture in Jeffersonville, OH, where it will build batteries with LG Energy Solution starting in 2025.

In addition, it plans to establish a standalone business next month, tasked with the task of developing Honda’s battery business. That could eventually include an investment in developing EV infrastructure, like Tesla’s Supercharger network.

“The charging in`1frastructure is not at a place that it needs to be for our customers,” said Mibe. He added, however, “as we move toward carbon neutrality, we are focused on electrification and fuel cells—those are the two core components of future mobility.”

Jim Armstrong Subaru

Hickory

(888) 905-6135

(828) 322-9372 opt 5 Mon.-Fri. 8-5 parts@jimarmstrongsubaru.com

www.jimarmstrongsubaru.com

Parkway Subaru

Wilmington

(800) 424-9434

(910) 793-8710 Fax

Mon.-Fri. 7-6; Sat. 8-2

Publisher Jeremy Hayhurst

General Manager

Barbara Davies

Editor Abby Andrews

Contributing Writers

Mike Anderson, Ed Attanasio, Stacey Phillips, John Yoswick, Cole Strandberg

Advertising Sales

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Serving Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina 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.

©2023 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

CRS RDE Sessions

All Repairer Driven Education (RDE) sessions, recorded by SCRS during the 2022 SEMA Show, are now available for digital access at rde.scrs.com. Current SCRS members are entitled to a 20% discount off purchases in the SCRS Online Education Platform. If you are not currently a member of SCRS, join online at www.scrs.com/join-scrs or contact our office at info@scrs.com to confirm your membership status.

The 2022 Repairer Driven Education (RDE) FULL SERIES Online pass ($249) provides at-home access to more than 20 educational sessions originally delivered throughout the week during the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NV. Unlike the in-person event—where attendees had to pick and choose between sessions within a time slot—the RDE FULL SERIES Online access allows attendees to watch every session, without having to pick and choose. This means more opportunities for education, and greater ability to share the information amongst everyone within the repair facility.

For a full list of RDE sessions and speakers, visit rde.scrs.com/p/2022

Source: SCRS

Dannmar Updates SwingArm Tire Changers

Updated Dannmar® DT-50 and DT50A tire changers are engineered to maximize efficiency to help keep work—and profits—flowing.

Both tire changers feature a swing-arm design that facilitates quick loading, with steel clamps to efficiently handle 12- to 26-inch wheels, including challenging lowprofile and run-flat beads. For the stiffest sidewalls, the DT-50A adds a power-assist tower.

They are built to last in even the busiest shops, with sturdy bodies, rigid hexagonal vertical shafts and hardened-steel horizontal outrigger support arms that eliminate flex during tire service and reduce the risk of damage to alloy wheels. Their compact, non-tilt-back design adds to their versatility since they can be installed flush against walls.

Dannmar is offering special reduced pricing on all its wheel service equipment through its Big Deals promotion until March 31. Learn more at dannmar.com. For customer support or to order by phone, call (800) 253-2363.

Source: Dannmar

Tesla Cybertruck’s Ultra-Hard Cold-Rolled Steel Confirmed

By Steven Loveday InsideEVs

The Tesla Cybertruck will be unlike any other vehicle on the road today, not only thanks to its crazy design, but also the material it’s made of and how its structure works.

The Cybertruck will wear a body that’s actually an exoskeleton made of ultra-hard cold-rolled stainless steel. Tesla just applied for a patent for the material, and CEO Elon Musk confirmed it.

It has been known from the beginning the Cybertruck was to be made of cold-rolled stainless steel, one of the reasons it’s to be so unique. It also won’t be painted. The Tesla electric pickup truck will come from the factory in just a single color, and we can only imagine people are going to have a field day wrapping it. Tesla noted early on it planned to develop its own alloy for the Cybertruck’s exterior, which comes as no surprise since it seems the EV maker tries to do as much as

possible in-house. Now, the news is spreading Tesla applied for an official patent for the special material. A portion of the patent, titled “Ultra-Hard Cold-Worked

as an ‘exoskeleton.’” The patent mentions other prospective embodiments, though it seems clear it’s all in reference to the upcoming Cybertruck.

If there were any doubt about the materials and their use, Musk may have cast them away. Tesmanian tweeted a link to an article about the patent, and the CEO responded on Twitter with just two words: “New metal.”

Steel Alloy,” reads as follows: “In some embodiments, at least one exterior panel and/or body of the vehicle comprises the steel alloy. In some embodiments, the vehicle architecture is designed such that the exterior panels of the vehicle also contribute to the vehicle’s structural performance, wherein such exterior paneling of a vehicle may be referred to

The Cybertruck is due to come to market later this year, with large-scale production coming in 2024, as Musk also confirmed again. However, there hasn’t been any official information about the company or companies that will manufacture the new metal for Tesla, but there’s been some talk on social media about a company called Steel Dynamics.

Steel Dynamics has a huge factory in Texas not too far from Tesla’s Gigafactory. Hopefully, since early production is expected to start soon, we’ll get more information in the near future.