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WMABA Opposes West Virginia Parts Bill, Neighboring States’ Efforts Will Be Affected In reaction to Senate Bill 544, proposed in West Virginia and reducing the consumer protections related to collision repair parts, the Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association (WMABA) strongly urges representatives to vote “NO.”
After years of efforts to push forward similar protections in both Maryland and Virginia, the WMABA has
utilized the neighboring state of West Virginia as an upstanding example of how a state can protect consumers when it comes to the collision repair parts used during the collision repair process. Having the majority, if not all, of the warranty period covered, those consumers with newer vehicles do not have to argue with insurers about what is best for their car and can get the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts without any out of pocket expense. This is something not afforded their neighbors, who applaud this type of protection and disclosure. See WV Parts Bill, Page 6
FCA US Marks Opening of New Mopar Parts Distribution Center in Virginia
President and Director of the Chrysler Department; Mark Bosanac, Director – NAFTA Supply Chain Management and Global Parts Supply Chain Management and Operations; Kevin Farrish, President, Farrish Chrysler Dodge Jeep® Ram; Urooj Mughal, representative for U.S. Senator Tim Kaine; Dave Stegmaier, Director of Community Outreach for U.S. Representative Barbara Comstock; and Hayes Framme, Virginia Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “We are celebrating our 80th anniversary in 2017, and throughout the years customer satisfaction has been See FCA US Center, Page 8
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P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018
FCA US celebrated the official opening today of a new Mopar Parts Distribution Center (PDC) in Winchester, Virginia. The 400,000-plus squarefoot facility represents a $12.2 million investment by FCA US and more than 70 jobs over two shifts. It is also the first of two new Mopar PDCs scheduled to open in the U.S. this year. FCA US and UAW leadership were joined by federal and state government dignitaries and dealership representatives in marking the Winchester PDC grand opening. Ceremony attendees included Pietro Gorlier, Head of Parts and Service (Mopar), FCA – Global; Norwood Jewell, UAW Vice
VOL. 8 ISSUE 3 MAY 2017
Collision Shop Owners Share the (Mostly) Pros and (Few) Cons of Getting OEM Certified
Are automaker shop certifications a of pretty much everyone else because of us getting certified, but it’s really potential substitute for collision repair only been to my benefit. An insurer can shops seeking less dependence on intake any [agreement] I have [with surer direct repair programs? them] away, but they can’t take my cerThat was among the questions addressed by a panel of shop owners at tification. The DRPs helped us get to the recent NORTHEAST Automotive the point where we had the money to spend on OEM certification. Services Show held in SecauBut you get to the point where cus, N.J. James Carvino of you say, ‘Listen, I don’t need RoJo Collision in Brooklyn, you. So if you don’t want to NY, whose shop holds certifipay my rate or do this, you cations from about 10 aucan take the program and go tomakers, said he’s eliminated because now I’m certified. I most of the shop’s DRP reladon’t really need you. You tionships other than two with James Carvino can’t cripple my business.’” insurance companies “that are very understanding.” Tom Elder of Kompact Cars, “I basically have no issue [with Inc. in Clarksburg, NJ agreed, saying them], and I think they are happy to the 11 DRPs he previously had have someone who, even though my “helped us become better financed estimates may be 400 lines, they can and better equipped,” but that Mersee the car and know I’m doing the cedes-Benz and other OEM certificawork,” Carvino said. “I had to get rid See OEM Certification, Page 22
Six of 10 U.S. Drivers Think Self-Driving Cars Will Eliminate Problem of Distracted Driving: Poll Nearly six out of 10 drivers in the United States think that self-driving cars will eliminate the problem of distracted driving, according to a new poll conducted on behalf of Pennsylvania-based Erie Insurance. The online survey by Harris Poll, released on March 27, involved 2,932 U.S. licensed drivers aged 18 and older. Because it was not based on a probability sample, no estimate of theoretical sampling error could be calculated, Erie Insurance noted in a press release. The survey found that 59% of those polled think that self-driving cars will eliminate the problem of distracted driving; two-thirds of men believe this, compared to just over half of women (66% to 52%, respectively). Licensed drivers also weighed in on the topic of impaired driving, with 13% believing that a person wouldn’t
get cited for driving under the influence while operating a self-driving car. As well, one-third (33%) believed that one of the biggest advantages of selfdriving cars would be the ability to get home safely if under the influence of drugs or alcohol. A much smaller percentage of those 21 and over (5%) said they would drink alcoholic beverages while operating a self-driving car, the release said. With regard to activities, roughly half of polled drivers (51%) said that one of the biggest advantages of selfdriving cars would be the ability to go longer distances without worrying about being drowsy while driving. About onefifth of licensed drivers (19%) said they would sleep or nap while operating a self-driving car. Other activities licensed drivers plan to do while operating a self-driSee Distracted Driving, Page 9
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